Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Embarrassment shook me.
Alison and Bennett were still talking, oblivious.
Louise jerked her head and encouraged me to follow her back across to the kitchen.
‘I wasn’t eavesdropping,’ I protested as I scurried after her. My voice was a panicked hush. ‘I thought there was no one home as I headed upstairs. Then I happened to hear Alison and Bennett.’
Louise drew up at the kitchen door and hitched one cynical brow at me.
‘I didn’t mean to overhear anything, but they were just talking about how much money The Ramblings costs to maintain.’
Louise listened before beckoning me inside the kitchen and easing the door closed behind us.
‘I was making my way to my room, and then I heard voices coming from the study.’ I dumped my bag by my feet.
‘I know what it looks like, but it wasn’t like that.
’ I rubbed at my face. ‘But there was no way I was interrupting their conversation, especially when they were discussing financial matters.’
Louise nodded. ‘I believe you. You’re a good young woman.
Anyone can see that. But aye, you’re right.
The Ramblings is beautiful, but it demands a lot of money to keep it going.
’ She gestured around at the huge, stylish, farmhouse-style kitchen.
‘These stately homes are a money pit. This house needs a new heating system, the roof is starting to give cause for concern and then there’s the stonemasonry issues. ’
Oh dear. It sounded like Alison and Bennett really had their work cut out to keep The Ramblings in full working order. I flicked Louise a loaded look. ‘Alison told me earlier about Evan donating a monthly amount from his earnings to put towards maintenance costs.’
Louise’s expression dissolved into an affectionate smile. ‘That’s right. He’s such a caring young man. Every month without fail, he sends a contribution to his parents to put towards this place.’
The sunshine bounced off the copper pots and pans suspended behind Louise.
Her lined eyes carried a sudden, faraway look to them.
‘Do you know, I’ve worked here as the housekeeper and cook for over thirty-five years now?
I’ve known Evan since he was a toddler and remember when Dane was born.
He was always yelling his head off, and it’s continued.
’ She chuckled. ‘They’d come over here with Alison and Bennett to visit Bennett’s parents, God bless them.
They were both gorgeous boys, even then, but Dane was always a handful. ’
‘I get the impression he still is,’ I joked.
Louise smiled and rolled her eyes. ‘You’re not wrong there. The number of times I’ve heard girls giggling in his room whenever he stays here.’
I found myself wondering about Evan. As though anticipating what I wanted to ask, Louise answered my silent question.
‘His older brother isn’t like that. Evan’s always been far more serious.
’ She folded her arms as she spoke. ‘Don’t get me wrong.
Evan attracts the ladies, too. Always has done.
But whereas Dane’s always playing the charmer, Evan is more career-focused.
’ She frowned. ‘The only time I’ve ever seen him crushed by a girl was with that Sacha one. ’
‘What about Sacha? What happened?’
But Louise moved the subject back to The Ramblings and ignored my question. ‘This house could tell a few tales.’
‘Oh? What about?’ I asked, intrigued.
Louise flapped her hands about, panicked. ‘Och, you know, characters from the past.’
‘Like who?’
‘There were stories about a young woman called Florence Menzies who used to work here in the early 1900s.’ Louise’s gaze darted around. ‘Local girl. Keen to be an actress.’
My eyes widened with interest. ‘Really? Wow. What happened?’
‘She was very talented, by all accounts. Bright too. A local piano teacher took her under her wing and taught young Florence to read and write.’ Louise pursed her lips.
‘But she got blamed for stealing something from this house, and she didn’t do it.
’ She toyed with a tea towel. ‘My dad was into his history and researched some local families and events. Very prolific journal writer. I’ve still got them all. ’
My curiosity was pricked. ‘Do you have a journal he wrote about this girl Florence?’
‘I do indeed. Would you like to take a look at it?’
‘Oh, that would be great,’ I enthused.
Our conversation was cut short when Alison and Bennett entered the kitchen.
Louise snatched up the navy blue Denby teapot by the sink. ‘Shall I make us all a brew?’
I exchanged small talk with Evan’s parents as Louise busied herself with making the tea.
Hmmm.
I wondered what had happened between Sacha and Evan for Louise to make a comment like that. I was also curious about the reference she’d made to The Ramblings’ mysterious history and this young woman Florence.
There seemed to be at least a couple of secrets that this grand old house was keeping to herself.
