Trust in Me (3 page)

He couldn’t in his wildest imaginings picture Gina disagreeing with him so openly – but then Gina’s ways of undermining him had been much more personal. He grimaced as he briefly recalled the disaster zone that had been his last relationship. All his own fault – he should have told her it was over as soon as she’d began to hint about a wedding ring. Well, he’d definitely learnt his lesson – never again would he allow any woman to expect more than he was able to give.

Those dark thoughts were quickly surpassed, though, as the memory of a pair of sea-green eyes nudged back into his thoughts. Rosie really was extraordinarily pretty.

As he drove away, he found himself wondering if she was spoken for.

Chapter Three

How typical of Rosie’s luck, tall, dark and handsome had come knocking on her door and brought a whole load of trouble with him. No surprises there – men always brought trouble to Farnham Manor. Her father, her brother – each a man who’d proved to be far more grief than he was worth.

And now, to crown them all, the master trouble maker – Theo Bradley.

Rosie snatched up the papers he’d left and flicked impatiently through them. She’d have the estate lawyers check them out, but at first glance they seemed to be in order. Of course they did. She’d never doubted him, not really. Despite what she’d said, he exuded such cool, calm control and utter confidence Rosie hadn’t truly suspected for an instant he wasn’t genuine.

Evie was furiously typing away on the computer when Rosie joined her in the office. She barely looked up from the screen.

Rosie shook her head as she spotted a familiar grey head peering over her sister’s shoulder. She sighed. “Oh, Evie. What have I told you about bringing Jessie into the house?”

Evie shrugged. “She followed me in. What could I do?”

Rosie sighed, only grateful her sister hadn’t treated their uninvited guest to a visit from the little donkey. “You could have made sure she was left securely at the sanctuary with the others.” Rosie softened as Jessie looked across at her with curious eyes, head to one side. She reached out to stroke the soft, grey face, and she couldn’t help smiling, despite her problems.

Evie fixed Rosie with a perceptive gaze. “He was pretty hot – for an old guy.”

Rosie feigned ignorance. “Who was hot?” Flustered, she left Jessie and busied herself with tidying up, putting files and folders back on shelves, shuffling bits of paper into neat piles. Anything so she didn’t have to look at her sister.

“Theo Bradley.”

“Was he?” She shrugged a slender shoulder. “I didn’t notice.”

Evie laughed. “Liar – you couldn’t take your eyes off him.”

Sometimes Rosie was exasperated by just how perceptive her sister could be. “That’s because he was a visitor and I was speaking to him.”

“And he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

“That’s because he was speaking to me. It’s good manners to maintain eye contact with a person when you talk to them. I’ve told you that often enough.”

“You don’t normally look as though you’re going to throw yourself at the people you’re talking to.” Evie had warmed to her theme and it took all Rosie’s efforts to keep calm and not show how much Evie’s interrogation was rattling her. “It looked to me as though you were about to kiss him when I walked in.”

“Oh for heaven’s sake.” She slammed a bundle of receipts into a drawer. “You shouldn’t be thinking of a career in law, you should be writing fiction.”

“I know what I saw.”

“Then maybe I should take you to get glasses.”

Evie didn’t look convinced. “What did he want?”

The change in direction threw her momentarily. Poor Jessie, fed up of being ignored, left Evie’s side and came over to Rosie – obviously thinking she stood more chance of some attention. Glad of the diversion, Rosie took full advantage and patted the animal. “Er, something to do with Harry.” She saw Evie frown and rushed to reassure her. “Nothing to worry about, I’ll sort it out.”

Evie nodded and glanced back at the computer screen. “Oh-my-gosh,” she shrieked at full volume. “Have you seen this?”

Rosie walked around the desk, with Jessie patiently following, and peered over Evie’s shoulder so she could see the screen and the source of the excitement. She frowned when an image of Theo Bradley stared back. “You shouldn’t Google people, it’s intrusive.”

“It’s research. Everyone does it. But look, he’s mega.”

“Evie, I’m not comfortable with...”

