The Little Cottage on the Hill

by Emma Davies

  ‘But you called her out on it.’

  ‘Of course I did! But according to her I was obviously resentful of her, and jealous of her success. She did such a fantastic job of convincing people, she should be on the stage. Hell, I almost believed her myself.’

  She ground to a halt, and took a bite of her biscuit, chewing deliberately slowly. She could feel her blood pressure begin to rise. In the beginning when she thought about what had happened it always made her cry. Now it just made her angry…

  Seth watched her for a moment. ‘Natalie’s email didn’t say who it was she’d had lunch with, but it’s my guess it was Nina. I did a bit of fishing and Natalie’s firm have done business with them in the past so it would make sense.’

  Maddie nodded. ‘And I can only imagine the spin that would have been put on it.’ She shivered suddenly. ‘What I don’t understand though is why she would go to all that trouble to drag my name through the mud again. I mean, isn’t once enough?’

  ‘My dressing gown is on the back of the door,’ he said. ‘Put it on if you’re cold.’ He was watching her intently.

  She was about to refuse when she realised that she was feeling quite chilly. There was gentle breeze blowing through the window and she was wearing only thin cotton pyjamas. More than this though, was a feeling that the comfort a dressing gown could bring would be most welcome, even if it was Seth’s. She crossed the room, taking down the soft blue robe from its hook, and swinging it around her, shrugging her arms into the sleeves. A soft, almost spicy scent rose up around her, and she immediately felt a warmth settle over her.

  The dressing gown was huge on her, and she pulled the belt tighter, hitching the folds of the gown beneath it before tying. She looked back at Seth, feeling a little embarrassed at wearing something of his that was so intimate, but he looked relaxed, an amused expression on his face. She was about to resume her previous position when Seth wriggled, shifting his legs to one side of the bed. It was almost subconscious but its meaning couldn’t be clearer. She caught his eye, but apart from a raised eyebrow, his expression hadn’t altered and without saying a word she climbed up onto the bed beside him.

  He offered her the plate of biscuits. ‘I don’t suppose women like Nina suffer too badly from attacks of conscience,’ he said. ‘I guess having told her story once it mattered little to repeat it. Either that, or she wanted to make damn sure you never came back to London.’

  Maddie turned slightly to look at him better. ‘Do you honestly think that’s what she was doing?’

  Seth shrugged. ‘I’m no expert on the female psyche, but you said yourself that if you made a success of things here, it would stand you in good stead for returning to your old hunting ground. Nina wouldn’t want that under any circumstances I would have thought, however small the risk. Perhaps by scuppering your chances here also she sought to nullify it. Where would you go from here? Not back to London, that’s for sure. Chances are it would be somewhere even further away.’

  Like Yorkshire, thought Maddie, with a fresh surge of anger. To a friend’s house in the middle of nowhere where she would pose no threat whatsoever to anyone.

  There was silence for a moment. Maddie wasn’t sure what she was thinking and Seth had closed his eyes.

  ‘Is this what you want, Maddie?’ he said, after a minute. ‘Think about it properly before you give me an answer.’

  Her eyes flew to his. ‘What, here, do you mean? Joy’s Acre?’

  He gave a small nod and swallowed.

  Maddie didn’t need to think about it. She had hated it at first. She would have done anything to leave the dirt behind, and the animals with their mess and their hair and slobber, but, although she wasn’t sure when it had crept over her, Joy’s Acre had her well and truly in its spell. From the gentle morning skies that greeted her when she woke, to the soft sigh of the wind in the trees, the scent of the earth, and the flowers, the warmth of the sun on her skin. Even Rumpus, with his vibrating purr and velvety paws, had stolen a march on her heart.

  She opened her mouth to speak but, to her horror, nothing came out. Her anger had left her as quickly as it had come and in its wake came a wave of longing and sadness that took her completely by surprise. She nodded instead, lifting a hand to her eyes to wipe away the tears that had sprung from nowhere, looking at Seth and nodding again in case he had misunderstood her silence.

