Chapter Twenty-Five
Despite Mrs Jenkins’ attempts to follow him, Henry told her to return to Dapplebury House.
She had done more than enough for one afternoon.
He thanked his hypnotherapy training for teaching him how to read people and to stay calm under pressure, without it he might not have been able to bring the crowd back on side after the way she’d introduced him.
The skills he had learned stood him in good stead for life — he’d told his parents that many times when they thought he was wasting his time.
With every passing day in his new role, Henry was more determined to do it his way.
He would take the Bramlington title and Dapplebury House into the future, but it had to be on his terms. Yes, he had a responsibility to the past, to tradition, and expectation, but he had no intention of living shackled to archaic notions of how the estate had to be managed and run.
Having called Dixon’s office, Henry knew the man’s location.
He wanted their conversation to be face-to-face.
He wanted the man to know, in no uncertain terms, that he had crossed a line.
Going to Critters’ Lodge without permission was out of order; telling Ava about the sale before he’d had the chance to, was out of order.
And the fact Ava had ended up injured was not only out of order, it was going to cause somebody’s head to roll.
While having a title had its drawbacks, it also came with a certain amount of gravitas; gravitas that was going to be yielded in full throttle at whoever dared to hurt her.
Yes, he needed Dixon’s deal in order to go ahead with his plans for the estate, but he was also well aware that Dixon would be gaining plenty by way of reputation and future work if all went well with the contract.
As he pulled up outside the office, Henry felt the tension in his clenched jaw and neck.
Getting angry wasn’t generally his style, but the sight of Ava with her ankle bandaged had infuriated him.
That and the eager Italian constantly at her side.
‘You better have a bloody good excuse, Dixon!’ Getting out of the car, Henry strode towards the office door.