probably all tied up in the tragedies she’s experienced in her life – nothing about that online either, or not that I’ve found so far. However, he says I’m not to worry about her being morbid or frail or deaf or bitter or any kind of weird. He says she’s very sociable when she wants to be, quite eccentric, and she always gives the impression of enjoying having company when he goes there, so he sees no reason why it would be any different for me.’
‘Does she live alone?’
‘Yes, but she has a housekeeper who goes in most days and a handyman who keeps an eye on things and drives her if she wants to go anywhere. She offered to send him to the station to pick me up, but I said I’d find my own way there.’
Andee sat forward to top up their glasses.
‘Do you know Lynton and Lynmouth?’ Joely asked, swallowing a yawn. ‘Aren’t they twinned in some way?’
‘They’re on the coastal edge of the moor,’ Andee replied, ‘Lynton, which is more of a town, is at the top of the cliff, and Lynmouth, which has the harbour and beach, is at the bottom. There’s a funicular – a kind of Victorian railway carriage – that runs up and down the rock face to connect them. My kids used to think it was better than a fairground ride when they were small.’
Joely smiled. ‘Sounds quaint. Actually, from what I’ve read about it, the whole place sounds lovely, although I wish I was going at a different time of year. I imagine deep winter can get quite savage thrashing itself out between the sea and the moor.’
‘I won’t deny it,’ Andee replied. ‘But don’t worry, if there’s a storm, or the funicular isn’t running for some reason, there’s a road that connects the two. It’s steep and winding, and you can even walk it, but personally I’d only do it going down.’
‘And if it snows I guess the whole place gets cut off?’
‘Almost certainly, but they’re used to it and they keep up with the forecasts to make sure they have what they need.’
Joely pulled an awkward face. ‘Are you sure about driving me over? I think it’s quite a bit further than I realized, I mean across the whole of Exmoor – which is pretty wild from all I’ve read.’
Amused, Andee said, ‘There are roads these days with white lines down the middle and helpful signposts to tell you where you’re going. And truly, I don’t mind. It’ll give us more time to chat. Now, unless I’m mistaken, that sounds like Graeme coming in.’
As they got to their feet the hall door opened and a tall, distinguished-looking man with silvery, dark hair and a close-shaved beard broke into a welcoming smile as he came through. ‘You must be Joely,’ he declared, coming to take Joely’s hands in his. ‘I’ve been hearing so much about you I feel I already know you.’
Not a bit surprised that Andee’s partner was so attractive and charming, Joely treated him to a playful scowl. ‘Whatever my friend here has told you,’ she said, ‘it’s probably all true, so if you’d like me to leave now …’
Laughing, he pressed a kiss to Andee’s forehead and pointing to the wine said, ‘Is there enough for me, or shall I open another?’
Going to fetch a glass while he took off his coat, Andee passed it to Joely to fill and reached for a second bottle. ‘I thought I’d cook dinner,’ she told him as she picked up the corkscrew, ‘it’ll save us going out in this weather.’
‘Great idea,’ he agreed, circling around her to go and wash his hands at the sink. ‘Are we still vegetarian, or have we gone vegan now?’
Andee said to Joely, ‘We’re cutting back on meat, so I hope you’re OK with aubergine and sweet potato curry.’
‘Sounds scrummy,’ Joely responded, meaning it. She and Callum had given up meat altogether last spring, but she expected he was back on it now, with Martha being a carnivore.
She wondered if Holly had taken it up again too, and felt suddenly so sad that it was a moment before she realized Graeme was toasting her. She smiled and tapped her glass to his. ‘Thanks for letting me stay,’ she said. ‘You have a lovely home.’
‘Mostly thanks to Andee,’ he assured her, and gestured for her to sit down again as he took Andee’s spot opposite. ‘So the mystery assignment …’