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Huh? ‘Who?’
His smile was sympathetic. ‘I know she’s staying here.’
‘What? How?’
‘I saw her beauty products in your bathroom.’
So that was why he’d only put Estelle’s toiletries by the bath for her earlier. How had she not noticed he’d ignored Elyse’s?
‘I don’t know how you know her, or what she’s said to you,’ James continued. ‘But I want you to hear my version of events so you can make up your mind about who you choose to believe.’
Estelle stared numbly at him as he passed his hand over his face.
‘I met Elyse in a bar three years ago. We dated for two weeks, then I ended it. She wasn’t—’ He broke off and sighed. ‘She didn’t agree with my decision, and for the next six months wouldn’t stop calling. Then everything went quiet. Three months after that, Dad introduced me to his new PA.’
Estelle didn’t know what to think.
‘I only told my parents I’d dated her the morning after the dinner at Foxbrooke Manor. For the past couple of years, Mum and Dad have been trying to push the two of us together, and when they moved to Somerset, they moved Elyse in with them. I know what products she uses because she kept using my bathroom and leaving them there. Along with wet towels on the floor and her underwear on my bed.’
Elyse had never left any of her clothes on Estelle’s bed, but she had left a messy trail of her stuff everywhere else.
James stood. ‘I’m not asking you to take sides. I’m not asking you to do anything differently. It’s just that there’s a long list of reasons why you hate me, and some of them aren’t true.’
‘I don’t hate you.’
He gave her a rueful smile. ‘Despise then.’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I’m going to head back. Is there anything I can do for you before I go?’
‘No, I’m all good. Thank you for helping me.’
‘Thank you for showing me your archery. It was amazing.’ He picked up the fork U. ‘May I take this?’
Her cheeks burning, she nodded.
‘Thank you. Will Elyse give you a lift to the manor tomorrow, or do you want me to come and pick you up? Or I can bring your laptop over and you can work from home?’
Estelle wasn’t ready for Elyse to know she knew James’s side of their dating story. After what Beverley had said about James’s love life at the dinner, and what he’d just told her, she was fairly certain Elyse had lied about everything apart from being in love with James.
What would Eveline do? Whenever in a moral quandary, Estelle always asked herself what her saintly best friend’s reaction would be. Be kind to Elyse. If she’s behaved like this, then it must come from a place of deep unhappiness.
‘Estelle?’
‘Sorry, I was just having an imaginary conversation with God’s representative on earth.’
‘Eveline?’
She frowned. ‘You reading my mind?’
‘I’d rather not. I don’t want to hear all the expletives levelled my way. No, I’m just clever and pay attention to things or people I’m interested in.’
Her heart sped up. ‘You’re interested in Eveline?’
He gave a half shrug. ‘I’m more interested in you.’
Now her heart was racing.
‘So, tomorrow?’
‘I’ll get Molly to drop me off,’ she said quickly. ‘I’m not going to tell Elyse we had this conversation.’
