needed somewhere to stay for the moment, Andrew, and I was glad to be able to provide it. No problem at all.â
Andrew hunched his shoulders. âNo problem you say? And youâve accepted this personâs offer to pay rent then, have you?â
âYou donât think we should?â Sir Edwin looked anxious. âPerhaps not, but the young lady insisted.â
Andrew gave a short laugh. âIâll bet she did. She saw the chance to get a firm foothold here and took it.â
Lady Hewson broke the startled silence that followed. âI donât think itâs like that at all,â she said. âSheâs Kathrynâs friend you know, Andrew, not some stranger we know nothing about.â
âKathrynâs friend? And you donât think thatâs worrying?â
Sir Edwin ignored the insinuation behind the words. âYouâre quite right about one thing, my boy. We must make a point of not accepting any money from her. Sheâs our guest here at Bulbury Knap and as such should be treated as a friend of the family.â
âI shall be looking into the question of allowing her to remain on the estate,â Andrew said. âAnd I shall certainly speak to your solicitor about the situation.â
Kathryn felt the keenness of Andrewâs glance in her direction. She hadnât heard the last of this from him. For the time being, though, he said no more and accepted a cup of tea from her with a slight nod of thanks.
* Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â *Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â *
Kathryn glanced at the box of brilliant pink cyclamen Michael had placed at his feet on the cobbled yard as she emerged from the kitchen for a few minutes restorative air this bright February morning. She paused, surprised to see Michael so smartly dressed at this time of day.
âWhat gorgeous colours,â she said. âAre they for the house?â
He nodded. âLady Hewson is fond of them. She wants the place to look welcoming for the Garden Club visit tomorrow. I thought Iâd drop one off for Zillah at the same time to brighten up the cottage. I know she likes them.â
âYou do?â
Michael gazed down at the flowers, a smile curving his lips. His white shirt gleamed in the sunshine and his jeans looked new.
âZillahâs in Lyme at the moment,â said Kathryn.
He looked disappointed. âIâll leave it outside her door then.â He made to pick up the box again but then hesitated, as if suddenly remembering something. âSo, howâs it going then, Kathryn? With Andrew, I mean?â
She sighed. âI can take aggression and everything else. But not cold and polite. Whatâs he playing at, Michael?â
He frowned. âSome devious plan afoot, I shouldnât wonder.â
They looked at each other in silence. Then his face softened. âItâs useless to worry, Kathryn. Thereâs nothing we can do at the moment.â
âExcept make the garden visit the success of the century.â
âThatâs the spirit.â
âHe wants Zillah out of course.â
âAnd not only Zillah.â
âMe too?â She knew it was true, of course. By agreeing to stay on at Bulbury Knap to keep the position open for her mother she had helped make it possible for the Hewsons to remain here. âSo why doesnât he want Sir Edwin and Lady Hewson to stay on here if itâs at all possible?â
âYouâre aware of what Andrewâs business is?â
âHotel management. I know heâs got a string of places to look after.â
âMaybe he wants to strike out on his own.â
She looked at him, startled. âHeâd actually turf his aunt and uncle out and take over the place himself so that he could run it as a hotel?â The idea that Andrew would do such a callous thing was appalling. She stood up straight. âYou canât just throw someone out of their