“Oh, about that,” said Helen as she paused by the kitchen door. “I might have been in the shower for a bit too long. I think all the hot water has gone.”
“You definitely owe me more pancakes then,” I said.
Helen laughed as she hurried out of the kitchen. “Another time, I promise. But I have a date waiting for me. Enjoy yours.”
I hummed to myself as I stacked the empty plates in the dishwasher. It was good to see Helen happy and so keen on Henry. He was doing her good, and I knew how much she wanted to find her own happy ending and marry the man of her dreams. I was glad things were working out for her.
After a very quick, and very cold, shower, I dressed in a pair of navy trousers, a pretty floral blouse, and then slid into my walking boots. It wasn’t the most date-worthy of outfits, but it was perfect for where I was going, and who I was seeing.
As I hurried down the stairs with Flipper, I heard Lady Camilla call out to me.
“Lorna, have you got a moment?”
I gritted my teeth as I turned towards the sound of her voice. “I was just heading out, Lady Camilla.”
“I need your help with something,” she said, as I entered her study. “It won’t take a few moments.”
I set my bag down and repressed a sigh. “Of course. How can I help?”
Three hours later, I had my mobile glued to my ear, and stress-induced stomach cramps. “I can’t wait that long! I need the taxi now.”
“It will be at least forty-five minutes,” said the woman on the other end of the phone.
“Fine. I’ll find another way there.” I disconnected and looked down at Flipper. “We’re going to have to make a run for it, or we’ll miss Zach and Jessie.” I sent Zach a quick text to let him know I would be late and then hurried out the door.
I stopped as my eyes landed on a bicycle. That would get me there in half the time. I looked around the gardens but couldn’t see who it belonged to. Better not go stealing somebody’s bike, though. I ran around to the garage and pulled the door open. On the wall were several bikes. I found one with pumped up tyres, pulled it down, and adjusted the saddle height.
I wheeled the bike out and sat on it. “Let’s go for a ride,” I said to Flipper.
I was meeting Zach in a village five miles from the house. He’d chosen the spot because it had lovely views over the Suffolk countryside. He’d forgotten to mention it was uphill all the way.
Twenty sweat-soaked minutes later, I heaved myself off the bike and sucked in lungfuls of air. I wiped my hand across my forehead and then hurried toward a picnic area.
Jessie met us at a turnstile, her tail wagging as her dark gaze landed on Flipper, and a bark of joy flew from her muzzle.
“Hope Zach is as happy to see me as you are Flipper,” I said to her, as I gave her head a stroke.
I spotted Zach leaning back on his elbows, a checked picnic blanket underneath him. I dashed over and laid the bike down. “Sorry, I’m late. Had some transportation issues.”
His gaze went to the bike. “You should have said you were having problems, I could have come to collect you.”
“Didn’t want to spoil your plans,” I said.
“Couldn’t you have borrowed Helen’s car?”
“I think she’s using it today.” I sat and tried to smooth my windswept hair. “Helen’s going on a date with our wealthy neighbor, Henry, and she didn’t know where they were going, so wanted to be covered for all eventualities.”
“I’m glad you’re here now.” Zach leaned over and went to kiss my cheek, but then paused, and his gaze rose to my forehead. “What happened to you?”
“Oh, this is nothing.” My fingers touched my bruise.
“How did you cut your head?” Zach sat up. “Not chasing after ghosts, I hope.”
“No, this was very much caused by someone who’s alive.”
“This person might not be when you tell me what happened.”
“Don’t get angry,” I said. “I was just involved in a little car accident.”
“A car accident!”
“But nobody got hurt.”
“You did.”
“I mean, no one was badly hurt,” I said. “Helen and Flipper were in the car, and they got out unharmed. The driver hurt his neck, but was able to walk back to the house after the accident.”
“Who is this driver?” asked Zach, the muscles in his jaw clenching as he kept staring at my bruise.
