by Suzanna Ross
“The place is falling apart,” he muttered as he stepped over the fallen masonry littering the landing.
“Sure is,” she replied cheerfully. “Are you still sure you want to stay?”
He glanced at her quirkily arched eyebrow, the challenging glint in her sea-green eyes and the ruined state of the building faded from prominence in his mind. “More than ever,” he assured.
The spare room, thankfully, offered more comfort than he could possibly have expected from what he’d already seen of the house – if he could ignore the décor.
“Pink and girlish, I’m afraid.” Not a hint of an apology in her tone, he noted. “This is where Evie’s friends sleep when they stay over.”
“I can live with it.” He dropped his suitcase onto the sickly pink carpet at the foot of the bed. He hadn’t realised pink came in so many varying shades. Not a problem. Theo was a master of focus and he assured himself he could effectively blank out his surroundings and concentrate on formulating a plan of action. He needed to decide what he was going to do with the place.
His initial reaction, when he’d first realised how useless the estate would be as a hotel, had been to offer it for immediate sale in as tantalising a package as possible. He knew he’d probably make a loss, a combination of the current economic climate and Lysander foolishly agreeing a purchase price way above the market value would see to that. But Theo had deemed writing off a loss more prudent than throwing more money at the place. And finding a buyer shouldn’t pose a problem – if the price was right – as there was always someone keen to buy a country retreat and put their own stamp on it. If he was honest, selling was still probably the sensible option.
But something had changed and he didn’t feel particularly sensible. The estate meant a great deal to Rosie and he knew if he got rid of it without considering any other possible options, she would be hurt.
And that was the last thing he wanted. As she went to walk away, he called after her: “Aren’t you going to tell me what you want to talk to me about?”
***
Rosie made a valiant attempt to draw on all her resources. She needed to make this good, so good he wouldn’t be able to refuse her. She wasn’t ready to broach the subject, not anywhere near, but she needed to do this now – for Evie’s sake. And she’d already evaded the issue once.
“I was thinking...” she took another breath. This was harder than she’d ever imagined it would be – being forced to grovel to the man Harry had sold out to made her feel ill. But, for Evie, she had to at least try. “You’ll need to take on a manager – someone to run the estate day to day…”
He glanced at her thoughtfully. “Are you applying for the job?”
“I am. If you let me show you the books, you’ll see that, if Harry’s no longer helping himself to the profits, I can make this work.”
Rosie watched as he ran his hand through his thick black hair. “I would consider you, of course I would. But I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with the place yet.”
Rosie took a minute to digest the news. “Haven’t decided?” she repeated faintly, aware on some level she sounded like an idiot as her hopes were perilously close to being dashed.
“Not yet. I need to see exactly what’s happening here before I decide what to do.”
This was sounding more and more as though her home was nothing more than just another business deal. Which to him, of course, was exactly what it did represent.
She closed her eyes briefly before she dared to ask: “What plans are you considering?” She remembered his property interests and thought she might faint as a nightmare scenario began to unfold in glorious Technicolor in her mind. “What are you going to do to the estate? Break it up into tiny pieces so that some property developers can build as many houses as they can cram in?”
***
Ah, there was his hissing sparring partner.
Her face had turned the same dark pink colour as the bed cover and he felt a momentary pang of guilt – she hadn’t had the easiest time of it since he’d broken the news and now he was making things worse.
It went completely against type, but he found himself fighting an overwhelming urge to quell this tiny redhead’s fear. He decided to break his own policy of never explaining himself. “I own a chain of luxury country hotels,” he told her quietly. He scrutinised her face keenly, looking for some change in her expression, but she continued to stare at him with open hostility.
“I know that – I’ve done my homework. Evie Googled you and we read your online biography. I know all about the hotels, the steel and the construction interests. I also know that business rivals quake in your presence – but I’m not a business rival and I’m not scared of you.”
“I don’t want you to be scared of me, Rosie.” That was part of the attraction, the fact that she stood up to him without hesitation. And, rather than being offended by the intrusion, he approved of the fact the sisters had researched him. “When I first heard the company had acquired the manor, it briefly crossed my mind it might do as a site for another hotel.”
“You want to turn the manor into some sort of glorified bed and breakfast? But you can’t possibly...”
“I was thinking more a luxury hotel and spa,” he corrected.
“But there would be people…strangers…staying in my home…”
“Your brother sold up. It’s no longer your home,” he pointed out reasonably. “And judging by what I’ve seen of the state of the place the buyout didn’t come a minute too soon.”
“But a hotel...”
He grimaced. “Unfortunately, the manor’s less than useless as a hotel – too close to Chudley House. So, I could sell. Or...”
“Or what?”
“One of the options might be to renovate and live here myself.” Where had that idea come from, he wondered?
He didn’t need a home, had never wanted one in the traditional sense. He already had the use of a private, luxury suite in every hotel and resort he owned around the world and that arrangement suited him just fine. Home had never been a haven for Theo and the very word conjured up childhood memories of a particularly unpleasant variety. So why had he suddenly succumbed to an inexplicable nesting instinct?
