The Girl he Never Noticed (6 page)

Liz breathed deeply but said nothing.

‘I need to free up my stud master and the people who actually work with the horses from the paperwork—and incidentally free them up from all the people who stream in and out of the place.’

‘Ah.’ It was all Liz could think of to say.

He cast her an ironic little look, but continued. ‘There’s a comfortable staff cottage that would go with the position—big enough for you and Scout, as well as your mother. There’s even a ready-made friend for Scout in Archie,’ he said, and gazed at her steadily.

‘But—’ She stopped to clear her throat. ‘Why me?’

‘You’ve impressed me,’ he said, and shrugged. ‘You’re as good as Roger—if not better in some areas. I think you’re wasted as a diary secretary. I think you have the organisational skills as well as the people skills to do the job justice.’

‘I…’ Liz pressed her hands together and took another
deep breath. ‘I don’t know what to say,’ she confessed. ‘It’s the last thing I was expecting.’

‘Let’s talk remuneration, then.’ And for the next few minutes he outlined a package that was generous. So much so that to knock it back would be not so much looking a gift horse in the mouth but kicking it in the teeth…

‘We’d have a three-month trial period,’ he said, and grinned. ‘Just in case you hanker for the bright lights or whatever.’

‘If I didn’t bring my mother—’ Liz heard herself say cautiously, then couldn’t go on.

He eyed her narrowly. ‘Why wouldn’t you?’

She gestured, then told him about the note she’d intercepted. ‘She’s been so wonderful, but I know it’s something she’d love to do—I just haven’t been able to work out how.’ She shook her head. ‘It wouldn’t work up here, either.’

‘You could share Archie’s nanny for the times when you couldn’t be with Scout.’

Liz stared at him, her eyes suddenly dark and uncertain. ‘Why are you doing this—really? Are there any strings attached?’

‘Such as?’ He said it barely audibly.

‘Such as going down a slippery slope into your bed?’

They stared at each other and she saw his eyes harden, but he answered in a drawl, ‘My dear Liz, if you imagine I’d need to go to all these lengths to do that, you’re wrong.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘You know as well as I do that if we gave each other just the smallest leeway we wouldn’t be able to help ourselves.
But
—and I emphasise this—’ his voice hardened this time ‘—if you prefer to go on your solitary way, so be it.’

‘You were the one who brought it up,’ Liz said hotly, then looked uncomfortable.

‘At least I’m honest,’ he countered.

‘I haven’t been dishonest.’

‘Not precisely,’ he agreed, and simply waited for her reply.

Liz ground her teeth. ‘What you may not know is that being a single mother lays you open to…to certain men thinking you’re…promiscuous.’

She wasn’t expecting any more surprises at this point, but she got one when Cameron Hillier leant forward suddenly, his blue eyes intent. ‘I know quite a bit about single mothers. My sister was one—and that, I guess, even while I’m not prepared to be dishonest, is why I have some sympathy for you, Liz Montrose.’

Her mouth fell open. She snapped it shut. So that explained the understanding she thought she’d seen in his eyes when she’d told him her story!

‘And, further towards complete honesty,’ he went on, ‘I need the right influence in Archie’s life at the moment—which I think you could be. I can’t be with him nearly as much as I should. He starts school next year, so that will distance us even more. I want this last year of his before school to be memorable for him. And safe. And happy.’

‘You don’t know—how do you know I could do that?’

He sat back. ‘I saw you with him just now. I’ve seen, from the moment you first mentioned her, how much your daughter means to you. How it lights you up just to say her name.’

‘I still…’ She paused helplessly. ‘It’s come up so fast!’

‘It’s part of my success—the ability to sum things up and make quick decisions.’

Liz looked at him askance. ‘Your modesty is amazing at times.’

‘I know,’ he agreed seriously, but she could suddenly see the glimmer of laughter in his eyes.

‘Well—’

‘Er…excuse me?’ a strange voice said, and they both swung round to see a woman standing in the doorway. ‘Lunch is ready, Mr Hillier. I’ve served it in the kitchen if that’s all right with you?’

Cam Hillier rose. ‘That’s fine, Mrs Preston. Thank you.’

It was a huge kitchen—brick-walled, with a tiled floor and rich woodwork. Herbs grew in pots along the windowsills, a vast antique dresser displayed a lovely array of china, but all the appliances were modern and stainless steel.