“The son of my employer,” I said.
“Why were you out with him in a car?”
I glared at the Zach, not appreciating the interrogation. “We were out for a ride. He was showing us some of the countryside.”
“Is that all there is to it?”
“What else would it be?” I frowned at him. “Don’t you trust me around other men?”
“I completely trust you,” said Zach. “It’s not the living I’m worried about.”
I twisted a strand of sweaty hair around my fingers. “Well, I think he’s involved with the death of his sister and her boyfriend.”
“So, you were out ghost hunting,” said Zach, giving an exasperated sigh. “And you were in a car with a potential killer.”
“You make it sound so bad,” I said. “He’s just a spoiled mommy’s boy.”
“I make it sound bad because it is,” said Zach.
“I was with Helen and Flipper. Ranulph would never have harmed us all.”
“But you’ve been injured, by him,” said Zach. “I should go and have a word with him. Make sure he knows it’s not okay to try to harm you.”
“Don’t worry, he already knows that,” I said. “Helen and I told him off for his dangerous driving.”
“Maybe he needs to be told off some more.” Zach got to his knees, but I pulled him back down next to me. “Don’t spoil today. Ranulph was being an idiot, showing off to try to impress us.”
Zach raised an eyebrow. “And were you impressed?”
“Not for a second,” I said. “He’s nothing compared to you.”
Zach shook his head and his fingers gently touched the bruise on my head. “I’ve said it before, but please be careful. I understand the ghosts are important to you, and you want to help them, but you won’t be able to do that if you become a ghost yourself.”
I took hold of his hand and intertwined our fingers. “I know that. But these ghosts need help. They think they were killed.”
Zach sighed and then pulled the picnic hamper towards him. He opened the lid and threw a few dog treats to Jessie and Flipper, who were dancing around the grass with a stick between them. He wiped his hands on a towel and then extracted a box full of sandwiches. “Tell me more about your ghosts.”
“The ghosts of Katie Reynold and her boyfriend Johnny are in the house. Well, mainly the garage,” I said. “You were there the first time I saw them.”
“I remember,” said Zach.
“Katie and Johnny vanished two years ago.”
“Why do they think they were killed?” Zach handed me a roasted vegetable tartlet and pulled out a box of dressed salad.
“They think something happened to them in a car,” I said. “It could have been some sort of accident, but they’re not sure, and can’t rest until they know what happened to them.”
“Confused ghosts,” said Zach. “That’s hardly helpful.”
“That’s why they need me,” I said. “You’re not going to tell me to keep out of this, are you?” We’d had arguments before about my involvement with ghosts. Zach only wanted to look out for me and keep me safe and I was known for getting myself into the occasional dangerous situation when it came to spirits.
“I’m not,” said Zach, after a short pause. “I just want to see you out of danger. Something you aren’t all that good at.”
“Well, at least this time around I don’t need to worry about the ghosts causing me harm. It’s more the living that are the problem.”
“I have the solution for that problem,” said Zach.
“It’s a way we can spend more time together, and you won’t need to work so much and be away all the time.” Zach grinned at me. “How about we move in together?”
I dropped the sandwich I was holding. “Me and you, getting a place together?”
Zach smiled and picked up my fallen sandwich, before handing it to me. “I didn’t think it would be such a shock. I’ve sold my house, and you don’t have to give up your apartment in Oxfordshire. You can keep it if you want to, rent it out. Or maybe Helen would like to buy it from you.”
“Right. My apartment. And Helen.” I blinked a few times. “There’s a lot to think about.”
“If we live together, we’ll see more of each other. It will also be easier for us to find jobs together. Make as an official couple, if you like.”
“But we’re already an official couple,” I said. “Living together isn’t going to change that.”
“You know what our employers are like. They prefer traditional couples. Couples who live in the same place.” Zach glanced into the distance. “Couples who share the same surname. It doesn’t make any sense to them otherwise.”
