Page 41 of Christmas All the Way

‘Yes,’ Grace said simply. ‘But he’s having a fabulous time, living his best life, and I’m staying with Keeley for the time being so I don’t have to face my empty nest each night. That’s part of the deal with kids, isn’t it? They grow up and leave you behind.’

Raff shook his head. ‘I wouldn’t know. I only have a Labrador and he doesn’t leave me alone for a minute.’

The admission made her laugh. ‘They do say dogs are for life.’

He smiled. ‘This one really is. Even when I’m in the shower.’

The thought of him in the shower was not one Grace felt equipped to deal with right at that moment. She gestured towards the barn. ‘I should probably get back to work.’

‘Of course,’ he said, his smile fading. ‘Enjoy your lunch.’

Turning away, he crunched back to his car. Grace did not allow herself to watch him. Instead, she headed for the door and tried to ignore the jumble of butterflies that were somersaulting in her stomach. The way she felt right now, she couldn’t eat a thing. It was maddening, she thought as she stowed her sandwich in the staffroom fridge.

Why did Raff Caldwell always seem to have this effect on her? And when was it going to wear off?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

‘I do not accept that adversity must be our undoing, Mrs Gladstone. Can it not also be the making of us?’

Where the Wind Blows, ELIZA NORTON

Keeley was standing silently in the drawing room of Juniper Cottage on Friday afternoon when her phone vibrated in her pocket. Discreetly, she edged it out to view the screen and was surprised to see Malcolm’s name displayed there. Hitting mute, she tucked it away again and smiled indulgently at a little girl and her mother as they moved into the corridor. Only fifteen minutes remained until Keeley would be relieved by an incoming volunteer. Malcolm could wait until then.

She was therefore surprised when her pocket buzzed again. Frowning, she took out her phone and saw the trustee was calling her again. With a swift glance left and right, she checked there were no visitors nearby and swiped the screen to answer. ‘Hello?’

‘Keeley.’ Malcolm’s voice seemed to boom in her ear, made louder by the silence of the drawing room. ‘Sorry to call twice. Is now a good time?’

Not really, she wanted to say, but she detected a note of something unusual in his tone. The rule was that mobile phone use was strictly forbidden while on duty in the cottage but she would have to break that rule just this once. ‘I have a few minutes,’ she said cautiously. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘Everything is fine,’ he replied, and she thought he now sounded strangely ebullient. ‘Marvellous, in fact. Couldn’t be better.’

Keeley felt her forehead crease. ‘I’m glad to hear that. So what can I help you with?’

He cleared his throat. ‘I had a very interesting meeting with Xander Jones earlier in the week. He updated me on what you’ve been getting up to at the cottage and how well you’ve been working together.’

Heat flooded Keeley’s cheeks. She really hoped Xander hadn’t shared everything they’d been getting up to. ‘We’ve made good progress on plans for the Christmas tours,’ she said, her tone deliberately cool. ‘I believe Xander plans to go live with the booking system next week.’

‘Yes, it’s all very exciting,’ Malcolm huffed. ‘Top work. I knew you’d make an excellent team.’

Her eyes narrowed. What exactly had Xander been saying? ‘Is that what you’re calling about? Because it would be easier to talk—’

‘No,’ he interrupted her. ‘It’s not that. Something has been brought to the attention of the trustees – a rather exciting discovery – and I must say, I’m surprised we didn’t find out about it from you.’

Keeley felt a cold ripple of unease run down her spine. ‘What do you mean? What kind of discovery?’

Malcolm chuckled. ‘Come now, Keeley, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You ought to, since you’re the one who found it. I’m talking about the manuscript – Eliza’s unpublished novel.’

Blood began roaring in Keeley’s ears. ‘But that’s not – we agreed –’ She stopped talking, trying to marshal her thoughts. ‘How do you know about that?’

‘A little bird told me,’ he said jovially. ‘That’s all you need to know.’

Her confusion coalesced into understanding. Only three people knew about the manuscript and she very much doubted Grace had a hotline to the trustees. Keeley herself hadn’t told them, which only left Xander. Her stomach swooped in shocked disbelief. He’d promised not to tell Malcolm about their discovery before the manuscript had been authenticated but it seemed he hadn’t been able to resist. Perhaps he’d even taken it straight to him, before dropping it off to be assessed. The thought of it made her feel a little sick; not only had Xander gone over her head, he’d robbed her of the opportunity of telling the trustees herself. ‘I see,’ she said, through lips that felt numb.

‘Obviously, it’s wonderful news,’ Malcolm went on, oblivious to her muted reaction. ‘And given the upcoming rollout of the tours, the other trustees and I think we should announce the discovery now.’

‘Now?’ she repeated in dismay. ‘But it hasn’t been properly authenticated.’

‘So much the better,’ he said. ‘We cause an immediate stir with the news that a secret, hitherto unpublished manuscript has been found, and then another when it’s officially declared to be Eliza’s.’ There was a brief pause. ‘Unless you don’t think she wrote it?’