‘Interests, my arse. You’re mine. You do as I say. Who the fuck do you think pays for all this?’ He moved closer, leaning over menacingly as he jabbed at her chest, which Dan had wisely vacated. Sam and Lottie watched, transfixed.
Pandora’s voice dropped to a wheedle. ‘But I like it here now, Spike, please. I love this place. I’ve found things to do. I belong. I’ve never belonged anywhere before.’ She tugged gently at his t-shirt.
‘We can rent this place out, then, for now, buy somewhere else and then decide.’
‘I don’t want to rent it out.’
‘Well I do and what I say goes.’
Pandora pulled back. ‘Not any more. I want it. It’s mine.’
‘No it fucking ain’t.’
‘I’m going to have it with or without you. Can’t you see, you numbskull, this is all I ever wanted? I’m a lady now, people respect me here.’
‘Respect you?’ He laughed, a loud, harsh sound. ‘You think they fucking respect you? You’re a whore. You don’t belong here any more than I do.’
‘I do. People like me. I’ve got friends.’
‘Fuck buddies more like.’ He laughed in Dan’s face. ‘He’s only here cos you’re paying him, aren’t you, mate? You belong with me, and you’re packing and coming on tour. Like old times. Stuff this living in the country. I thought it would be a laugh but it’s like living in a graveyard. We might as well be dead.’
‘Fuck you and your tour. The old times were shit. You’re past it. Can’t you see that? I want to move on, do something different and I’ve found what I want here. Look at him,’ she gestured towards Dan, ‘he’s a proper man, he’s not let himself go.’
‘Bollocks. We’re moving, whether you like it or not. You can either pack your case yourself or we’ll go without it.’
‘No.’ Pandora folded her arms. Her near-hysterical shout dropped to a deadly quiet tone. ‘I’m not coming, Spike. This is my dream place. I’ve discovered who I really want to be, and it’s not some wife sitting on a tour bus. I love it here.’ She looked at ‘Spike’ with a steady, clear stare. ‘I want this place and I’m not going to let you take it away from me. It’s mine. Do you hear me? It’s mine.’
With a huff, the rock star wheeled around and got back in his car, revving up the engine before tearing down the drive.
Lottie, watching, felt a sudden shiver. Pandora meant it. She wasn’t acting. There was a real conviction in her voice, her body language. Every pore screamed out her desire and determination. She didn’t just want Rory, she wanted this place too. It was obviously no coincidence that they’d come here. It was all Pandora’s doing.
But what had come first, her desire to have Tipping House or Rory Steel?
Elizabeth appeared at the top of the steps, her Labrador at her side. ‘Very melodramatic. I do hope you’re going to tidy the gravel off the front lawn. It plays havoc with the mower.’
The tension was broken and Seb shouted ‘cut’ irritably.
Everybody relaxed, apart from Lottie. And when she glanced at Pandora, the other girl stared straight back, the smallest of smiles curling her lip.
‘I better go and find Rory. Are you coming, Sam?’
Chapter 21
Running an eventing yard meant that there was no such thing as a day off. The horses still needed feeding, mucking out, and exercising and it had never occurred to Lottie to want anything different.
Lottie had been brought up surrounded by horses. She had a father who was a successful show-jumper, her Uncle Dom competed in dressage, and, despite a brief break to ‘find herself’, working with horses had always been part and parcel of Lottie’s life.
Today though, she was glad that Sundays had always, on non-competition days, been designated a lighter day.
She felt frazzled.
She had never expected that letting the film crew use Tipping House Estate would take up quite as much time, or emotional energy, as it had.
Lottie knew that it was partly her fault. Sam, who had been an occasional visitor, was now there nearly every day. Elizabeth had to take some of the blame for that. She’d bought little Roxy a pony and it was inevitable that it would be kept on the estate – after all, Sam’s knowledge of horse care was roughly equivalent to Lottie’s own knowledge of hair extensions and the latest must-have designer handbag. And she was more than happy to help her out.