“The man’s off the scale successful. He’s thirty three and a self-made multi millionaire. Has interests all over the place – including the chain of hotels that owns Chudley House.” Evie mentioned the up-market hotel, only a short drive away, where the seriously wealthy gathered to relax. “Look, there’s even a photo of him with his helicopter.”

“That’s got nothing to do with us, Evie. And I’m not happy with you snooping on him like this.”

“He’s not married,” Evie confirmed before looking up to fix her sister with an icy blue stare. “You really should have snogged him while you had the chance. He didn’t look as though he’d have pushed you away.”

“I don’t snog people I don’t know.”

“As far as I’m aware, you don’t snog anyone – ever. But perhaps you should. You need to find a man. It’s not good for you to be on your own.”

Rosie felt the warmth of a guilty blush on her cheeks. If only the thought of kissing Theo Bradley hadn’t occurred to her, she might be in a stronger position to fend off Evie’s ramblings. “I don’t want a man. Besides, I’m not on my own. I’ve got you.”

“I won’t be here forever. When I leave for uni you’ll be here by yourself. If I knew you had someone to share the running of the estate with I’d be much happier.”

Flustered, Rosie tidied pens and paperclips from the desk – anything was better than meeting her sister’s perceptive gaze. “It’s kind of you to be worried, but that’s not a good reason for me to become involved in a relationship.”

“You could do much worse than Theo. He’s gorgeous and rich.”

Shocked, she stared at her sister. Had she really done such a bad job of raising Evie that she was so cynical at fifteen. “That’s a very superficial way to look at it. Relationships are about caring for and loving someone else,” she said. “Not about going out with someone because they’re rich and good-looking.”

“Don’t you think you could care for Theo Bradley?” Evie had given up all pretence of working at the computer now and was leaning forward, desperate for Rosie’s reply.

Could she care about a man like Theo Bradley? The question was ludicrous – their brief acquaintance wasn’t based on caring, it was based on his demand for vacant possession. “Evie, stop being silly.”

“Well I think you’d make a great couple.” Evie sat back in her chair, a satisfied grin on her face.

Enough – time to put a stop to this. She sniffed loudly. “When I want your advice about my love life, I’ll ask for it. Now it’s time you took Jessie back to the sanctuary. And don’t bring her into the house again.”

It took a while to persuade Evie to lead the little grey donkey back to her furry friends, but eventually – reluctantly – she complied with Rosie’s request. “And when you get back, can you make a start on dinner, please?” she called after her sister’s retreating back.

As soon as Evie was out of earshot, she reached for the phone. The moment she’d simultaneously itched for and dreaded since Theo Bradley dropped his bombshell.

Time to call her brother.

Her hand hovered over the receiver while she thought over what she should say.

However much she didn’t want to make this call, she needed to speak to Harry and sort this out. If not for herself, then for the other estate inhabitants. What if he planned to evict the tenants, as he was trying to do with her and Evie? They’d been dependent so long she didn’t think they’d manage in the real world.

She dithered so long that, by the time she’d summoned the courage to dial, Evie was calling to say dinner was ready. Wearily, Rosie made her way to the kitchen. Talking to Harry would have to wait until later.

“We don’t have much food in,” Evie complained as she passed a bowl of soup and some bread over.

Rosie made some mental calculations. “I’ll go shopping next week,” she decided. Until then they’d have to live off whatever was there. “Now tell me, did you take Jessie back to the sanctuary?”

Evie nodded.

“Good. How’s Mr Kennedy?”

Evie smiled, pleased for the chance to talk about her newest animals. “Fine. He seems happy. He was pleased to see Jessie – came trotting up to the gate to meet us. I think he’d missed her, even though she’d only been out of the field for half an hour or so.”

Rosie was pleased with the news. Mr Kennedy had spent much of the past ten years as an only donkey – a pet to a family with three children – and he hadn’t seen one of his kind in all that time. With the children all grown, the family had been keen to make alternative arrangements. Evie had been delighted to offer him a home.

Rosie smiled as she recalled how the other donkeys had gathered around to watch as he’d trotted off the trailer and rolled in the grass. Then he’d immediately trotted off around the field with the group. But, even while he was in his element as part of the group, it was Jessie who he followed with utter devotion.

