by Heidi Swain
The lights were on in the kitchen by the time we got back and for the first time ever I felt dubious about crossing the threshold, but I needn’t have worried. Catherine was very definitely still in charge, and listening to her at the helm I knew there would be no more drama or falling out on her watch. And neither, for a while, would there be time to worry about my own preoccupations, which was probably no bad thing.
‘Excellent,’ she said, when Jamie and I walked into the kitchen. ‘Two more early birds for the Wynthorpe breakfast table.’
Hugo and Oscar were already happily ensconced and tucking into bowls of steaming porridge. Their parents, however, didn’t look quite so bright-eyed and Archie, who arrived at exactly the same time as us, looked exhausted.
‘I think I’ll just go and freshen up,’ I said, keen not to be in his presence for any longer than was absolutely necessary.
‘Don’t disappear on my account,’ he said, eyeing me through tired, bruised eyes and sounding far less boisterous than he had just a few hours ago. He ran his hands through his mussed-up hair and yawned. ‘And if it makes any difference, Elise won’t be down for ages.’
I wasn’t sure if he was actually trying to make amends, but a least his comments acknowledged that he was aware that I had been hurt by how the pair had spoken to me the night before.
‘Well, she better not be too long,’ Catherine cut in before I had time to respond, ‘because I have jobs for you all this morning. And I do mean all of you.’
‘I thought everyone around here got a day off on a Sunday,’ Archie grimaced, pulling out a chair and plonking himself heavily down on it.
‘Normally they do, but not today,’ said his mother sternly, ‘and especially not when there’s a Christmas Fair to organise in record time.’
As it turned out, Catherine hadn’t slept well either and had been on the phone long before it was light, doing what she could to ensure that the annual Fair would still go ahead, albeit at an entirely different venue.
‘As Jamie suggested last night,’ she explained to us all, ‘the Fair really shouldn’t be cancelled and therefore I have arranged for it to happen here this year. It will be going ahead on Tuesday as discussed, so it won’t interfere with the Solstice celebration, and setting up will commence tomorrow afternoon, which means—’
‘Trees and decorating today?’ asked Oscar hopefully.
‘Sort of trees and decorating today,’ she said, fondly stroking his hair. ‘I’m going to put you boys,’ she added, looking between her three sons and two grandsons, ‘in charge of fetching everything down from the lofts and positioning the trees that Mick has been tending to in the stable block since the auction. Then we can all come together to decorate them tomorrow and put everything else up at the same time.’
‘OK,’ said Jamie and Christopher together, while Archie shrugged and the two boys squealed in excitement.
‘And Anna,’ said Catherine, turning to me, ‘I was wondering if you could possibly design some posters explaining the change of venue and run them to town while the rest of us carry on with things here?’
‘Of course,’ I said obligingly.
I was more than happy to have the opportunity to make myself scarce for a while. Archie’s exhaustion might have taken the edge off his attitude but I was sure it wouldn’t last long, and as far as Elise was concerned, well, being tired wouldn’t do her any favours at all.
‘And, if you think you’ll have time, I have another little errand,’ Catherine added, ‘but I’ll fill you in on that after you’ve had your shower.’
With everyone occupied – apart from Elise, who Archie still couldn’t coax out of bed – the festive feeling at the hall, both inside and out, quickly cranked up a notch, and I took a moment to run a duster over Angus’s beloved Advent calendar and brace myself for what was to come.
Jamie had been setting the Christmas pace for me up until that point, but with the time slipping by and the arrival of two understandably very excited children, the rollercoaster was off and running and there was no chance of jumping off now. Not that I found I wanted to. If anything it was a relief to have so much to do because it stopped me brooding over my own miserable Christmas memories.
The next few days looked set to form the backdrop for the perfect country-house Christmas, assuming the adults could be mature enough to put their differences aside, and I was very keen to be a part of it. The only person who seemed hell-bent on spoiling the party was Elise, but if Jamie was right, she wouldn’t be around all that much longer, and I looked forward to her potential departure almost as much as I was beginning to look forward to Santa’s imminent arrival.
