“Sorry, too much wine. I’m a lightweight when it comes to alcohol. What were you saying?”
“George wanted to reach you, but you weren’t answering your phone. He asked me to tell you, in case he didn’t see you himself. Nicole’s been sacked.”
“What?” She was definitely paying attention now. “He fired her?”
Liam nodded. “She has to leave the morning after the wedding. George wanted you to know because you’ll have to take on some of her work.”
“Me?”
“Nicole is not allowed to talk to anyone or answer the house phone. So, all the arrangements for the next few days…” He spread his hands to indicate the hall around them, already filled with white flowers. Tomorrow the house would be full of wedding guests, too. Every available bedroom would be occupied. Additional staff and caterers had already arrived and were housed in temporary accommodation.
“Oh my God, that’s impossible.” To give Nicole her due, she was very efficient.
“George has assigned two of his executive assistants to step in and liaise with Nicole to make sure everything is implemented, but they’ll answer to you, not Nicole.”
Pierre exhaled slowly. “That’s serious.”
“Oh yes. He was very serious. You know what he can be like when he’s dealing with trouble.”
She did. George had been a lawyer and had a reputation for being ruthless. Yes, he was polite and courteous, but also lethal.
“And Emmet?” she couldn’t help asking.
“He tried to apologise to George who told him there was no need because he had done nothing wrong. Then Lord M called him in to thank him for the book.”
Where was he now? Perhaps she could ring him. She checked her watch; was it too late to ring? Text might be better, but not in front of Liam.
She stood up, taking the milk carton from the little side table. “I’m going up to bed. Busy day tomorrow.”
Upstairs, she grabbed her phone from the table in the office.
Thirty
In her room, Pierre closed the door and leaned against it in the dark. She took her phone out. What to say?
PIERRE: Liam said you were looking for me
No, too abrupt. She deleted it and started again.
PIERRE: Sorry about the
No.
PIERRE: I hope you’re okay
No.
PIERRE: Are you okay? Liam said you were looking for me, but I was at—
A grating noise interrupted her.
It came from the balcony. Someone had pushed open the French windows and the wood must have caught on something.
Nicole had only been here during the cold months and had never ventured out to the narrow French-style balcony that hugged this side of the house. Now that spring was here at last, the night air was very warm. So much for Pierre’s plans of a quiet couple of hours on her balcony if Nicole was going to sit outside, too.
“I don’t want anyone to hear.” Nicole’s voice came through so clearly through the open balcony doors, she may as well be in Pierre’s room.
She didn’t sound like her usual self, though. Her voice was thick as if she’d been crying. “I bet they’re all crouching outside my door trying to listen at the keyhole.”
