New Boss at Birchfields (24 page)

Unnerved by her experience and undecided what attitude she should take, she found herself smiling tremulously.
‘
I remember when I first came I boasted I could do everything the boys could do. And I wanted to prove it to you. Well, it seems I can
’
t after all. It makes me feel a bit of an impostor.
’

As they walked towards the stables with Blane leading their mounts, his arm was about her waist. It was true her legs still felt decidedly wobbly. All the same she hoped neither of the boys would be around when they reached the stableyard.

To her relief there was no sign of them.

‘
I think it might be as well if you got some of that mud off,
’
Blane told her.
‘
At present you
’
re not much of an advert for the Lennox Riding School. Why don
’
t you go up to the house and get Jean McPhee to open up the flat. After all, someone might as well have the use of it. Your godmother apparently didn
’
t find it up to her standards.
’

Briony regarded him uncertainly. Now that his comforting arm was no longer around her waist, all her old doubts and suspicions rushed back. She remembered Hettie
’
s bitterness when she had spoken of how Blane had schemed to get her out of the flat. If only she could dismiss her nagging doubts about him, she thought miserably, as she slowly walked towards the house.

When Briony presented herself at the kitchen door,
Mrs.
McPhee received her without the smallest surprise.
‘
Looks like you
’
ve had a nasty fall,
’
she remarked equably, when Briony asked if she could tidy up and explained that Blane had directed her to use the flat.

The housekeeper unhooked a key from a board and led the way around the house and up the stairs. She shook her head regretfully as she opened the door.
‘
Seems a shame that such a lovely place should be left unoccupied!
’
she remarked as she led the way towards
the bathroom.
‘
Mr.
Blane spent a mint of money on this—and now look at it. Not, mind you,
’
she added,
‘
that I ever neglect the place. In case
Mrs.
Gillies should ever turn up and want it again, I keep it spick and span,
’
she said gravely.

And, looking about her, Briony had to agree. Everything shone and sparkled with freshness; the snow
-
white tiled walls, the turquoise bathroom suite with its gleaming porcelain fittings.

The housekeeper switched on an electric heater and after a few moments turned on the taps in the washbasin and steaming water immediately gushed out.
‘
It beats me why she left as she did. Everything had been thought of, as you can see.
’
She sighed.
‘
Not, mind you, that it was altogether her fault, for I was a bit snappy at times. But then she was provoking, if you don
’
t mind me saying so.
’

She reached in a cupboard and produced soft towels and a tablet of delicately scented soap.

Now was the time to get to the bottom of the mystery concerning Hettie
’
s exodus from the flat, Briony thought, and she decided to take the bull by the horns and face the housekeeper with Hettie
’
s complaints.

‘
My godmother says
Mr.
Lennox wanted her out of the flat, but instead of asking her to leave in a straightforward way, he put you up to showing her she was unwelcome.
’

Mrs.
McPhee straightened and looked at her in astonishment.
‘
But that
’
s not true,
’
she said flatly.
‘
Mr.
Blane
was very forbearing, in my opinion. You see
—’
She
hesitated, and then said in a rush.
‘
Mrs.
Gillies is a very interfering sort of body, and she was always down in the main part of the house and in the kitchen telling me how she thought things ought to be done and generally meddling with the running of the house. At first I took no notice, but when she saw that I wasn
’
t carrying out her instructions, she complained to
Mr.
Blane. Well, I
tried to soothe her down, but it
was no use, she still kept poking her nose into concerns that weren
’
t hers, and in the end I told her off,
’
she added, looking a little guilty.
‘
I know I shouldn
’
t have been so straightforward, but it really got on my nerves after a while, especially as I pride myself on being a good housekeeper and
Mr.
Blane had never any complaints against me.
’

Briony nodded. The picture was only too clear. It was easy to imagine Hettie, bored and with nothing to distract her, invading the lower part of the house and generally causing chaos with her interfering and dominating personality.
‘
I think I understand,
’
she said quietly,
‘
but, of course, my godmother was resentful about having to leave Birchfields. I don
’
t think, no matter what
Mr.
Lennox did for her, that she would have been satisfied.
’

The housekeeper nodded sympathetically.
‘
Yes, poor body! I used to feel for her because she must have been lonely up here on her own. Perhaps she
’
s better off where she is, down in the village with people around.
’

After she had gone, Briony washed her hair and patted it dry in the thick soft towels, until it fell in loose gleaming waves almost to her shoulders. After her conversation with Jean McPhee she felt a wonderful feeling of relief. Blane had not put the housekeeper up to getting rid of Hettie—that was all that mattered.

As she went into the house she was surprised to see Blane, hands in pockets, striding up and down the hall. A thick rug near the door had prevented him hearing her approach and for a moment she paused, her hand on the door watching him, aware that her heart was beating fast at the sight of his broad sturdy figure. Would she always feel this surge of happiness when she caught sight of him? she wondered. And, if so, what future misery she was saving up for herself!

