The Long Gallery, chapters four and five. (standard:drama, 1621 words) [3/6] show all parts
Author: Brian Cross	Added: Oct 08 2014	Views/Reads: 2003/1547	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A young woman inherits a large country house, but it seems that other forces are at work to cause problems for her.

Chapter Four 

Daisy grabbed some lunch in the Georgian colonnade, The Pantiles, then
left Tunbridge Wells, heading for her office at the nature reserve ten 
miles south. With her big move closing in, tension was beginning to 
draw around her like a constricting corset. Jeffries' attitude had 
irritated her but also caused some apprehension. Notwithstanding his 
peculiar attitude, he had seemed intent on imposing himself as her 
overseer – something beyond his station and a capacity he wasn't going 
to be allowed to engage in. However, in the confines of his stuffy 
office it might have been that she'd exaggerated his stance. Now, 
driving along the open road with the sun breaking through the clouds 
and the countryside a verdant green, Daisy began to question whether 
she'd acted negatively to Jeffries; whether it was she who was clouding 
the atmosphere, searching for problems that didn't exist. 

But why spend time considering such irrelevancies? She needed her sights
set on her plan of action – one soon to be activated. With heightened 
resolve, Daisy turned into the lane leading to the nature reserve lodge 
and cast aside her meanderings. Approaching her she saw the lodge's 
green Land Rover with Adam at the wheel. He gestured for her to pull 
over, and she obliged by drawing into a lay-by. ‘Since you're running 
late, I'm filling in for you at the school lecture at Silver Pines,' he 
said, his floppy dark hair hanging out the window. 

‘Oh – my, clean forgot,' Daisy groaned, slapping her forehead. ‘Well,
thanks for covering, anyway.' 

‘No problem – oh, there's some late mail on your desk. Ahm – how did
your meeting go?' 

‘You mean with Jeffries? Fine. The important thing is that most of the
formalities are dispensed with – a few papers to sign and all sewn up.' 


‘And you haven't changed your mind?' 

Here we go again, another prod. Daisy rifled her fingers through her
hair. ‘No. Why the hell should I?' 

‘Hey, don't be so jumpy.” Adam leaned his arms on the Land Rover's
window rim and held out a hand. ‘It's not like you; I only meant it's a 
big step.' 

Daisy gritted her teeth, resentment was surfacing, and she'd be damned
if she'd listen to Adam's endless doubts and reservations. ‘Will you 
back off? We've been through that. See you later.' Without giving him a 
chance of reply, she slipped her car into gear, completing the 
remaining two hundred metres to the lodge at a faster pace than was 
good. That mental corset was tightening again, causing her to reflect 
once more on whether it was her own attitude that was the problem 
rather than those around her. Was she being jumpy as Adam had said? Was 
that what was causing any discord? 

High on her list of priorities was the need to speak to Penny Finch and
Alison Palmer, two of the girls in the office who were willing to join 
her at the Hall, if nothing else it would help with the upkeep, but 
firstly there was the morning mail to contend with. Penny and Alison 
were busy on their phones when she walked in; the small pile of mail 
was neatly stacked on her desk and she fingered through it, only a 
typed rectangular envelope addressed to her personally drawing her 
attention. Noting the anchor-like logo in the top left corner she slit 
it open. 

Headed, Anchor Estate Management, Portobello Mews, Bridgeford, Sussex,
it read – 

Dear Ms Truman, 

As the new incumbent of Harvest Hall, might we offer our congratulations
and sincere hopes that your stay at the Hall will be a lengthy and 
enjoyable one. May we also draw your attention to our estate management 
services, professionally run for over fifty years. We supply efficient 
and first-rate staff to estates such as yours and are able to maintain 
the everyday running of your property and surroundings to the highest 


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