‘Ashton?’
It’s a man’s voice.
Ash pulls out abruptly. ‘Don’t come in!’ he yells, reaching for the hem of my skirt and tugging it down to cover me up before scrambling off the bed and yanking up his trousers.
‘Is that your father?’ I recognise his voice.
Ash nods, his expression wracked with tension and something else … Fear?
‘I’m coming in,’ Peter Berkeley warns.
‘Wait!’ Ash shouts.
Heart pounding, I leap from the bed, searching around wildly for somewhere to hide.
I’m just stepping towards the wardrobe when I hear Ash say: ‘Don’t you dare.’
I look over my shoulder at him, surprised at how sharp his tone is.
He shakes his head at me, graver than I’ve ever seen him. ‘I’m not hiding you like a dirty little secret.’
A second later, the door opens and his father strolls in. Heflicks on the light, making me flinch for a second before I’m able to look at him properly. I’ve only seen him once since I started working here, and I thought he was fairly attractive, standing on the steps of the Regency wing, delivering his speech.
But now there’s a cruel glint in his eyes and a nasty twist to his mouth that a part of me recognises as he slowly looks me up and down, his gaze moving languidly to the rumpled bedcover.
There’s absolutely no doubt about what we’ve been doing.
My face burns fiercely.
Ash is still buttoning up his shirt, looking absolutely livid.
‘I told you not to come in,’ he says cuttingly.
‘I gave you more than enough time,’ his father replies evenly, his eyes returning to mine.
I feel a skipping sensation beneath my ribcage and I’m shocked to realise that I’m scared.He’s just a man, I try to tell myself. But the weight of his gaze feels like a dark echo and sends an icy finger of fear sliding down my spine.
‘What are you doing here?’ Ash asks, finally drawing his father’s attention away from me. ‘I thought you were out tonight.’
‘I had other plans.’
‘I bet you did,’ Ash mutters darkly.
His father smirks at him. ‘Are you going to introduce us?’
Ash gives me a tortured look.
‘I’m Ellie,’ I barely manage to get out, saving him the dilemma.
Lord Berkeley cocks his head to one side, eyeing methoughtfully. His eyes widen suddenly and his mouth breaks out into a big smile.
‘You’re one of ourgardeners,’ he says with delight, his voice silken, making me shudder. He glances at Ash. ‘I didn’t think you had it in you, son.’
‘Get out,’ Ash commands through gritted teeth.
‘Oh, I will.’
‘Now!’
