5
Jan and Greg drove through a large well-kept Cotswold village. Stone-built cottages surrounded the village green, which was dotted with mature oak and horse-chestnut trees. The trees seemed strange and mysterious to Jan without their friendly clothing of summer leaves. She had taken them for granted, never really seen them. Now they appeared faintly sinister, as if they knew many dark secrets.
"The essence of English charm, don't you think?" Greg's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"It's too twee for me, I'm afraid. Don't suppose anyone but yuppies can afford it."
"Well, the yuppie we've come to see has an extraordinary gift. So don't judge the contents by the packaging."
His put-down stung her. She was still smarting as he parked the Audi and she followed him dutifully up a winding g
