Chapter 42

The scream of the racing diesel behind her as she approached the village could only mean one thing, James! She laughed as he braked hard to a stop, and looked out of his window at her.

"James that poor Land-Rover must look forward to the scrap heap as a well earned rest."

"Nah. Built for this type of treatment. Coffee?"

"Good idea. Shall I see you in the Inn?"

"Yes, Ok. Or would you like to come up to the house?" Abby nodded smiling. She ran round to the passenger door.

"I hope you haven't had anything disgusting on this seat." James was affronted.

"Abby I am a Gentleman Farmer. We don't use our cars for carrying mucky stuff!" Abby hopped up and James let in the clutch. At the house, they made their way through to the Breakfast room, and James put the kettle on.

"Sorry." He apologised. "It is only instant coffee here."

"I grew up on the stuff, so it suits me fine." Said a voice immediately behind him. He turned, and found that Abby was standing close.

"A cuddle and a kiss, please James."

"I was thinking the same thing." They were!

Whilst they waited for the kettle to boil, Abby told James about her conversation with Sam and Harry that morning. He didn't seem surprised.

"I suppose you knew all about this?" She accused him. He grinned.

"Well not all about it, but I knew something was in the wind. I saw Nat yesterday, and he mentioned a little." He made the coffee, and they sat down at the table.

"So what should I do?" Abby asked.

"Why ask me?" James shrugged his shoulders. "I should think that you have made up your mind already."

"Well perhaps I have, but I would like to know if you think it is a good idea?"

"Yes."

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

"Oh you are not being any help at all this morning." Abby complained.

"That is unfair." He complained. "You ask me if I think it a good idea and I say yes. What else do I say?"

"Well you could have offered advice on setting it up, and how it should be run."

"But you didn't ask that question."

"Oh being literal this morning as well as monosyllabic."

He got up, and walked to her side, took her face between his hands and kissed her. Her happy smile showed that she wasn't upset.

"Am I forgiven?"

"You keep kissing me like that, and you are forgiven for the next half-dozen times you annoy me."

"Sisters are not supposed to enjoy kisses from Brothers as much."

"I have made my mind up. You are not my brother."

"I believe that to be true, but until we have it writing..." His voice faded.

"I know, I know. But it is very frustrating. How long will they take, I am getting fed up with the wait, I want to seduce and be seduced."

"Let's change the subject. Talking about it will not make it happen faster." Abby knew he was right.

"Now about your Farmers Co-operative." James started.

"Ok, what about it?" Abby took a sip of coffee and listened.

"Increasing production should not be difficult. They have the land for pasture, and if they want more, I am quite happy to let more land. You will need to think about Cold storage though. The Abattoir in Paverton will probably have enough room, but they will charge for the space. You will need to get an idea of what demand you will have, how often, and rent space accordingly. You will need to look at refrigerated transport. Again the Abattoir can do this, but a trip to London will be costly." He paused. "Shall I go on?"

"There's more?"

"Oh yes."

"I need to write this down; do you have a Pen and Paper?" He nodded and got up to rummage through a drawer. He handed her a pad. He didn't notice that there was a letter stuck to the pad, which came away when Abby took the pad from him. She couldn't help but see the heading. It was a Share Certificate. Without a word she handed it back to him. For the next hour, James talked and Abby made notes. At the end there was a mountain of research to do.

"There's a lot of phoning to be done here. My mobile will be red-hot."

"That will cost you a fortune. Come up here and use my phone." James suggested. "The lead will run into here, and you can at least sit down in peace and quiet and concentrate. And more importantly, I can come and bother you frequently." Abby's face showed that she quite liked that idea.

"I will pay you for the calls, James." He shook his head.

"Don't worry about it. If all this happens, I shall be better off as I shall rent more Land."

Abby was thinking. She didn't want to delve into his business, but at the same time he was being very helpful to her so perhaps she could be helpful to him.

"James. I know it was an accident, but I did see that Share Certificate. Tell me to shut up if you wish." She waited. He simply said.

"Go on."

"Those shares are as safe as houses. But they are also very dull. The dividends have never been exactly great. In fact you could do better putting your money in a Building Society. Could I say something else? Again tell me to shut up. I feel I am being intrusive here." He smiled at her.

"No you are not, Abby. It was an accident, but if you can steer me in the right direction I would be grateful. The investments, such as they are, were all made by my Father. I have never changed anything, as I know little about the Stock Market."

"Well I am not an expert."

"Oh yes." He scoffed. "You worked in the City, made loads of money for your Bank, and say you're not an expert. Come on; at the very least you know a hell of a lot more about it than I do." Abby smiled at him. Sometimes he appeared so naïve.

"What I did in the City was far away from Stocks. I bought things, commodities, on the informed suspicion that their value would double or treble in the space of a few weeks or months. Stocks and shares are more about balancing a portfolio to give you income and capital growth. However I did hear things and I may be able to suggest a place for your funds which will give you a better income." He digested what she had said.

"Ok let's have it then."

"Not so fast. Not before I have checked one or two things. Then I'll get back with some Companies that are worth going for."

"If you will, perhaps you could look at the others?"

"Are you sure you don't mind James. It is better to look at the thing as a whole, rather than isolated investments." He nodded.

"I'll go find them. They are in my desk drawer in the Estate Office."

"Shall I boil the kettle again?"

"Yes please. I could do with another coffee."

Abby went through to the kitchen and filled the kettle. She lifted the pad on the Aga and placed the kettle. As she waited her mind wandered. Doing this simple job now, but could she see herself as Mistress here? Her imagination took off, discussing with the Cook the menus for the week; there would have to be a Cook, Abby's culinary skills would never be up to it. Ordering provisions and other requirements but what else? Abby didn't know. She couldn't see herself sitting down to Tea in the afternoon with 'The Ladies', nor could she see herself indulging in Charitable works. She would be a working wife, which was why this Farmers Co-operative scheme was so important to her, unless there were children? She was certain that James would want children. She was in no doubt that she could give him a child, her monthly visitor was evidence of that. Would a child curtail her lifestyle? Would she be a good mother? James would be an excellent father; she had no qualms on that score. Perhaps the love she would have for any child she and James had created would overcome any deficiencies she may have as a mother. She would certainly not go away to leave her child in the care of others. She brought herself back to the present with a start, and a smile on her face. However she looked at the future it looked good to her. If the results of the tests showed negative that is.