“I haven’t thought about that,” I said. “It would be nice for us to work together more. I don’t like that you’re working somewhere else.”
“I miss you too.” Zach grinned at me. “So, what do you think?”
“It’s a good idea.” I nodded and stuffed the sandwich in my mouth. I loved the idea of living with Zach, but it also scared me. Other than Helen and Flipper, I’d never lived with anyone before. This would be new territory.
“I’ve been enjoying my time in this new job,” said Zach. “It’s made me think about starting my own business. I like being the boss, and there’s potential for me to grow this side of the work I do. It would be good to have some stability, have something of my own, rather than relying on the whims of the upper class to give me employment. I could start doing it as a sideline, and grow the business over a few years.”
“I’m glad you’ve found something you enjoy.” My mind was whirling with the possibilities I’d just been offered. A new home with Zach. Was I ready for this?
“We could pick anywhere you’d like to live,” said Zach. “I got a good deal on my house sale, so have money for a down payment. A new build could be good, little maintenance, and no... history. And you can go to working part-time if you’d like, and maybe pick a modern building to work in.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You mean a modern building with no ghosts.” I placed the last bite of my sandwich down and frowned at Zach. “Is that what this is all about? You want me to give up on the ghosts?”
“I don’t,” said Zach slowly. “Well, if I’m being honest, I do. But I know you’d never do that. The ghosts are a part of you, and I understand that. But maybe you’d like more of a break from them. If you weren’t having to live and work with them every day, you wouldn’t be surrounded by dead people demanding you help them.”
“But those dead people need my help,” I said. “If I wasn’t around them, how would I know they needed it?”
“You could set up some sort of online service,” said Zach, giving a shrug as he picked cucumber out of his sandwich.
“You want the ghosts to start using the Internet to get in touch with me?” I shook my head. “That’s not going to work.”
“Wouldn’t you like to live together?”
“Of course! But that’s not the point,” I said. “I’d be happy to get a place with you, but I love my job. And I enjoy the fact I can help those in need. I’m never going to give up on the ghosts.”
“It’s just an idea,” said Zach. “We’ve been seeing each other for over a year, and I like our time together.”
“But not when there are ghosts involved,” I said.
“I’m still getting used to them,” said Zach. “It’s getting easier, but only you can see them. I feel like an idiot when I’m talking to one of them.”
“Don’t feel like that,” I said. “They appreciate it when you try to assist them.”
“I just get in the way,” said Zach.
“You don’t. And Helen doesn’t feel like that, and she can’t see them,” I said. “But when we first started helping ghosts, she felt strange too, and she’s never gotten the hang of where to look when she’s speaking to them.”
Zach sighed, as he packed away the remaining sandwiches and salad. “Let’s have some cake.” He pulled out a tin of lemon slices and handed me one.
“These look nice,” I said, noticing his glum expression. “And I do like the idea of us moving in together. But we’re going to have to figure out how we can accommodate everyone.”
“You’re not talking about the dogs and Helen, are you?”
“I’m not,” I said. “I want you all in my life. We need to work out how I can minimize my contact with ghosts, while still being able to help them, and not freak you out too much.”
“I only get freaked out when you get injured.” Zach’s gaze landed on my forehead again.
“This was an isolated incident.” I touched the bruise on my head.
Zach ate a lemon slice, his gaze focused on the dogs. “Give it some thought.”
“I will,” I said. “And it’s lovely you’ve asked me.”
We ate our cakes in silence, and even the tangy, sweet lemon taste couldn’t shift the worry I felt. Was there any way I could get my ghosts, boyfriend, best friend, and the dogs all living together happily?
Zach packed away the rest of the food and then stood. “Come on, let’s go for a walk. It will give you something to think about other than ghosts and new places to live.”
I took his outstretched hand and smiled at Zach. He knew me better than I realized.
