Sheltered by Her Top-Notch Boss Page 2

  The door opened into a large entrance hall, and she led the way from there to the kitchen, where James admired the golden oak beams and matching oak units.

  ‘This was the first room I renovated,’ she said, spooning freshly ground coffee into the percolator. ‘The beams were dark with age, so I had them cleaned up and then picked out cupboards to go with the new, lighter colour.’

  James nodded. ‘They make the room look warm and homely.’ His gaze went to the gleaming range cooker that she’d lovingly restored and which had pride of place in her kitchen. ‘That must help heat up the kitchen.’

  She nodded. ‘It does. I love it—I spend lots of time experimenting with new recipes—it’s kind of a hobby. Cooking helps me to unwind.’ She smiled. ‘Though I live here on my own, so I often have to share what I’ve made with the family across the way...the people who live in the converted barn.’

  He looked her over, amusement sparking in his eyes, and once again she experienced that odd feeling of familiarity, as though she knew him from somewhere in the past, but once again the circumstances eluded her.

  ‘You cook as well?’ he said. ‘Wow. Fortune’s following me around today—I must have stumbled on my dream woman!’

  She chuckled. ‘I wouldn’t get too carried away, if I were you—I didn’t say I was any good at it.’

  He laughed, and while the percolator simmered, she showed him the living/dining room that was tacked on to one end of the open plan kitchen. ‘I had the wall taken down,’ she said, ‘to make the place seem bigger. I was a bit worried it might not work out too well.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s a problem at all.’ He stood close to her as they surveyed the room, and all she could think about was his nearness, the long line of his strong and lean body, the way his arm inadvertently brushed hers and sent a ripple of heat surging inside her.

  He glanced at her, and there was a stillness about him that made her wonder if he’d experienced that same feeling. He seemed distracted for a moment or two and then appeared to force his attention back to the subject in hand.

  ‘It all seems to work pretty well. The dining area goes on from the kitchen, and the living room is part of the L-shape, which makes it kind of separate. All the rooms benefit from the extra space.’

  She nodded, struggling to regain control of herself. ‘That’s what I was hoping for. There’s a small utility room as well, so I have just about everything I need here. I’m really fortunate to have this place, but it’s the extra money from the TV show that funded all the renovations.’

  ‘I can imagine.’ His mouth made a crooked line. ‘But as an avid fan, I’m convinced you’re worth every penny they pay you. You explain things in a way people can understand, and make the programme lively and interesting at the same time.’

  ‘I’m glad you think so, but it’s all down to teamwork really. It doesn’t take too long to make the programmes, so it’s worked out pretty well for me, all in all.’ She sent him a quizzical glance. ‘Perhaps it’s something you’d like to try? The producers are always looking for new presenters.’

  He shook his head. ‘I don’t think so. I’m busy enough as it is. I’ve enough going on outside medicine to keep me occupied. So time out for a spot of rest and relaxation would be first on my agenda, and I like to spend it on my boat, where I can get away from everything and everyone.’ He sent her an oblique glance, his mouth making a teasing curve. ‘Is there any chance you might want to join me? I could set aside a few days especially for you and we could maybe spend a long, lazy weekend together.’

  She gave him an answering smile. ‘That’s a tempting proposition, James, but I’d really have to give it some thought.’ It had definite appeal, but some innate sense made her hold back.

  She’d been in relationships before, which had promised so much and then proved to be a huge letdown. Perhaps her background, the disintegration of her family life had made her cautious about expecting too much. ‘We barely know each other, after all.’

  ‘That could soon be remedied.’

  They walked back to the kitchen, and Ellie poured coffee, smiling faintly as the tempting aroma teased her nostrils. Despite her reservations, she liked being with James. She’d been feeling thoroughly down in the dumps and somehow he’d managed to pull her out of the swamp of depression.

  She handed him a cup and he added cream and sugar, stirring thoughtfully. ‘So how did you get into the TV business?’ he asked, as they sipped the hot liquid. ‘Were you spotted by a talent scout prowling the emergency unit?’

