Being Elizabeth by Barbara Taylor Bradford

somehow nicer, better, to his way of thinking.Everything in its proper place … all of his siblings joyful, happy and still alive, and his parents, too. Sorrow struck at him hard, darkened his handsome face, and the pain of his losses made his heart clench.
    After a moment, he straightened in the saddle, and looked ahead. He was clever, determined, ambitious, and an optimist … he must not look back into the past, but ahead … and he must keep on going … going forward …
    Elizabeth interrupted his meandering thoughts when she said, ‘Robin, would you come to Stonehurst Farm with me this afternoon? I want to go over there and have a look around.’
    â€˜I’ll come with you, yes, of course. What did Kat have to say about it?’ he asked, his interest sparked.
    â€˜That it’s in perfect condition, thanks to the caretaker Briney Meadows. In fact, she went as far as to say she thinks it’s worth a small fortune. The gardens have been kept up by Alison Harden over the years, and it’s still something of a showplace. The gardens were spectacular, Robin, if you remember? We went there constantly to be with Aunt Grace Rose. She did love us so. You said she was a hoot, your favourite adult.’
    â€˜She made us laugh with her wry sense of humour, and she let us eat anything we wanted … fruitcake, chocolate mousse and custard tarts, and once you and I ate a whole trifle. She was aghast.’
    â€˜Don’t remind me!’ Elizabeth laughed. ‘I was the one who was sick afterwards. Little Greedy Guts, that was me.’
    Robert shook his head and scowled. ‘Not you, Elizabeth, you never ate enough, and Kat was always complaining you were too thin.’
    â€˜Oh, I know, she was a bit of a fusspot, wouldn’t you say? Just like you are.’
    â€˜I’m not a fusspot!’ he protested, sounding not only indignant but slightly injured.
    â€˜You were just now worrying that I couldn’t jump a little fence, that I’d break my neck.’
    â€˜Kat and Cecil and everyone else would have my guts for garters if anything happened to you when you were with me. And you know it,’ he pointed out, still indignant.
    Elizabeth merely grinned and, wanting to tease him, she spurred Crimson Lass forward, galloping ahead as fast as she could.

    Elizabeth and Robert were both carried back in time as they walked around Stonehurst Farm with Briney Meadows later that afternoon. The caretaker had worked there for fifty years and had known them when they were children.
    In every room the windows sparkled, the floors shone, the antiques gleamed. The carpets were fresh, looked newly cleaned, and there was not a speck of dust anywhere. Nothing was out of place; the house was perfect.
    â€˜I feel as if I were here only yesterday,’ Elizabeth said, turning a beaming face to Briney. ‘It’s exactly the same as it was when I was a little girl.’
    â€˜Aye, it is indeed, Miss Turner, but then Miss Grace Rose is a stickler, she always kept it up, and made sure we did. She was a perfectionist in those days, and she still is. On the phone to me all the time, issuing orders.’
    â€˜I didn’t know she still took an interest in the house, Briney,’ Elizabeth said, sounding surprised, looking at him swiftly.
    â€˜Oh, she does, Miss Turner! It’s thanks to her supervision that the house has been very well maintained and cared for over the years. And the gardens as well. I’m sorry that Alison, the gardener, isn’t here today. She’d be proud to show you around, and the sunken garden is looking lovely at the moment. You see, it’s a bit of a mild winter this year, so far anyway.’
    â€˜We noticed the gardens when we drove in,’ Robert remarked,‘and they’re spectacular – all those lovely shrubs and bushes and the copper beeches … just breathtaking.’
    Briney nodded, beaming, obviously pleased by