Page 8 of The Jealous Girl

She turned back to the view, but her posture was stiffer. This wasn’t about the scenery. She was waiting for something.

Someone.

Footsteps crunched on the gravel path behind me. I stilled, pressing myself further into the shadow of the broken wall, angling my body to keep watch without being seen.

My pulse raced as a figure moved past the opening. Tall. Broad-shouldered.

Charlotte took a step forward and stopped, her gaze locked on the approaching figure. She gave a short, sharp acknowledgement of his arrival. Yet her expression didn’t shift. She was poised. Unreadable.

Unlike me.

I’d never mastered the ability to conceal my thoughts and feelings and prevent them from showing on my face. Ryan used to say it was honest and refreshing. There was no pretence with me.

And yet, somewhere along the way, my emotions had become the thing he despised.

The man reached Charlotte and they muttered polite greetings. I leaned forwards slightly, trying to get a better look. There was something familiar about him. I’d seen him at Blackwater, I was sure of it. Not one of the yard hands, but he’d been there.

Charlotte’s gaze flicked briefly from side to side, as though checking no one was watching.

Was she having an affair? Sneaking around with someone from the stables behind Ryan’s back? But that made no sense. She’d only just got Ryan back. Why would she fight so hard to take him from me if she wanted someone else?

Their body language seemed strained as he reached her. They didn’t touch. They didn’t even hug as they greeted each other. They just stared at each other from a few steps apart.

‘Did you bring it?’ the man asked. His voice carried faintly across among the stones. Deep. Familiar. And, suddenly, the memory slid into place.

David Harcourt. The vet.

I’d often seen him at Blackwater, always accompanied by Ryan or his father. I frowned as I tried to recall Charlotte handling any of his visits, but I couldn’t. That wasn’t part of her role.

Charlotte pulled an envelope from her bag and handed it to him without a word. He nodded and slipped it straight into his pocket without even pausing to open it.

Unease stirred in the pit of my stomach. There was a wariness between them that seemed deeper than just a fear of being seen together.

They didn’t trust each other, I realised with sharp, unsettling clarity. But why?

David shifted as though preparing to leave, but turned back. ‘Just be careful,’ he said firmly.

Charlotte smiled. ‘I always am.’

He gave a short nod and turned away, heading back down the path towards the entrance. Charlotte turned back to the view of the village below as though their encounter had never happened.

I hesitated. If I stayed where I was, at some point Charlotte would pass right by me. I nibbled the inside of my cheek. I couldn’t let her get too close.

Instinctively, I turned and followed David towards the entrance, hoping I didn’t miss any further clandestine meetings by letting Charlotte out of my sight. I kept my pace steady, fighting the urge to hurry. I couldn’t risk drawing attention to myself now.

My gaze stayed fixed on the uneven cobblestones, as I refused to allow myself to glance back and check if Charlotte was following. I’d spent my life being practically invisible, and yet, now that I wanted to be, it felt forced. Exhausting.

Reaching the entrance, I smiled slightly, relieved to see the attendant was busy with a queue of visitors. The last thing I needed was to be delayed in conversation.

I reached the Astra, slipped inside, pulled the door shut and let out a slow breath as relief loosened the tightness in my chest. Slipping the key in the ignition, I paused and glanced back at the path, searching for Charlotte.

The seconds stretched slowly. Had I left too soon? Had I missed something?

My shoulders lifted as I inhaled sharply at the sight of her weaving through the tourists as she rounded the corner. I let out a quiet snort. It was the first time I’d ever been relieved to see Charlotte.

I lowered my head as she passed in front of my car, a smug satisfaction washing over me despite my nerves. I was getting the hang of this.

A car door slammed and I lifted my head, watching her through the windows of the vehicles between us. She reversed out of the parking space and drove towards the junction. Hurriedly, I turned the key and did the same.