* * *
Once I’d spent some time with Alison, Bennett and Louise and enjoyed a cup of tea and one of the delicious almond macaroons Louise had baked earlier that day, I vanished up to my bedroom.
Alison and Bennett made no reference to Louise or me about the financial stresses and strains they were experiencing. Instead, they talked about the latest charity they were doing some volunteering for, the Forrest Bank Disabled Care Centre.
It just seemed so unfair to me, I’d concluded as I had traipsed back up the sweeping, spiral staircase. They were good people. Kind. It was clear they wanted to give something back to their local community, even though they had their own worries to contend with.
This house had been part of Bennett’s life for so long.
Dropping my bag onto the dressing table chair, I flopped backwards onto the four-poster bed. I lay there for a few moments, thinking about Evan and Sacha, before I dismissed them from my mind, but they kept insisting on creeping back in.
In the end, I clambered off the bed and rummaged around in my bag for my mobile.
I nestled myself back against the pillows and typed The Ramblings Forrest Bank into the search engine. But if I’d hoped for something exciting or juicy to jump out at me, I was disappointed. All that appeared was a few photographs of the house and gardens and confirmation of its location.
I thought again about what Louise had said about the Lords’ financial issues before she’d looked uncomfortable, as though she’d regretted saying anything.
Undeterred, I scrolled through the next few pages, but there were still only photographs of The Ramblings and its rolling lawns.
In one photo, everything was draped in snow. Tangerine lamps glowed through the windows, and gold fairy lights were strung around the branches of a couple of the trees. It would’ve made the perfect Christmas card.
At that moment, I was pulled out of my thoughts by a knock on my bedroom door. ‘Yes? Who is it?’
‘It’s me. Evan.’
Evan?
I almost toppled off the bed as I fumbled my way towards the dressing table mirror.
I had a stain of rose-pink lipstick on, but most of it was gone, thanks to the recent cup of tea and Louise’s macaroon. My hair was escaping out of its high ponytail too. Reaching for my makeup bag, I dashed on a fresh slick of lip colour.
I knew what I was doing and why, which in turn made me annoyed with myself, so I stopped titivating my hair.
I strode over to my bedroom door, took a breath and opened it.
Evan filled the doorway.
He cocked a brow at me. He must’ve noticed me staring at him. Dang!
I rearranged my features into what I hoped were indifferent ones. ‘Can I help you?’
‘I wondered if you’d seen Dane around?’
‘No. Not since I got back.’
His hot, dark gaze stayed on my face. ‘Oh. Ok.’
I hoped I didn’t look mesmerised by his eyes. ‘Why did you say it like that?’
‘Like what?’
‘Like I should have known where Dane was.’
Evan pushed both his hands into the pockets of his casual, cream trousers. ‘Well, seeing as you two were being so chummy at the gig the other night, I assumed…’
‘You shouldn’t assume,’ I bit back. ‘You just make an ass out of you and me.’ I remembered that from school, and although it wasn’t the greatest retort, it was the best I could come up with at that moment.
‘Very droll. Just make that up, did you?’ Evan’s expression was intense. ‘I spotted my brother and you exchanging megawatt grins at the gig.’
Hold on. I could have been wrong, but if I didn’t know any better, I might have thought Evan was jealous!
‘Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but no, there wasn’t and isn’t anything going on between your brother and me, and like I said, I haven’t seen him all day.’
‘Ok.’ He lingered, shoving that stray lock of black hair away from his angular face. He made no move to leave. ‘Thanks again for helping Mum. I know she appreciated it.’
His kind words made me pull myself up. ‘Oh. Right. You’re welcome. She’s a lovely lady.’
We both remained rooted to the spot. What was it with him? One minute he was a sarcastic sod, and the next he was complimenting me. Not only did Evan have the ability to mangle my head, he was also able to churn up my insides as well.
It frustrated me to no end.
‘Did you have a good time then?’ I cursed myself for asking. I didn’t want to mention Sacha.
‘Yes, it was good.’ No further information was forthcoming.
His attention drifted lazily from my hair and down to my mouth. ‘Right. I’ll be off then. More work to do.’ He strode across the hallway towards his bedroom. What was happening here? Was anything happening?
I clattered my bedroom door shut. It would be best for everyone if it didn’t, but that didn’t stop me from imagining.