Chapter 13
S carlett covered her mouth with her hand as a laugh began bubbling up her throat. Edward’s bright red face, eyes shut tight, wasn’t helping. Seconds felt like hours, but Mrs Wilson closed the door and continued her walk down the corridor with a singsong hum.
“Thank Christ.” Edward shook his head before raising himself to a kneeling position. “I’m so sorry. This should never have happened.”
For a moment, Scarlett felt numb until foolishness quickly washed over her instead.
“No, I don’t suppose it should have, sorry.
” She wriggled out from underneath him and turned towards the wall to fix her clothes.
When she turned around to face Edward, he was standing, clothes straightened, and no one would know anything had happened except for his hair, which was dishevelled, prompting her to fix her own.
“I don’t really know what to say.” His hands were back in his pockets, eyes darting around like a startled deer looking for its escape route, finally resting on the door before returning to look at Scarlett.
Scarlett sighed, shaking her head. “I don’t imagine there’s much to say. We’re all grown-ups here.”
“Just not sure this is a good idea. I’ve overstepped the mark. Sorry.”
“Don’t mention it. It won’t happen again.” Scarlett wanted– no, needed – to get out of the room. What on earth was she thinking?
Fuck .
“It feels awkward now. I’m sorry.” He still wasn’t able to look at her, making Scarlett’s mortification increase twofold.
“Seriously, it’s all good. I’ve been knocked back in worse ways than this.”
“Ach, it’s not that at all. I do like you, I’m just…” He paused.
“No need to say any more. Let’s just pretend this never happened.” Scarlett gave him a thin smile before nodding and leaving the room, closing the door behind her.
Kill me now.
Feeling suitably humiliated, she made her way outside and despite the thin drizzle of rain that had recently become a permanent fixture above the house and surrounding area the last few days, Scarlett could breathe again.
The drops of water against her hot face was a relief and she willed it to wash away any suggestion of Edward, but she could still smell and feel him on her skin as if he’d burned invisible markings everywhere that his fingers and lips had touched her– she could liken it to torture were it not for how delicious the memory of it was.
What was I thinking?
Scarlett closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sky before releasing a shaky breath and opening them again.
She saw her mother in the distance walking towards the entrance of the root cellar below the house, briefly lifting her spirits.
But when June disappeared, loneliness overcame her.
She knew it wasn’t all because of Edward, although he certainly wasn’t helping; this feeling had been chasing her for days now.
All the talk of weddings and new beginnings was grating on her, with lurking thoughts of Jason trying to break through, urging her to face up to the inevitable truth that she really was alone now.
Scarlett had no intention of dwelling on it.
Looking around briefly, she glanced up at the darkened windows of the big old house. This wasn’t why she was here. He wasn’t why she was here. She had to remember that.
Scarlett needed to stay busy and distracted so she decided she would help her mother for a while.
It wasn’t something she would openly admit, but she was craving comfort.
This wasn’t something she would have previously associated with her mother, but she was doing a lot of things she hadn’t previously done.
“Hi, Mum.” Scarlett tried to sound light and cheerful as she walked down the stone steps. “Thought I’d come and give you a hand.”
“Hello, Scarlett,” her mum called back. “Andrzej is here too, but we’re always glad for the help.”
“Hi, Scarlett,” Andrzej called up to her. “The more the merrier.”
When Scarlett arrived in the cellar, June and Andrzej were working side by side, sorting vegetables into groups, surrounded by wooden pallets and straw.
There was an air of relaxed companionship between them that made her heart ache, but she pushed the thought away and ignored the tightening feeling in her chest, instead donning her best smile.
“Hi. So, what can I do?”
June smiled at her and nodded to a pallet on the worktop. “You can start lining the pallet with straw and layering the potatoes. Just brush off the excess dirt and leave a bit of space between them before covering them and layering on more.”
Scarlett began the task and looked up at her mother to check she was doing it correctly.
June nodded. “That’s right. Good job.”
The trio worked in silence for a while, lost in their own thoughts.
“Much going on at the house at the moment?” Andrzej asked Scarlett.
