“No.”
“That’s a shame. It’s really pretty.”
It’s a jumble of small cottages and Tudor white-and-black-framed houses, many of them with front gardens full of spring flowers. Cheerful bunting is strung along many of the buildings, so they’re obviously celebrating something, and the whole place looks as clean and sparkling as if it’s gone through the washer. We pass a small row of shops, an expensive-looking art gallery, and a couple of ancient-looking pubs.
“I bet you could get good scones here,” I say cheerfully.
His head turns slowly towards me. “Scones?”
“Yes. They’re like a cake, but yet they’re not a cake.”
“I am very aware of what a scone is.”
“You sure? You sounded a bit confused.”
He groans.
I continue to observe the street we’re driving along, noting its emptiness. “There’s no one about. That’s very creepy.”
His mouth twitches. “You can take the boy out of London?—”
“Yeah, yeah.” We pass an old hotel that looks Georgian with its multi-paned windows. Wisteria grows up its walls, the purple almost psychedelic in its brightness. “Could you live here?”
A funny look crosses his face, but he shoots his cuffs beneath his suit jacket instead of answering me. “I need to prepare you.”I open my mouth and reconsider making a joke when he shoots me a warning look.
“Okay,” I say mildly.
“I wish to buy a property near here.”
“Well, that answered me in a very roundabout way.” I remember that he’d said I might be able to help him. “Did you want to borrow some money?”
His eyebrows rise. Moments pass and I wonder if I’ve actually managed to make him speechless. Finally, he says, “I beg your pardon?”
I turn, putting my knee up on the seat. “Well, I don’t know if you’re aware, but Ihavegot quite the nest egg now.”
“I believe I am aware of the fact,” he says dryly.
“So, I could loan you the money if you’re short.”
There’s another silence, and I can practically feel Robert’s curiosity filling the car.
“You…” Mac clears his throat. “You would do that?”
“Of course. You’ve been really good to me.”
He says gravely, “Thank you. That is quite the nicest thing that anyone has ever said to me.”
“You should get out more,” I advise him.
He laughs, the humour lighting his thin, moody face for a second. “Luckily, I believe I have the funds for my plans,” he says sombrely.
Robert coughs but returns his attention quickly to the road when Mac looks at him.
“The man who owns the house is determined not to sell,” Mac tells me.
“So, why have you brought me with you?”
“Ah, you can be very engaging, Wes. I often say that.”
