Page 83 of Never Gonna Happen

‘Because what you’ve just described about meeting George,’ said Emily, turning up her palms like she had nothing left to hide, ‘that’s how I felt the first time I met Jamie. I had no idea who he was, I thought he worked in the stables.’

Anna dropped her head and stared at her coffee. ‘I didn’t know that,’ she said quietly.

‘When I found out he was family, I did my best to stay away from him. But it was no good. The heart wants what it wants.’

Anna said nothing, so Emily continued. ‘I’m sorry about George, and I’m sorry about Andrea. She sounds like an amazing woman, and she’s made my job here so much easier. Her filing was incredible.’

Anna half-smiled, clearly proud on behalf of her friend.

‘But I can’t bring her back. All I can do is try to be as good at the job as she was. And I’d like for us to be friends. I love this house, and I think you do too.’

‘It’s been my life,’ whispered Anna bleakly. ‘I worry about that too.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Adam. What he’ll do when he’s in charge. He doesn’t care about this house at all. I’ll be long gone by then, but I still worry about it.’

‘Yes. You and me both.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Anna. ‘You coming here has put me in a very bad place, and I haven’t behaved well.’

Emily wasn’t quite ready to let Anna off the hook just yet. ‘No. Telling Leon about me spending the night with Jamie was pretty low, not to mention getting Louisa here.’

Anna stared at her in silence for a moment, her expression impassive. ‘I told Leon your bed hadn’t been slept in; I went to check because I was a little worried about you, what with all that snow. He worked the rest out for himself.’

‘Oh,’ said Emily, feeling her cheeks flush.

‘And Louisa wasn’t my doing either. Adam was the one who called her; I was just told to make her welcome and take over Jamie’s care until she arrived. I accept my behaviour hasn’t been friendly at times, but I’m really not that cruel.’

Emily felt the blush of shame creep down her neck to her chest. ‘Ah, OK. I just assumed . . .’

‘Perhaps neither of us has judged the other particularly well.’

Emily gave her a weak smile. ‘No, it seems not. Well, maybe we can try again?’

Anna looked at her like she was seeing her for the first time. ‘Maybe.’

Emily nodded and took her tea upstairs. It was a start, and today was very much about fresh starts.

Chapter Forty

On Monday morning Emily turned up in Mr Hunter’s office at 9 a.m. as usual, and wasn’t remotely surprised to discover that he already knew she was back from her trip home. There weren’t many secrets at Bowford Manor.

‘I heard you’d returned early,’ he said with a warm smile. ‘You look very well on it.’

Emily supposed that Anna or Leon had told him this particular titbit of gossip over dinner the previous evening, which she’d spent in the pool house with Jamie. She’d stayed out of his way all day so he could resolve things with Louisa; apparently she’d taken it all extremely badly and fled back to London in tears. Seemingly Adam had weaved some bullshit tale that gave her reason to hope for a reconciliation, at least until Jamie spoiled everything.

‘I’m very happy to be back,’ she said, having had her best night’s sleep for a week. Anna hadn’t exactly been friendly over breakfast, but she sensed that something had shifted between them. They might never be best mates, but she’d settle for a mutually respectful truce.

‘That’s good to hear,’ said Mr Hunter. ‘I’ve got some things to talk through with you; how about some coffee before you do the post?’

Emily nodded and headed through to the tiny kitchen, pressing buttons on the coffee machine while she fired up her laptop and retrieved her notebook from the drawer. Within a few minutes she was back in Mr Hunter’s office with two steaming mugs.

‘So,’ said Mr Hunter. ‘I’ve been giving some thought to the plans you showed me before Christmas. A lot of thought, actually.’ Emily looked blank. ‘The ones Adam left on the photocopier.’

‘Ohhh,’ said Emily as the penny dropped. So much had happened since then, and she’d pretty much forgotten about the papers she’d copied in a moment of madness. ‘Do you know what they are?’

‘I have my suspicions,’ said Mr Hunter, unlocking one of the drawers in his desk, ‘but I would welcome your thoughts. Adam isn’t back here until later in the week, so now seems like a good time for us to take a look.’