Page 24

She could barely form a sentence, let alone express her annoyance at the whole situation. With a deep inhale, she tried again, summoning her anger for Rose whilst suppressing Mandy’s voice, which told her not to get involved.

“You know she shouldn’t be left alone in her condition, don’t you?”

Frances pulled herself upright, lines etched on her forehead. “She’s fine. Thank you for assisting her home.”

The firm palm of Frances’s hand pressed into Lucie’s back, directing her towards the front door. It was warm and in an odd way comforting to have some connection to the woman despite the fact that she was ejecting her from her house.

“They are always fine until they aren’t. Are you happy waiting for that day?”

Reaching the door, Frances stepped in front of her, narrowing her eyes. In a low tone, she hissed, “I would ask you to mind your own business.”

“You don’t seem to be making it yours. You can’t leave her to wander in her condition. She needs full-time care.”

“You’re a Christmas elf. What would you know about it?”

“I’m an actress, actually,” Lucie said, the irritation slipping out before she could fully contain it.

“Then why aren’t you acting? Isn’t it panto season?” Frances shot back.

“Is a Christmas elf not acting? I’m not one in real life, and for what it’s worth, I do know. I cared for my gran in her last years as I watched her lose herself, like Rose is. The least we can do for them is support them when they need us most.”

“I don’t know what you mean. There is nothing wrong with my mum,” Frances snapped, “and if you spread rumours about her, I will make things very uncomfortable for you.”

“You neglect your mum, then have the gall to threaten me?” Lucie exhaled, shaking her head.

Frances sniffed and twitched as if about to deny it.

“Good night,” Lucie said and turned on her heel before she could say something she might regret.

The door slammed behind her.

Realising she was late, Lucie broke into a light jog. Her legs objected, heavy with adrenaline and anger at herself, at Frances, and at the fact that concern and attraction had become hopelessly entangled.

Her head was light, too, a fact which was not helped by the intense aroma of mulled wine drifting through the stable courtyard. She just couldn’t shake the feeling it was because she’d made an enemy of the woman she couldn’t stop thinking about — her boss.

At least she didn’t need to try to impress her now; their relationship was going to be purely professional. A little chuckle rose in her throat at the thought that it could have ever been anything else. Frances was one less thing to think about now, but even as Lucie joined the busy main path to the light trail, the woman was still threaded through her thoughts.

Having been in her position, Lucie understood more than she wanted to why Frances had reacted in defence. Caring for someone like Rose could make you defensive, territorial even, but that didn’t mean you could ignore what was right in front of you.

She weaved through the crowds. A familiar tension settled across her shoulders as memories of caring for her gran resurfaced: the careful watching, the constant managing, the instinct to keep everything contained so no one else could see the cracks. She remembered how fiercely protective that responsibility had made her and how even well-meant concern could feel like an intrusion. Was that why Frances was so defensive? Even so, Rose needed more attention than she was receiving.

Arriving at the grotto ten minutes late brought her well and truly back down to earth when Hannah greeted her, hands on her hips. Nathan scowled at her, suggesting he’d moved through the shock of her rejecting him and into the embarrassed, angry stage.

“Nice of you to turn up,” he grumbled, stone-faced.

Great. She didn’t need to be dealing with a man’s bruised ego right now.

“Where have you been?” Hannah hissed from the front of a queue of visitors. “I’ve had to cover for you when I’m needed elsewhere.”

“Sorry, I got caught up helping someone.”

“Well, don’t let it happen again.”

“Helping someone?” Lucie repeated, raising an eyebrow.

What a bizarre thing to be reprimanded for.

“Being late,” Hannah clarified in a tone that suggested she thought Lucie was being deliberately obtuse.