and they, too, were very interested . . .’
‘But I guess we could scrape up that extra thousand from somewhere.’
‘I do have an obligation to my late client’s surviving relative to obtain the best price possible. However, I also have an obligation towards the wishes expressed by Flora Chaldean in her Will. That is, to find a suitable person, or persons, to continue the occupation of Gramarye.’
I didn’t quite like the sound of that, and liked even less the feeling that I was not necessarily included in that particular grouping. Again he was looking directly at Midge.
‘What would you say,’ Ogborn went on, ‘if I allowed you a £1500 reduction?’
‘We’d say yes, Mr Ogborn,’ Midge said promptly.
‘We’d say yes,’ I agreed more slowly.
‘Then your offer is accepted,’ Ogborn said.
I breathed out a secret sigh and Midge, less introvertly, bounced in her seat. ‘That’s wonderful!’ she enthused and, unabashed, leaned over and kissed my cheek.
‘A deposit will be required, naturally,’ Ogborn told us, ‘and perhaps your own solicitor could contact me as soon as possible. I trust you are purchasing in your joint names?’
We nodded jointly at his raised eyebrows. I had a silly grin on my face and it was because of Midge’s exuberance. Not only that: I also felt good about the deal myself. Suddenly I was a man with conviction. Yes, I was going to enjoy living in the country. Nobody said it had to be completely back-to-nature. And Gramarye was going to be our first proper home together.
But still that niggly tormentor enjoyed itself at the back of my mind.
‘Um, I’m just a bit puzzled,’ I said to Ogborn. ‘Mr Bickleshift implied that a number of people were interested in the cottage.’
‘There have been six positive enquiries since the advertisement was placed and, as I’ve already informed you, I, myself, met with another young couple only yesterday.’
I felt awkward, but I couldn’t let it go. ‘So why us? Don’t get me wrong – we want to buy, the deal is as good as sealed so far as we’re concerned – but I can’t help wondering if the other offers were lower than ours.’
He seemed genuinely amused. ‘On the contrary, Mr Stringer. Those who were interested were willing to pay the full price.’
Curiouser and curiouser.
He went on: ‘But as I’ve already explained, Flora Chaldean was insistent that Gramarye be passed on to someone suitable. Several of those other prospective buyers were merely property speculators, the kind who would renovate and modernize, to sell again immediately at some exorbitant price, while others would only use the cottage as a weekend retreat. That was far from what my late client had in mind for Gramarye.’ He paused. ‘And then there were those who had altogether different purposes for the place.’
The last sentence had been said very quietly, almost to himself.
‘Sorry?’ I said.
He rested back in his chair. ‘Not important, Mr Stringer, not important. Now, I know you have a long journey ahead of you, so I shan’t detain you any further. I’ll make Bickleshift aware of our agreement and perhaps you could let me have that deposit within the next day or two – naturally my own offices will handle the conveyancing of the property.’
‘Mike . . .’ prompted Midge.
‘I can let you have a cheque right away.’ I was already reaching into my inside pocket.
‘Splendid. I’ll make out a receipt for you and then the matter will be safely in hand. The agent tells me you haven’t the problem of selling a house yourself, so that’s a complication out of the way.’
‘That’s right, we’re renting at the moment. How did Bickle-shift know that?’
‘I told him when I rang on Monday,’ came the answer from Midge. ‘I thought having no chain of contracts would be in our favour.’
She really had been so sure of the place.
We concluded our business with the solicitor, shook hands with him and left. Midge was
‘But I guess we could scrape up that extra thousand from somewhere.’
‘I do have an obligation to my late client’s surviving relative to obtain the best price possible. However, I also have an obligation towards the wishes expressed by Flora Chaldean in her Will. That is, to find a suitable person, or persons, to continue the occupation of Gramarye.’
I didn’t quite like the sound of that, and liked even less the feeling that I was not necessarily included in that particular grouping. Again he was looking directly at Midge.
‘What would you say,’ Ogborn went on, ‘if I allowed you a £1500 reduction?’
‘We’d say yes, Mr Ogborn,’ Midge said promptly.
‘We’d say yes,’ I agreed more slowly.
‘Then your offer is accepted,’ Ogborn said.
I breathed out a secret sigh and Midge, less introvertly, bounced in her seat. ‘That’s wonderful!’ she enthused and, unabashed, leaned over and kissed my cheek.
‘A deposit will be required, naturally,’ Ogborn told us, ‘and perhaps your own solicitor could contact me as soon as possible. I trust you are purchasing in your joint names?’
We nodded jointly at his raised eyebrows. I had a silly grin on my face and it was because of Midge’s exuberance. Not only that: I also felt good about the deal myself. Suddenly I was a man with conviction. Yes, I was going to enjoy living in the country. Nobody said it had to be completely back-to-nature. And Gramarye was going to be our first proper home together.
But still that niggly tormentor enjoyed itself at the back of my mind.
‘Um, I’m just a bit puzzled,’ I said to Ogborn. ‘Mr Bickleshift implied that a number of people were interested in the cottage.’
‘There have been six positive enquiries since the advertisement was placed and, as I’ve already informed you, I, myself, met with another young couple only yesterday.’
I felt awkward, but I couldn’t let it go. ‘So why us? Don’t get me wrong – we want to buy, the deal is as good as sealed so far as we’re concerned – but I can’t help wondering if the other offers were lower than ours.’
He seemed genuinely amused. ‘On the contrary, Mr Stringer. Those who were interested were willing to pay the full price.’
Curiouser and curiouser.
He went on: ‘But as I’ve already explained, Flora Chaldean was insistent that Gramarye be passed on to someone suitable. Several of those other prospective buyers were merely property speculators, the kind who would renovate and modernize, to sell again immediately at some exorbitant price, while others would only use the cottage as a weekend retreat. That was far from what my late client had in mind for Gramarye.’ He paused. ‘And then there were those who had altogether different purposes for the place.’
The last sentence had been said very quietly, almost to himself.
‘Sorry?’ I said.
He rested back in his chair. ‘Not important, Mr Stringer, not important. Now, I know you have a long journey ahead of you, so I shan’t detain you any further. I’ll make Bickleshift aware of our agreement and perhaps you could let me have that deposit within the next day or two – naturally my own offices will handle the conveyancing of the property.’
‘Mike . . .’ prompted Midge.
‘I can let you have a cheque right away.’ I was already reaching into my inside pocket.
‘Splendid. I’ll make out a receipt for you and then the matter will be safely in hand. The agent tells me you haven’t the problem of selling a house yourself, so that’s a complication out of the way.’
‘That’s right, we’re renting at the moment. How did Bickle-shift know that?’
‘I told him when I rang on Monday,’ came the answer from Midge. ‘I thought having no chain of contracts would be in our favour.’
She really had been so sure of the place.
We concluded our business with the solicitor, shook hands with him and left. Midge was
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