He swung around as he sensed her presence.
‘
Ah, there you are. I
’
ve been waiting for you.
’

She moved forward and as they faced each other an awkward silence fell. His eyes scanned her hair and his brown hand touched it lightly.
‘
Why don
’
t you always wear your hair that way? You look like an enchanted princess.
’

She mustn
’
t let her feelings betray her, Briony told herself. It was important to remember that it was Senga he would marry.
‘
It
’
s time I got back to work,
’
she said with an attempt at lightness.
‘
I
’
ve spent enough time titivating myself.
’

Immediately his manner changed.
‘
So I
’
m being put in my place, is that it? No idle compliments for Miss Briony Walton!
’

‘
Oh no, I don
’
t mean that!
’
she said quickly—too quickly and eagerly, she thought regretfully.
‘
It
’
s just
that—well—’

She dared not tell him that she dreaded finding herself once more—as she had with Jeremy Warne—at the losing end of a romance. The words that came so easily and casually were inclined to embed themselves in her heart. How was Blane to know how eagerly she longed for his approval? She mustn
’
t fall for his passing mood.

But as she spoke she had turned and scanned his face earnestly!

He put his hands on her shoulders and drew her towards him.
‘
Why are you so mistrustful, Briony?
’
he asked, his voice gentle.

She looked at him warily. Was she so obvious then? Had Jeremy
’
s betrayal left a lasting scar?
‘
I don
’
t know what you mean,
’
she said uncertainly, avoiding his eyes.

He shook his head.
‘
You forget I
’
m Scottish. Haven
’
t you heard that we Scots have the gift of second sight? There
’
s something about you that tells me you were hurt badly at some time.
’

She tried to laugh his remark away.
‘
Now that is something I can
’
t believe! You, with second sight
—
you, of all people! You
’
re much too down-to-earth and practical.
’

‘
That
’
s just where you
’
re wrong! If you were ever to go away from Birchfields I think I
’
d see you in every nook and cranny of the place.
’

Again her eyes scanned his face.

His voice had had a cadence she hadn
’
t heard in it before. He was teasing her, she guessed, but it was a loving teasing that she found irresistible. Slowly he drew her towards him and this time she didn
’
t resist. He was in love with her, she realised, with sudden overwhelming joy. There could be no mistaking it now that his lips were on hers. Everything seemed to fade into the background. She was only aware that what she had imagined was her love for Jeremy was a pale shadow of what she now felt for this man. When at last he released her, she gave a little sigh of blissful ecstasy.

His arm was about her waist, her head was against his shoulder, when Senga walked through the open door.

As a shaft of light illuminated them for a moment she stared unbelievingly. Then her face stiffened with a mixture of rage and bewilderment.
‘
I seem to be interrupting something,
’
she said, her voice grating.
‘
But don
’
t let it trouble you, Briony! I
’
ve no objection to Blane flirting with the hired help if he feels like it.
’

Briony could feel her face flush crimson at the insult. But Blane regarded Senga steadily and as her glance flashed from one face to the other, she seemed to grasp from their expressions that this was no passing thing.

She gave a short bitter la
u
gh.
‘
Just as well I
’
m leaving Laureston! It
’
s very obvious now I
’
d be very much de trop if I stayed on.
’

Briony, feeling awkward and for some reason or other slightly guilty, drew away from Blane and pushed her hair back.

‘
Oh, don
’
t mind me,
’
Senga said with a tight smile.
‘
It
’
s quite obvious that you two have got it badly. Just as well, I suppose, that I
’
ve had a flaming row with
Anderson, and we both decided the time had come to part. Still, I thought I could depend on you, Blane!
’

‘
And so you can,
’
he returned quietly.
‘
If there
’
s anything I can do to help you, let me know.
’

‘
How awfully sweet of you,
’
Senga sneered.
‘
I
had thought of living near Laureston, but I think I
’
d better make a clean break and leave Abergour. I believe in cutting my losses, you know.
’
And with that she turned and walked swiftly through the door.

When Briony returned to the cottage that evening Hettie had a cosy fire crackling in the sitting-room and, as usual, a delicious meal ready for her.

Afterwards, as she was sipping coffee by the fireside, she became aware that although Hettie, seated in her rocking chair on the other side of the fire, appeared absorbed in her sewing, now and then she would steal a covert glance in her direction.

Immediately she was defensive. She must not betray her happiness, because she was only too well aware of what Hettie
’
s reaction would be should she guess the truth.

‘
You seem very pleased with yourself,
’
Hettie said at last, unable to control her curiosity.
‘
Your lord and master must have been in a particularly good mood today.
’

Briony busied herself with pouring another cup of coffee before answering. Then she said with a great air of indifference,
‘
Oh yes, I
’
m out of his black books at last and I
’
m to get the Shetlands back again.
’

‘
Now that
’
s very obliging of him, isn
’
t it!
’
said Hettie dryly as she poked the fire belligerently.

‘
Have you heard that Senga MacNeil is going to leave Laureston?
’
Briony asked, hoping to divert Hettie
’
s attention from Blane.