It came back to the challenge he’d been missing. Renovating this manor would give him a new focus. And, if he still didn’t feel inclined to settle down to a permanent home once the project had been completed, well, he could always sell up at that point.
Chapter Five
Yet again, he had rendered Rosie speechless. Not only was it very obvious there would be no place for herself and Evie here, she was also left still wondering what would become of the estate’s other inhabitants?
She had to convince him the best course of action would be to leave the place as it was… If left to her own devices, she’d be able run the estate at a profit. She knew it. If only Theo would give her the chance she knew she could make it work. “The staff...” she croaked. “The tenants... You promised they could stay. You might not feel bad about throwing me and Evie out of the manor, but owning the estate brings responsibilities. Some of the families have farmed estate land for generations. And the tenants in the cottages would never be able to look after themselves.”
“Why not? What’s wrong with them?”
“Nothing as such, but they’ve been here since Dad’s days – people he met through the business.”
He shook his head. “So, as well as a bunch of useless animals, we have a collection of musical has-beens and hangers-on?”
“That’s not fair. You can’t speak about my tenants like that – they all pay rent. I’m worried about them, that’s all.”
“I realise that. As I said, I’m just throwing ideas out there at the moment. Nothing’s been decided yet, but I can tell you nobody will be left homeless – I give you my word.”
“Apart from me and Evie.”
“For what it’s worth, I do feel bad about what’s happened. But the manor’s falling d
own around your undeniably pretty ears. Even if my foolish brother hadn’t squandered company money on it, your days here were numbered. If things are left as they are, it’s only a matter of time before the place is condemned as unfit for human habitation. You must see that.”
She winced. She knew he was right, but she wasn’t happy it was Theo who was taking the time to point out the estate’s deficiencies. This was her home and she loved it. She’d put her life and soul into the place from the moment she’d been old enough to realise she had a soul. Wounded, she glared at him. “I’m well aware the place could do with a little maintenance.”
“Understatement of the century.”
“If it’s so awful why did you refuse my offer to try to persuade Harry to give you your money back?”
He paused so long she thought for a moment he wouldn’t reply. But, eventually, he drew a loud breath and spoke. “This isn’t the time to go into it and I shouldn’t be the one to tell you. I’ve already had to do too much of Harry’s dirty work.”
She could keep asking and annoy him. Or she could accept his answer for now and try to find out another time what he meant by it.
His golden eyes fixed on her, and a dark shiver ran through her. Probably best to leave it for now. She stared at him, trying to work out what made him tick. She could see nothing…no clues, his dark face remained expressionless, his golden eyes impenetrable.
“You’re obviously very attached to the estate. Am I right to assume your family has a history at the manor stretching back as far as some of the tenant farmers’ families?”
Even while Rosie seethed quietly, she reminded herself she still couldn’t afford to alienate him. She took a deep breath. “No, only since the seventies.”
Theo frowned. “Then why are you so against moving out? I wouldn’t see you and your sister homeless – I’ve said you’re welcome to use one of the estate cottages for as long as you need. You give the impression you’re emotionally attached to the manor.”
“I am emotionally attached,” she snapped. “Our family history at the manor might be measured in decades rather than centuries, but we have obligations to the staff and tenants. Evie and I were both born here and we’ve lived here all our lives. My mother died in this house. Besides, it was important to Dad. His fame might have been fleeting, but he saw the manor as something he attained by his own efforts. Something he could hand down to future generations – that’s why he renamed it after the family.”
Theo’s lips quirked. “Wasn’t that a bit narcissistic?”
Rosie smiled despite herself. “Undoubtedly, but he got away with it. A certain arrogance was expected of a rock star of his generation. Besides,” she couldn’t resist sniping, “I’m sure it’s no more narcissistic than naming a company after yourself.”
“Point taken.” He grinned and sat on the Barbie pink bedspread. Infuriatingly, instead of looking ridiculous, the colour merely accentuated his masculinity. “Why don’t you tell me about your father?”
“I don’t talk about him much...” Rosie began with reluctance.
“It might help,” he coaxed. “It can’t be easy for you that he left the manor to Harry. You must be carrying a lot of resentment.”
“A red hot alpha male, a big shot businessman and now an armchair psychologist,” she marvelled with oodles of sarcasm. “Do you have any other talents I should know about?”
He glanced fleetingly at the bed he was sitting on and horror flooded through her, turning her palms clammy. How could she have forgotten that she was in his bedroom? Flustered, she decided it might be best to beat a hasty retreat. “We can continue this conversation downstairs after you’ve unpacked.”
Evie was up and dressed by the time Rosie went back downstairs – pouring cereal into a bowl and adding generous spoonfuls of sugar. “You’ll get worms putting that much sugar on your breakfast,” Rosie quoted the old wives’ tale and Evie laughed, scattering a coating of sugar over the work surface in the process.
“That might have worked on me when I was seven, but I happen to know you only get worms by ingesting their eggs.”