She had to admit, though, she’d been less keen on Roxy when she’d been a baby. Babies cried and wriggled, and despite her utter confidence in handling new-born puppies or foals, the idea of taking care of a tiny, fragile human being that could easily be dropped and broken made her insides quake. She’d rather face jumping a six-foot hedge on a runaway horse. Now, though, Roxy was sturdier and mobile, and even Lottie had to admit she was rather fond of her – although little Alice was a thousand times easier to handle. Alice was calm water, Roxy was a hurricane. But a lovely hurricane, if a little destructive at times.
But it wasn’t the pony care that ate into the time, it was the fact that she let Sam persuade her to go and watch the filming – when she’d normally grab half an hour and have some down time. She loved Sam, the bubbly girl never failed to see the bright side of any situation and Lottie had to admit that she was a bit of a life-saver on the days when she was convinced that Panda-gate would succeed and she’d be left homeless and husband-less, but she was still knackered.
And then there was Xander. He was often about, taking care of the two horses he had stabled on the yard, and she’d started to look forward to seeing him, and their little chats. Which meant that she’d then only have a fraction of the time she normally had to do all her other tasks, so Lottie was doing everything at a run to catch up.
Sam kept her spirits up, but Xander was calm, grounding, and reminded her more than a little bit of their old friend Mick.
She missed Mick. He’d always been there, and she hadn’t realised how much she relied on him until he’d got back together with Niamh and more or less disappeared from their lives. He’d been her life-support system, there in the background in times of need.
It wasn’t that Rory wasn’t hugely supportive, he was. But he was constantly on the go and Lottie recognised that sometimes she needed a quiet, reassuring figure in the background. A big brother.
In an alarmingly short space of time, she’d moved into Tipping House, got married, her best friend Pip had moved to Australia, and Mick had set up home with the love of his life – and these days seemed to spend more time in Ireland than Cheshire.
All the bits of her life had been tossed in the air and fallen down in different places. Most of the time it was fine, but sometimes she felt like burying her head under the covers and telling the world to sod off.
They’d had three years of change, and now she couldn’t imagine living any differently. She loved the estate and her husband with all her heart, but sometimes she felt like she wasn’t doing either justice.
Rory had always been her dream man, and despite his initial reluctance to take on Tipping House, he’d stepped up to the challenge. And now she was letting him down. The one thing, only thing, he’d ever really asked of her (albeit in a very understated manner) she’d run away from.
He wanted to take that next step, he wanted to start a family, and Lottie was dodging the issue. She was petrified, but could she ever explain properly how she felt, when she barely understood it herself? But if she couldn’t explain, then she was as good as pushing him into another woman’s arms. And if it wasn’t Pandora, there would always be somebody else waiting in the wings more than willing to have his babies.
Minty nudged her gently and snapped Lottie out of her daydreams. ‘Sorry poppet.’ She put the filly’s head collar on and pushed the stable door open to find Rory standing there, holding two horses.
‘Come on, slow coach, I’m starving. How about breakfast, then we go for a long hack? It’s lovely and quiet now that lot have buggered off for the weekend.’
She grinned and fe
lt the anxious churn in the pit of her stomach filter away. ‘Sounds good to me. Crumbs, I’d forgotten just how nice and quiet it is to have the place to ourselves. Shame we can’t just lock the gate and refuse to let them back in.’
‘Not long to go now, according to Seb’s spreadsheet. That man is worse than Dom when it comes to planning. He’s a complete control freak.’
‘I suppose you’d have to be, with people like Pandora around.’
They walked around to the paddock side by side, the horses following behind.
‘That woman is a menace.’ He said it with such feeling that Lottie glanced up at him.
‘Sam texted earlier to let me know she was in the newspaper again,’ and it had to be the dreaded swoon picture, ‘and mentioned you. I bet they’ve twisted it into a Runaway Bride thing. I don’t think I like Pandora.’
‘Maybe she’s misunderstood.’ He laughed at the look on her face. ‘Only kidding, honest, don’t look at me like that.’
‘Really?’
‘Lottie I wouldn’t go near that woman even if you paid me a fortune, I’m way too fond of my balls.’ He grinned. ‘And I’ve got you. Haven’t I?’
