Looking up surprised, she turned off the iron and sat down.
Jasper pulled a chair up to sit opposite her. ‘While you’re doing a terrific job looking after Fletcher, I think it’s time you put your feet up. All this work can’t be doing you any good,’ he tried to justify.
‘But I enjoy doing it,’ Lilly replied, somewhat confused.
Jasper tried again, as sensitively as possible. ‘I know you do, Lilly, but perhaps we could ask someone… a little more able to do the cleaning, you know, the strenuous jobs, and you can still come and do…’ He looked wildly around him.
‘The ironing?’ Lilly suggested.
‘Yes! You can still do the ironing and we’ll get someone else to do the rest. How does that sound?’ He gave her his most endearing smile.
‘Like hell you will,’ came Fletcher’s voice from the doorway.
There was no way some stranger was snooping about his home.No bloody chance.
Jasper closed his eyes and sighed. ‘Fletcher, it’s not fair expecting Lilly to cope on her own.’ He lifted his hands, ‘The Laurels is huge, it needs more than one cleaner—’
‘Housekeeper, dear,’ butted in Lilly.
‘Sorry, housekeeper,’ replied Jasper with forced patience.
Fletcher looked warily at him. Whilst he conceded Jasper had a point, he was still adamant about his privacy. Then an idea sprang to mind, causing a wry smile to spread across his face. ‘I’ll get another cleaner Jasper. Just you leave it with me.’
Jasper narrowed his eyes. What was the old boy up to now?
Chapter 13
Adira was in Charles’ office, ordering all the stock for the new spa room. It felt rather liberating, having carte blanche to choose whatever she wanted without any restraints. Now and then she would run certain items past Charles as he passed in and out of the office. He would look at the screen, then at her and say, ‘If you need it, get it.’ A refreshing change to the controlling management of Goldgate Chambers. She bought quality oils from reputable stockists. When it came to the decorative side of things, she did endeavour to keep a lid on it. Less is more, was her mantra whenever tempted and she decided to make a list of the pictures, mirrors, candles, towel stands and light fittings to run past Cassie before completing the order.
Charles bobbed his head round the door.
‘A visitor for you at the bar, Adira,’ he called, then left before she had chance to ask who.
Approaching the bar, she saw Fletcher chatting to Cassie.
‘Do you want to see me, Fletcher?’
‘Aye, lass. Let me buy you a drink. Come and sit down.’
Soon they were sat opposite each other at a small table by the window, overlooking the river. Once again, she was reminded of just how stunning Lilacwell was.
‘The thing is,’ Fletcher began, ‘Jasper tells me I need another cleaner. Lilly can’t do it all.’
‘She can’t,’ chipped in Adira, picturing the poor old lady’s gnarled hands. ‘Only the other day she was telling me how her arthritis troubles her.’
Fletcher looked out of the window in contemplation. Or was it guilt?
‘I know how it looks, Adira, but it suits us both. I don’t want no stranger in my house and Lilly wants a purpose. We both want the company.’ He spoke in a quiet voice, sounding almost defeated, so unlike Fletcher, and she wasn’t sure what to say. ‘Jasper is right, the place does need bottoming, a damn good clean.’ He looked at her. Adira began to wonder where this was leading. ‘So, I’m here asking you to do it. I’ll pay you of course.’
Her eyebrows shot up. ‘Me?’
‘Yes, don’t you see, you’re young and fit enough to do it and I wouldn’t mind you in the house.’
In a way, Adira was flattered, but she had reservations.
‘I couldn’t take your money, Fletcher, not when you’ve allowed me to stay on your land. I actually was going to start paying rent, once I’m working here.’
‘Nonsense,’ he replied. Then his face lit up, ‘Let’s do a deal if money isn’t to change hands. You stay on my land as long as you want. Use water, electricity when needed and you… well, you can clean my house.’
