Page 66 of The Mad Marchams

“You should talk to Dale when she’s here,” Mabel suggested. “She knows all about that stuff.”

“Perhaps I will.”

Felicity was looking far more cheerful by the time they reached the drive up to the house. As they crossed the path to take advantage of the shade trees, a truck drove up and slowed beside them.

“Morning, ladies.” Ted Bevin leaned out his truck’s window. “May I offer you a lift up to the house?”

Mabel looked over at Felicity and was surprised to see she’d turned an alarming shade of red and had her lips pressed tightly together, as though incapable of speech.

“Sure!” Mabel said. “That would be awesome. We’ve just been down to the village.” Mabel quickly hopped into the back seat leaving the front passenger seat for Felicity who scrambled in without a word. “I wasn’t expecting you until one.”

“I just came early to do some measuring up,” Ted said as he began to drive. “How are you, Flicka?”

“Quite well, thank you.” Felicity stared straight ahead, her fingers gripped together in her lap.

“Felicity’s been a great help getting me up to speed on the house and the family,” Mabel said after the silence lengthened.

Ted glanced at Felicity. “She was always the clever one in the family.”

“That’s right. You went to the same school, didn’t you?” Mabel asked.

“Yes,” Felicity said.

“She was a good hockey player,” Ted commented as he went around the side of the house and slowed down to enter through the stone arch leading to the stables. “Captain, I think.”

“You remember that?” Felicity blurted out. “I always enjoyed watching the cricket and rugby, but I never thought the boys showed much interest in our sporting achievements.”

Ted turned off the engine and looked at Felicity. “My sister Pansy was in your year, so my parents always made sure we supported each other.”

“Ah! I remember her well. That makes sense.” Felicity was already half out of the door in her haste to escape.

As she came around the side of the truck Mabel noticed that Ted was trying not to smile. But then Felicity almost tripped and she ended up dropping her bag. The contents scattered on the ground, and she fell to her knees with a groan. Ted was out of the truck and around to help her in seconds.

“You don’t have to do that, I can—” Felicity looked up just as he bent down and they cracked heads. “Ouch! I mean.”

Ted hastily straightened up, rubbing his forehead. “Sorry, I was trying to help.”

“That’s very sweet of you, but I can manage.” Felicity stuffed everything into her bag and stood up with it clutched to her chest, her cheeks still bright red. “Thank you for the ride. I have to go now.”

She practically sprinted to the backdoor, leaving Mabel and Ted staring after her.

“She’s a little shy,” Mabel offered.

“She’s always been like that.” Ted smiled. “But she was very kind to my sister, Pansy, who found school difficult, and I’ve always been grateful.”

Ted retrieved his toolbox from the back of the truck, and they walked toward the coach house while he talked her though his plan of action. Mabel nodded along, even though half the terms were the kind of engineering speak she didn’t have a clue about. He sounded both competent and trustworthy, which was inspiring.

During a pause in conversation, Mabel looked up to see Felicity emerging from the house.

“I brought you both coffees,” Felicity said, approaching them with a tray. “And chocolate biscuits.”

“I’m honored,” Ted said gravely as he took a mug. “Colin usually brings out the boring plain ones.”

“He would,” Mabel agreed. “He’s always hiding the chocolate cookies.”

“That’s viscounts for you.” Ted winked. “One rule for them.”

Felicity lingered, the tray in her hands. “Actually, we were wondering whether you’d like to have lunch with us, Ted? Grandmother hasn’t seen you for ages.”