Momentarily distracted, Rosie managed a smile. She knew she’d have to warn her sister of their visitor – but where did she start? “What do you have planned for today?”
“Going to check on things in the sanctuary first thing, then over to see Louise. Julia’s invited me for lunch and said we could take the horses out this afternoon.”
Rosie nodded. She thanked heaven for Julia. This wasn’t the first time she’d fed Evie when the manor’s pantry was bare. Best to get the news of their visitor out in the open before she went out, though. “Erm...Evie...”
“Mmm?” Evie was more interested in spooning cereal into her mouth than on listening.
“You know that man who was here yesterday?”
That got her interest. She dropped her spoon into the bowl and grinned. “The hot guy?”
“Er...” Rosie shifted uncomfortably. “Yes...I suppose so. The hot guy.”
“What about him?”
“He’s going to be staying here with us for a while.”
The smile was instantly wiped off Evie’s face and her jaw dropped. Yes, much the reaction Rosie had been expecting – and not too far away from her own when Theo first announced his plan to move in.
“Why?” Evie managed at last.
Rosie took a cloth and wiped sugar granules from the work top. She couldn’t meet Evie’s eye – and she definitely couldn’t tell her sister the entire truth. Not yet at any rate – not until she’d caught up with Harry and made some definite plans for the future. “He wants to look over the estate, to see how it all works,” she muttered, careful to keep to the truth – just not the whole truth. “And I’ve agreed it’s a good idea.”
“Ooookaaay…” It was obvious Evie suspected something more, but from the way she was smiling it was also very obvious that Evie’s suppositions were a good way from the truth.
The door opened and they both looked up expectantly. It was George, in for his break. He sat beside Evie and Rosie placed a steaming mug of hot tea on the table in front of him.
“Thanks,” he grinned.
“Rosie’s moved a man into the manor,” Evie mischievously broke the news.
George’s astonished expression would have made Rosie laugh out loud, if it wasn’t for the fact she was mortified. “It’s not how Evie makes it sound,” she insisted, her face flaming. “He’s here to observe the workings of the estate. That’s all.” She glared at her sister.
Thankfully, George wasn’t the type to spread rumours. He took a sip of tea and said no more on the subject.
“How are you parents,” Rosie asked. George’s parents were a bit of a nightmare – demanding and helpless, they relied on their teenage son far too much.
“Okay,” he replied, although it was obvious from his expression they were anything but. Rosie wished she was the type of person who could comfort another spontaneously – George looked like he could do with a friendly hug.
She could have cheered when Evie moved closer and draped a supportive arm around him. Her sister really was a sweetheart.
The door crashed open again and this time three pairs of eyes turned to look, but instead of Theo, Julia appeared.
“Hey, everybody.” Her smile faded when she saw Evie and George sitting so close together – with Evie’s arm around his shoulders. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Evie grinned, before sitting back in her own chair.
Rosie could see Julia wasn’t happy and was surprised by the reaction. It wasn’t like her to be so grumpy. “It’s good to see you,” she chipped in, trying to divert the suddenly uncomfortable atmosphere. “Can I get you a coffee?”
Julia tucked a strand of her fashionably short blond hair behind her ear and turned to face Rosie, her brow still furrowed. “No, thank you. I’ve only popped by to see if Evie wants to come into town for some shopping with me and Louise, before we have lunch.”
> “Yes, please,” Evie didn’t hesitate. “But I’ll need to check the sanctuary. I haven’t been up there yet today.”
“I was there this morning,” Rosie shared. “Everything’s fine.”
“And Louise is there now. When I dropped her off on the way here, two of your volunteers seemed to have everything in hand.”
Never one to turn down a trip into town, Evie was on her feet instantly. And she was so excited at the prospect, she neglected to mention their new lodger, Rosie noted gratefully. Although, she was sure her little sister would rectify that omission before too long.
***
Theo caught up with Rosie in the ancient kitchen – the room looked as though it had been badly updated at some time in the sixties and barely touched since. He winced as he sat down at the Formica topped table, but was quickly distracted by the sight of Rosie on her knees, rummaging in one of the cupboards. She emerged, triumphant with a food can in her hand.
She placed her free hand on her hip and stared up defiantly. “I can only offer you beans on toast for lunch.”
These days Theo’s meals were prepared by the finest chefs at his hotels. He hadn’t contemplated eating beans on toast since his impoverished childhood, but suddenly, no meal had ever seemed more tempting. “Sounds fine to me.”
She dished up with little fuss, putting a plate in front of him and another on the table for herself.
“Your sister isn’t joining us?”
Rosie shook her head. “She’s eating at a friend’s.”
He picked up his knife and fork and a blinding flash of intuition warned him she wasn’t being awkward in offering him such basic food. It wasn’t like him to make such an oversight, especially when it was obvious to anyone that she was living in a state of abject poverty. He should have been more sensitive to the fact she would be worried about the extra financial burden an uninvited guest would bring and he should have immediately put her mind at rest.