The Grayson Trilogy

by Georgia Rose

  “The office and everything that goes with it will be covered at all times, and will be managed by Sharpe. As a precaution, please let her know of any updates you may have of friends and family off the estate we need to be aware of. Sharpe will deal with all surveillance, communication and logistics. Can you carry your phones with you at all times and make sure they’re charged up.” And at this he looked around the room, continuing, “You all know who the guilty ones are among you, so get better!” I saw Chloe West and Kay Burton exchange embarrassed looks, the warning not being lost on them. Cavendish checked what must have been a list of reminders on his clipboard and moved on.

  “I want to arrange surveillance cover on the roof. Forster and Peters, can you organise the rota in eight-hour shifts, probably looking at two at a time? You know what to do.” He acknowledged Tom Forster’s and Oscar Peters’s agreement to this, and I looked at the men who, until this moment, I’d thought were the butler and one of the gardeners respectively. It suddenly occurred to me that this was the reasoning behind Cavendish’s insistence on the use of surnames. It immediately put the estate on a professional military footing.

  I was surprised by his next words.

  “Those of you licensed to carry weapons can do so. Make contact with the armoury as necessary, but please ensure you make full use of the firing range to get yourselves up to speed and, more importantly, accurate!”

  I didn’t even know there was a firing range, or armoury for that matter, but didn’t have time to dwell on that now as we were moving on again.

  “Now, while the threat has been made against me, I am concerned that Grace and the children are also at risk, but despite my best efforts to get her to leave the estate for a while...” and he fixed Grace with a look as if to check she hadn’t changed her mind, to which she responded by smiling and shaking her head slowly. Resigned, he continued, “She won’t...so Sophia and Reuben will be home next week for the holidays, and I don’t want them to be affected by this situation any more than can be helped. While they’re still at school I’m dispatching Wade and Young to guard them. We’ll be taking additional security measures here, but please do nothing that the children could stumble across and get harmed by, and that includes everyone keeping their firearms under wraps – none of us wants Reuben getting hold of anything he shouldn’t.” At that there were some anxious glances around the room. Reuben was well known for his mischief-making.

  “Grayson?”

  I looked up quickly, startled as I heard my name, to see Cavendish searching for me. I raised my hand a little self-consciously to draw his attention, my palms becoming clammy as I waited to hear what was to be asked of me.

  “Ah, there you are. Now, while we know you’re more than capable of looking after yourself...” he paused for the amusement caused by this remark to die down, while I felt myself becoming hot as everyone turned to stare at me. He could only have been referring to the previous altercations I’d been involved in, with Gary and Zoe, and I didn’t like the reminder. “...I am concerned you’re isolated out there at the stables, and while I’m sure Trent will be there whenever possible...” and at this he and Trent exchanged looks, to more amusement “...I’ll need him with me sometimes, so unfortunately he can’t be with you all the time. Therefore you’ll need to keep particularly vigilant and let us know of any concerns you may have. We’ll come and look at the yard and see what we can do to improve security for you. Also, when Grace and the children are there with you this summer, Carlton and Turner are to accompany them. Is that all okay with you?”

  I nodded.

  “Good...Now, Trent and I will be speaking with all of you over the next few days,” Cavendish continued, “to go through what needs to be done for your particular roles, and there will be follow-up briefings. I’m afraid that for the time being all leave is cancelled, and for the safety of everyone your pub nights in the village will have to stop. We can’t risk anyone being isolated and picked off. I realise, everyone, that this is going to be challenging. I know you all have jobs to do here as well, but I’m confident that working together we can manage to cover everything as well as protect the estate and everyone on it.

  “So all of you work on keeping fit and healthy, be vigilant and...” Cavendish paused and looked around the room at all the expectant faces “let us not forget the most important event coming up in the next few weeks, which we also need to prepare for...the wedding of Stanton and Lawson.” He grinned at the couple who were standing together by the fireplace. There was a cheer at this reminder, followed by more applause as Cavendish finished speaking, then everyone began to move, the buzz of chatter filling the room once more. Greene leapt up from my side and practically bounced over to Carlton in her excitement.

  I stood and looked around me, feeling a bit like a spare part before Trent appeared at my side, slipping his hand into mine, our fingers interlocking. His lips brushed my temple in a gentle kiss as he murmured close to my ear, “Are you okay?”

  I nodded, a little unsure as to whether I actually was or not, then said, “It’s been quite an eye opener.”

  “How angry are you with me?”

  “I’m not.”

  Trent raised his eyebrows. “Not too much of a shock?”

  “No, though perhaps it hasn’t sunk in yet. You’ve been holding out on me. I hadn’t really acknowledged before what you were actually involved in, and I guess I’m feeling a bit out of my depth.”

  “I didn’t want to scare you by telling you any more than you needed to know. I’d hoped it would never come to this.”

  “Thoughtful as ever.” I smiled at him. He tilted his head to one side and gazed at me for a moment.

  “So....judging by your reaction, dare I assume you’re up for facing the challenges ahead?”

