Chapter 45

“Here's a list of repairs to expected¦”

Eden laid a sheet of paper on Ian’s desk.

“I went to see the families of farmers and sharecroppers that Mrs Kingston had told me were most in need. Which doesn't necessarily mean they had the most dilapidated thatched cottages….”

Ian took the list and scanned through it. Not only was there the work to be done, but often also the cause: damp walls and crumbling plaster, overgrown undergrowth too close to the house, damaged gutters... He looked up.

“You seem to know what you're talking about," he remarked. I'm going to put Terence in charge of these repairs right away.

“It's just a matter of observation," replied Eden.

Ian could tell she was nervous by the tension in her shoulders. 

Ian had hoped, now that they were making love with increasing pleasure and confidence, that Eden would also relax during the day; but whatever the reason, he had the impression that, in everyday life, Eden was becoming more and