‘I love this room. I love the whole house. It almost feels as if it could be mine. Carrie said she felt like that when she stayed here. It’s as though the house is giving itself to you.’ She shook herself and blushed. ‘That sounds ridiculous and not like me at all. It does that to you as well, makes you think surreal thoughts. Tasha says it’s the ghosts. Her theory is that if they like you, you’re made to feel so welcome that you almost forget the house isn’t yours.’
She poured him some tea and passed the milk and sugar.
‘Of course, I don’t believe in that sort of thing. Once you’re gone, you’re gone.’
She put a hand to her mouth.
‘Obviously not everyone believes that. I mean, if you’ve lost someone it’s comforting to believe that…’
She was digging herself a massive great hole. Perhaps if she was lucky, it would swallow her up.
Lance looked up from beneath thick lashes.
‘Thank you for taking Tasha under your wing. She doesn’t have the easiest of times at home.’
He was so gracious, she thought, changing the conversation like that.
‘Growing up can be difficult at the best of times.’
He nodded, adding a splash of milk and two heaped spoonfuls of sugar to his tea, then stirred it vigorously before taking a gulp which made his cheeks turn slightly pink.
‘I worry all the time whether I’m getting it right with Erin and Fitz. If Sarah would have done it differently. Not having a mother is… indescribable. I sometimes wonder if it would have been better if it had been me who died.’
He stared into his tea, and she sat down at the opposite end of the table.
‘For what it’s worth, losing your father is pretty indescribable, too. You can only do what you can do, as my granny says.’
He looked across at her, his eyes full of gratitude, and she threw him a very small smile.
‘Dad, what on earth have you done? I only left you for a few minutes.’
Erin was looking over the top of the stable door with Tasha hovering behind her.
‘It’s just a small knock. You’re back quickly,’ Lance said.
‘For the first time ever, Tasha was ready and waiting.’
‘Your father bumped his head quite hard on the lintel above the sitting room door,’ Jules explained.
‘We didn’t even get upstairs,’ Lance said.
Erin and Tasha exchanged glances and stifled giggles.
Lance turned even more pink.
‘Sorry, Jules, they can be a bit immature sometimes. Come on, girls, time to go and leave Jules in peace.’
He stood up and seemed to sway slightly.
‘Are you sure you’re all right to drive?’ Jules asked. ‘I can take you home and walk back.’
‘We’re not going home. We’re going to Carisbrooke Castle for the day. It’s something I do with the girls every summer and Fitz, too, if he’s around. I’ll be fine.’
Jules frowned.
‘I’m not sure you will be.’
‘Why don’t you come with us, Jules?’ Erin was standing right next to her. ‘It’s a brilliant day out.’
