by Olsen, Lisa
“There’s a lot more where this came from. I have here a proposed budget for the renovation costs, and the projected revenue for the first five years. As you can see, the profit margin is off the charts once we recoup the expenses.”
“Tea, my Lady,” Mrs. Poole bustled in without bothering to knock, setting the tray on a table by the window. Grateful for the distraction, Sara busied herself with the motions of pouring out the tea, refraining from asking any other questions while Mrs. Poole loitered. “Is there anything else I can help with?” the housekeeper asked, eyes boring into the back of Cole’s head.
“No, thank you Mrs. Poole, I’ve got it,” Sara smiled curtly, the answer to her problem arriving in a flash of insight. Mrs. Poole didn’t bother to hide the pinched look of disapproval as she left, but Sara blithely ignored her, blowing over the top of her teacup.
“Well then, your Ladyship, what do you say? Are you ready to create a new chapter in the Darling Dynasty?”
“I’m sure you can appreciate that you’ve given me a lot to think about, Mr. Cole,” she said carefully, a bland smile stretching her lips. “Before we go any further, I think you should probably be going through my attorney for this, a Mr. Lowesley here in the village.” That would give her plenty of time to review the proposal, and she wouldn’t have to tell him no to his face, as she suspected she would decide to do.
“I’ve met him and frankly, the man has no vision if you ask me,” Cole smirked.
She hadn’t, but Sara didn’t mention it. “Oh good, then you know how to find him,” her smile widened as if that suited them both perfectly. “How about you write up a proposal and submit it to him, and then we can review whether or not its something we’re interested in.” Putting a vapid spin to her smile, she counted on her inexperience to sell the idea rather than having to make any snap decisions.
“Forgive me,” Cole set down his tea, a slightly condescending smile on his lips, “but it’s not up to Lowesley how you spend your money, you know. This land is yours, free and clear to do with as you will. Sir Stephen recognized that, and he was very interested in the proposition.”
“I get that. But I’m also new to the area and I don’t want to make a big decision like this without getting a little advice first. You understand, don’t you?” She didn’t much care if he did or not from the way his smile evaporated, replaced with a steely gaze, his tone almost menacing.
“You realize yours isn’t the only property we’re entertaining for the proposed properties.”
“Good, then it won’t be much of a blow if I decide to pass the deal up then, will it?” Sara smiled sweetly. Putting him off was fast becoming a formality; his attitude alone was enough to keep her from wanting to work with the guy. She couldn’t imagine that would change, even if the numbers in his proposal blew her socks off.
“Lady Darling…” he began again, but Sara cut him off. He wanted to talk to Lady Darling? She could play Lady Darling…
“Then my answer is no,” Sara drew herself up to her feet. “Thank you for stopping by.”
Cole recovered his smile, nodding slowly. “Let’s not be hasty now…”
“Oh, but that’s what you wanted, wasn’t it? A quick answer? Well, you’ve got it, I’d hate to take up any more of your time,” Sara crossed to the door and pulled it open. “I’m sure Thomas can show you the way out.”
“Lady Darling, I think you’re being rather rash here. You’re throwing away a fortune.”
“It’s my fortune to throw away,” she shrugged.
“Perhaps the decision would be better made by someone with a little business acumen. Have you thought about retaining a financial advisor? I’d be happy to recommend a very reputable firm,” he tried again.
I’ll just bet you would… Sara scowled, losing patience with the conversation. “I don’t need a business degree to know a bad deal when I hear it. If I decide to invest in thumbtacks, it’s my decision, nobody else’s, got it? Now hit the road,” she gave up any pretense of being polite. Maybe it wasn’t very ladylike, but it felt good to see the vein bulge in the side of his head.