  “Always...who doesn’t love a challenge?” At the time it seemed so easy to say. As I looked around the room, my gaze drifting from face to face, animated groups, couples talking, Cavendish wrapping his arms around Grace before kissing her, I realised that this was what it had all been about; what we’d been brought together for. To protect this family; this family that inspired loyalty and affection from everyone who surrounded them – their extended family. I knew we were in this together, and in that moment wondered what the future would hold for us.

  Half an hour had passed and the office was still full, which was just as well as the door swung open and Forster and Mrs F walked in, each carrying a towering stack of pizza boxes. They were swiftly relieved of their burdens, the boxes placed either on the large coffee table or the desk at the end of the room. The door opened again, this time to Carlton and Ben Hayes carrying a couple of cases of beer. Cheers broke out as the pizzas were handed around and the bottles opened.

  I hadn’t felt hungry before the food arrived, but once the room started filling with the appetising aroma my mouth watered in anticipation as I reached for a box, and I’d practically finished off an entire pizza before slowing down.

  “All this excitement gives a girl an appetite,” I mumbled through a mouthful to Trent, who was looking somewhat surprised at the speed with which I’d despatched mine. He hadn’t exactly been a slouch either, having already finished. Even so, he was eyeing up my last piece hungrily. I handed it over to him and reached for a couple of beers.

  We were ensconced at the end of one of the settees that crowded around the fireplace and large coffee table in this part of the room. I briefly thought back to my interview that had taken place in this same room with only Cavendish and me present. I had been nervous and not expecting to be interviewed by Lord Cavendish at all, and I remembered how I’d wondered then what sort of occasion would have required the need for there to be so much seating. Now here we were. I could never have imagined it.

  An hour or so passed. No big plans were being made now. This was not the time for that. This was the time for camaraderie; for forming friendships, strengthening bonds.

  I’d made some good friends here already, but now there w
as the chance to chat to others I didn’t know so much about. My daily life at the stables didn’t bring me into regular contact with everyone else on the estate, and while I was not an outgoing person I felt, with what was in store for us, it was going to become important that I knew who was around me, and that they, in turn, knew more about me – or at least as much as I was willing for them to know – so I needed to make the effort.

  I even managed to introduce myself to the elusive Sharpe. We shook hands firmly. She was no less intimidating up close than she’d been from across the room. I was definitely a little ragged around the edges beside her coiffed perfection. Perfect nails; perfect make up; not a hair out of place. Like I’d thought, intimidating. I also got the distinct impression I was being inspected as we talked. It wasn’t that she wasn’t friendly exactly, but there was something that was a little off, a little uptight.

  Trent came over while I was talking to her, to join in our conversation, I’d assumed, but pretty soon he reminded me of the time and suggested I needed to get back to see to the yard. I made my excuses to Sharpe and turned to leave, though as we went to the other end of the room it suddenly occurred to me that he wasn’t coming with me.

  “Cavendish needs you here tonight, doesn’t he?”

  “Actually, no. Tonight I’m all yours, so we need to make the most of it.” He smiled at me. “I have a couple of things to sort out here first though, but if you go now I should be back by the time you’ve finished the yard.” Not wanting to waste a second of our time together, I said a quick group goodbye to everyone and left to return to the stables.

  I let Susie out first, and, pleased to see me as always, she accompanied me while I checked on the horses and topped up the water for each stable. All was calm in the yard, and after the summer winds that had brought the day’s showers and rustled through the surrounding trees, all was now still. A promise of better weather to come, perhaps. I’d just got back to the cottage when Trent arrived.

  I turned to him in the kitchen, sliding my arms around him under the unfamiliar lightweight jacket he was wearing casually with his jeans and tee shirt. Stopping abruptly, he tensed as I brushed against the object under his left arm. I pulled back, my arms falling to my sides as I glanced up at him warily, catching his uneasiness as he looked away. I reached out and gingerly opened the left side of his jacket. Now I could see the butt of the gun as it nestled in its holster. I swallowed, uncertain what to say. I should have realised, of course.

  “Well this is new...and weird,” I muttered almost to myself as my eyes flicked back up to his face. “I should’ve been expecting this, I guess. Should’ve known you’d be licensed to carry a gun.”

  “I know it’s going to be difficult for you…having this here...after..” and he hesitated, not wanting to finish, not wanting to bring up what we were both thinking, remembering. Remembering the last time there’d been a gun in this house, the only time I’d ever touched one before and the tragedy that had befallen the person – Zoe, Trent’s ex-wife – who had brought it here. A tragedy that had been caused by my hand and that was still fresh, and painful, in both our minds.

  “It is what it is, Trent,” I said. “Let’s not waste time on things we can’t change.” I reached one hand up to his face, my fingers in his hair as I brought his lips to mine and felt his breath catch as he took me in his arms.