  He nodded his own reply. ‘I know what it’s like to have something you love taken away.’ And his hand touched hers, the fingers closing over her own. ‘I’m glad you want to stay…’

  When Maddie dared to look at him again, his eyes were closed and his mouth slightly parted, the dark stubble of his beard encroaching on his lips. He looked peaceful, the release from his pain finally overwhelming all else. He slept.

  Chapter 17

  Maddie’s eyes flew open as she wondered what on earth had woken her and then she stopped, confused, staring around her in bewilderment. She took in the rumpled bedclothes, the plate still lying on the covers beside her, and the picture on the wall opposite which was in the wrong place entirely. The noise sounded again, and she realised it was exactly the same pounding that had been meted out against the front door the day before. The dogs began to bark.

  The side of the bed next to her was empty and she groaned inwardly. How on earth was she still in Seth’s room? She must have fallen asleep, but she didn’t remember anything beyond his asking her if she wanted to stay, or the look on his face when she told him that she did. She touched a hand to her eyes, knowing they were dry, but recalling how her tears had spilled down her cheeks at the thought of having to leave. She sat up with a shock, suddenly realising what the noise meant.

  She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up abruptly, swaying slightly as her body protested at the speed with which she moved. She yanked open the bedroom door and flew down the landing, her ears tuning in to the voices she could hear. She was absolutely right; one of them belonged to Agatha.

  She realised her mistake the minute she marched into the kitchen. Seth gave a low groan, Clara’s eyes widened in surprise and Agatha’s mouth settled into a hard line. Maddie dropped the cord of Seth’s dressing gown as if it was on fire.

  ‘I see,’ declared Agatha. ‘Well, that certainly explains things.’

  Dear Lord, could it get any worse? She threw Seth a look of abject apology, clearing her throat and turning to face Agatha squarely.

  ‘I know what this looks like, but it’s not what you think. I was cold and I don’t own a dressing gown if you must know. Seth very kindly lent me his.’

  ‘How chivalrous,’ Agatha replied, looking her up and down. ‘However, what you get up to no longer concerns me, Miss Porter. I made my position very clear yesterday, and despite being treated in a disgraceful manner, I was prepared to overlook it as I could see that Seth was somewhat inconvenienced. However, clearly not as incapacitated as I thought.’

  Maddie was about to defend Seth when he jumped in first.

  ‘And, as I said, Agatha, the accusations you made yesterday were simply not true. Maddie has explained what happened in her previous position, and I believe her. Apart from anything else, however, what is important is that her work since she’s been here has been of the highest standard. Surely that should figure in to your considerations, not the lies of someone who set out to discredit Maddie simply to save her own skin.’

  ‘Are you suggesting that my niece hasn’t checked her facts, Seth? Because I can assure you, she has.’

  Seth squared his shoulders. ‘No, I merely suggested that she was taken in by a class act, someone with no morality to speak of. Fortunately, I’m able to provide some clarity on the situation, having spoken to the person in question rather than listening to gossip. Surely that provides a much better basis on which to make a judgement.’

  Agatha’s mouth opened and closed, her lips pursing together as she gave Maddie another once-over.

  ‘Yes, well I can see very clearly how you’ve mad
e your own judgement.’

  Maddie’s hands went to her hips. ‘Erm, excuse me. I am still in the room!’ She glared at Agatha. ‘I know you’re my boss but you could have at least done me the courtesy of coming to talk to me if you thought there was a problem. And then, even worse, when you’re informed that there is no problem, you basically accuse me of lying. Then, not content with that, of sleeping with Seth as well; which I did not!’

  ‘Well, technically speaking you did.’

  Maddie whirled around to find Seth grinning at her. ‘We did actually sleep together. What we didn’t do is play three rounds of hide the sausage, which is what Agatha here is suggesting, I believe.’

  There was a snort as Clara collapsed into giggles behind them.