Cole however wasn’t used to taking no for an answer. Instead of leaving, he advanced on Sara, his face thunderous. “Now see here, Madam, I’ve dropped a fair amount of quid on this proposal, and if you think I’m going to lie back and let some American twit blow this deal for me, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Sara recoiled from the harsh tone, her back colliding with the wall as she shrank away from the ugly threat. Even as she tried to find her voice and call for Thomas to try and throw him out, her salvation arrived as Will appeared by her side, a congenial smile on his face despite the tension in the room.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Cole fixed him with an unfriendly stare. “This has nothing to do with you; Lady Darling and I were discussing business.”
“As it seems to me, Sara wants nothing to do with you either.” Will surprised her by using her name, though he continued to address the man formally. “I think you’d better be on your way now, Sir.”
“As if I give a toss what you think,” Cole sneered, reaching out to shove against Will’s shoulder. “Rack off and give us a bit of privacy.”
Will took the blow with a good natured smile, but in the space of a heartbeat, his hands flashed out to grab Cole’s arm, twisting it painfully behind his back. “I think you owe her Ladyship an apology before you clear off, don’t you?” Instead of an apology, as string of curses left the man’s lips, most of which Sara couldn’t begin to fathom. “Right then, I think we’re done here.” Will shoved him bodily out of the room, frog marching him towards the door where Thomas stood at the ready. Between the two of them, they managed to get Cole out of there, and some more words were exchanged on the front steps, too low for Sara to make out.
The easy smile was back as Will came back to her. “Good thing I happened to be around, what an ass.”
“You said a mouthful,” Sara agreed, still a little shaky with the adrenaline aftermath. It was hard to remember she had reason to distrust Will after what she’d heard the night before. Then again, she’d also heard him say he didn’t like keeping things from her. “I’m very glad you were here.”
“Are you alright?” he searched her face carefully, drawing her back into the study. “He didn’t lay hands on you, did he?”
“No, I’m fine, he was all bark, no bite,” she smiled. At least she hoped so; it was a good thing she didn’t have to find out. “You’ll have to show me how you did that trick with his arm.”
“Oh no, I couldn’t do that.”
“Why, because it wouldn’t be ladylike for me to learn?” a roll of the eyes was given.
“No, because then you wouldn’t need to keep me around,” the corner of his mouth tugged up into a lopsided smile as he brought his hand to her cheek, tipping her face up to his. “Are you truly alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she nodded, leaning in to his touch. Good or bad, Sara still trusted him, and she prayed her instinct about him wasn’t proven wrong. “He got a little intense there at the end, but I don’t think he would have really tried anything physical. He had to have known I’d have his nuts in a grinder the first chance I got.”
Will winced at that colorful phrasing, “I keep forgetting you’re no shrinking violet. Well done then, my Lady. I trust you know how to take care of yourself, but I reserve the right to play the hero every now and again, for my own peace of mind.”
Sara couldn’t help but smile over the offer, the idea of him coming to her rescue again enough to send a romantic flutter through her belly to chase away the last of the jitters. “If you insist,” she agreed with a dramatic sigh. “I guess this is another argument for you staying here for a while, huh?”
“Yes, about that…”
“About that…” Sara nodded. “Mrs. Poole said she put you in the room next to mine.”
“If that’s a problem I’d be more than happy to move,” he insisted. “T
here are plenty other rooms in that wing of the house, or the servants quarters would suit me well enough.”
“No, it’s not that I object exactly,” she shook her head. “It was a bit of a surprise. I like the idea of having you close by; it’s just a little closer than I’d thought. As long as we both respect a locked door on the bathroom, I think we’re good.”
“I could certainly use another bathroom,” he offered, but she waved him off.
“No, don’t be silly. We’re both adults, right? It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Too right,” he nodded back. “I’ll respect your privacy and you’ll respect mine.”
“Exactly. Are you hungry by any chance? Suddenly I’m starving.”
“Is that a trick question?”
Chapter Twelve
Will followed her into the morning room, the breakfast meal still warm thanks to the chafing dishes. It was obvious Jack had already been through by the food pushed around the plate at one setting, but there was plenty of food left to eat.