Chapter 18
I enjoyed the rest of my date with Zach but was glad when it came to an end, and he brought me back to the house in his Land Rover, my requisitioned bicycle in the back. I had a lot of things to think about.
After we’d said our goodbyes, I went into the house and through to the kitchen, and had just pulled off my shoes when Helen returned.
“Did you have a nice date?” I asked her.
“Oh, yes, it was lovely.” Helen sat down and kicked off her high heels. “Glad to be out of those things, though. They look good but pinched my toes.”
“I was late getting to my date, thanks to Lady Camilla.”
“That’s not nice of her,” said Helen. “This is your day off. I hope Zach didn’t mind.”
“We got to have our picnic and a walk, so it worked out fine,” I said, noticing Helen’s normally bright cheeks were paler than usual. “Are you sure everything went okay?”
“The date itself was lovely,” said Helen. “Henry took me to a cute little cafe and spoiled me rotten with loads of treats. We went and had a look at the river, and then he took me back to his estate to show me around. We used a golf buggy, so I didn’t have to worry about getting my lovely heels damaged. Although, he was a bit speedy for my liking.”
“That’s thoughtful of him.” I grinned at her, as I imagined Helen clinging onto a speeding golf buggy. “So, it all went well?”
“Something was a bit strange,” said Helen. “And don’t think badly of Henry for what I’m about to tell you because he was perfection himself. He paid for everything and was always checking to make sure I was enjoying myself.”
“All sounds good so far,” I said.
“It was until I went to powder my nose. And when I returned, I found Henry trying on my shoes.”
My eyebrows shot up and I snorted a laugh. “Why was he doing that?”
Helen flapped a hand in the air. “He laughed it off, said he wanted to see how small my feet were. But I watched him from the doorway for a few seconds, and he was really interested in the shoes. He turned them over in his hands a couple of times, and even smelled the inside.”
“Yuck! Even your feet can’t smell good.”
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Helen wrinkled her nose. “I’m worried he might be one of those foot fetishists. You know, the kind who like to take photos of women’s feet and get intimate with their toes.”
“Well, there are worse fetishes to have,” I said.
Helen nodded. “Henry made a big joke of it and promised to buy me a new pair of shoes if he damaged these. But he didn’t, they were fine. But it’s still a bit strange. And he asked me where I got them from.”
“Maybe he’s going to surprise you by getting you a new pair anyway?”
“Maybe he is. That would be nice of him.” Helen shrugged, as she curled her feet underneath her. “Anyway, how was your date with Zach? Get lots of muddy walking done?”
“We did some,” I said. “And, well, I had an interesting date, too.”
“Go on, what happened?”
“Zach asked me to move in with him.”
Helen grinned at me. “That’s great news, isn’t it?”
“It is good news,” I said. “Zach’s got so many plans. He’s talking about starting a business and earning enough so I can work part time.”
“Do you want to work part time?”
“Not really,” I said. “Although, if I had more time, maybe I could get a hobby.”
“I don’t see you as much of a knitter or a baker,” said Helen.
“Not that kind of hobby,” I said. “But I could do more walking, and get into birdwatching. And, as always, the ghosts will keep me busy.”
“Oh, I think I get it,” said Helen. “Zach’s thinking if you work fewer hours, you won’t come into contact with so many ghosts.”
I nodded. “I saw straight through his plan as well. After I asked him about it, he became a bit dismissive, and said moving in together was just an idea. I do want to move in with Zach, but I want to do it for the right reasons, not because he’s worried about me getting into trouble.”
“Zach loves you,” said Helen. “He’s going to have to accept what you do when it comes to ghosts.”
“I hope he can.” My gaze rested on Helen’s abandoned high heels, and a jolt of inspiration shot through me. I jumped to my feet. “Your shoes!”
Helen gave me a puzzled look. “I know, they’re lovely.”
Ghostly Affairs (Lorna Shadow Cozy Ghost Mystery Book 4) Page 13
