I mouth to her, You okay? and she nods back to me unconvincingly.
Two men walk past the dining-room window, doing a lap of the house outside. They’re almost a mirror image of each other, both in black trousers, knee-length, black, wool coats and black, leather gloves. My body shudders in response. Extra security.
He’s still out there.
Gregory puts down his folk and drops a hand to my thigh. ‘They’re a precaution, that’s all.’ His warm breath on the bare skin of my neck instantly comforts me. He finishes lunch with his right hand, his left entwined with mine.
After our meal, Charles and Camilla leave to visit her daughter and the rest of us retire to the lounge with coffee. There’s a noticeable shift in Lara’s attitude once Camilla has gone, as if her pretence is no longer necessary. I much prefer this version of her. Sandy seems to have relaxed too. She’s stopped fiddling and is talking happily with Jackson.
I cast my eyes around the room and find Gregory watching me, one hand resting a coffee cup on his crossed leg. We stay locked in that gaze for a moment before my face breaks into a dizzy-in-love smile. He smiles back then leans forwards and places his cup onto the coffee table. ‘All right, gents, ready?’
Jackson is first to stand and explains that he’s going to check in with Ken and Marshall, who I suspect are the black-clothed precaution walking the perimeter of the house. Williams and Lawrence are next up and they, with Gregory, leave the room to talk business.
‘I’m glad there’s just us, ladies,’ Lara says when the men have vacated. ‘I wanted to talk to you about an idea I’ve had.’
Miranda has taken the movement in the room as an opportunity to offer fresh tea and coffee but Lara tells her she should consider herself off duty now and relax with Tony and Mack. She takes an unfinished bottle of champagne from an ice bucket and gives it to Miranda, telling her to finish it if she likes, and that Tony and Mack should help themselves to spare beers in the fridge.
I much prefer this Lara.
‘Right, my idea,’ Lara says, sitting back onto the sofa with her self-poured fresh cup of tea. ‘Gregory told me that you’ve moved in with him, Scarlett.’
‘Have you?’ Amanda shouts, almost leaping from her chair.
‘No, no, not exactly. It’s just for a week. I just didn’t, couldn’t, I didn’t really want to stay in the house,’ I confess, glancing at Sandy apologetically.
‘Well, I was thinking,’ Lara continues, ‘if you do move in with Gregory, there’ll be a lot done for you. I mean shopping, cleaning, that sort of thing. And I don’t mean to bring it up and I realise she spent a lot of time caring for your dad, but I know that Sandy did those things for you too.’
Mild irritation murmurs under my tongue.
‘To get to the point, Miranda has an awful lot to do around here and I’ve been thinking lately that she could perhaps use someone to share her workload.’
Finally, the point is starting to take shape.
‘That person could live here, although should she ever want to leave, that would be fine too. She could come during the day, we could arrange something to suit everyone,’ Lara adds, smiling at Sandy sincerely. ‘Of course, when you spend so much time together, it’s important to have someone around who you know you can trust. So I hope you don’t mind, Scarlett, but I’ve spoken to Sandy about whether she might like the position.’
Words, thoughts, actions begin to spin in my mind. I don’t want to lose Sandy. I know I don’t need her any more. Maybe I can’t afford to keep her. I don’t know if I’ll even keep the house. At least if she was with Lara, I could see her and I’d know she’s safe. I don’t want to lose her. I don’t want to lose her. Looking to Sandy, Amanda, Lara and back to Sandy, I try to find the right words, the correct response.
Sandy shuffles close and looks at me with her sweet, chocolate eyes. ‘I need to work. You’re grown-up now. I’ve done my job. I finished helping you grow up a long time ago. For the last few years, I’ve kept the house tidy and?—’
‘Made me pancakes.’
She smiles and tucks my hair behind my ear the way she used to when I was a child. The touch of her fingers makes my eyes glaze.
‘But for the most part, I’ve cared for your dad. You don’t need me anymore and to be honest, Scarlett, I don’t want to work for you anymore. I’ve watched you grow into an amazing, clever, beautiful woman. You’re not my little princess anymore; you’re my best friend.’
I can feel the walls of the dam that’s holding back the water from my eyes crack and crumble.
‘Are you sure this is what you want? We could sort something, I promise.’
‘I think this is a good idea. It’s time for me to have my own life instead of being old before my time, like you always tell me. Plus, this way, I’ll get to see you more.’
‘And Jackson.’
She chuckles, cheeks ablaze.
‘So that’s settled then?’ Lara asks.
Sandy nods with a smile. ‘Settled.’