“Are you settling in alright then?” Will asked, taking the seat opposite her at the end of the table. “Did anything happen last night after I left you?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” she replied, not wanting to bring up the overheard conversation. “Just some odd noises.”
“What kind of odd noises?”
“Creaking noises actually, like a… I don’t know really, but like someone moving around outside my room. When I looked, no one was there though.” Sara waited to see what he said to that. Would he call it her imagination, or offer up part of what he knew about Gemma’s ghost?
“Oh, all old houses have their quirks,” he shrugged. “This one more than others I expect.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because if its age and history. Sound carries in strange ways. Turning on the tap at one end of the house could send a corresponding groan at the other end of the house.”
“Oh.” Somewhat crestfallen, Sara realized she’d have to be a little more creative to get him to reveal anything interesting. “I admit, it had me a little rattled. I kept thinking maybe there was something to the ghost stories, you know?”
“I know just the thing. A picnic lunch,” Will suggested with a broad smile.
“A picnic?” An odd suggestion to her way of thinking, considering they sat at the breakfast table.
“Yeah, just you and me this time, what do you say?”
“What about Jack?”
“I have a feeling that’s your stock in trade answer,” Will waved his fork in her direction. “Would you say I’m correct?”
“He’s my son, of course I think of him first.”
Will reached for her hand across the table, covering it with his. “Maybe it’s time you learned it’s alright to put yourself first every now and again.”
Joanie slunk in looking pale and drawn, heading straight to the sideboard for a piece of toast. “Don’t mind me, go about your business,” she muttered, her voice raspy with disuse.
“How are you feeling?” Sara asked, pulling her hand from Will’s a little guiltily.
“Like crap on toast, how do you think I’m feeling?” Moving as if she was eighty years old, Joanie took the seat at the head of the table, sitting with a groan. “I think I might have broken something yesterday.”
“Where does it hurt?”
“You mean where doesn’t it hurt?” she quipped; there was nothing slow about her tongue.
“Would you like me to send for the doctor?” Will offered, looking none too pleased by the interruption, or with Sara’s withdrawal.
“That depends, is he a real physician, or is he a doctor of sheep or something?”
“He’s a bonafide people doctor. At least, I think he is. I’ve never asked to see his credentials before,” Will pretended to consider, drawing a smile from Sara.
“Do you think he could hook me up with some happy pills? All I’ve got to show for the brandy and Tylenol I took are a killer hangover. Or do you people not have anything stronger than the tea that sadistic housekeeper kept trying to foist off on me last night?”
“I’m sure the local chemist has enough to cure what ails you. I’ll go give him a ring then, shall I?” It was Sara he looked to, not Joanie and she gave him a grateful nod.
“Thanks Will.”
“Yeah, thanks Will,” Joanie echoed with a saccharine smile.
“It’s no trouble at all. I’d hate to think of you suffering while we’re out enjoying the day,” Will gave her a short nod. “I’ve a few things to attend to, and then I’ll be back to collect you. Can you be ready to go at half past eleven? That will give us plenty of time to get back before my father comes to call.”
“That works for me,” Sara agreed, losing her earlier hesitation. “I’ll see you then.”
“Until then, my Lady,” his eyes glowed with warmth as he took his leave and Sara stared at the door long after he disappeared through it, her face all soft and dreamy.
“When did that happen?” Joanie asked, helping herself to a cup of coffee.
“What?”
“You two getting all lovey dovey?”
“I don’t know… last night I guess.”
“Ooh, this sounds juicy,” she sat a little higher in her chair. “So, spill, I want details.”
“Nothing, we went out for drinks last night, no big deal. I’m sure I went to bed before you did.”
“Get outta town, and here you said you were rusty. I’ve got to hand it to you, Sara, you reeled him in quick,” Joanie winked and all at once Sara realized the assumption.
