Page 167 of The Cottage at Brambleton Hall

Magnus’s gaze rested on her now, waiting. Sammy wasn’t going to admit to something she hadn’t done.

Valerie appeared at the top of the stairs, one hand still curled around the vacuum handle, cord trailing behind her. ‘I came down after her, wanted to sweep before you did the stock check,’ Valerie said. ‘I didn’t lock it properly.’

Why was Valeire owning up?

A soft thud as Magnus closed the ledger. ‘I see.’ His attention switched to Valerie. ‘Make sure it doesn’t happen again.’

‘It won’t.’

Magnus moved further along the racks, already checking labels, fingertips brushing the bottles reverently. ‘Well, I believe we’re about done down here. You may go Miss Jenkins.’

Sammy trotted back up to the corridor, where Valerie was bent over unplugging the cord.

‘You didn’t have to . . .’

‘I did.’

Sammy had no idea what to do with that. ‘Thank you.’

The vacuum kicked back into life.

Sammy moved on down the corridor, the sound fading behind her. It was a pity really. They might finally have started getting along.

Jean had left two days ago and Sammy missed the company.

The knock came sharp against the door. She knew who was there before she opened it.

Chloe with her coat half-buttoned, breath uneven as if she’d run all the way from Swansea. Behind her, Jimmy’s car, reversing into a parking place beside Sammy’s.

‘Sam,’ she said. ‘I need to come in.’

Sammy stepped back. Chloe moved past her, already talking. ‘I’ve had a letter. They’re saying I’ve got to be out by the end of the week. It’s not right, Sam, it’s not . . .’ She dropped her bag on the sofa. ‘I need to stay here for a bit. Till I sort it.’

Sammy didn’t close the door.

‘I’ll be out of here myself soon. I can’t let you stay.’

Chloe stared at her, mouth half open. ‘You can’t be serious.’

‘I love you,’ Sammy said. ‘But I can’t do that anymore.’

Chloe didn’t move. ‘You’d let me be turned out?’ Her voice lifted, breaking at the edges. ‘After everything I’ve done for you! I’m your best friend.’

‘I know.’

‘I’ve been by your side for twenty-five years. Doesn’t that mean anything?’

‘It does. But it doesn’t change this.’

Chloe dragged a hand across her face, then pointed towards the door. ‘I’ve got nowhere else to go . . . You said it was you.’

Briefly, Sammy saw how easy it would be – letting her stay, just for a few nights, but her hands stayed at her sides. ‘I know what I did,’ she said. ‘But it doesn’t change this. I can’t save you from this.’

Chloe’s face crumpled, then her chin lifted. ‘I can’t believe you’d abandon me,’ she said.

Sammy felt it – the pull of it, familiar. She wasn’t budging. ‘I’m not abandoning you.’

‘That’s exactly what you are doing.’