The Orchid House Read Online Free PDF Page A

it’s better than nothing and I am renovating it. I think it’ll be okay when it’s finished.’
    ‘That’s where my grandparents lived and my mother was born,’ Julia said. ‘I never saw the cottages in the Quad as shabby or noticed the damp, but I suppose they were really.’
    ‘Of course!’ Kit reddened. ‘Christ, that makes me sound arrogant. Sorry to be patronising about them. Actually, the reason I fought to keep the Quad out of the sale is because I think it’s a very beautiful spot. Really,’ he emphasised, ‘I’m looking forward to living there. And hoping that, when I’ve finished renovating the rest of the barns and cottages around me, I can rent them out to provide some income.’
    ‘Don’t you have anywhere else to live?’
    ‘Like you, I’ve been abroad for a long time. I never quite got round to sorting out a home, somehow …’ Kit’s voice trailed off and he averted his gaze to the view out of the window. ‘And this neck of the woods doesn’t hold particularly good memories for me. I spent some pretty miserable summers here during my childhood.’
    ‘I used to love it here at Wharton Park.’
    ‘Well, it’s a fine old house, and the setting is magnificent,’ Kit agreed with reticence.
    Julia studied him. She could see he had a deep tan but looked drawn and exhausted. Not knowing what else to say, she replied, ‘Well, I hope you’ll be happy in your new home. I’d better be going.’
    ‘And I suppose I must come and lurk at the back of the saleroom.’
    They walked side by side through the darkened rooms towards the hall.
    ‘So,’ asked Kit companionably, ‘where are you living these days? Some vast penthouse overlooking Central Park, I shouldn’t doubt.’
    ‘Hardly. I’m staying in Blakeney, in a small, damp cottage I bought years ago, when everyone told me I had to put some money into property. I’ve been renting it out for the past eight years to holidaymakers.’
    ‘Surely you must have another home somewhere else?’ Kit frowned. ‘Celebrities don’t appear on the pages of glossy mags sitting in damp cottages in North Norfolk.’
    ‘I don’t do “glossy mags”,’ Julia countered defensively, ‘and it’s a … long story,’ she added, realising they were approaching the main entrance hall. There was an urgent question she needed to ask. ‘Are the hothouses still here?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Kit shrugged. ‘To be honest, I haven’t been into the kitchen garden yet. There’s been rather a lot to do elsewhere.’
    As they entered the hall, Julia could see her sister standing by the door with her urn, looking impatient.
    ‘There you are, Kit!’ A large woman with chestnut hair and deep-brown eyes just like his accosted them. ‘Where have you been? The auctioneer wants an urgent word with you about a vase. He thinks it might be Ming dynasty or some-such, and you should pull it out of the sale and have it valued by Sotheby’s.’
    Julia saw a hint of irritation appear on Kit’s face. ‘Julia, meet Bella Harper, my sister.’
    Bella’s eyes swept Julia up and down without much interest. ‘Hi,’ she said absently as she tucked her arm through Kit’s. ‘You need to speak to the auctioneer now,’ she told him firmly and pulled him off across the hall.
    He turned back and gave Julia a fleeting smile. ‘Good to see you,’ he called and was gone.
    Julia followed in his wake and walked across the hall to Alicia, who was staring at the departing figures.
    ‘How do you know her ?’ Alicia asked curiously.
    ‘Who?’ asked Julia as she took the other end of the proffered urn and they carted it down the steps towards the car.
    ‘The ghastly Bella Harper, of course. I saw you talking to her just a few moments ago.’
    ‘I don’t. I only know her brother, Kit.’
    They had reached the car and Alicia opened the boot to stow the urn inside. ‘You mean Lord Christopher Wharton, the heir to all this?’
    ‘Yes, I suppose that’s who he is now,’ Julia