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‘We arrived outside your door about the same time.’
‘Then why didn’t you knock?’ Clarissa asked in exasperation.
‘We did.’ At first we thought you’d got tired of waiting and had gone out. Then we realised you’d turned in for the night.’
‘What makes you say that?’ Emily asked.
‘We heard snoring coming from behind the door.’
‘Oh.’ Emily looked away, embarrassed.
Joss said, ‘Rein check?’
Emily smiled. ‘Yes please.’
‘Well, you two love birds have made up,’ Clarissa said, with a cheeky grin. Her smile faltered when Alice stepped out of her room also looking as though she was feeling the effects of the night before.
‘I thought I heard voices outside my door,’ said Alice. ‘I’m just taking Hester for a walk before breakfast.’
Clarissa caught Alice giving Joss a sideways glance as she headed for the stairs. Was it her imagination, or was Alice looking anxious as she sidled past him? There was no mistaking her cheeks flushing red. Clarissa watched her heading for the stairs wondering what that was all about.
‘What’s that?’ Joss spotted the ledger in Emily’s hand.
‘It’s one of the ledgers from years ago,’ Emily replied. ‘Mum found it had been taken out of the cupboard and blamed it on me and Clarissa.’
‘Alice was sitting at the reception desk downstairs looking through a book just like it last night,’ Joss mused.
Clarissa raised her eyebrows. ‘She was – how do you know?’
Emily stared at Clarissa.
There followed an awkward silence.
Emily eyed Joss. ‘Is it my imagination or do you two look like you’ve got a hangover?’ She glanced over at Alice who was making her way down the stairs with Hester, oblivious to their conversation.
Joss scratched his head. ‘Is it that obvious?’ He sighed. ‘Well, after we knocked, I think we were kind of looking forward to seeing you guys …’ his eyes drifted to Emily. ‘We were really disappointed, so we kind of decided to go for a drink.’
‘You drove into town?’
‘Er, no, we found a bottle or two in the fridge in the kitchen.’ Joss winced and cast a sheepish gaze at Emily. ‘Sorry. I’ll pay for the booze.’
Emily shook her head. ‘Don’t worry about it. But I’d better replace it. I don’t think my mum was too happy with me and Clarissa having a few drinks in our room, so I think it will be a good idea if she doesn’t find out about you guys getting drunk last night.’ She mimicked her mum. ‘We run a respectable guest house.’
Joss smiled.
‘I think she’s looking for any excuse to get shot of you.’ Emily pursed her lips, wishing she hadn’t blurted that. Like Joss and Alice, she was nursing a hangover and still wasn’t exactly thinking straight or filtering what came out of her mouth. ‘Sorry, it’s just that you’ve been here weeks, and she doesn’t know anything about you. Come to think of it, neither do I.’
This time it was Clarissa who stepped into the awkward silence. ‘I don’t know what you’re complaining about, Emily. At least you and Joss are going to be friends again, so you can soon solve that.’ She stared at Joss. ‘Just what were you and Alice talking about downstairs in the lounge last night?’
Emily stepped forward. ‘Clarissa, that’s none of your—’
Clarissa ignored Emily and stared at Joss.
‘Client privilege. I’m afraid I can’t say.’
Clarissa stared at him. ‘What do you mean she’s your client?’
Joss looked over at Emily. ‘I’m a lawyer.’
