CHAPTER 41
@starzwatch A reliable source inside Linford Castle where Brooks and Torres are shooting their new movie, has said the Hollywood stars – who claim to be together – aren’t sharing a room. Is Afric even pregnant? And is it Spencer’s? #TheLinfordCurse
Emily was emerging from Anthony’s office when Jess got to work.
“Hey, are you okay?” She hurried over to her. “I heard about the riding accident this morning.”
“Yeah, I’m fine, thanks.” Jess paused. “How did you hear?”
“I’m doing paperwork,” Emily said. “The stable manager has to fill out a full report but he was on to Anthony about something else and Anthony was wondering if you were in yet. I think he was quite worried.”
“I’m fine. Robert’s gone down to the medical centre to get checked out, but he didn’t hit his head when he fell and nothing else is injured.” Jess shrugged.
“I heard Adam was –”
“Would you mind if we didn’t talk about this?” Jess noticed Emily flush deeply and felt immediately bad. “Sorry, it’s just …” She folded her arms. “How did you and Dermot get on after we left the pub last night?”
Emily brightened. “It went so well, Jess. He asked me all about myself but he wasn’t pushy, you know? And he’s really fun and chill. And omigod, the man can kiss!”
“See?” Jess grinned at her. “I knew you had nothing to worry about.”
“Yeah.” Emily looked thoughtful. “He could have got the wrong idea, though.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, remember when we went to the loo that time? Robert told him that story about me and that girl getting set up for Valentine’s Day, and I think he was a bit confused. He honestly didn’t think I was into him until the end of the night.”
“He asked you about that?” Jess asked.
“Well, he just told me what he’d heard about my blind date, and then I told him the full story.” Emily shrugged. “Anyway, it’s all good.”
Jess sighed. “I’m not sure why Robert would have mentioned that.”
Emily chewed on her lip. “I mean, he probably thought it was a funny story.”
Hilarious, Jess thought, dismissing a sudden flare of annoyance. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
Lisa caught up with Jess after an early lunch. “You’ve got to help me, I’ve lost Diva.”
Jess blinked. “Afric’s dog?”
“What other Diva do you know? Yes, Afric’s stupid dog! She’ll go nuts if she finds out anything has happened to her. I was supposed to be watching her.”
Jess immediately remembered Snuggles, and hoped Gerry – the staff member who had sole charge of the German Shepherd when the dog wasn’t with Spencer – had him safely in hand. Ben Colbert had bid a fond farewell to Snuggles and gone back to England.
“We’ll find her, don’t worry. Where did you see her last?”
“We were in the Great Hall – I turned my back for two minutes and she was gone.”
“So she slipped back out the door,” Jess said.
“The door was closed!” Lisa huffed as she took her phone out of her back pocket. Her expression changed as she read a message. “Holy shit, it’s Afric! They’ve stopped for lunch. What am I gonna tell her?”
“Tell her that you’re taking Diva for a walk and you’ll see her shortly,” Jess improvised.
“Right.” Lisa messaged Afric quickly. “That buys us fifteen minutes.”
Jess nodded. “Come on, she can’t have got far.”
They walked to the hall, keeping a close eye out for the dog.
“Maybe she fell asleep under something?” Jess said. “You search the set here – inside and out – and I’ll check out the gallery.”
Jess ran to the back of the hall and climbed the spiral staircase to the Whispering Gallery, walking around to one side and back again. Nothing!
“She’s not here!” Lisa called.
Jess hurried back downstairs. “We’ll get some other people to help us search.”
Walking briskly back over to the hall’s main door, she flung it open and collided with Adam.
He grabbed her upper arms to steady her. “What’s wrong?”
Why did he always assume there was something wrong? Even more annoyingly, why was he usually right?
“Diva is missing,” she said. “We need to find her before she gets out of the grounds.”
Adam turned to Lisa. “I’m assuming Afric doesn’t know?”
“She doesn’t know.” Lisa spoke through gritted teeth. “I’m a publicity manager, not a fucking dog-minder.”
“These things happen,” Adam said soothingly. “I’ve just come in. Marco’s set up trestle tables on the orangery terrace and the chefs are serving lunch, so it’s better if you stay inside to look for the dog. Rope in any member of staff to help. Jess and I will look around outside.”
“We’re close to the south entrance,” Jess said. She started to walk, not bothering to check whether Adam was following her. He caught up in a few easy strides.
“Jess, about this morning.”
“Adam, please leave it alone.”
He took her arm and she stopped, spinning towards him.
“What do you want?” she demanded.
His expression was unreadable. “I just want to make sure you’re okay after what happened. You’re not hurt?”
“Oh.” She swallowed, glancing away. “Yeah, I’m grand, honestly.” She looked up. “Thanks again.”
He gave a brief nod. “Don’t leave it too long to go riding again – you’ll miss it.”
It felt like there was something in her throat, making it hard to swallow.
Damn him, anyway. He was bad enough when he was being bossy and obnoxious, but when he was being kind …
He knew better than anyone how much spending time around horses meant to her.
There had been so many times after the breakup when it had been the only thing that had helped her through the day.
But the last thing she wanted was to discuss anything personal with Adam. It felt like a backward step – a painful one. She needed to keep moving forward.
“So what do you think our chances are of finding this dog in the next …” she checked her watch, “ten minutes?”
Adam pushed his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “God knows. How long has she been missing?”
“I don’t know,” Jess said, kicking herself for not having asked. “Not too long. I think Lisa came rushing to me quite soon after it happened.”
They emerged outside and Jess scanned the grounds. If Diva had already got outside the perimeter, they’d be in real trouble.
Adam shielded his eyes with one hand as he squinted towards the rear gate. “I’ll head over this way – you check the stables.”
Jess nodded. “Fine. If one of us finds her, we’ll text the other person immediately.”
“You might have to unblock me first.” Adam raised an eyebrow.
So he knew. When had he tried to get in touch?
As recently as the last week? When he’d decided to …
Her thoughts trailed to a halt when it struck her that she wasn’t annoyed with him anymore.
However their relationship had ended, and however Adam felt about her, he’d been nothing but helpful since he’d arrived at Linford. She should cut him a break.
She took out her phone, her head whipping up as they heard the distinct sound of barking.
“It’s coming from the stables.” Adam looked at her. “And that’s more than one dog.”
“Shit!” Jess started to run but Adam quickly passed her and was waiting, his arms folded, when she got there a couple of minutes later.
“Where are they?” Jess could hear barking as she braced her hands on her knees to catch her breath.
Adam grinned. “Wait for it.”
After a few moments, Snuggles tore around the side of the stables, barking loudly. Seconds later, in a blur of white fur, Diva appeared, her small tail wagging furiously as she raced after him.
Jess stared at the two dogs as they disappeared from view again around the back. Finally, she found her voice.
“Adam, we need to get Diva. And tell Gerry to come and get Snuggles.” She fumbled for her phone.
He started to laugh. “Let Lisa and Gerry know but tell them to give it a couple of minutes. The dogs are just having fun.”
“Fine.” Jess started to message them both. “But it won’t be fun if Snuggles hurts Afric’s dog.”
“How likely is that?” He shot her an amused look as the two dogs made a reappearance. “She’s chasing him!”