Hugh said, ‘You are welcome to the rooms the last accountant had.’
‘What happened to him?’ Abigail hadn’t meant to say that. It had just come out.
All eyes turned to Oliver. Carys folded her arms. ‘My brother offended him.’
‘Now, look here, I knew something wasn’t right. I just gave him a piece of my mind.’
‘I would too if he’d messed up the accounts like that.’ Her eyes went wide. She hadn’t meant to say that either. It sounded as though she was excusing Oliver’s behaviour, supporting him, even.
Oliver turned his head and looked at her wide-eyed, appearing surprised too. His face broke into a rare grin, like his father. Abigail looked away and caught Carys staring at her brother and smiling with the same expression she’d had earlier.
He asked, ‘Would you like the apartment that goes with the job?’
Abigail shook her head. Wouldn’t that be a step too far, living in with the family? Next, they’d be asking her to join them for dinner. ‘No, I’ve got my own place.’ She really had to censor what was coming out of her mouth. She quickly backtracked. ‘I’m fine where I am, thank you.’
‘And where is that – exactly?’
Carys turned around and glared at her brother. ‘Really, Ollie.’ She said to Abigail, ‘It will save you some rent, if you're renting.’
She quickly backtracked. ‘Oh, I’m not renting.’
No one asked any more tricky questions. They assumed she was staying with her parents.
Abigail got up and walked around the desk. ‘When shall I start?’
‘There’s no time like the present,’ said Hugh.
Carys smiled. ‘My sentiments exactly.’ She stood up and nudged her brother’s arm.
‘Oh, yes, right. Well, you might as well start.’
Carys held out her hand. ‘Shall I take that?’
Abigail looked at her. ‘What?’
‘The apron.’
Abigail looked down. She’d forgotten she was wearing it. ‘Oh, yes, or course.’ She took it off and handed it over.
Carys took it and smiled. ‘I’ll give that back to the housekeeper.’
Abigail had a question. ‘Do I join the others downstairs on my breaks?’
Oliver said, ‘The last accountant used to have his breaks in the grounds, like you did yesterday.’
Abigail came over red-faced at the thought she’d been spotted wandering the grounds. ‘You saw me?’
‘I just happened to glance out of the window as I was taking a seat in that chair.’
Carys rolled her eyes at that.
Thinking of the others downstairs, Abigail brought up the conservatory again and the dank, dark, old basement kitchen where everyone was expected to take their breaks. She spoke her mind, looking at Carys, wondering if she’d spoken to Hugh or her brother about it yet. ‘It’s veryUpstairs, Downstairs. I thought that as you might have saved some money with the accounts I worked out for you, could you spare a little cash to extend the café opening hours? You’ll get the money back, and a tidy profit when the staff start using it, I’m sure.’
Hugh looked at Carys. ‘You spoke to me about this. What are your thoughts?’
‘I think we should do it.’
Oliver butted in, ‘But it’s not what Mum would have wanted.’ He turned to his father. ‘You said so yourself that she had a particular way she liked things done at the hall. You wanted to keep things the same, to honour her memory. This was her house.’
Hugh looked at Abigail. ‘Perhaps it’s time things changed around here.’
The three of them trooped over to the door. As Abigail settled herself back into the leather swivel chair in front of the large oak table, she slowly prised the hair band out of her hair. Oliver was the last one out of the door, and she caught his expression as he left. She also caught the words he spoke to his sister as he closed the door behind him. ‘Carys, I know where I’ve seen her before.’