Page 24 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

‘How can you forget someone that fat?’ said Will, who promptly received a clip around the ear from his big brother.

‘She’s not fat,’ said Sam. ‘She’s beautiful.’

‘Apart from my ankles,’ said Annie, sitting down and putting her feet up on the bench. ‘They’re most definitely fat.’ She looked up at Lily. ‘Give me five minutes to recover from the walk downstairs and I’ll give you the tour.’

Lily had found the family warm and welcoming. Surely it would be a piece of cake to organise them all?

True to her word, Annie led Lily across the large entrance hall a few minutes later to show her around the house.

‘This is the west wing,’ began Annie, as they walked through a large doorway on the opposite side of the hall. ‘Here’s the drawing room.’

It was a large, elegant room painted in soft green, with oak floorboards, comfy-looking sofas and chairs. The large sash windows overlooked the front grounds. There were framed photographs, antique ornaments and candlesticks everywhere. It felt homely, warm and welcoming.

‘Isn’t it nice?’ said Annie. ‘We tend to all end up in here or the kitchen most evenings, apart from when the weather’s warm like at the minute and then we’ll be on the patio.’

They walked back into the corridor and into the next room, which was the library.

A long wall was covered from floor to ceiling with a vast number of bookcases filled with classics. There was also a full-size snooker table, which looked to have been used recently, although one end was propped up with more books.

‘This room’s not been renovated yet?’ asked Lily, nodding at the cracked plaster and haphazard oak floorboards.

Annie shook her head. ‘We ran out of money. Besides, everyone seems to quite like it like this. But all the windows are new so it’s not so draughty. And the fireplaces were all swept last winter.’

On the opposite side of the corridor was Arthur’s study, which was also a little threadbare but had a lovely view over the grounds at the back of the house.

Sam’s office was next door, which apparently was the old music room.

‘Very apt,’ said Lily, noting all the piles of records and CDs amongst the paperwork.

‘He still manages a few bands and singers,’ Annie told her. ‘But he’s taking on more and more of the estate work as Arthur gets that little bit older.’

‘What about Will?’ asked Lily. ‘I thought he worked abroad?’

Annie shook her head. ‘Not any more. He and Skye live in a lovely cottage in the grounds and Will is the estate manager. He’s currently doing up one of the barns to hire out for weddings.’ Annie sighed. ‘We’re always looking for more ways to try and keep out of the red.’

They walked to the room at the end of the corridor and through the double doors.

‘You might remember this from our wedding reception,’ said Annie, smiling in memory.

‘It’s such a beautiful room,’ said Lily, looking around in wonder. The gilt-edged paintings that decorated the room filled the place with colour, and the touches of gold on the frames made the whole place shine.

‘Most of it was thanks to Skye,’ said Annie. ‘She’s so artistic, whereas I can’t even hold a paint roller. She designed most of the wedding decorations as well. Now she uses one of the workshops to restore ugly pieces of furniture into things of beauty. You’ll have to go and have a look. It’s amazing what she does with it all.’

Lily thought how wonderful it would be to have a skill like that. She only knew how to organise things. But hopefully that would stand her in good stead when it came to starting her new housekeeper role.

As they continued their tour downstairs, Lily became more and more excited. To work in such an amazing space every day would be incredible.

Despite her nerves at the unknown, she was ready for a little bit of excitement in her life, she realised. Life had been such a struggle for so many years. Ever since the accident, in fact.

Perhaps she deserved to enjoy the next few weeks at Willow Tree Hall. To finish the summer in the countryside, which she loved so much and had missed whilst she was in London.

With that happy thought, she began to plan all her to-do lists.

10

When Jack stepped out of the shower, he found that he had missed a call from his adoptive mother.

He thought it was rather coincidental timing on her part, considering that he had been at Willow Tree Hall the previous day. In fact, it was very rare for him to be at home for more than one night at a time.