There was a long refectory table at one end that seated six in ladder-back chairs with raffia seats.

The lady who answered to ‘Mrs Preston’, grey-haired, pink-cheeked and of comfortable girth, was dishing
up steaks, Liz saw, and baked Idaho potatoes topped with sour cream and chives. A bowl brimming with salad—cos lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, capsicum and shallots—was also set out, and there was a bread basket laden with fresh warm rolls.

The steaks, she realised from their tantalising aroma, had been marinated and grilled along with button mushrooms.

A bottle of red wine was breathing in a pottery container.

‘Hungry?’ Cam asked as they sat down.

‘I’ve suddenly realised I’m starving,’ she confessed and looked around. ‘Where’s Archie?’

‘At the dentist in Leura—just for a check-up. Mrs Preston,’ Cam added, ‘may I tell Miss Montrose what you told me on the phone a couple of days ago?’

Mrs Preston blinked at Liz, then said, ‘Of course.’

Cam reached for the bottle of wine and poured them each a glass. ‘For quite some years now Mrs Preston has been housekeeper and most inspired chef all rolled into one.’ He lifted his glass in a silent toast and went on, ‘Well, maybe
you’d
like to tell it, Mrs Preston?’

The housekeeper clasped her hands together and faced Liz. ‘I did ring Mr Hillier a couple of days ago because I knew he’d understand.’ She stopped to cast her boss an affectionate glance. ‘I’m getting on a bit now,’ she went on to Liz, ‘and I’d really like to concentrate on my cooking. I’ve always liked to choose my own fresh ingredients, but for the rest of the provisioning of a household this size, and with the amount of entertaining
we do, I’d like just to be able to write a list and hand it over to someone.’

She paused to draw several breaths and then continued, ‘I don’t want to have to worry any more about the state of the linen closet or whether we need new napkins. I don’t want to have to worry about the hiring and firing of the cleaning staff, or counting the silver in case any of them are light-fingered, or wondering if I gave the same set of guests the same meals the last time they were here because I forgot to make a note of it. I’d rather there was someone who could co-ordinate it all,’ she said a little wistfully.

Cam looked at Liz with a question in his eyes, and she registered the fleeting thought that he hadn’t conjured up this job he’d offered her out of the blue—for whatever reason. It
did
exist. What also existed, she found herself thinking, was the fact that Cameron Hillier was well-loved by his staff. Not only Mrs Preston but Molly Swanson—and a few others she had met…

She swallowed a piece of melt-in-the-mouth steak and said, ‘I think, whatever the outcome—my outcome, I mean—it would be criminal to burden you with all those other things any longer, Mrs Preston. This meal is one of the most delicious I’ve ever had.’

‘Thank you, Miss Montrose.’ Mrs Preston looked set to turn away, but she hesitated and added, ‘Archie really took to you. He said you’ve got a little girl?’

‘I do,’ Liz confirmed. ‘She’s nearly four.’

‘It’s a wonderful place for kids up here.’

‘So far, what do you think?’ Cam Hillier queried as they walked side-by-side down to the stables after lunch.

There was a light breeze to temper the bite of the sun and to stir her hair, and the summery smell of grass and horses was all around as the path wound through the paddocks.

‘I—I still don’t know what to say,’ Liz confessed.

He looked down at her. ‘In case you’re worried it’s a glorified housekeeper position, I can tell you that you’d not only be in charge of the inner workings of the house but also the gardens—the whole damn lot,’ he said, with a wave of his hand.

‘Surely you’d be better off with a man?’ she countered. ‘I mean a man who could…well…’ She looked around a little helplessly. ‘Mend fences and so on.’

‘A man who could mend fences in all likelihood couldn’t run the house. A woman, on the other hand, with a sharp eye and the ability to hire the help she needs when she needs it, should be able to do both.’ He paused and looked down at her. ‘A woman, furthermore, who stands no nonsense from anyone has to be an asset.’

Liz released a long slow breath. ‘You make me feel like a sergeant-major. I’m sorry I once threatened you, but you did ask for it.’

‘Apology accepted,’ he said gravely. ‘Where were we? Yes. The house does need some upgrading. I’ve noticed it lately. Also there’s the stable computer program.’

Liz was silent.

‘It would look good on your résumé,’ he said.
‘Manager of the Yewarra Estate. It would look better than Temporary Diary Secretary.’

