Page 62 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

‘Excellent.’ Will slapped him on the shoulder. ‘Let’s go and tell Sam. He’ll be pleased.’

Lily watched them disappear into the west wing corridor and sat down on the top step of the huge staircase. Jack was going to work there? How long for? And how on earth was she going to handle that?

‘You OK?’

With a start, Lily looked up and saw Annie staring down at her.

‘I really don’t know,’ said Lily, the shock making her speak the truth for once.

‘What’s the matter?’ Annie eased herself down onto the top step to sit next to Lily.

Lily hesitated before she spoke. Surely it wasn’t a big secret? ‘Will’s just invited Jack to stay on for a while. I think he’s going to be working on the electrics for the barn.’

‘That’s great.’ Annie’s face lit up. ‘That means we can finally go ahead and start to hire it out. Although who knows who’s going to handle those bookings on top of everything else?’ Then she looked at Lily. ‘Is this a problem for you?’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said. ‘That’s all ancient history.’

‘If you say so,’ said Annie. ‘Look, I know it might be awkward, but perhaps seeing him every day will help you two work out whatever it was that happened. Maybe you can get to know each other again.’

‘I know everything I need to about Jack Carter.’ Lily suddenly realised that she was being terribly unprofessional. ‘It’s OK. It’s really nothing for you to worry about.’

She stood up and helped Annie to stand up as well.

‘Are you sure you’re OK with this?’ asked Annie, rubbing her baby bump.

‘Absolutely,’ Lily told her.

Except she wasn’t. And it sent her into even more of a frenzy that day. She was determined to be a professional, to keep her job, and to be there long after Jack left.

Having slept badly, she found her patience almost at breaking point later that afternoon when Lauren broke yet another glass with her clumsiness.

‘I can’t do this!’ wailed Lauren.

Lily took a deep breath. ‘Yes, you can. But you must be more careful.’

‘No! I can’t. I’m really trying!’

‘Can’t you just try a little harder not to break everything in sight?’ snapped Lily, losing her patience.

Lauren burst into tears. ‘I can’t deal with this. I quit!’

Lily was horrified. ‘No, look…’

‘I’m out of here,’ cried Lauren. ‘It’s too much.’

‘I’m sorry,’ began Lily, but she could only watch in dismay as Lauren rushed out of the front door in tears. Of course, being Lauren, she managed to catch the hat stand as she went past and sent everything crashing to the floor.

Not knowing what else to do, Lily went over to the front door and closed it before picking up all the coats and umbrellas strewn across the floor.

Well, it appears as if I’m going to have to find another maid, she thought to herself. And it was all her fault. What on earth was she going to tell Megan? And Annie?

She was failing at the job that she so desperately wanted to keep.

25

Jack overheard the raised voices as he came out of the kitchen.

Recognising Lily’s voice, strained and loud, he headed around the corner into the entrance hall, where he found her straightening up the hat stand, which had somehow fallen onto the floor.