  Chapter 2

  By the morning I didn’t feel so positive. The previous night I’d been buoyed by the camaraderie of being among the others, when it had seemed that anything was possible. Now...I wanted to say “In the cold light of day”, but that wouldn’t have been right. This day had dawned bright, sunny and was going to be hot. I, however, felt a chill. My concerns were growing because I perceived that the chance of a successful outcome for the situation that we were all facing was unlikely. As I fed the horses, the more I thought about it, the more out of sorts I became. I didn’t come from a military background like everyone else here; I hadn’t had the training that would prepare me for this, either mentally or physically. How could we possibly defend this place, this family? By the time I got back to the cottage to join Trent for breakfast a deep unease had settled over me. I had a million questions I wanted to bombard him with: about the work he’d been doing, about everyone on the estate, why they were there and the roles each was going to play in the situation evolving around us. However I knew I’d have to rein back as he was weary after his latest trip which, while he’d made light of it, had still left him with a black eye and bruised ribs. Both would take some getting over, and I didn’t want him closing up on me. So as we sat eating toast and drinking tea I pushed aside my real concerns and started with my newest acquaintance.

  “It was good to finally put a face to a name when I met Sharpe last night.”

  “Yes, I’d forgotten you hadn’t met her before, sorry. I should have made the effort to get you to come to the office at some point to introduce you, but it slipped my mind.”

  “It’s not a problem...but, can I ask, is she always that intense?”

  He frowned. “What do you mean by intense?”

  “It wasn’t as if she wasn’t perfectly friendly, more that I felt as if I was under some sort of scrutiny.”

  “Ah.” He hesitated, looking away before grinning at me a little sheepishly. “If memory serves me correctly she makes a particularly fine beef in red wine.” I looked at him blankly. He raised his eyebrows at me as if nudging my thought processes.

  “Oh...” I remembered Trent telling me how attempts had been made by some on the estate to seduce him in the past, using the lure of food. “No wonder she was studying me so closely, she must have wondered what on earth you could possibly see in someone so untidily turned out.”

  “Yes, she is a little fastidious. You can imagine what she’s like running an office, can’t you? However, her nature makes her perfect for us. She’s our organisational hub, and everything runs like clockwork under her diligent eye.”

  “So how is office work going to be of use in this situation then?” I questioned, baffled.

  “Her day-to-day job here is running the estate office, but in this situation she’ll be incorporating her more extensive skills which cover surveillance, communication and logistics.

  She manages all the systems on the estate, such as the one controlling the main gates which we’re going to have a look at today as we’ll have to bring in something a little more secure.

  “The gate system will link in and enhance the rest of our surveillance on the estate. Some is already in place and only needs to be turned on, and some is still to be looked at. The office is set up as a monitoring centre for the surveillance system, which Sharpe also manages together with the logistics for the estate. Any services or equipment that are needed she gets them, working closely with Grace, Mrs F and Mrs Bray.”

  “That seems like a lot for one person to deal with,” I commented, thinking I’d find that amount of organisation overwhelming.

  “That’s what makes her indispensible: her capacity and apparent enjoyment for the work. Obviously she’ll bring in others as and when needed on this, particularly for monitoring the surveillance screens.”

  “And she lives off the estate?”

  “Yes, she’s been living with a guy called Mark in the village for a couple of years now. You’ll meet him at the wedding I should think. Anyway...” he glanced at his watch “I’d better get off to the Manor. Cavendish and I are going to make a start this morning by going round the perimeter of the estate to see if there is anything we can do to improve security. It’s a bit difficult though because the only thing that will really make a difference is to fix barbed wire along the top of the wall. If we did that it would not only draw unwanted attention to us but would cause great consternation to those in the surrounding villages who would start wondering what we were running here. Our cover of this only being a productive agricultural estate would be blown.”

  He paused, looking a bit uncomfortable. “Befor
e I get off though one thing I wanted to ask...well, we wanted to ask…” He hesitated, before continuing, “We were wondering if you wanted to have some firearms training?”

  My immediate reaction was a definite no, and I shook my head vigorously. There was no way I wanted to get involved with that. I was happy never to touch a gun again.

  Trent held his hands up, pacifying me. “It’s all right, Em, I thought as much...if you change your mind though let us know, okay?”

  “Okay,” I mumbled, hating the whole idea.

  He was quiet as he finished his tea, then asked, “Do you have any plans for the day?”

  In that moment my decision was made. “Yes, actually I’ve decided that I’m going to visit Eva. I suddenly feel the need.” I was surprised by the look of concern that flickered across his face as I said this.

  “Oh, I didn’t realise you were thinking of doing that.” He hesitated pensively. “I’d like to come with you...” I could see he was torn between what he had to do today, things I knew he couldn’t put off, and what he wanted to do, with me.

  “It’s fine, Trent, I appreciate the thought but I’m not expecting you to drop everything and come with me.”

  “It’s not that...” He looked uneasy. “Couldn’t you leave it until next week? We’re due to go there anyway for Zoe’s interment.”

  I didn’t need reminding. “I feel the need to go now. Who knows when things could kick off here and I may not get another chance. Everything might be cancelled next week for all we know. I’ll be fine...okay?”

  “Okay...keep in touch, will you?” He still looked, and sounded, a little disgruntled.

  “Of course.” I tried to reassure him. Why was he so concerned? As he went to get ready to leave I pondered on this. Maybe it was because of the situation the estate was currently facing; maybe he didn’t want me wandering about on my own...maybe.