They drove on in silence, leaving the woodland behind and climbing through a rocky, heather-strewn landscape until the track petered out. Robbie parked up, leaping from the truck to open her door for her.
‘You really don’t need to do that,’ she said, ‘I’m perfectly capable of opening a car door for myself.’
He looked stung, and she frowned. She hadn’t meant to offend him, but her words had sounded harsh. ‘Perhaps I should leave you to it, Robbie. I’m not sure I’m the best company right now.’
‘Aye, whatever you like.’
‘I’m sorry. I’ll make my own way back,’ she added, stiff and starchy as she did her best to keep a lid on her swirling emotions.
‘As you wish, Your Ladyship.’
Dee headed away from the truck; she supposed she deserved his return to formality. She didn’t allow herself to glance back until she was sure Robbie had unloaded the dogs and was fully occupied with them. When she did look, Robbie was striding in the opposite direction, his broad shoulders held upright as his dogs bounced around him.
As she headed for the beauty of the waterfall, and the winding path which would take her home, it occurred to her that Robbie was the same age now as Henry had been when she’d first set eyes on him. Since then she’d lived an entire lifetime.
One more glance back made her pause. Robbie was no longer walking with his dogs. They were running free, scenting and barking and generally charging around, while he was motionless, staring in her direction.
Unsure what to do, Dee lifted a hand in recognition and was further confused when he lifted his in return. His action did bring a lightness to her steps, though, and she allowed herself to smile as she walked away.
Jess was part-way through packing when Amina phoned.
‘What on earth was that garbled message you left me all about?’ Amina said, her amused tone enough to have Jess slumping onto the edge of her bed, abandoning a half-folded jumper. ‘Something about having offended your employer and probably being on the next train south. What the heck have you been up to this time?’
‘How do I always get it so wrong?’ Jess wailed. ‘Please don’t say a word to Aunt Vivi, she’ll skin me alive.’
‘Start at the beginning and tell me all about it.’
The amused tone in Amina’s voice gave Jess hope. Perhaps Sebastian hadn’t been straight onto the phone to the Home From Home agency – if he had, Amina wouldn’t be being this charitable.
‘So, I was chatting to the gamekeeper,’ Jess began.
‘Ooh, very la-di-da. What’s he called? Let me guess … Rabbie McTavish? Craig Macintosh? Or what was that TV series – it’s on one of the grey channels, you know, for the old and bedridden – oh yes,Hamish Macbeth. That would be perfect.’
Jess was grinning. Amina always knew how to cheer her up. ‘You weren’t far wrong with your first guess. He’s called Robbie – don’t know his last name – but now you’ve mentioned McTavish, I hope that’s what it is. He’s also six-foot-plus and comes complete with awesome shoulders and a rather nice smile … But that’s not where it went wrong …’
‘No, sounds like that’s where it’s all going to go right,’ Amina said. ‘But feel free to carry on with your far less interesting tale of woe.’
‘It was what he said about the way the estate is being run, how loads of the properties are run-down and need maintenance work done. It doesn’t sound like anything’s been done for the locals for years. And, well, I kind of went off on one about it to the newly installed earl.’
‘Oh.’
‘Yeah.’
‘That’s not great, Jess. Even by your standards that’s a bit …’
‘Yeah, I know. So, I’m busy packing.’
‘He’s sacked you?’ Jess could almost hear Amina’s thoughts whirring. She’d be thinking about a replacement housekeeper, and where she could next send Jess.
‘Well, not in so many words, but I kind of presumed he’d be straight on the phone to you, and when I got your voicemail, it made sense to me that was the reason.’
‘I was on the phone to a new client. There are other people involved in Home From Home, you know?’
‘Fair enough.’ Jess took a deep breath. ‘So, you haven’t heard anything from Sebastian, then?’
‘It can’t be all that bad if you’re using his first name,’ Amina said. ‘No, Jess, I haven’t. Be reassured, we’ve had no contact with the Barclay-Brown family since we finalised your contract. But Jess …’
‘I know what you’re going to say,’ Jess said. She knew all too well Amina’s ‘cut the crap’ tone. ‘I’ll go and apologise straightaway.’