‘I hope you don’t mind taking these to town, Anna, dear,’ said Catherine as she watched over my shoulder in the morning room while I hastily prepared some posters advertising the change of date and venue for the Fair on my laptop.
‘Not at all,’ I told her truthfully, as I copied and pasted in a lovely photograph of the hall in the snow. ‘And what was the other job you needed me to do?’
She crossed the room and quietly closed the door.
‘Would you be a love and go and pick Angus up from the hospital?’
I stopped what I was doing and looked up at her in surprise.
‘He’s really coming home today?’ I asked. ‘But it’s Sunday. I thought they were going to keep him in until at least tomorrow.’
That was what we had all been counting on anyway. It was amazing how much more we had all achieved when we didn’t have to stop and keep one eye on our employer and his mad antics. If Catherine really was in earnest then I would have to warn Jamie that he didn’t have the extra hours he had been banking on to get the lights up and finished after all.
‘He’s driving them all potty,’ said Catherine, sounding deadly serious. ‘That’s the staff as well as some of the patients.’
‘Oh dear,’ I said, biting my lip to stop myself from laughing.
It wasn’t funny really, but it was a relief to know that the blow to the head hadn’t had too much of a calming impact on my employer’s personality.
‘The duty sister wants him out,’ she continued in a low voice, ‘before he has the place in even more turmoil.’
Clearly there was already some turmoil, and I thought of the poor overworked, underpaid staff with more than a little sympathy.
‘Fair enough,’ I said, quickly skimming over the details on the poster once more before I hit the print icon. ‘In that case I’ll collect him after I’ve dropped these off at The Mermaid.’
‘And I was hoping,’ Catherine added, ‘that you would explain to him about Archie’s reaction to the news that Jamie’s taking over here before you get back.’
I stopped what I was doing as the significance of what she was suggesting sank in. Surely it wasn’t my place to talk about any of that with Angus?
‘But wouldn’t that be better coming from either Jamie or Christopher?’ I asked, keen to pass on the responsibility.
‘Probably,’ she sighed, ‘but unfortunately they’re both still so het up about the situation that I can’t trust either of them to just explain the facts without resorting to drama.’
She was right of course.
‘And the last thing Angus needs right now,’ I said thoughtfully, ‘is more drama.’
‘Exactly,’ Catherine smiled, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. ‘I knew you’d understand, and don’t worry,’ she added with a wink, ‘I’ll warn Jamie so he can get a head start with the lights.’
Much to my delight, and Floss’s disappointment, there was no sign of either Elise or Suki before I set off for Wynbridge and I hoped Catherine would have a chance to properly set her straight about my role at the hall before Angus and I got back.
Archie had gone off willingly enough with his brothers to start on the tree and decoration chores and, as far as I could tell, his spoilt other half was the only real fly in the ointment at the moment. Left to his own devices I was sure Archie would soon see t
he error of his ways and come to terms with why Jamie was taking over and not him, and with a stroke of luck he might even end up thinking it was actually all for the best. But not if Elise was there to keep winding him up and sticking her perfectly sculpted little nose in, of course.
I knew Jamie was sure she would soon be flouncing off, but I was suddenly concerned that she wasn’t the type to give up without a fight. I could all too easily imagine that if she didn’t end up getting her own way she wouldn’t think twice about spoiling the party, and indeed the whole of Christmas, for everyone else.
The day was glacial but clear and bright as I set off for town and, in spite of the current problems back at the hall, I found myself smiling as I crossed the River Wyn and parked up in the quiet market square. There were no stalls set up because it was Sunday, but a few of the shops were open and, with the ginormous trees and various shop-front lights and seasonal displays, the little town really did look as pretty as anywhere featured on the Hallmark television Christmas channel.
The smile lighting up my face was as much for myself as the jolly spectacle and I could feel a bubbling sense of excitement building in my belly as the Big Day drew ever nearer. I felt so proud of just how far I had come, with Jamie’s help of course, in such a short space of time. My unexpected enthusiasm for the season really was nothing short of a Christmas miracle.