“It’s the quiet before the storm, I think.” She shrugged. “Leonard is picking up his fiancée and her friends from the airport.”
“Exciting times for everyone.” A smile that was difficult to decipher played on June’s lips. “Funny to think he’s getting married– I still see him as a young man.”
“Yeah, I can see why.” Scarlett rubbed her nose with her sleeve to ease away an itch.
“Are your allergies flaring up again? I had Mrs Wilson pick you up some antihistamines yesterday when she went into town. I put them on your bedside table this morning.”
Scarlett lifted her eyebrows in surprise. “Oh, really. Thanks.”
“No problem.” June moved away briefly to pick up another box of vegetables, but Andrzej got there before her.
“Please, allow me.” The pair exchanged a smile, which, if Scarlett didn’t know better, could have been construed as flirting.
But as quickly as the thought occurred, she disregarded it; she wasn’t sure why, but her mother’s celibacy was as assured as that of the Pope’s.
Scarlett always found June’s opposition to men as romantic partners strangely contradictory, given her love of historical romance novels.
Perhaps it was the fact that a romance such as Darcy and Elizabeth’s was so far beyond anything attainable, her mother preferred to not even try.
Despite various attempts during her childhood and adolescence to pry more information out of her mother on the subject, the only thing Scarlett ever found out was that June was not and never had been on the market for love.
End of.
So, no matter how appealing she thought Andrzej may be to the general population of women who liked the wholesome, rugged, gardening type, she felt confident her mother wouldn’t be seeing it.
Scarlett pictured June preferring a more gentrified type, maybe a chauffeur.
Not that there was one around here, but that’s who Scarlett thought would most likely win her mother over.
But really, who knew what sort of man would catch June’s eye.
“How are you enjoying it now then, Scarlett?” Andrzej pulled her head back into the room.
“Good– the wedding has been a fun project to get stuck into. I’ve enjoyed getting the rooms ready and helping Leonard find suitable suppliers, stuff like that. It’s only a few weeks away, but I like the pressure of a quick deadline.”
“You enjoy this type of work?” he asked, glancing up at her.
“Yeah, I’m good at it, and I enjoy watching it all come together in the end.” Scarlett shrugged. “It’s satisfying.”
“Makes sense. It’s a bit like watching the bulbs awakening in the spring and sprouting up through the ground and flowering,” Andrzej said.
Scarlett smiled at the poetic analogy. “Exactly like that.”
“I get that.” June nodded. “It’s nice to have purpose. We all need it, I think.”
They all nodded and continued with their tasks, remaining that way for a good hour, before they cleared up and Scarlett said her goodbyes, feeling noticeably more relaxed.
Edward would not hold this kind of power over her, dictating her mood or feelings with his nonchalant and changeable attitude towards her. She’d spent enough years allowing Jason to do just that, and she wasn’t about to let another man do the exact same thing again.
Scarlett was resolute.
She would keep her head up and pretend their moment of madness never happened– and no matter how delicious it had been, she would not repeat it under any circumstances. Ever .
With any luck, he’d be hiding away in his rooms somewhere to avoid seeing his incoming guests.
Who should, she realised, be arriving within the hour, but Scarlett was feeling hungry.
She hadn’t eaten since early that morning, and it was already approaching mid-afternoon.
She’d need to be quick if she was going to grab a bite before the madness ensued.
“Hello, Scarlett,” Mrs Wilson sang as Scarlett entered the kitchen. Her glasses had steamed up from the various pots bubbling on the large stove. “Grab yourself a bowl of this soup here. You must be starving. I’ve not seen you since this morning!”
“Thank you.” Scarlett grabbed a bowl from the table and took a ladleful of the thick broth.
“There’s a nice bit of mutton in there. It’ll keep you going until supper, that’s for sure– and there’s a hunk of bread and butter on the side there. Just help yourself. I’ve got a couple of lads arriving soon to help, so you’re best sitting before it gets busy in here.”
The smell of the soup, meat, and whatever else was being prepared made Scarlett’s stomach growl. “Thank you. It all smells incredible.”
Mrs Wilson glanced at her, a look Scarlett couldn’t decipher crossing her features.