  She laughed. ‘No such luck. I know someone who works at the studios, and she suggested I might like to try it. I’d written a few articles for magazines and made a couple of videos for students that turned out all right, so she thought I might take to it.’

  ‘And I guess she was right.’

  ‘Mmm, it seems so.’ She rummaged in the fridge and the cupboard, looking for something to nibble on. ‘Would you like something to eat? Biscuits and cheese, or a slice of quiche maybe?’

  He shook his head and took a quick sip of coffee. ‘Not for me, thanks,’ he said, and there was a hint of resignation in his tone. ‘I’m afraid I must be going very soon.’

  ‘Oh, of course. Okay.’ She felt a pang of disappointment because he was about to leave. They drank their coffees and talked about her TV work for a while longer. Then he put down his cup and started to head towards the door.

  ‘You said you lead a busy life,’ she murmured as she walked with him. ‘What is it that takes up most of your time outside work?’

  ‘I help to manage my father’s estate. The manager has taken extended leave to deal with a family crisis in Ireland, so I’ve had to step into the breach in the meantime.’

  His father’s estate. She frowned, and all at once alarm bells started to ring faintly inside her head. Memories of her past came flooding back to haunt her, causing a feeling of nausea to start up in her stomach, and she tried to quash the thoughts that were crowding her mind. There wasn’t necessarily anything untoward in what he was saying.

  ‘His estate?’ she said in a guarded voice. ‘That sounds like something quite involved. What kind of estate is it?’

  ‘Farming, mostly, with a dairy and creamery on site. There are other things going on there as well—there’s an orchard, and a lake where people can go to fish.’ He glanced at her, as though gauging her reaction. ‘My father isn’t too well at the moment, so he’s finding it difficult to oversee things. He tried to get someone to take over the management on a temporary basis, but that hasn’t worked out so I’ve had to get involved.’

  ‘You’re talking about Lord Birchenall’s estate, aren’t you?’ She said it in a hoarse whisper, while the blood drained from her face. ‘You’re his son?’

  ‘That’s right.’ He studied her, his expression solemn. ‘Does it matter?’

  ‘I thought there was something about you—that I knew you from somewhere. I just never dreamt...’ She pulled in a shaky breath and then looked up, her gaze meeting his. ‘You’ve changed. You’re so much more...’ She broke off. The gangly youth she remembered was gone.

  This man was muscled, toned, his features etched by the trials and tribulations of the years that had passed. ‘I don’t suppose you remember me?’ He’d headed off to medical school when she had been around thirteen or fourteen years old. Why would he have given her a second thought?

  ‘Of course I do. It was a long while ago, and you’ve filled out in all the right places, but how could I forget you, Ellie? You were always up to something, climbing trees, camping out in the woods. I watched out for you, in case you landed yourself in a scrape.’

  He’d watched out for her? She cast that thought to one side. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you knew who I was all along?’ A flash of bitter defiance shot through her, making her green eyes spark with anger. ‘You
should have said something right at the start, when Zoe introduced us.’

  ‘And lose the chance of talking to you?’ His dark brows lifted. ‘I may be many things, Ellie, but I’m not a fool.’

  ‘No, you’re Lord Birchenall’s son—and you’ve been brought up to believe in his values and everything he stands for.’

  ‘And what would those be, Ellie?’

  ‘That all that matters is his own comfort, his own perfectly organised way of life.’ She bit out the words through clenched teeth as she gave vent to her feelings of resentment and betrayal. ‘Nothing must get in the way of his wellbeing, must it? Woe betide any hapless worker who falls foul of Lord Birchenall.’

  ‘Aren’t you being a little melodramatic?’

  She gasped. ‘How can you say that to me? My father was Lord Birchenall’s estate manager for a dozen or more years until your father sacked him and threw him off his land. We lost everything...the house that went with the job, our livelihood, our unity as a family.’

