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Abigail ignored him. She turned her attention to Lord Somerville. ‘Okay. I can go through the past year’s accounts as well. If they were incorrect too, maybe you might get a tax rebate.’

‘That would be good,’ Carys said, smiling.

‘Yes, but what if we owe the taxman?’

Carys looked up at her brother and rolled her eyes. ‘Why are you always so pessimistic?’

Abigail looked at him too, thinking of what she’d already found out; his mother had died giving birth to him.Fancy carrying around that knowledge all your life,she thought. Of course, it wasn’t his fault. She glanced at the photo on the desk that she’d seen earlier that morning – a happy couple with a young daughter. Lord Somerville had never got over the loss of his wife; that much was obvious.

She expected Oliver hadn’t had the happiest of childhoods, even though he had grown up in the stunning Somerville Hall.It just goes to show,thought Abigail,money really doesn’t buy you happiness. Oliver wasn’t married, either, and he didn’t have a girlfriend. From what she’d heard, it sounded like he was married to the Hall and to his responsibilities; to keeping the place going for the future. Despite his condescending attitude towards her, a part of her felt sorry for him. His childhood, even his life now, would have been so different if his mother had lived.

That thought immediately brought to mind Toby. How different would things be now if he had been there with her? They’d be celebrating their good fortune and making plans regarding what to do with the cottage. Would they have kept it as their holiday home – as a bolthole in the beautiful, windswept, quiet, undiscovered coastline of Suffolk? Or would they have sold up and put the money towards a home in London – albeit probably a small flat, given London prices?

Abigail forced herself not to think about it. What was the point? And what was the point of all this – Somerville Hall – if you didn’t have anyone to share it with?

She stole a glance at Oliver. She felt an odd mixture of butterflies in her tummy and annoyance whenever she looked at him.He was still standing there, his arms folded, waiting for an answer.

Abigail realised that if there was one way to find out about the Somervilles, it was through their finances. Not that she would dream of looking into their personal finances, but a glimpse into their business affairs would tell her a lot – indeed, it had already. ‘I’ll do it.’

‘And, like my father said,’ Oliver butted in, ‘it’s only for a trial period.’

Abigail glared at him. He might as well have said,And don’t count your chickens, or get too comfortable in your new position.She knew that was what he meant, as though they were doing her a huge favour. In fact, she imagined that Lord Somerville and Carys knew the boot was on the other foot – it would be she who was doing them a favour.

Oliver said, ‘Let’s give her three months – see how it goes.’

‘Three months!’ blurted Abigail, surprised.

‘Well, that’s quite normal, and reasonable,’ Oliver replied.

Abigail wasn’t thinking about the normal length of a trial period; she was thinking she wasn’t intending to stay there that long.

Lord Somerville stood up. ‘One month, then.’

Now that,thought Abigail, smiling,is more like it. She wasn’t after a permanent move to Suffolk or a position at the house; she didn’t want to commit to three months. The fact that it was only a trial meant that they could get rid of her, but it also meant that she could leave if she wanted to. One month was perfect; by the end of it, she’d be wanting to leave anyway.

Oliver frowned at his father. ‘Fine.’

‘Then, all going well,’ Cary’s joined in, ‘we can look at offering you a permanent position.’

Not if you find out that I inherited your aunt’s cottage,thought Abigail, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. On paper, there was no reason why they would find out, until their solicitor informed them the person who had been given ownership of it was now deceased and it had passed to his widow. Abigail wondered when that would happen – if it happened at all. That was another thing she would not think about right now.

‘So, when can you start?’ Carys asked.

‘Well, I’m meant to be covering for my sister. She just started here and then she went down with the flu, so I was just covering for her until she got back on her feet.’ Abigail was directing the comment at Lord Somerville. ‘I wouldn’t want her to lose her job, Lord Somerville.’

Lord Somerville offered her a rare smile and something rarer. ‘She won’t. And do call me Hugh.’

Carys and Oliver both turned to stare at their father, then exchanged a glance. Since when had he ever been on first name terms with a member of staff?

He said to them, ‘I’m sure we can manage until she’s back.’

Still staring at him, Carys said, ‘I’ll speak to the housekeeper.’

‘Well, I think we’re done here.’ Hugh rose from his chair and held out his hand to Abigail. ‘Welcome to Somerville Hall. You know, we do have rooms for some staff. I think the last accountant lived in.’ Hugh turned to Oliver. ‘Didn’t he?’

Oliver said, ‘She’s local. She doesn’t need to live in.’

Abigail took exception to the assumption that, like them, she’d never moved away. ‘Actually, I lived in London.’ She frowned when she realised what she’d said. She had no idea why she’d used the past tense, as though her life with Toby in London was all gone. Although she supposed it was. Even so, she hadn’t made a decision yet to stay in Suffolk. It hadn’t even crossed her mind – until that day.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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