  He took a step forward, still favouring one leg, Maddie noted.

  ‘I’ve had just about enough of this, Agatha,’ he said. ‘You did, as you say, make your position quite clear, as I believe did I. Now it’s really very simple. You have sacked Maddie, and despite information which shows you to be in the wrong, you are persisting. As of today therefore, Maddie has been informed that her job with you is terminated. Given that she is still within her probationary period, you are required to give her only one week’s notice, which is paid I might add, during which time she will be a house guest at Joy’s Acre. At the end of this week, provided she accepts my formal offer, she will, instead, be employed by me.’ He took a breath. ‘I can’t make it any clearer.’

  Agatha drew herself up to her full height, lifting her head so that she couldn’t look any further down her nose if she tried.

  ‘Then I withdraw my funding. Forthwith.’

  Maddie stared at her. ‘What? You can’t do that! Oh for goodness’ sake, this is ridiculous… Look, I’ll bloody well go, if it’s that important to you.’

  ‘Stay where you are,’ growled Seth. He turned to Agatha. ‘You really are the nastiest piece of work I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across,’ he said. ‘And you’re prepared to throw all this away because someone pointed out you’re wrong. How much more arrogant can you get?’

  ‘It’s my prerogative, Seth, although you seem to be forgetting who I am.’ She fixed him with a glacial stare. ‘I will not stand by and watch you make a mockery of everything that Jen—’

  ‘Don’t you dare bring her into this!’ spat Seth, his eyes flashing. ‘This is my house, my farm, and as far as I’m concerned you are not welcome to set foot in here ever again. Do I make myself clear? Now get out!’

  Agatha opened her mouth to speak but no words came as she and Seth locked eyes. The seconds stretched out, the threatening silence becoming more and more unbearable, until abruptly, thankfully, Agatha turned and stalked from the room.

  There was silence for quite a few minutes while the air settled back down around them. Maddie’s face was burning with a multitude of emotions, none of them good, and Seth looked utterly distraught. She picked a spot on the far wall and stared at it resolutely, her jaw clenched together.

  ‘I can’t believe you said “hide the sausage”,’ said Clara into the silence. ‘That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year…’

  Maddie swung her gaze to where Clara was standing, her hand covering her mouth as she tried her hardest not to laugh. A small burble escaped her.

  ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I just can’t help it…’

  Maddie watched in horror as Seth turned to face her, his hand also lifting to his mouth. But instead of the explosion of anger she expected, his lips curved upwards slowly, and a strangely high-pitched giggle erupted from them, a noise so incongruous it made it even worse, until he clutched his sides in an agony of laughter, which was echoed by Clara.

  ‘Guys, it’s not funny!’ Maddie protested.

  ‘Oh, yes it bloody well is!’ he blurted. ‘I’ve never seen Agatha so angry. I thought her eyeballs were going to pop out of her head.’

  At this, Clara laughed even harder.

  ‘Oh, don’t,’ she cried. ‘The poor woman. I bet she doesn’t even know what it means.’

  Seth stared at her. ‘Of course she does! I bet she was a real goer in her day. You know what they say, it’s the quiet ones that are the worst.’

  ‘Mind you, there’s nothing quiet about Agatha…’ mused Clara, sobering suddenly, as she looked between the two of them. ‘Shit,’ she said. ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘Not give a fuck, that’s what I’m going to do,’ said Seth. He was leaning back against the edge of his table, legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles, his arms folded across his chest. ‘I’m honestly sick of the sight of that woman and her demands. I’ve spent too many years having to grovel round her, going to her cap in hand for anything I wanted and being grateful for any scraps she deigned to throw me. Nope, from now on, we make our own futures.’

  Maddie looked helplessly at Clara. Who the hell was Jen? There was something else here that went way, way deeper than what had just happened on the surface, and she hadn’t a clue what it was.

