‘I’ll have to wait and see, won’t I?’ Fern said, glancing across at Lady snuggled in her basket. ‘Maybe Belinda will open up a bit over supper. Anyway, whatever she’s here for, it will be nice to have company for a change this evening. And a new friend for you too, if only for a few nights.’

6

On the walk back to the campsite, Belinda’s thoughts darted here, there and everywhere. One minute she was mentally remaking a list in her head of things she needed to check out, the next she was stopping to admire the view and enjoy the fresh air. The countryside here was truly beautiful.

She turned off the road onto the campsite lane and, stepping around the potholes, made her way up towards the reception chalet. There was no sign of the 2CV she’d parked alongside earlier and when she climbed the steps to try it, the chalet door was locked. Part of her was relieved that Alain Salvin had taken himself off goodness only knew where, but another part was cross that he hadn’t stayed around. A relief in one way as she could now have a good nose around without him being there. Explore by herself, take some up-to-date photographs to show Nigel the current state of the place and try to start outlining a few basic plans for improvement. At the very least, get some ideas flowing around her brain.

Standing on the steps with her back towards the reception door, looking around, Belinda realised the main access path splintered into several routes, most of which appeared to disappear under a canopy of trees or out-of-control shrubs. Overgrown foliage on either side of one of the paths, though, had been cut back recently. Belinda screwed up her eyes in an effort to read a dilapidated sun-bleached wooden sign in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint that was pinned to a tall tree. It was impossible to make any letters out, but as it seemed a reasonably clear path, she’d start her exploration along it and see where it led.

BB whined at her and shook his head; his own inimitable way of saying, ‘Unclip the lead, I want to explore’.

‘Sorry, BB, you’re on the lead for now. I don’t want you getting lost,’ Belinda said, bending down and stroking him. ‘Come on, let’s brave the jungle.’

The path she’d chosen as her starting point led her deep into the campsite. Nigel had told her it was spread over roughly six acres and in its day had won awards for its spacious layout and beautiful unspoilt setting. Wandering along the path, Belinda struggled to imagine how the neglected site had looked in the past. It was going to take a lot of work before it recovered the way Nigel insisted it would.