‘Assuming I agreed, when would you expect me to start?’

He looked down at her wryly. ‘Not before Roger comes back and you hand over to him. And you might need a few days off to get organised. Here we are.’

The stables were picturesque, with tubs of petunias dotted about, swept walkways and the earthy smell of manure combined with the sweet smell of hay on the air. They were also a hive of activity—and Liz saw what Cam Hillier had meant when he’d mentioned all the people who streamed in and out of the place. The stables had a separate entrance from the house.

The office yielded another scene. A giant of a man in his forties, with sandy hair and freckles, and ‘outdoor type’ written all over him, was sitting in front of a computer almost literally tearing his hair out.

He was Bob Collins, stud master, and he greeted Cam and Liz distractedly. ‘I’ve lost it again,’ he divulged as the cause of his distraction. ‘The whole darn program seems to have disappeared down some bloody cyber black hole!’

Cam glanced at Liz. She grimaced, but pulled up a chair next to Bob and, after a few questions, began tapping the computer keys. Within a few minutes she’d restored his program.

Bob looked at her properly for the first time, clapped her on the back, and swung round to Cam. ‘I don’t know where you got her from, but can I have her? Please?’

Cam grinned. ‘Maybe. She has to make up her mind.’

They were walking back to the house, not talking, both lost in their own thoughts, when his phone rang.

‘Yep. Uh-huh… This afternoon? Well, OK, but tell Jim he’ll have to fly straight back to Sydney.’

He clicked the phone off and turned to Liz. ‘Change of plan. Our legal adviser needs to see me urgently. He’s flying up in the company helicopter and staying the night. I—’

‘How will I get home?’ Liz interrupted with some agitation.

‘I wasn’t planning to keep you here against your will,’ he said dryly. ‘You’re going back to Sydney on the chopper.’

Liz went red. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled.

He stopped and rested his hand on her shoulder, swinging her round to face him. ‘If,’ he said, ‘you really don’t trust me, Liz, we might as well call the whole thing off here and now.’

She drew a deep breath and called on all her composure. ‘I haven’t had time to wonder about that—whether I trust you or not,’ she said. ‘I was thinking of Scout and my mother. I’ve never been away from them overnight before.’

His hand on her shoulder fell away, and she thought he was going to say something more, but he started to walk towards the house.

She hesitated, then followed suit.

The helicopter was blue and white, and the legal adviser looked harassed as he climbed out of it. The helicopter
pad was on the other side of the house from the menagerie.

Liz felt harassed as she waited to board, but hoped she didn’t look it. It was now late afternoon. She’d spent the rest of the afternoon in Mrs Preston’s company, being shown over the house. It was impossible not to be impressed—especially with the nursery wing. There was a playroom that would be any kid’s dream. All sorts of wonderful characters in large cut-outs lined the walls—characters out of
Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland
and more—and many toys. There was a small kitchenette and three bedrooms…

On the other hand Cam Hillier, waiting with her beside the helipad, looked casual and relaxed. He had Archie with him, and it was obvious the little boy was delighted at this unscheduled change of plan.

‘Can I think this over?’ Liz said.

‘Sure,’ he agreed easily, and advanced towards the legal adviser. ‘Good day, Pete. This is Liz, but she’s on her way out. In you get, Liz.’

Is that all? Liz found herself wondering as she climbed into the chopper and started to belt herself up. Then she stopped abruptly.

‘Uh—hang on a moment,’ she said to the pilot. ‘I forgot to ask him—can we just hang on a moment?’

The pilot shrugged rather boredly. ‘Whatever you like.’

So Liz unbuckled herself and climbed out, and the two men on the pad turned back to her, looking surprised.

‘Uh—Mr Hillier, I forgot to ask you if you’ll be in the office tomorrow and at what time?’

‘Not sure at this stage, Liz.’

Liz paled. ‘But I’ve rescheduled some of today’s appointments for tomorrow!’

‘Then you may have to reschedule them again.’

She planted her hands on her hips. ‘And what will I tell them this time?’

He shrugged. ‘It’s up to you.’

Liz took an angry breath, but forced herself to calm down. ‘OK,’ she said with an airy shrug. ‘I’ll tell them you’ve
gone fishing!’

And with that she swung on her heel and climbed back into the chopper. ‘You can go now,’ she informed the pilot, her eyes the only giveaway of her true mental state. They were sparkling with anger.