‘Sorry, I’m in a terrible mess,’ Ebba added, holding up her hands. ‘We’d better skip the handshake.’
‘Don’t worry. I know you’re in the middle of renovating. I’m more concerned about… well, about everything else you’re having to deal with right now.’
‘So Erica told you what happened?’ asked Ebba, although it was more of a statement than a question.
‘I heard about the fire. And the other thing,’ said Anna. Finding blood under the floor of your house seemed such an absurd discovery that she couldn’t bring herself to say the words out loud.
‘We’re trying to keep working as best we can,’ said Tobias. ‘We can’t afford not to.’
From inside the house came the sound of voices and splintering floorboards.
‘The tech team is still here,’ Ebba explained. ‘They’re breaking up the entire dining-room floor.’
‘Are you sure it’s safe for you to stay?’ Anna realized it was none of her business, but there was something about this couple that aroused her maternal instincts.
‘We’re fine,’ said Tobias, his voice strangely flat. He reached out to embrace Ebba, but as if anticipating the move she stepped away and his arm dropped to his side.
‘So you’re in need of a little help, is that right?’ said Anna, wanting to change the subject. The mood was so oppressive that she was finding it hard to breathe.
Tobias seemed grateful of the distraction. ‘As I said on the phone, we’re at a loss how to proceed once the basic remodelling’s finished. Interior design isn’t our thing.’
‘I really admire what you’re doing. This is quite a job you’ve taken on. But I think it’s going to be wonderful. I can picture a slightly old-fashioned, shabby country style, with rustic white furniture, pastel colours, romantic roses, lovely linen fabrics, pewter, and interesting little knick-knacks that will catch the eye.’ The images whirled through her head as she talked. ‘I don’t think expensive antiques would be right here – better to go for a mixture of flea-market finds and reproduction furniture that we can rough up to look old. All you need is some steel-wool and chains and…’
Tobias laughed, and his face lit up. Anna found herself thinking that he was quite attractive.
‘You certainly know what you want. But keep talking. I think it sounds good to both of us.’
Ebba nodded. ‘That’s exactly the way I envisioned things too. I just hadn’t a clue how to go about it, from a practical point of view.’ She frowned. ‘Our budget is almost non-existent. And I suppose you’re used to being able to spend a lot and command a high salary-’
Anna interrupted her. ‘I understand your situation – Tobias already explained. But you would be my first clients, so if you’re pleased with my work, I could use you as a reference. I’m sure we can agree on a price that’s within your budget. As for the furnishings, the idea is to make everything look as if it’s inherited or bought in a flea market. I’d view it as a challenge to get by as cheaply as we can.’
Her sales pitch delivered, Anna held her breath and waited for their response. She wanted this commission so badly, and what she’d just told Ebba and Tobias was true. To be given a free hand in turning the old summer camp into the gem of the archipelago would be the perfect way to launch her new enterprise.
‘I have my own business too, so I know exactly what you mean. Word of mouth is the best form of advertizing.’ Ebba seemed almost shy about mentioning this.
‘What kind of business do you have?’ asked Anna.
‘Jewellery. I make silver necklaces, with angel motifs.’
‘Sounds wonderful. How did you come to start doing that?’
It was as if the shutters had come down: Ebba lowered her eyes and turned her face. Embarrassed, Tobias dived in to break the silence.
‘We can’t say when we’ll be done with the renovation work. The police investigation and the damage in the front hall from the fire have thrown off our schedule, so it’s hard to judge how long it will be before you can start.’
‘That doesn’t matter, I can fit in with whatever suits you,’ said Anna, still puzzling over Ebba’s reaction to her question. ‘Perhaps for the time being we could just discuss colour choices for the walls, things like that. And then I could do some sketches for you and start checking out local auctions to see if I can find anything.’
‘That sounds perfect,’ said Tobias. ‘We’re hoping to be open on a small scale by Easter of next year, and then get into full swing by summer.’
‘So we have plenty of time. Is it okay if I walk around and jot down some notes before I leave?’
‘Of course. Make yourself at home,’ said Tobias. Then he thought of something. ‘But you’d better stay out of the dining room.’
‘No problem. I can come back another time to see that.’
Ebba and Tobias went off to resume what they’d been doing when she arrived and left her to wander about in peace. She took copious notes, feeling enthusiasm bubbling up inside of her. This place could be so amazing. It could be the start of her new life.
Percy’s hand shook as he prepared to sign the documents. He took a deep breath to calm himself. Buhrman, his attorney, frowned.
‘Are you absolutely sure about this, Percy? Your father would not have approved.’
‘Father is dead!’ he snapped, but quickly murmured an apology and then went on. ‘It may seem drastic, but it’s either this or sell the manor.’
‘What about a bank loan?’ said Buhrman. He had been Percy’s father’s attorney as well. Percy wondered how old he actually was. Thanks to all the hours he spent on the golf course near his home in Mallorca he resembled a mummy; his body was in such a state he could have been put on display in a museum.
‘What do you take me for? Of course I’ve spoken to the bank.’ Again Percy had to force himself to lower his voice and speak calmly. Burhman had a tendency to speak to him as if he were still a boy. He seemed to forget that Percy was now Count von Bahrn. ‘They made it very clear that they no longer wish to offer me help.’
Buhrman raised a startled eyebrow. ‘But we’ve always had such a good relationship with Svenska Banken. Your father and the old director both attended Lundsberg Gymnasium. Are you sure you spoke to the right person? Shall I try to arrange a meeting? They ought to-’
‘The old director left the bank a long time ago,’ Percy cut in. He was on the verge of losing all patience with Burhman. ‘In fact, he left this world so long ago that bones are probably all that’s left of him. We live in a different world now. The bank is staffed by bean-counters and young whippersnappers from the School of Economics. They have no idea how to behave. We’re talking about the kind of people who take off their shoes indoors!’ Angrily he signed the final document and shoved it across to the attorney, who was shaking his head, utterly perplexed.
‘Well, I do think it’s strange,’ he said. ‘Next thing you know they’ll be trying to abolish the laws governing entailed estates so that properties can be divided up willy-nilly. Speaking of which – couldn’t you speak to your siblings about this? Mary has married into wealth, and Charles is making a fortune on his restaurants, from what I understand. Maybe they would be willing to help out. You’re family, after all.’
Percy stared at him. The old man was out of his mind. Had he forgotten the heated arguments and lawsuits that followed his father’s death fifteen years ago? Percy’s siblings had been foolish enough to challenge the law which entitled him, as the eldest son, to inherit the estate in its entirety. Fortunately, the law was very clear. Fygelsta Manor was his birthright and his alone. It might have been considered proper to share some of the estate with his siblings, but after their wilful attempt to take from him what was legally his, he hadn’t felt particularly generous. So they’d been left empty-handed; and to add insult to injury they’d had to pay his legal expenses. As Buhrman said, neither of them was hurting financially, and that was something Percy consoled himself with whenever he felt a pang of guilt. But there was no way he would ever approach them, cap in hand.