‘I just don’t trust her.’
‘I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her, Lots, but stop worrying, it’ll be fine. What can she do?’
The idea of locking her out was sounding better by the second. ‘I think it was her who arranged that stupid swooning picture Sam is talking about, which they rang me about.’
‘What is the matter with her?’ He unlatched the gate, then they released the horses and watched as they wheeled round, kicking their heels as they galloped to the far end of the paddock, before settling with their heads down to pick at the fresh grass.
Minty went down on her knees, then flopped to the side and rolled, rubbing her withers and rump into the soft green bed before getting to her feet and shaking the last of the shavings out of her coat.
‘She fancies you.’ He laughed, but she didn’t. ‘No, she really does. Maybe she’s one of those people who thinks that if other people are saying it, then it’ll come true. That’s why she wanted it all over the papers.’
Rory draped one arm over her shoulders. ‘She’s potty.’
‘What Pandora wants, Pandora gets. That’s what somebody told me.’ She shivered, a ghost walking over her grave.
‘Well she’s not getting me, is she?’ He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘I’m all yours, darling, whether you want me or not. Stop frowning.’
‘I’m not frowning.’
‘You are, you’ve gone all wrinkly. Come on,’ he took her hand in his, ‘we need a break from this place. Let’s skip the hack, we’ll go for a walk, have a pub lunch then slob out somewhere until feeding time. How does that sound? I’ll get Tab to come and ride Rio, he’s the only one that needs to go out today.’
‘But it’s her day off.’ Another pang of guilt hit Lottie, not just the idea of asking Tab to work another day, but the fact that Rory only had one horse that needed to be exercised.
‘She won’t mind.’
‘But it’s not fair. She’s been doing loads extra lately to help out, and it’s my fault ‘cos I’ve been spending too much time watching the filming.’
‘Somebody’s got to keep an eye on them.’
‘They don’t, not really.’
‘They do, darling. We can’t just ignore them and pretend they’re not there. Somebody needs to stop the bolting horses,’ Lottie tried not to cringe, ‘and the snoopers. You’re doing a great job.’
‘You stopped the bolting horse.’
He squeezed her closer. ‘I just happened to be there. You stopped the snooping.’
‘But—’
‘If it hadn’t been for the fire, you’d be spending a lot of time on the weddings, wouldn’t you?’ He shrugged. ‘So, it’s the same thing. It’s your business. Just don’t spend all your time chatting to Xander. It’s making Tab jealous and I need her to be happy.’
She glanced up.
‘And it’s making me jealous too.’
‘There’s nothing to be jealous of.’
‘I know. Come on, last one back to the house makes the breakfast.’
‘Rory.’ She put out a hand to stop him racing off.
‘Yep?’
‘I had this letter yesterday from the solicitors.’ She pulled it out of her pocket reluctantly. She’d rather have binned it, but Rory had to have a say. It was his future as well. ‘After they rang about the court threats, I asked them to follow up some of the offers we’d had. I mean, not the developers. But—’
‘You don’t have to even consider this, Lottie.’
‘We do. There’s one offer still on the table,’ she took a deep breath and handed the letter to him, ‘this one. They won’t consider just buying a part of the estate, they want it all, but they would consider letting us stay here on a long-term lease.’
‘Oh, Lottie.’ He took the letter. ‘Let’s give it a bit longer, we’re not that desperate yet, are we?’
‘Nearly.’
‘Nearly isn’t good enough.’ He tore the sheet in half and smiled. ‘Let’s give it a few more weeks before we even consider that route, eh? Something will turn up.’
‘That’s what Sam keeps saying. I’m sorry about you losing the horses and David as your sponsor.’
‘Hey, stop looking so serious, Lottie. I know you are. I’m sorry too, but something will turn up. I’ve got a few ideas.’
‘But I should be helping you.’
‘Lottie, you’re here, you are helping me. You’re my wife. That’s all I need.’ His lips met hers, a light touch that lingered for a moment, then he was off, shouting over his shoulder. ‘Time for that later, gorgeous.’
