Ned let out a sigh.
“God, that would be awesome. I’m so glad you’re here and that will help so much,” Blake was saying to Nora.
“What will help?” Dair asked as Blake clamped down on her father.
Dair offered his arm to Nora who took it.
“Nora is going to help with the funeral arrangements. I’ve no idea where even to begin,” Blake said over her shoulder to him.
Then thank fuck she was there, because he didn’t either.
They stopped awkwardly at Jeff while Blake made introductions.
“You’ll be needing to see to their bags as well, and telling Christine we have an extra so we need another room made up and another plate for dinner,” Dair tacked on when she was done.
“Of course, Mr. Wallace,” Jeff all but snapped.
Ned gave Jeff a narrow look.
Nora raised her brows again.
Blake remained blithely unaware.
Jeff marched to the car.
They returned to the room they left and Dair went right to the bar. “What can I get ye?”
“Man after my own heart,” Nora replied, then said, “Alcohol.”
Ned chuckled and replied, “Scotch would be good.”
“Nora likes martinis and cosmos and palomas and gimlets and negronis and, well…” Blake trailed off.
“Whatever Blake is drinking, dearest,” Nora said.
He made Nora’s cosmo first, then he poured Ned’s Scotch.
As he resumed his seat and reclaimed his drink, Nora said, “Jamie will be here at the weekend. He’s got some meetings he can’t miss.”
“He doesn’t have to come. I know it’s a headache,” Blake said. “And neither did you.”
“Pish-posh,” Nora replied, and spoke no more.
He barely knew the woman. He met her at the wedding.
Even so, he liked her a great deal.
“Alex and Rix will be here in the morning,” Ned stated. “I’ve got a car meeting them at the airport. They should be to the house by ten.”
“Excellent,” Dair said.
Small talk was had until the drinks were drunk and then Nora asked if she could be shown to her room to freshen up before dinner.
Blake popped up to do so.
The women left, the men watched them, and when their voices couldn’t be heard anymore, Ned turned right to Dair.
“Is she fucking joking with that ‘butler?’” he clipped.
