AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’d felt Malcolm’s eyes on me only a handful of times and pretended not to notice. I knew what he was doing… working me to the bone, assuming I’d throw in the towel. Didn’t he know a woman in the public eye had to develop the skin of a shark? I couldn’t count the number of times I’d been told I had a“face for the stage.” Or offered a higher salary if I lost ten pounds before shooting started. I’d had directors scream in my face. Costars come onto me while their wives waited in their trailer. Millions of people had seen me naked on screen and made judgements on my body—there was a chance that list includedhim. If he wanted me to quit, he was going to have to try a lot harder.
“Why are we doing this again?” I asked, resting the instrument of torture against the wall so I could re-braid my sweaty hair.
Ewan, seemingly eager to show off his knowledge, jumped in.“We are trying to trick the barley into germinating. That’s why it’s important you rake it evenly, or the germination won’t be even.”
Smart.“Do you ever wonder who figures this stuff out, like who was just sitting at home and went‘I wonder what happens if I soak this barley in water for three days then lay it out on the floor’?”
It was Mal who surprised me by answering,“The Scandinavians. Early evidence shows they were the first to discover malted barley to brew beer.”
“Why am I not surprised you know that?” His eyes met mine, uncertainty turning them cold. And despite the torture I’d endured this morning at his request, I needed him to know I wasn’t teasing him.“It’s cool. It’s important to know the history of things, especially if it’s something important to you.”
Instead of softening like I’d hoped, he turned away as though I hadn’t spoken. I tried my best not to let it get to me. I knew it wasn’t entirely personal. As a teen, Malcolm had always been quiet, if not a wee bit kinder. So I did what I did best; I picked up that infernal rake and I talked.
Starting on the fresh pile Malcolm had just emptied out for me, I said,“This reminds me of a film I did once—” Ewan halted working, all ears.“A period drama about a young woman found walking the woods of a country estate with no memories.”
“My mum loves that movie,” Ewan said at once, then instantly flushed again. Bless him and his pale skin. I appeared entirely naked in one scene—well, except for an extremely itchy merkin glued to my vagina. The scene he was most definitely recalling this very moment.
“Anyway…there was an intricate scene out in the fields where we had to cut wheat with scythes. The original plan was to use body doubles for the bulk of the physical labour, and me being a complete novice insisted on doing all of it myself. The first day, at least. Any creative integrity faded real fast when I woke up the next morning and couldn’t use my arms.” I chuckled.“And when the film finally premiered, I watched that scene a hundred times trying to pick myself out from the body double, you couldn’t even tell!”
Ewan launched into a series of follow-up questions.Was your costar nice?Yes. Is being an actor as glamorous as it seems?No. Have you stolen anything from a set?Yes.
I didn’t mind the questions, it was human nature to be fascinated by fame. People loved getting a peek behind the curtain.
Malcolm, on the other hand, could only take so much. I’d barely even started recounting the time I’d accidentally kissed George Clooney backstage at the Oscars when he interrupted, dropping the wheelbarrow with a loud crack.“If you two aren’t even going to pretend to work, at least use this time for your lunch break.”
Ewan and I glanced sheepishly at one another as Mal stalked to a bag propped beside the door and pulled out a wrapped sandwich. Malcolm ate like he did everything else: with focus and ferocity. It’s like he was racing himself to eat it quicker than he had the day before.
“How long do we get?” I whispered to Ewan.
“Thirty minutes, though the boss only takes about five.”
Thirty whole minutes.“Use them wisely,” I replied, going to my own bag and pulling out my water bottle.
Ewan followed, retrieving his own packed lunch.“He’s usually not this grumpy, I wonder what’s gotten into him.”
Hmm… I wonder.I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered that I apparently had such a lasting effect on his mood. Taking another pull of water, I ran the back of my hand over my sweaty forehead and went to check on Dudley. Tired from playing, he and Boy had long since found a sunny patch to doze away the morning. I filled his little travel bowl with water, watching with heart eyes as they took turns to drink.
“I think they might be in love,” I said to Malcolm.
“They’re dogs,” he replied after a beat.
“Well, I think it’s cute.” I stroked them both, ruffling their sun-soaked cheeks.“Boy doesn’t have any allergies, does he?” Another huff I assumed meant no, so I handed them both a treat.He thinks I’m ridiculous.
Suddenly needing some air, I decided to take the remainder of my break out on the bank. Laying amongst the purple heather with both dogs at my feet, I nibbled on homemade granola bars, reading one of my favourite bodice rippers that I’d never dare let Malcolm see,The Duke’s Promise.It was bliss.
I probably should have used the time to dig the splinter from my finger, because by the time I returned to work, it was starting to throb.
Tiredness made Ewan and I a lot more subdued in the afternoon and we had the entire floor covered within a couple of hours, every inch of white concrete hidden beneath a blanket of gold that smelled like breakfast cereal. The scent reminded me of Kier, I would breathe it in every time he hugged me, pressing my nose into his strong chest.
Settling my rake against the wall to shake out my achy hands, I watched Malcolm run the back of a broom over the grain, evening out the spots we’d apparently laid too thick.“What happens next?” I rubbed at my fingers, wincing when my thumb passed over the splinter.
“We lay it out for six days, turning the grain once a day to ensure the germination is—What? What’s wrong?”
“Huh?” My head shot up. He was scowling at me.“Oh”—I waved my injured hand—“it’s nothing, just a splinter. I have some tweezers up at the manor, I’ll take care of it—”
But he’d already swiped up my hand, tugging me closer to get a better look. The top of his head was level with my face and I got a whiff of his fresh shampoo.“You should have said something earlier.”
“It’s fine, it barely even hurts anymore—ahh!” A thick finger probed the wound’s tiny entrance.