Lottie and Rory had walked around half the estate, got caught in a spring shower that sent them giggling for cover under the trees and were just drying out as they sauntered down the road towards the Bull’s Head when Rory’s phone rang.
He ignored it.
Lottie had never understood how anybody could do that. If her phone so much as gave a little beep she wanted to know why. Rory, though, seemed oblivious to the jangling and vibrating in his pockets.
It stopped ringing. Then it started again. Then it stopped and started again.
‘Who’s that?’
‘I don’t know.’ He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. ‘Don’t know about you but I’m dying for a pint. I’ve worked up quite a thirst. If your dad’s in there remind me to ask if I can borrow the leveller, the school’s looking like the big dipper.’
‘He said he’s not lending you anything else until you give something back.’
‘Like what?’
‘Dunno. I’m sure he’s got a list. Are you really not going to answer that phone?’
‘Really.’
‘What if it’s important?’
‘You’re the only person I want to talk to, grumpy.’
‘I’m not grumpy.’ Unable to fight her nosiness any longer, Lottie shoved a hand into Rory’s pocket and fished out the mobile phone.
‘Who’s Robert Lyons?’
‘Lyons? Are you sure?’ Rory grabbed the phone. ‘You know Rob, he sponsors Toby.’
Lottie’s eyes widened. ‘Roaring Rob? Wow, you don’t think …’
‘I’m not going to even think. I’ll play it cool. Let’s grab a pint then I’ll ring him back.’
‘Are you sure?’ Lottie bit her bottom lip. If Rob Lyons was thinking about sponsoring Rory it would solve all their problems. Well, the horse-related ones. A stay of execution. ‘Don’t you think you should call him straight back?’
‘And look desperate? No.’ Rory was firm. ‘If he wants me, then he’ll be happy to wait half an hour.’
The trouble was, although Rory was determined to play it cool, he obviously wasn’t as laid back about the whole thing as he pretended. They sat in the corner, staring at his mobile.
There were no more calls, no texts, just a stifli
ng silence that left Lottie wriggling about in her seat.
‘You need to call.’ After ten minutes, Lottie couldn’t stand it any longer. She really wasn’t enjoying her drink and nor was Rory. They just kept glancing at each other like a pair of naughty kids, then back at the phone. She prodded it. ‘He rang three times.’
‘I’ll call him in a minute.’
‘What if he’s ringing somebody else now, and that’s why he’s not sent a message or anything. Have you checked your voicemail?’
Rory had. But he checked again. ‘I’ll call him.’ He paused. ‘Shall I?’
‘I think you should.’
‘You two playing hooky?’ Billy, still in his jodhpurs, boots, and spurs plonked himself down next to Lottie. ‘That bloody mare will be the death of me. I need this. Cheers!’
‘Cheers,’ said Rory half-heartedly, still looking at the phone, undecided. He picked it up, then put it down again. He didn’t want to appear over-keen, but if there was a chance, even the remotest chance, of a sponsorship then he didn’t want to miss it.
‘You expecting that thing to ring or explode, son?’
‘Roaring Rob rang.’
‘And we missed his call,’ added Lottie.
‘Bloody hell, that’s quick work.’ Billy bent down, undid his spurs, and dumped them on the table with a clatter.
‘What do you mean, Dad?’
‘Haven’t you heard, love?’ He looked from Lottie to Rory, then took a long swig of his beer while Lottie edged forward until she was perilously close to the edge of her seat. ‘Toby had a tumble on the gallops. Horse went arse over tit and used him as a cushion to land on.’
‘Really?’ Lottie decided the way she’d said it sounded far too cheerful. Trading on another rider’s fall wasn’t nice at all, so she tried again. ‘How awful, is he okay?’
‘I’m sure he’s been better, but he’ll survive. Just a broken arm and bruises, as far as I know. Screwed up this season, though, the silly bugger.’ He picked up the phone and tossed it at Rory. ‘Phone him before somebody else does.’
‘Back in a sec.’ He kissed Lottie on the head and squeezed past, heading for the door.
Country Rivals Page 26
