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Escape to the Cotswolds
Natalie Kleinman
‘What a wonderful romance…I simply loved it!’ Lori Belcher (NetGalley Reviewer)Can love blossom in the countryside?Artist Holly Hunter is turning her life upside-down! She’s leaving the bright lights of London (and a cheating husband) behind her and hoping for a fresh start as she escapes to the peaceful Cotswolds countryside.Men are off the cards for Holly. Instead, she’s focusing on her little gallery and adopting an adorable Border Collie puppy named Tubs. Or so she thought…Because no matter how hard she tries to resist him, local vet Adam Whitney is utterly gorgeous. And in a village as small as this one, Holly can only avoid Adam for so long!Fans of Milly Johnson, Caroline Roberts and Jill Mansell will love this heart-warming read!
Can love blossom in the countryside?
Artist Holly Hunter is turning her life upside down! She’s leaving the bright lights of London (and a cheating husband) behind her and hoping for a fresh start as she escapes to the peaceful Cotswolds countryside.
Men are off the cards for Holly. Instead, she’s focusing on her little gallery and adopting an adorable Border Collie puppy named Tubs. Or so she thought …
Because no matter how hard she tries to resist him, local vet Adam Whitney is utterly gorgeous. And in a village as small as this one, Holly can only avoid Adam for so long!
Escape to the Cotswolds this summer with this uplifting romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Jane Costello, Holly Martin and Carole Matthews.
Escape to the Cotswolds
Natalie Kleinman
ONE PLACE. MANY STORIES
Contents
Cover (#ua198989e-05f8-5a7d-b192-fa45e8f27f3c)
Blurb (#u46bf085c-765d-5e29-b370-003564f1ec8f)
Title Page (#u15bcc52a-5566-50b9-86ee-0917ca1ea514)
Author Bio (#ud447e1cb-d4dc-5981-b980-9973a3c7992c)
Acknowledgements (#uaa71f406-0c4c-5018-97aa-3533e0ef39a0)
Dedication (#u85c7e6f8-656e-5d7f-870c-01015718454c)
Chapter One (#ulink_f52eff84-2195-5aaf-b39f-2c30b293eafc)
Chapter Two (#ulink_0f2805db-ec4b-5db9-97a0-e0c4ff6fcc54)
Chapter Three (#ulink_923a1cc9-5ea0-5263-a743-20d45da4a6c4)
Chapter Four (#ulink_2e10b6a8-9fd8-5210-bf51-21303d584f15)
Chapter Five (#ulink_d6435922-5c02-5f75-9f00-079306344a85)
Chapter Six (#ulink_2e797cc8-2ec4-5ec5-90f3-c772871ab72c)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Endpages (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
NATALIE KLEINMAN
a born and bred Londoner, has a not-so-secret wish to live in the area she so enjoys writing about. While this isn’t practical at the moment, she still allows herself to dream of honey-coloured stone cottages, quaint villages and rippling brooks. Maybe one day.
A late-comer to writing, she has two published novels and many short stories to her name. She attributes her success to a determination to improving her craft, attending any and every writing event she can. All that, and a weekly attendance at The Write Place Creative School in Dartford, where cream cakes are frequently on the agenda.
Natalie lives with her husband, Louis, in Blackheath, south-east London - except when she’s tripping off to the Cotswolds in the name of research. Somebody has to do it!
You can find Natalie on Twitter @NatKleinman or Facebook www.facebook.com/natalie.kleinman (http://www.facebook.com/natalie.kleinman)
Thank you to Charlotte Mursell and Rayha Rose, my editors at HarperCollins HQ, whose enthusiasm and support have been a beacon lighting my way. To Elaine Everest who runs The Write Place Creative Writing School in Dartford. She has mentored and sometimes bullied me and, even in the midst of her own busy writing life, still always finds time for her students. She has taught me so much. To The Romantic Novelists Association who opened up a whole new world to me – one which continues to expand. My faithful beta readers, Jean, Moya and Bren, willing from the word go to read and reread till a stage was reached when my manuscript was fit to submit. To my daughters Carole and Tracy and my sister Rhona whose faith in me was absolute. And to my husband who cooks and cleans for me, encourages and enthuses, and never ever by hint or word suggests that I am neglecting him, which I know I do.
To my husband, Louis
Who doesn’t seem to mind how many times I ask him to take me to The Cotswolds
Chapter One (#u087cf73f-931b-5769-b50f-a7645a10a441)
‘I’m leaving him, Emma.’
There was determination in her voice but an underlying hesitation as well.
‘And not a moment too soon, if you ask me.’
When Holly pulled the corkscrew out of her strawberry-blonde curls the side bits were just long enough to reach her mouth. It had been a habit since childhood, sucking the ends of her hair when she was agitated.
‘Yeah, well it’s easy for you to say,’ Holly said, the tiniest edge to her voice. She was never short with Emma, her oldest friend and her shoulder to cry on. At the moment though she was understandably distraught and Emma took it in good part.
