Page 49 of The Cottage at Brambleton Hall

‘It was the principle.’

‘It was petty.’

Chloe retorted immediately. ‘That’s not the point . . . anyway,’ Chloe went on, ‘I’ve moved their stuff now. Fair’s fair.’

Sammy huffed a quiet breath, reaching over to swat at Stop It, whose paws were on the table.

‘Where to?’

‘Bedroom.’

‘You put food from the fridge in their bedroom.’

‘Well, they’ll get the message, won’t they?’

Stop It whined. ‘No,’ she said, without looking away from the phone.

The dog lowered his head, but the ears stayed bolt upright.

‘You’re not even listening to me,’ Chloe said.

‘I am,’ Sammy replied, softer now. ‘I’m also on dog duty and I’m cooking.’

‘God, listen to you. Domestic. What’s on the menu?’

‘Omelette. This one looks edible.’

‘Mm,’ Chloe said. ‘We’ll see.’

Sammy shifted the phone from shoulder to hand. Magnus was in the doorway. ‘Clo,

I’ve got to go.’

‘What? No . . . you can’t . . . Sammy . . .’

‘I’ll call you later,’ she said, already pulling the phone away. ‘Don’t move anything else.’ She ended the call before Chloe could answer.

Stop It’s tail gave a single, hopeful thump against the floor. Sammy slid the plate closer to the centre of the table. ‘No,’ she said again.

Magnus’s eyebrows were heightened. ‘Personal calls are not permitted during working hours.’

‘Sorry Mr Magnus.’

‘The lights in the master bedroom are malfunctioning. I have called the electrician. I will be in the village to collect additional silver polish.’

‘Right. Thank you.’

He regarded the omelette. ‘Try a soufflé for lunch.’

A soufflé? That was a whole new egg level. ‘Okay,’ she mumbled. Stop It shifted closer to the table again. She nudged him back with her knee.

A soufflé and an electrician. She suspected the latter would be easier.

Thirteen

Sammy gave herself an hour.

With her phone propped against the flour tin, she worked her way through YouTube clip after clip instructing her how to master a soufflé – thumb hesitating, rewinding, watching again. Different voices, different methods, all circling the same ideas: step by step, accurate timing.