‘Did Justin say or do anything terrible after I left?’ Meg asked. ‘He didn’t come and say goodbye.’
‘No. He went and chatted to Ambrosine, who obviously adores him. He was so different when he talked to her. He wasn’t patronising as so many people are when dealing with older people, he was just funny and kind. Although I’m convinced he thinks I’m a gold digger, after his father for all the wrong reasons, I was impressed by him.’
‘If the hotel isn’t making much money, and he made very sure we knew that, you could hardly be a gold digger.’
‘But if Nightingale Woods stopped being a hotel, it would be a wonderful house!’
‘But it’s the hotel part you love,’ said Meg.
‘Oh yes! The people! I don’t think I’d want to live here if it was just a house.’
‘Just a house? A small stately home, rather.’
‘You know what I mean,’ said Louise, offended.
At last a car turned into the drive. Meg watched it for a few moments, checking it was the one she was waiting for. It was a large estate car and looked French. ‘That’s Alexandra!’ she said gleefully, and galloped down the stairs to meet her.
Alexandra was out of the car and in Meg’s arms in a blink. They hugged and jumped up and down. David got out more slowly and he and Louise greeted each other, observing with friendly amusement Meg and Alexandra’s delight in seeing each other again.
They were all still in front of the house when Justin appeared. ‘Good afternoon. Welcome to Nightingale Woods. You must be the Countess,’ he said formally.
Meg suppressed a scream of surprise. She had been certain he was miles away. Why wasn’t he safely back at his job? What on earth had he been doing all this time?
Alexandra held out an imperious hand to take his. ‘Yes. I’m an old friend of Meg’s. It’s so nice to be able to visit her here. This is my friend David Campbell.’
‘Nice car,’ Justin said, having shaken David’s hand. ‘What is it?’
‘A Citroën Safari,’ said Alexandra, although Justin had addressed David. ‘Perfect for large families and antiques dealers.’
‘Which category are you?’ asked Justin.
‘Both.’ Alexandra smiled, every inch the countess. ‘Although I’m only a part-time antiques dealer these days.’
Meg was infuriated. It was outrageous, him encroaching on her precious time with Alexandra and David.
‘Let me show you to your rooms,’ she said, taking Alexandra’s arm. ‘Maybe Justin could take your bags?’
The look Justin gave her was both hugely satisfying and terrifying; he was sure to take his revenge. Meg didn’t care. She was so angry with him. And as Alexandra obviously wanted to go into the hotel, they went up the shallow steps and into the hall.
‘Isn’t this lovely?’ said Alexandra, looking round the hall with its smart black and white checked floor, antique furniture and welcoming atmosphere. Family portraits and old lithographs of the house decorated the yellow walls, and afternoon sun shone in through the front windows.
‘It’s all so pretty and comfortable,’ Alexandra went on. ‘I’ve just been in the London house—’
‘Our old home,’ said David, sounding nostalgic.
‘Yes,’ Alexandra agreed. ‘And although we all loved it at the time, now it seems desperately gloomy andin need of repair and decoration. I was there to sort out the leaking roof – not personally, obviously – but really, the whole house is a disgrace.’
‘Shall we go upstairs?’ said Justin. ‘I do have other things to do.’
Meg clamped her teeth on bitter words about why he wasn’t doing them; she didn’t want to spoil Alexandra’s visit.
She wanted to snatch Alexandra’s overnight bag from his hand but having more or less demanded that he take it upstairs, she couldn’t do that now. ‘I’ll lead the way,’ she said, trusting everyone would follow her.
Meg had so looked forward to showing Alexandra her room and she knew her mother felt the same. She walked up the stairs feeling angry and disappointed – all the more angry because it was entirely her fault. If she hadn’t wanted to get at Justin he’d have been nowhere near them. Although he was so unpredictable he might have followed them anyway. She was desperate to know what he’d been doing all afternoon.
She opened the door to their best bedroom. It looked charming, she decided. The faded chintz wallpaper toned well with the cushions and bedspread. The dressing table had a very pretty antique dressing-table set in cut glass that included candlesticks and little vases – now filled with flowers. There was a small sofa near the window, perfect for curling up on with a good view, and a couple of small armchairs made it like a sitting room as well as somewhere to sleep. ‘Here you are!’
Alexandra went straight to the large window that overlooked the front of the property and the parkland that surrounded it. ‘This is just lovely!’
