The trapdoor thumped into my mind.
Luckily, the thumping was interrupted when Frederick arrived back at the bar with a fresh glass ofmerlot.I couldn’t believe I’d never noticed that before. It was plainly obvious that Eliza hadn’t, either. She handed us our freshly poured glasses, completely unaware.
She didn’t notice when Hans switched glasses with Frederick with acheers.I joined in with them, amazed by the full scale of the association between them. Frederick was definitely a lot more than an accountant.
“Are you enjoying your new opportunity with the excellent Mr Weyer?” he asked me.
I nodded, with a genuine smile.
“Very much. It’s been quite a shocker of an experience so far, but a very good one.”
Hans squeezed my fingers again.
“She’s a very, very astute learner, and very inquisitive,” he told his friend. “We’re going to be visiting the Manor later.”
Frederick’s brows shot up as he sipped his merlot.
“The Manor? Really? That’s quite a sharp introduction.”
Hans nodded, with a proud look on his face.
“Yes, but I’m certain she can handle it.”
I wasn’t so sure I agreed with him when I saw the look pass between them. I felt utterly out of my depth.
A merlot or two would definitely help me.
I finished my first one quickly, and Eliza refilled my glass in an instant. My second turned to a third, and conversation flowed steadily with both with Hans and Frederick, and also between me and the people I used to refer to assirwhen I was pouring their drinks. They chatted to me easily when they arrived at the bar, as though me being there was most natural thing in the world.
Hans hadn’t been lying when he said they liked me. I saw it in their eyes.
Ifeltit.
It went to show one thing, with crystal clarity. My life was definitely better suited to here than it was in Orcop. I didn’t belong in Orcop at all.
Hans cleared his throat and leant in to whisper something, no doubt reading my thoughts, but he didn’t get the chance.
I spun like I’d seen a ghost when the entrance door opened and the eccentric George Miller appeared.
“Oh my God,” I said to Hans, my eyes wide on his. “I thought George was… gone!”
I clapped my hands together. It was such a relief to see George there, and wow, there was a woman alongside him as he stepped inside.
“Is this a bring your partner night or something?” I said when I saw her.
I was so grateful that George had survived his planned death that I smiled up at Frederick.
“Thanks,” I whispered. “That’s amazing. I’m sure you must have had something to do with the turnaround.”
Only Frederick looked at me blankly.
“Thanks for what?” he asked, his gaze turning in the same direction as mine as George and his partner crossed the room.
There was no reaction from Frederick when he saw them. He shot a look at Hans and not at me.
“Is she seeing George?”
“I imagine so,” Hans replied.