‘No, of course it isn’t. But it’s time you showed Harry what you’re really made of.’
‘He’s seen what I’m made of. He just doesn’t seem to be interested any more.’
‘Oh, Holly, you have to get yourself out of there and as soon as possible.’
Holly sucked harder on her hair while conjuring up a picture of her best friend on the other end of the phone: willowy and with long thick dark waves that Holly had envied ever since they were nine years old. She still found it hard to believe Emma was the mother of six-year-old twins.
‘So have you decided what you’re going to do?’
‘No, I’ve just been getting through one day at a time. I haven’t even told Harry yet.’
‘And you’re waiting for what exactly?’
‘Courage.’
‘Oh, Holly,’ Emma repeated then paused, as if she didn’t quite know what to say next. ‘Do you want me to come over?’
In spite of her pain Holly smiled. ‘What, like hop on a bus, you mean? Emma, I live in London. You’re in the middle of the country.’
‘Why don’t you come and stay with us then? Just for a while, just till you work out what to do next.’
Holly’s mouth, and her fingers, fell open. and the curl dropped away and sprang back into place.
‘What, just ditch everything? I have a job remember.’
‘You must have holiday time owing. Take extended leave and see what happens. Why not?’
‘You don’t think a husband and two small boys are reason enough?’
‘You don’t have two small boys!’
‘You, you fool,’ Holly said, with a ready smile even in these circumstances.
Emma’s voice, naturally deep, lowered even further.
‘I suppose you’re right.’
It sounded bald. Holly tried to disperse the lump in her throat. ‘You’ve got enough to do without me there as well,’ she said, hoping her token protest hadn’t prompted Emma to change her mind.
There was a long wait when not even a crackle could be heard on the line. And then, with steel in her voice that could have cut paper: ‘For heaven’s sake, Holly, how long have you known me? Since for ever! And Tom since you were eighteen. As for the boys … In any case, don’t think it’s going to be a picnic. You’ll be washing the dishes, scrubbing the floors, helping with Jake and Jamie …’
Holly felt relief flood through her whole body. She realised she’d been holding her breath.
‘In that case I can’t think of anything I’d rather do right now – that is if you really don’t mind.’
‘Don’t be stupid.’
‘I guess I’d better break the news to Harry then. Can I let you know when, just as soon as I’ve sorted things out here?’
‘Whenever you’re ready, but don’t put it off any more. It’s time, Holly.’
Holly swallowed hard. Telling Emma had made it a reality. She was right. It was time to move on.
‘Just out of interest, Hol, what’s the bastard done now? Another woman? Again?’
‘Does a leopard change its spots? I don’t think any of them ever last very long. It’s happened so often he’s become careless. His shirt absolutely reeked of perfume when I took it out of the laundry box this morning, and it definitely wasn’t my perfume. If the smell is anything to go by his latest certainly doesn’t count subtlety among her attributes. Still, I don’t suppose that’s the sort of attribute Harry’s looking for. It’s the last time though. I should have made this decision a long time ago.’
***
It didn’t take Holly long to realise that a distance of almost a hundred miles didn’t mean she’d left her old life behind her. Emma and her family made her as welcome as anyone could but Holly’s heart was in London; at least it was at first.
In spite of a determination to start anew and reminding herself she was after all only in her late twenties she found herself thinking, not of the bad times with Harry, but of the trips to the theatre, the candlelit dinners – at home and in some of the countless wonderful restaurants in the capital. Harry was an attentive and charming host and she had to keep reminding herself that he’d been attentive and charming to several other young women as well. It wasn’t really until she began house-hunting though that she started looking forward instead of back.
***
‘I’ve been checking out the property market,’ Emma said not long after Holly arrived. ‘Do you want me to arrange some viewings for you?’
‘Regretting your impulse already, Em?’ Holly asked, using the nickname her friend hated because she thought it made her sound like someone out of an Ian Fleming novel. Emma swiped her round the head with a tea cloth. ‘No, but I might if you carry on like that.’
‘I’m not sure I’m ready yet. Maybe I’ll just rent somewhere for a while, get out of your hair.’
‘You are not in my hair and you can stay as long as you like; you know that. Don’t even think about renting.’
Holly looked at her friend and swallowed hard. ‘I’m scared.’
Emma’s features softened immediately. She could obviously feel her friend’s pain.
‘Of the commitment? Are you changing your mind? Thinking of going back?’
‘No, not that. Definitely not that. In any case, I’ve already resigned from my job and initiated divorce proceedings. When I first came to stay it was to give me breathing space. But I’ve visited you enough over the years to know now that I want to make my home here permanently. It’s just that it’s such a big thing.’
‘Okay, I won’t push you if you’re really not ready.’
‘No, you’re right. I’ve marked time for long enough. Go ahead, make the call.’
