LITMIR.BIZ

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visitor.’

      He needed to stress that. Temporary. Not like bloody Stacey who’d imperceptibly drifted into his flat like the whisper of a ghost, imprinting herself bit by bit, until one day she’d moved in. If he’d been more observant at the outset, he wouldn’t have had to be such a bastard at the end.

      Siena leaned one forearm on the table and took another sip of coffee. He felt his nerve endings go on alert at her studied casualness.

      ‘House rules.’ She nodded at him, her smile dazzling. It did dazzle him too. He found it difficult to concentrate when she smiled like that, all attention on you. Distracting. Even so, why did he get the impression she was hiding something? That sunny smile certainly made it hard to remember that she was a royal princess pain in the butt. He’d already lost his dinner to her, parted with seventy quid on her behalf and driven several hundred miles on five hours sleep.

      ‘Do you know I’ve never shared a house with anyone before? Well, that’s not strictly true, obviously I live with my parents and the staff.’

      ‘We’re not sharing a house,’ he bit out. ‘You are a temporary guest. Temporary. Got it—’ He stopped. ‘You have staff?’ No wonder she was so clueless.

      She stiffened. He held up his hand in apology, it had come out sounding rather judgemental. ‘Sorry, even Will’s family never had real staff. All sounds a bit Downton Abbey.’

      ‘Hardly, times have changed.’ The innocent smile belied her tart words. ‘We even give the staff holidays these days.’

      ‘Right. Back to the rules. I’m out of the house by eight most mornings. You can use the bathroom after then.’

      ‘Trop d’honneur, merci!’

      ‘I suggest you learn to knock on the bathroom door if you don’t want any more surprises. You’ve probably realised there’s no lock on the door. I don’t mind sharing my instant coffee for the next couple of days but you’ll need to pitch in and buy milk and your own food. I’m going to be away for a couple of days, so if you’re booking your flight home, I can take you to the airport before or after then. Anything you need to know?’

      ‘I was wondering when I might get some clean towels.’

      ‘About the same time you put the dirty ones in the washing machine, I guess.’

      Siena coloured and he felt like the kitten-kicker again, so he swallowed down his next comment. ‘If you bring them down, I’ll show you how the washing machine works. And the dishwasher. If you fill it up, put it on. If it’s full, empty it. All the usual.’ Was that a dumb thing to say? What was usual for her?

      She was nodding like one of those crazy dogs in cars, so he assumed she was following.

      ‘So,’ he stood up and rinsed out his coffee mug. ‘When do you think you’ll be leaving?’

      There it was again, the evasive study of her fingernails and the slight tension in her jaw.

      ‘I’m not sure.’

      ‘Are we talking not sure, tomorrow, or the end of the week?’

      Siena opened her mouth and closed it again. ‘I need to speak to Laurie.’

      It was doubtful Laurie would want her up in Yorkshire. She and Cam had the builders in big time at the moment. There was no way they’d want Siena under their feet. Jason smiled. He’d be shot of her by the end of the week.

      Siena let herself out of the front door, pocketing the front door key that Jason had handed over, after carefully sliding it onto a little Lego man key ring, so she wouldn’t lose it. When he wasn’t being grumpy, he could be quite kind. Although, that would go up in smoke if he found out what she was really planning.

      Guiltily she looked back down the street. Satisfied she was out of earshot, she pulled out her phone, dialled and then carried on walking briskly, trying to warm up. A layer of frost coated the windscreens of the parked cars lining the street. It felt cold enough for snow and the tip of her nose tingled in the freezing air.

      ‘Siena.’ Laurie’s voice rang with pleasure.

      ‘Hi Laurie.’

      ‘How are you? I am so sorry I’m not there. If you’d given me a bit more notice I could have made arrangements. It’s chaos up here, otherwise I would invite you. We only got the water back on yesterday. And I can’t leave Norah.’ Laurie paused before adding. ‘Do you remember Uncle Miles’ housekeeper? She should have retired but she insists on coming to,’ there was another awkward pause, ‘to Merryview to help out.’

      Siena winced at Laurie’s careful mention of her inheritance, the house which had left their mother incandescent with affronted rage. A weaker woman might have taken to her bed. Not Maman. No, she’d called in a team of Paris’s finest legal advocates to query the veracity of her brother’s last will and testament.

      Siena swallowed. ‘It was sort of a spur of the moment thing.’ That sounded much better than a nowhere-else-to-go flight.

      ‘Next time, you idiot,’ the warmth of Laurie’s voice made the insult affectionate, ‘phone me first. I’m gutted I can’t see you. When are you heading back?’

      Siena stopped and leaned against the nearest garden wall. ‘Here’s the thing.’ She kept her tone shiny bright and upbeat. ‘You know how you said I’d always have my own room,’ she left the pause, hoping that Laurie would fill it with effusive acceptance.

      Unfortunately Laurie didn’t oblige.

      ‘Remember, you said it was mine, ‘whenever I want it’?’

      ‘Yes,’ Laurie sounded hesitant.

      ‘And you decorated it and everything. Your house is gorgeous inside by the way. I love the way you’ve done it. I can’t believe you did the bedroom for me. I’ve been dying to see it and,’ she took a breath, ‘I want to stay for a while.’

      ‘Wow. I didn’t see that coming. How long’s a while?’ Trust Laurie, Miss Practical Pants to get straight to the point.

      ‘Quite a while, like a year or two or three.’

      There was silence.

      Siena rushed on. ‘I’ve decided to do a fashion degree. In London. I need to apply. Maman won’t be too keen but I figure if I go back, all signed up, with somewhere to stay and a place, she can’t really stop me.’ She didn’t add that she hadn’t realised that Leighton Buzzard was so far from London but she’d worry about that later.

      ‘Siena, that’s great. You said that’s what you wanted to do. Good for you. I’m sure your, I mean, our mother will be fine.’

      Siena pulled a face. She wasn’t so sure.

      ‘Of course you can stay. Although what about Jason? I can’t kick him out. It’s been quite handy having him there, looking after the place.’

      ‘Oh Jason’s fine. He doesn’t mind.’ Siena looked back over her shoulder.

      ‘Really? I guess it makes sense. There’s plenty of room and the two of you can share the bills. The council tax is a killer and I’m sure he’ll be grateful to share that as well as the electricity, gas and water.’ Laurie lowered her voice. ‘Nice for him to have company too. I don’t know him that well, he’s a uni friend of Cam’s so he must be alright.’

      ‘And how is the lovely Cam?’ asked Siena grateful to change the subject.

      ‘Fine,’ said Laurie matter of factly. ‘In fact when we’re a bit straighter you must come and see us.’

      ‘Just fine?’ teased Siena. ‘Mighty fine, I seem to recall.’ She might have met him only once but as men went, he was more than fine.

      Laurie laughed. ‘He’s gorgeous, stubborn, opinionated, absolutely lovely and a pain in the arse in equal measure.’

      Once

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