  ‘I know that must have been a tremendous blow to you, but are you so sure your father didn’t bring it on himself? I remember my father being angry, at the end of his tether. Things had not been running smoothly, there were glitches, problems. I don’t know all the reasons why it happened, Ellie, but I’m sure my father wouldn’t have acted without due cause.’

  ‘And you didn’t care what became of his family afterwards?’

  ‘That’s not true. I did care. But I went away to medical school around about that time, and I didn’t know what went on after I left. I asked my father what happened to you and he said you’d moved to a house in the village.’

  She opened the front door and stood to one side to let him pass.

  ‘What else could we do? We had to move in with friends for the first few months. He ruined our lives, that’s what happened.’ She pressed her lips together to hold back the anger that was taking hold of her. ‘I’d hoped I could put it behind me after all these years, but now it’s come flooding back with a vengeance.’

  She stiffened, bracing her shoulders, and her gaze locked with his. ‘You should go,’ she said.

  He stepped outside into the porch, and then turned to face her once more. ‘I’m sorry you feel this way. It was all a long time ago. Maybe it’s time for you to let it go.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s possible.’

  ‘That’s unfortunate.’ He frowned, studying her face in the moonlight. ‘Goodnight, Ellie.’ He nodded briefly and then strode across the gravelled drive to his car.

  She watched him go. She’d thought the day couldn’t get any worse...

  CHAPTER TWO

  ‘THANKS FOR THIS, Ellie.’ Noah folded the cheque Ellie had given him and slid it into his wallet. ‘I’ll pay you back as soon as I can, I promise.’

  Her brother looked earnest, his youthful features lit with relief. ‘It’s just that things are difficult for me right now, with the magazine closing down—it was my best source of income. But I’ll make a go of this freelance work, I know I will.’

  ‘I’m sure you will, eventually.’ Ellie finished off the last slice of toast and brushed the crumbs from her fingers. It was worrying, the way things had been going for him lately. They’d been through a lot together, and she’d always looked out for him. If only there was some way she could help him get out of this mess.

  ‘Perhaps you could look for something a bit more secure in the meantime? There must be some regular jobs in photography—in advertising, maybe, or even something like illustrating medical books. I know it’s not what you’re used to.’

  He pulled a face, his hazel eyes troubled. ‘I’ll try, honestly I will—I know I need to sort something out. I’ve spent the whole weekend looking for alternatives. But photojournalism’s what I’m really interested in.’

  She nodded, and began to clear away the breakfast dishes. ‘Did you want any more tea, or shall I empty the pot?’

  ‘I’m fine, thanks. I should go and try to appease the landlord.’ He patted the wallet in his pocket. ‘This will keep him off my back for a while at least.’

  ‘And I must get ready for work.’ Her green eyes clouded momentarily and Noah gave her a thoughtful look. ‘Is something wrong? You don’t look too happy about that. I thought you loved your work?’

  ‘I do...mostly.’ Her patient’s death still haunted her, and the whole episode with Mel’s unsettling reaction had thrown her off balance somehow. It would take her some time to get back into her stride.

  But that wasn’t it.

  ‘The new consultant’s starting work today.’ She winced. ‘I met him at Zoe’s party—turns out he’s Lord Birchenall’s son.’

  ‘Birchenall?’ Noah bit out the word with distaste. ‘No wonder you’re out of sorts. I thought we’d seen the last of that family.’ He frowned. ‘Perhaps I should have guessed. I read in the paper that he was back home to take care of his father—the old man is suffering from some kind of heart condition, apparently.’

  ‘Is he? James said he was unwell, but he didn’t go into detail.’

  ‘James? You’re on first-name terms with him?’ Noah’s lips tightened. ‘I wish you didn’t have to deal with him at all. How do we know it won’t turn out to be like father, like son? You could go along with him thinking everything’s fine, and then when something goes wrong you find he’s turned against you. It’s all in the genes.’