  ‘I’ll go and apologise,’ she stammered. ‘It was my fault after all, and I’ll beg if I have to. I don’t care about my job, just as long as you get your money back so you can carry on.’

  Seth unfolded his arms. ‘You’ll do no such thing. We’re done prostituting ourselves.’ He gave her a long slow look, from head to toe, his lips curling upwards at the corners. ‘It looks better on you than me,’ he said. ‘Did you sleep okay in the end?’

  She flushed bright red, pulling at the belt of Seth’s dressing gown. How on earth could he just change the subject like that?

  ‘I didn’t think… I’m sorry. I realise what it looked like.’

  ‘You didn’t answer my question,’ he said.

  ’No,’ she replied. ‘I didn’t… answer your question, that is, but yes, I think I did sleep well.’

  She gave Clara a furtive glance, wondering whether she was finding the conversation as strange as she was, and suddenly remembering Seth’s final words to her of the night before.

  ‘And you?’ she asked. ‘How are you feeling this morning?’

  ‘What, apart from poor, you mean?’ He held up a hand. ‘Just kidding… gallows humour, sorry.’ He shifted his legs. ‘Bit sore still. My own bloody fault of course, but better, thank you. Nothing that a couple of days’ distance won’t cure.’

  Maddie swallowed. ‘I think it’s an amazing thing you’ve done,’ she said. ‘I understand why you don’t want to talk about it, or have a fuss made… I just wanted you to know.’

  His gaze softened as he held her look. There was acceptance there, slight embarrassment perhaps, and something else that Maddie couldn’t quite put her finger on, but something which brought an unexpected heat.

  ‘We probably ought to get some breakfast,’ he said after a moment. ‘And then get the battle plan underway. We’re going to need one.’

  Clara came forward, touching Maddie’s arm as she passed. ‘Right, kettle first, and a mighty pot of coffee and then what would everyone like? You didn’t eat much yesterday, Seth, are you up for the full works?’

  ‘I might be able to manage that,’ he said. ‘Maddie?’

  ‘I should go and get dressed,’ she muttered, not quite meeting his eyes. ‘I’ll just have whatever’s easiest,’ she added, slipping from the room before anyone could say anything further.

  * * *

  Her bed stared accusingly at her, the sheets still rumpled where she had abandoned them. Rumpus was long since gone, off to find breakfast of his own. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, not quite wanting to look herself in the face for fear of what she might find. She smoothed a hand down the soft fabric of the borrowed dressing gown, her fingers splaying across her flat stomach. What had she done?

  The shower was far too hot to stand under comfortably, but Maddie let it play over her skin, gulping in the steamy air. She had never felt like this before and the sudden force of her emotions shocked her. It was ridiculous that this should even be
happening, and worse, she wasn’t entirely sure what had triggered the feelings in the first place. Things had been far from simple up until now, but this would only complicate things further still and under the circumstances it was the last thing any of them needed.

  There was only one thing she could do. Despite all that happened, and all that had been said, she was still left with only one choice. If she packed now, she could be away in under an hour. She could slip away and all the things that had happened since she arrived would slip away with her, go back to normal, leaving lives and futures intact. She turned off the shower and stood, water and tears dripping from her body.

  Back in her bedroom she dressed quickly, marvelling at the irony of finding herself packing to leave yet again. She was about to start throwing her clothes into her case, when there was a soft knock at the door.

  ‘It’s Clara. Can I come in?’

  Maddie froze. She could pretend she hadn’t heard the door, but then Clara would only knock again. She might also be able to pretend she hadn’t heard that either, but after that? It wasn’t as if she could hide anywhere. They would have heard the shower in any case, and where else would she be but in her room? Reluctantly she opened the door.

  Clara took one look at her face and in an instant pulled her into her arms, where Maddie stood, fighting hard to keep the tears at bay.

  ‘I feel so foolish,’ she said once Clara had released her. ‘Everything’s my fault.’

  Clara gripped her arms, holding her back a little to see Maddie’s face. She cocked her head to one side.