“Alone, Joanie, I went to bed alone,” she raised a brow. “But he is going to be staying with us in the house for a while.”
“Good idea, keep him close so he doesn’t stray,” Joanie nodded approvingly.
“I don’t think he’s like that.”
“Sweetie, all men are like that. Do you really think you’re the only woman he flirts with?”
That brought her up short. So far she’d only seen him be attentive to her, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t flirtatious by nature. “We’re not getting married, Joanie, we went on one date. He can flirt with anyone he wants.”
“But you definitely like him though?”
“He’s nice,” Sara admitted, and it felt nice to have a man pay attention to her again after so long.
“Really? I think he’s kind of a prig,” Joanie’s face scrunched up and Sara thought it sounded more like sour grapes to her; she’d been the one to try cozying up to Will first, even after he shot her down.
“I think he’s nice. And charming, good looking, funny…”
“Okay, he is kind of a hottie,” she grinned. “So what’s up for today? You two heading out for a little splendor in the grass?”
“Just a picnic.” Manners got the better of her even though she knew Will would hate it. “If you’d like to come along…”
“Relax, nature isn’t my thing, you’re safe. I’ll even keep Jack company for a while.”
“That’s sweet, but you don’t have to bother, I know you’re not feeling all that well.”
“I wasn’t offering to play freeze tag with him, but a nice quiet game of cards or something I could be up for. I need a chance to win back some of what I lost to him on the flight over.”
“I told you, the two of you should have stuck with Crazy Eights.”
“Maybe he’ll want to watch a movie or something. That girl who makes the beds said the TV guy is supposed to show up today. So, did I miss anything else last night?”
Sara opened her mouth to tell her about the Lady of the Road, but shut it without saying anything. What had the crazy old guy at the candleshop said about being careful what was said in the house? Until she knew more about both the Pooles’ and Gemma’s motivations, she decided to keep it to herself. “Not really, like I said, we didn’t stay out that late.”
“Oh come on, you didn’t even let him get to first base? Have I taught yo
u nothing?”
“I ah, I didn’t say that exactly,” Sara’s cheeks flushed at the admission. “There was a kiss.” And what a kiss it was…
“Then there was definitely some kissage… you go girl, I’m proud of you!” Joanie laughed and Sara let loose a sigh of mixed feelings.
If only she could be sure she should let herself fall for Will.
*
Setting out on foot, Will took Sara to a peaceful clearing in the woods surrounding the house, armed with a large wicker basket and a blanket for them to sit on. The weather was overcast, but warm enough for her to ditch the sweater she’d brought with before they left the gardens. Will unpacked enough food to feed a small army, a variety of cold meats, cheese and fruits to tempt any appetite with slabs of thick home baked bread.
“Are you sure Mrs. Poole knew it would be just the two of us? I don’t think I could eat this much food all day,” Sara leaned back against the blanket to look up at the sky with a happy sigh.
“I think Mrs. Poole takes her duties a very seriously. She likely hasn’t been introduced to the concept that sometimes less is more,” he chuckled, popping another grape into his mouth. “I have to admire her zeal though; even her quickly assembled efforts are first rate.”
“I think I’m going to miss cooking,” she sighed again, propping her head up with an arm.
“So why not cook then?”
“Because Mrs. Poole nearly had a fit when I suggested it the other day. I can only assume the new cook will feel the same way.”
“So? It’s your kitchen; chase them out when the mood strikes.”
“That’s true,” she allowed, rethinking her assumptions on the whole Lady of the Manor thing. “I guess I could shoo them out on the weekends or something. Everybody needs days off, right?”
“Just promise me you’ll let me be in the room when you broach the subject with her,” Will chuckled, and she suddenly remembered he had an unusual relationship with the Pooles.
“Maybe you can butter her up for me first. I take it the two of you go way back?”
“As I said, I spent a great deal of time here as a child and Mrs. Poole has been a fixture here longer than some of the furnishings.”
