AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘That’s quite all right, Mr … Griff,’ Tabby said, smiling up at him affectionately, and then turning to Grace. ‘Good morning, Grace.’
Grace returned the friendly smile. ‘Good morning, Tabby.’
Tabby had worked for the Betancourts for years but had retired two years earlier, until a couple of months ago, when the new housekeeper had a difference of opinion with Bianca and had walked out. Russell had told Grace about it at the Bonfire party in November.
‘Are you coming in?’ Griff asked.
‘I’m meeting Bianca,’ Grace replied.
He grinned. ‘Did she insist you conduct your business on the threshold?’
‘Did you have knives for breakfast?’ Grace borrowed one of Granny Joy’s expressions.
He smirked. ‘I had poached egg on toast. Knives weren’t available.’
‘Knives?’ Tabby queried. ‘Weren’t there knives on the table at breakfast?’
‘There were, Tabby,’ Griff assured her. ‘That was another little joke.’
Tabby gave them both a look that said she had no idea what was happening. ‘I see. Well, unless you need me, I’ll go and make some coffee. Or would you prefer tea, Grace?’
‘Coffee please,’ Grace said, relaxing a little as she finally stepped into Betancourt’s spacious Great Hall.
Griff met Grace’s eye and they surprisingly shared a smile. Only then did Grace allow herself to look at him properly. She soon wished she hadn’t.
No man had a right to look that good in jeans and a Christmas jumper. Especially one with a huddle of penguins dancing on the ice amongst towering icebergs, beneath the Northern Lights. Although it did make her feel a little less self-conscious of her own attire.
‘May I take your coat?’ Griff asked, as Tabby hurried off in the direction of the kitchen.
‘Don’t you have one of your own?’ Grace teased, now enjoying the banter between them, as was Griff if the smile on his generous mouth was anything to go by.
‘Not as nice as this one,’ he said, helping her out of her lime green coat.
‘It matches your eyes,’ Grace quipped, eager to hear what he would say next, but Bianca’s voice cut in on them.
‘You’re here. Where’s Jenkins?’
‘Tabbyis making coffee,’ Griff said, emphasising the name. His tone was much cooler than before.
‘Good morning again,’ Grace said, feeling as if she and Griff were naughty children about to be scolded.
Bianca looked as if she had just stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. She was immaculate from head to toe and not a single hair was out of place.
‘Let’s go into the morning room,’ Bianca said, her expression making it obvious that she did not approve of Grace’s attire.
‘I didn’t have time to change,’ Grace said. ‘I’d just returned from walking Lady E.’
‘Fascinating,’ said Bianca, sounding anything but, and then she glared at Griff. ‘Are you joining us? It was your idea to call them, after all.’
Grace couldn’t stop the gasp of surprise escaping as her eyes shot to Griff’s face, and Bianca turned and flounced into the morning room which was to the left of the hall and the second door on the right.
‘It wasyouwho suggested us?’
He shrugged nonchalantly. ‘It seemed to make sense. Your family organises events. We have an event that needs organising.’
‘Oh. I thought… Never mind.’ She smiled wanly, unable to completely hide her disappointment that it was Griff and not Russell who had suggested Eversley Events.
‘You don’t seem entirely happy about it.’ Now he was frowning. ‘Did I make a mistake?’
