Read Online Finding Home by Lauren Westwood - Free Book Online Page B

asks.
    â€˜Well, since the heirs want a quick sale, they could auction it. They might find a buyer, but it’s unlikely to get them “top-dollar”, so to speak.’
    â€˜And what will?’
    â€˜Finding the
right
buyer,’ Mr Bowen-Knowles says smugly. ‘Someone with the cash and wherewithal to jump through the planning and listed building hoops to develop it.’ He rubs his chin. ‘I’m thinking top-end luxury flats. Swimming pool complex, spa, the works. I saw some outbuildings as we came in – a stables and what-not. Perfect for conversion.’
    â€˜Flats!’ I blurt out. ‘But that would be awful.’
    Mr Bowen-Knowles glares at me. This time, I ignore him.
    â€˜Surely it should be a family home, with people to love it,’ I say. ‘That’s what it was intended to be. Or else restore it and open it up to the public. And also, we need to make sure that Mrs Bradford isn’t displaced too abruptly.’
    â€˜Amy…’ Mr Bowen-Knowles’s voice holds a ‘one more word and you’re sacked’ warning in it.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ I say. ‘It just seems a shame. There’s so much history here. Shouldn’t it be preserved?’
    Mr Kendall gives me a kindly smile. ‘I’ve been solicitor to the Windham family for years, and yes, you’re right, Henry Windham would have wanted the house to be preserved in its original state. But unfortunately, there’s no money in the estate for that. And Mrs Bradford will be fine. My job is to sell the house and obtain the highest price possible for Mr Jack and Ms Flora.’ He kicks at a cracked stone with the toe of his polished shoe. ‘And flats… well… yes, if you can find someone to do a conversion, it would be a good result.’ He looks up at me. ‘The alternative might be even worse.’
    â€˜How?’ I challenge.
    â€˜There’s a rumour going around that a big American developer called Hexagon is buying up land around here for a golf course and recreation complex. “Golf Heritage” they call it – there’s another one near Minehead.’
    â€˜Ah,’ Mr Bowen-Knowles says, like he’s sorry he didn’t think of that.
    â€˜There’s lots of local support around her for more recreation facilities,’ Mr Kendall adds.
    I shake my head, picturing this amazing, special house with checked-trouser-clad golfers clomping through it, a pro-shop just off the main hall. Sprinklers watering the lawn and golf buggies zipping over hill and dale. A huge car park out front; a floodlit driving range at the side. Simon and Ashley coming here for a long weekend of Pimm’s on the terrace, canoodles on the eighteenth green, ‘his and her’ massages in the spa. ‘Golf Heritage’: a historical tragedy.
    â€˜What about the National Trust or English Heritage?’ I challenge. ‘Surely, they must have some say in what happens?’
    Mr Kendall shrugs. ‘There are lots of derelict old piles around and nowhere near enough money to fix them all. Hexagon can’t demolish the place if that’s what you’re worried about.’ He sighs. ‘But I’m afraid that they don’t have the best reputation for conservation.’
    â€˜Really, in what way—?’
    Mr Bowen-Knowles holds up his hand to cut me off. ‘Has Hexagon made an offer?’ he asks.
    â€˜Not officially. They threw out a figure, but frankly, it was nowhere near what the heirs were expecting. I told them as much.’
    Mr Bowen-Knowles laughs. ‘It’s an old trick,’ he says. ‘Force them to auction it and Hexagon will pick it up for a song. Unless,
we
can find you a buyer.’
    â€˜And can you?’
    Mr Bowen-Knowles nods. ‘Having come here today,’ he says, ‘I’m confident that
Tetherington Bowen Knowles
can achieve the best possible price for the property. In