Jim was just opening The Mermaid door to begin his day of trading as I gathered together the posters and locked my car. He waved to me across the square and beckoned me over.
‘Just the man,’ I said, handing over the bundle of posters. ‘Catherine said you were happy to put up a few of these and pass on some others to promote the change of plan for the Fair.’
‘Absolutely,’ he beamed, leading me back inside and out of the chilly air. ‘Evelyn and I are happy to help however we can.’
‘Even though the loss of trade is a bit of a blow,’ said Evelyn from her station behind the pumps. ‘We’re usually packed out in here when the Fair’s on but we won’t see a soul if they’re all at the hall.’
‘Well it can’t be helped, my love,’ shrugged Jim. ‘And at least the Fair isn’t cancelled altogether. I think we’ll be able to weather one day’s loss of takings.’
‘I suppose,’ she relented with a disgruntled sniff before disappearing through to the back.
‘And what about the town hall itself?’ I asked as I heard the pub door open and close behind me, the Wynbridge wind dancing momentarily around my ankles. ‘Is the damage really bad?’
‘Here’s the chap you need to ask about that,’ said Jim, nodding to someone over my shoulder. ‘He was first on the scene.’
‘And last to leave,’ piped up a voice I recognised.
‘Charlie,’ I said, turning to face him.
‘Hello again, Anna,’ he smiled. ‘You haven’t been here all night waiting for me to come back, have you?’
We all laughed at the thought and I accepted Charlie’s offer of a belated drink while he explained what had happened inside the town hall. Just as Dorothy and I had predicted, it had been the out-of-control heating thermostat that had caused the trouble, but thankfully the damage wasn’t anywhere near as bad as some were making out and the place would be up and running again in no time at all. From what I could make out, the New Year’s Eve party was in no real danger of being cancelled.
‘But of course it’s a cruel blow for the Christmas Fair,’ said Charlie, shaking his head.
‘It is,’ I agreed, ‘but all’s not lost.’
‘No?’
‘Catherine has offered Wynthorpe Hall as an alternative venue,’ I explained, handing him one of the posters. ‘So it isn’t a complete disaster. It’s happening on Tuesday now, but running later so people can come after work if they want to, as well as during the day.’
‘Well that sounds like a wonderful idea,’ smiled Charlie, ‘and typically generous of the folk at Wynthorpe Hall.’
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘from what I’ve seen and experienced since I’ve been here I couldn’t agree more.’
‘The hall might not be right in the heart of town,’ he mused, ‘but it’s always been top of the list when it comes to helping out the community.’
I was pleased he had glossed over the recent cancellations and gaps in the social calendar that Archie’s sneaky wheedling and scaremongering about insurance had managed to achieve. If everyone in the town felt as grateful for the Connelly family’s generosity as Charlie did, then I had no doubts that everyone would get behind the charity venture when the time came to go public.
‘In that case,’ I said, draining my glass and hopping off my stool, ‘I can’t help thinking the townsfolk are very lucky. Especially now Jamie has come home.’
Charlie looked at me for a second and I quickly reached for my coat to avoid having to look back. I hoped a dreamy sigh hadn’t escaped my lips when I mentioned Jamie’s name, but given the intent way Charlie was looking at me I had a horrible feeling that it might have.
‘Indeed they are,’ he said, helping me into my coat. ‘And the people who end up working there don’t do too badly either, with or without the full complement of Connelly sons residing under the roof.’
That much I knew for myself, but I didn’t comment. I didn’t trust myself not to make more of a hash of the conversation than I already had.
‘Are you still planning to move on after Christmas?’ Charlie asked when I didn’t say anything. ‘Or are you staying put?’
It never ceased to amaze me just how much everyone in a small community knew about everyone else’s business. I hadn’t realised my allotted time as a Wynthorpe employee was such common knowledge.
‘My contract will come to an end in January,’ I said evasively.