“It might be an idea to bring him out with you, if you take Jessie for a walk in future. He seems to have formed a bit of an attachment and we don’t want him pining. But make sure you put a halter on him – just until we find out what he’s about.”

***

After they’d eaten, Rosie was full of renewed determination to make the call to Harry. She went back into the estate office and picked up the phone, her hand trembling as she punched in the number. Able to think rationally at last, she realised there had to be some mistake. Harry couldn’t have sold the manor and left Evie and herself homeless. He might not be the most caring brother in the world, but surely he wouldn’t be so heartless.

As she waited for him to answer the call, she remembered Harry’s outright fury five years ago when he’d discovered the terms of his inheritance. He’d been left the estate, the manor, everything, but all to be held in trust until he turned forty.

Harry’s fortieth birthday had been last month.

A sliver of doubt entered her mind… Nudged a little… And, in the space of a second, she recognised the truth of the situation: Selling herself and Evie out was exactly what Harry had done.

The answering machine kicked in and she waited for the beep. “Harry, this is Rosie. I need to talk to you. It’s urgent. Call me as soon as you get this message.”

She knew he probably wouldn’t bother calling back. Harry didn’t like confrontation. He’d avoid her until the dust had settled. But she suspected the anger surging through her, making her head throb merrily, would never abate. Harry would have to run until the end of time because she’d never forgive him for this.

Needing to hear a friendly voice, she dialled her best friend’s number. Since Julia had moved to the area and married the local vet, she’d proved to be someone to rely on. And she was the only person Rosie was happy to confide in.

“Harry’s done what?” Julia was incredulous.

“I didn’t think it could be true, either.” Rosie bit her lip. Now she’d spoken about it to Julia, it made it all seem very real. “But the papers are all in order and it does seem like something Harry might do.”

“But not to tell you…” Julia harrumphed down the line. “He really is a first class creep, that man.”

“You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.”

“How has Evie taken the news?”

“I haven’t told her. I don’t want her knowing until I’ve sorted something out.”

“She’d cope, you know.”

“I know. But she’s got exams coming up and…well, you know why she wants to stay here.”

There was silence down the line and, for a moment, Rosie thought Julia had gone. At last she spoke again. “There’s always a place for you both here with me, Bob and Louise.”

“Thank you.” This wasn’t the first time Julia’s made such an offer and it was comforting to know they wouldn’t be out on the streets if they could no longer live on the estate. What would she do without such good friends?

Rosie’s chat with Julia restored some sense of normality, but as soon as she replaced the receiver her current predicament returned to haunt her with a vengeance.

“Harry’s a rotten brother,” she muttered to herself. If he ever bothered to phone her back she would waste no time in telling him so.

Not for the first time she experienced a glimmer of fury towards her dead dad. He’d left every last bean to Harry, wanting to keep it all in the Farnham family and expecting his two daughters would marry and have no need of independent finance. She still found it odd that Mick Farnham had upheld such a surprisingly unfair and old-fashioned idea, especially considering his own lifestyle.

Rosie shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She had to find a solution. Not only did Harry’s betrayal leave her homeless, it also left her jobless. The only work experience she had was running the estate…

The answer came to her in a blinding flash – she’d have to convince Theo Bradley he needed to keep her on to manage the estate. He hadn’t discussed his plans, but judging from his online C.V. she very much doubted he intended to roll up his undoubtedly expensive shirt sleeves and run the place himself. He’d need a manager. And who better than Rosie to apply for the post?

Only one problem with that plan – she and Theo Bradley hadn’t exactly hit it off at their first meeting. Looking back, she knew he’d been kind as he’d broken the awful news. But, in return, she’d been horrid. Truly horrid. It wasn’t his fault Harry had sold the estate, but, in her brother’s absence, she’d blamed him anyway. Why would he want to employ her after that?

She’d have to find some way to charm him.

Oh, no. Not good.

Rosie had no inclination towards natural charm. Besides, she’d been too busy in recent years to entertain thoughts of charming anyone. She didn’t believe in wasting time by dressing things up in fancy words and smiling at people she didn’t want to smile at.