‘Yes, that’s him with his favourite teddy.’ I notice the lightness in his voice when he speaks about Alfie.
‘I see there’s a photo of you and Jamie.’
He chuckles. ‘Younger and fresh-faced versions of me and Jamie.’
‘How did you meet?’
‘We went to school together – Jamie, Rory and me.’
‘Oh.’
‘We all go back a long way. That’s why it hurts so much with Rory. He was my best mate. We’ve been through so much together. He knew what I went through with Molly. When Molly and I broke up, he made a move on her.’
He goes quiet for a while. I don’t say anything.
‘When I see him with Alfie, it makes me so cross.’ His voice has a firm edge to it.
‘That must be hard.’
He rearranges his pillows. ‘I can’t believe I’ve been betrayed by the two people who once meant a lot to me.’ I hear him let out a heavy sigh. ‘I worry about Alfie picking up on the atmosphere when I go over there.’
‘How’s Rory towards you?’
‘He keeps trying to take me aside and talk things through. I have nothing to say to him, and he can stop advising me on my son.’
I’m sensing that Rory is trying to make peace with Oliver.
‘Maybe you should talk to him?’
Oliver scoffs. ‘It would end up with me punching him.’
‘Alfie would want everyone to be happy.’ My words don’t land well as he goes silent for what feels like an eternity.
‘Let’s talk about our footman and maid,’ he says after such a long pause I assumed he’d fallen asleep. ‘John doesn’t see Mary the following day. His heart is aching.’
I place my hand gently on the pillow wall. ‘Why is his heart aching?’
‘He doesn’t understand why she didn’t show up.’ Oliver pauses before saying, ‘He senses she’s got secrets, but he doesn’t care about them.’
‘What are they?’ I pray Mary is cursed.
‘She’s carrying an emotional burden, and it’s getting heavier by the day.’
Definitely a curse. My heart skips a beat. ‘Some secrets need to stay hidden.’
Oliver continues. ‘Later that evening, he catches her in the servants’ stairwell. The house is silent. A candle flickers in the draught. “You shouldn’t be here,” she whispers.’
My breath catches in my throat.
‘The footman steps closer to her. He says, “If I listened to them, I would never see you. Why didn’t you meet me last night?” They both can hear footsteps and laughter from the kitchen downstairs.’ He leans closer.
Oliver’s voice is silky smooth, making me want to unravel.
‘She says, “The lady of the house caught me.” There are more voices, and the candle flickers. “Someone could catch us,” she whispers as he lifts a hand and touches a lock of her red hair. He bends down and presses his lips…’
‘But what about her secrets?’ I gasp.
‘He wants her to let him carry the weight of whatever she’s hiding.’
