Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“What’s there to be happy about?” I asked, reaching for my tea. “You’ll only come downstairs half-naked again tomorrow.”
“Boy, are you in for a shock when I show up fully clothed tomorrow.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Charles looked between us. “I see you two are getting along.”
“We’re both still alive,” I replied, sipping my tea and grabbing my mouse. “So, I suppose you could say we’re getting along.”
“I thought he might have charmed you by now, Chloe.”
“One must be charming in order to charm someone, Your Grace.”
“Ouch,” Theodore muttered, handing his grandfather a mug of hot tea. “Once again, living with you is nothing but a series of humbling for me.”
“Good,” Charles said, sitting opposite me at the table. “You need a good humbling, you bugger.”
Theodore leant forwards on the counter and looked over at us. “Gramps, why are you here?”
“I’m here to check on the renovations at the house,” Charles explained. “Seeing the pair of you is a bonus.”
“So, you’re here to check up on me.”
“What an unfair assumption.”
“But not incorrect, clearly.”
“It’s almost as if you think I don’t have any faith in you, Theo.”
Theodore sighed. “I know you do, but we’ve only been here ten days. You showing up here could be taken as you not having faith in me to pull it off.”
I paused, glancing at him. He had a point—the board were looking for any excuse to get rid of him, and this project was the one we were all using to shut them up. Charles being here so soon after we left wouldn’t look good if anyone got wind of it.
“He does have a point,” I said, peering across the table at Charles. “Does anyone know you’re here?”
“Only Alastair and Cassidy,” Charles replied. “Rest assured, nobody has any idea I’m here, and I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning.”
Theodore rubbed his hand through his hair. “Fine, but if anyone finds out, I expect you to deal with it.”
“Of course.” Charles sipped his tea. “Now, will the both of you have dinner with me tonight?”
“I’d be happy to.” Theodore looked at me. “Chloe?”
I shook my head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll let you both catch up. It’ll be nice to spend some time alone, too.”
“Are you sure?” Charles asked, looking at me with a hint of sadness in his eyes. “You never have dinner with me anymore.”
“I’m no longer paid to do so.” I grinned.
He clutched his chest. “You’re breaking the heart of this old man.”
“You should have dinner with your grandson, Your Grace,” I said quietly. “You always used to complain the two of you didn’t get enough time alone, so don’t be a grouch now.”
“You weren’t supposed to tell him that,” he grumbled.
“Whoops. I forgot,” I deadpanned.
Theodore coughed, covering up a laugh. “Gramps, let her have some time alone. She’s been working hard.”
Charles grunted. “I’m sure she has, looking after your miserable arse twenty-four-seven.”
“Grandfather.”
“Don’t you ‘grandfather’ me, you swine.”
“Would it kill you to not insult me for one conversation?”
“And this is exactly why I’m not having dinner with you,” I said brightly, switching my browser tab to TripAdvisor. “Now, since you have nothing better to do, why don’t you give me an idea of what to do with my day?”
Theodore glanced between his grandfather and me. “Why don’t you tour Buckey Manor?”
“Can I?”
Charles rubbed his chin. “That may be better once I’ve left—the household staff will be busy attending to me. I’ll ask them to show you around tomorrow.”
I scrunched up my nose. “You don’t need to do that.”
“I insist.” He reached across the table and patted my hand. “Theodore, take Chloe up to Buckley Manor at one p.m. tomorrow.”
“You don’t—”
Theodore held up a hand, slightly shaking his head. “You’re going to get the VIP treatment. Just roll with it.”
I clamped my lips together.
“I’ll take her.” He turned from me to his grandfather. “Now, how are you going to exploit me today?”
Charles grinned.
Well.
Better him than me.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN – THEO
A Questionable Wingman
“I see you’re trying your hardest to seduce her with your body.”
I stared at my grandfather across the coffee table. “Don’t ever say such a sentence again. I need to bleach my ears.”
“What other reasons do you have to wander about the cottage without a t-shirt on if not to seduce Chloe, my dear grandson?”
So, I was his ‘dear grandson’ now? I was a little swine earlier.
What a turncoat.
“I’m used to not wearing a shirt at home, so I forget to put one on sometimes.” I sat back on the sofa and dropped my head back on the cushions, looking up at the intricately moulded ceiling. “Why did you really come up here?”
“I told you—I’m checking on the renovations. Robin called and said there was an issue with the restoration of the tiles in the old servants’ kitchen, so I came to deal with it.”