  ‘You could be right,’ she acknowledged thoughtfully. ‘We’ll see. I suppose I’ll just have to be cautious around him until I get to know him better.’

  ‘Yeah, well, it’s a pity you have to know him at all. I’m sorry you’ve ended up having to work with him.’ He frowned. ‘I’d better go. Thanks for breakfast, and good luck.’

  ‘You, too.’

  After he’d gone, Ellie finished tidying the kitchen and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was about time for her to set off for work, but just as she reached for her jacket, the doorbell rang.

  ‘Lily.’ Ellie was startled to see her neighbour standing there. Lily was heavily pregnant, and right now she looked flushed and her breathing was fast, making her struggle to drag air into her lungs. Her face appeared a little puffy, and when Ellie glanced down at her hands, she saw that there was some swelling there, too. Her brown curls were faintly damp around her face, and Ellie became increasingly concerned. ‘Are you all right? Is it the baby? Are you having contractions?’

  Lily shook her head. ‘No, but I have to go to hospital—the ambulance will be here any minute. The midwife sent for it. I have a terrible headache, and my ankles are swollen. She said something about hypertension and pre-eclampsia—she thinks they’ll keep me in for a few days.’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Lily.’ Ellie put a comforting arm around her. ‘Do you want to sit down? Shall I get you a chair?’

  Lily shook her head. ‘No, thanks. But I do need to ask a big favour.’ She gave her a worried look.

  ‘It’s okay. Anything. What is it? What can I do for you?’

  ‘It’s Jayden—he’s at nursery school right now, and my friend will pick him up and look after him after school, but I wondered, just in case they do keep me in, if you would have him stay with you for the next few nights? I know it’s an awful lot to ask, but Harry’s away in Switzerland, trying to sort out some problems with the company, and my parents are on holiday abroad. I don’t know what else to do.’

  Ellie thought about the small guest bedroom upstairs. She’d have to bump up the heating in there and get in a few provisions to satisfy a four-year-old’s diet, but otherwise there shouldn’t be a problem. ‘That’s okay. I can do that for you. I’ll be glad to help. And Jayden often comes here to see me, so he’s used to being around the place. Don’t worry about it. Just concentrate on getting yourself well again.’

  ‘Oh, thanks, Ellie,’ Lily said in a
relieved tone. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done without you. Here, have my key—you’ll need to pick up some clothes for Jayden and some of his toys.’ An anxious look crossed her face. ‘He always takes his teddy to bed with him. He won’t sleep without it.’

  ‘I’ll make sure he has it. Rest easy, and take care of yourself.’

  The midwife came to help Lily back to her house across the courtyard as the ambulance arrived, and Ellie went with them, waving her neighbour goodbye before setting off for the hospital. It was worrying, seeing her in that situation, but at least the paramedics were with her and would take care of her.

  The A and E department was busy as usual when she arrived there a short time later. She’d had a weekend away from work and she found she was apprehensive coming back to it, a little bit uneasy about dealing with patients who were very ill, after her experience with her friend’s aunt. Although she felt she’d followed the correct procedures, her confidence had been badly shaken by Mel’s outburst. It was difficult getting back into the fray, but after an hour or so she had more or less settled into the routine and her anxiety eased a little.

  From time to time she caught sight of James, working with the most seriously ill patients, and she did her very best to steer clear of him. In a way she was regretting her outburst the other night, because he hadn’t done anything to deserve her wrath. It was just his family connection that had thrown her into a state of shock.

  But she had to put all that aside if she was to do her job properly. Just now she was tending a young woman who’d fallen from a horse. Until the accident the girl had been enjoying a holiday at a pretty lakeside resort nearby, but her fall meant she’d ended up in the emergency unit, being treated for a broken arm.

  ‘That was unfortunate, wasn’t it, Natalie?’ Ellie murmured. ‘But the good news is that the X-ray shows a straightforward break. We’ll re-align the bones for you under anaesthetic and then immobilise them with a cast. We should soon have you feeling more comfortable.’