Charlie looked at me and winked.
‘That wasn’t actually what I asked,’ he smiled knowingly.
Chapter 26
‘Are you here to collect Mr Connelly?’ asked a harassed-looking nurse, the second I set foot through the double doors that led to the few tiny wards in the little hospital in Wynbridge.
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘yes I’m here to take him home.’
‘Thank God,’ she said, jumping up from her chair in the nurses’ station. ‘Let me help you find him and then we’ll get the discharge procedure underway.’
‘Don’t you know where he is?’ I asked.
‘Keeping tabs on Mr Connelly,’ she sighed resignedly, ‘has not been easy, I’m afraid.’
‘Of course,’ I said sympathetically.
I could well imagine that Angus hadn’t in any way conformed to the usual docile patient who arrived with concussion and mild hypothermia.
‘Let’s get his things together first,’ said the nurse, ‘and then we’ll track him down.’
Considering he hadn’t been at the hospital for more than a day and a half, the area around his bed was cluttered with an awful lot of things. Discarded clothes, newspapers covered in scribbles and drawings, a couple of origami swans and a few too many toffee wrappers littered the little table and locker. As far as I could tell, the blow to the head hadn’t changed Angus’s personality in the slightest. But perhaps that was a good thing. In truth I think I would have been disappointed to find him anything other than his rascally old self.
‘Mr Connelly has been telling everyone that there’s a new family member at the hall,’ said the nurse as we began sorting and tidying. ‘Can I take it that’s you then?’
I wasn’t quite sure how to answer her question. Obviously I was the newest addition to the fold, but being called ‘family’ so soon after my arrival was still taking some getting used to. The fact that I liked it so much actually made me feel rather vulnerable, because I didn’t know how I was going to feel if I did decide to leave when my official time was up. It had been a long time since I’d had family to lose and I didn’t much like the thought of parting company with the Connellys, who had so readily welcomed me as one of their own. And of course the thought of leaving J
amie tugged sharply at my heartstrings.
‘I’m currently working there,’ I said, not wanting to put too fine a point on my role. ‘I’m helping Mrs Connelly recover from her recent surgery. I’m not sure if that makes me count as family though.’
But of course I knew it did. Every one of them had told me so on more than one occasion, and I felt myself go hot as I thought how they would feel should they have been privy to my side of this conversation with the nurse. They would probably be most offended that I hadn’t confirmed myself as one of their close-knit clan.
‘Are you a nurse then?’ she asked.
‘No,’ I said, ‘not really. I’m more of a companion and carer really.’
‘Mr Connelly said you’d given them all a bit of a shake-up since you arrived,’ she went on, obviously having assumed that I was the new family member he had been talking about. ‘He was saying something about how you and the youngest son were the future of the hall.’
‘Well, I don’t know about that,’ I laughed, trying to make a joke out of this life-changing declaration. ‘I’m sure you know for yourself that Mr Connelly comes out with a lot of things. Perhaps it was the concussion talking.’
‘Perhaps,’ she shrugged, thankfully not pursuing the subject further. ‘Let’s go and find him, shall we?’
I used the time we were searching the wards to gather my thoughts and compose myself. What on earth had made Angus say all of that? Was it actually the blow to the head or had he really picked up on the fact that Jamie and I had feelings for one another, even though I had been determined to keep them under wraps? I was going to have to watch my step around him from now on. I didn’t mind Angus and Catherine and the rest of the staff knowing that I was considering staying on to help set up the charity, but I wasn’t sure I was too keen on the idea of everyone mulling over the state of my heart as well.
I might have fallen headlong for the boss’s son, but I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do about it and consequently didn’t want it becoming common knowledge. Thanks to her astute observation and womanly intuition it appeared Cass had noticed and guessed more than I was happy for her to know. She had seemed happy enough, but I dreaded to think how the others would feel about it all. The thought of Elise cottoning on that ‘the help’ had fallen for the boy above stairs was too excruciating to be borne, and that was even before I had considered what she might say.