“Get yourself sat and fed, hen. As soon as the troops arrive, you’ll no doubt be busy again.”
Scarlett made a noise of agreement, a spoonful of soup already in her mouth whilst she was busy slathering a thick layer of butter on some pre-sliced bread.
It dripped into her soup as she dunked it and quickly swooped it up, closing her eyes in appreciation of the silky, salty flavours combining in her mouth.
She’d demolished the entire bowl in minutes, and as she took her last mouthful, Scarlett glimpsed a tall figure in the doorway.
It was Edward, of course, who filled the entire space, leaning against the doorframe and watching her with intent.
“You seem to have a bit of something there.” He pointed to a corner of his mouth to show where he meant, and Scarlett quickly wiped away a smear of melted butter with the side of her hand, looking down and away from his intense gaze.
“Thanks,” Scarlett muttered in response.
“Oh, hello,” Mrs Wilson chirped, realising the laird was present. “Have they arrived?”
“Not yet, no, just thought I’d check in to see if everything was going to plan.”
“Yes, everything is in hand. Scarlett has been busy all morning preparing the rooms.” Mrs Wilson paused for a second before continuing.
“Boys are arriving soon, and there will be a variety of light dishes available for the weary guests, in case they’re hungry on arrival.
Young Leonard instructed us to serve dinner at eight thirty pm. Hope that’s all okay with you too?”
“You’ve both done a grand job. Thank you for being so accommodating.
It’s noted and much appreciated.” Edward’s eyes still rested on Scarlett’s mouth, and she wiped it again to check there was nothing else there.
“I shall join them for dinner but have some work to finish, so I’ll leave the welcoming of our guests in your capable hands. ”
“Of course, no problem at all. Scarlett is just finishing her meal and she’ll be off to get changed so she can be on hand as well.” Mrs Wilson smiled at Scarlett, which Scarlett took to mean she should probably get a move on.
“Just heading now. Thanks again for the soup. It was delicious.”
“Aye, not a problem. Come back here once you’ve changed and we’ll be ready for them arriving, eh?”
Scarlett stood and moved towards the doorway, which Edward blocked, still looking at her far longer than was necessary, and he took a second before realising he needed to let her pass.
“Sorry, excuse me– after you.” He moved aside and, nodding his leave to Mrs Wilson, followed Scarlett out. “Scarlett, wait.”
Scarlett turned on her heel to face him. Realising they were way too close to each other, she took a couple of steps back, waiting for him to speak.
“I hope we can, you know, move past this?” Again with the hands in his pockets.
“Ancient history already.” Scarlett forced what she hoped was a convincing smile.
“I just don’t want things to become awkward between us. You’re a great worker, and your mum is obviously a much-respected employee, and well—”
“Am I not respected?” Scarlett regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth.
She was being purposefully petulant.
Edward looked appalled.
“I’m sorry, that was unnecessary. I didn’t mean that,” Scarlett quickly added.
“I absolutely respect you. Christ, I hope you don’t think I don’t respect you or don’t think the world of you, I just…” Edward pulled a hand out of his pocket and held it against his mouth as if to stop any more words coming out. “I’m no good with things like this.”
What a grown-up conversation! And what does he mean, “think the world” of me? We’ve known each other for all of five fucking minutes!
Instead of voicing her wayward thoughts, Scarlett sighed. “Edward, it’s all fine. We’re good. It was a crazy, heated moment. Neither of us was thinking straight and let’s be honest, nothing really happened.”
“But it could have.” He was searching her eyes and face.
For what? She had no idea.
“But it didn’t, and it won’t happen again, like, ever .” Scarlett forced herself to be strong and convincing.
More for her own benefit than his.
“Right, yes, of course.”
The two stood staring at each other. She felt like more needed to be said, but she couldn’t find the words, and neither, it seemed, could he.
Scarlett was the first to break the spell. “So, are we good?”
Edward nodded. “Of course. I’ll let you get ready for the guests arriving.”
“Thanks, I’ll see you later then.”
Edward nodded again and Scarlett managed another smile before turning away. She could feel him watching her back until she walked around the corner.