Page 31 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

‘You know, what’s for dinner tonight, tomorrow, etc.,’ said Lily.

Annie’s eyes widened. ‘Oh. OK. I’ll try and give it some thought.’

‘Excellent,’ said Lily, feeling pleased. This was going to be far easier than she had originally thought. ‘Whilst I think of it, I’ll need a list of everyone’s allergies and dislikes. Oh, and any medications as well, so that the prescriptions are always available.’ She then pulled out the desk diary that she had brought. ‘Right. Next job is to fill in any guests or appointments that you think might impact me in some way. For example, if anyone is coming to stay and we’ll need extra food. Or window cleaners, chimney sweeps, that kind of thing.’

‘Right,’ said Annie in a faint voice. ‘Everyone seems to just muddle through, to be honest. Luckily, there’s always someone around if anyone pops in.’

‘It’ll be good to get a bit more organised though, won’t it?’ said Lily. ‘I’m sure it’ll take the stress off you. After all, that’s my job.’ She stood up, smiling down at Annie. ‘OK. You get on with that list of food and I’ll go and check with Megan.’

‘OK,’ said Annie. But she was still wearing a small frown.

Unfortunately, the stable workshop of Eleanor’s Apothecary was closed up. Lily had a brief look around but couldn’t see anyone.

As she made her way back to the house, she spotted her grandad heading into his shed on the boundary of the walled garden. She had yet to see inside the wooden hut. It was pretty large, and she wondered what on earth he kept inside. She walked across to see him.

‘Hi, Grandad,’ she called out as she drew nearer.

He gave a start at the sound of her voice and quickly turned around, still holding on to the handle of the door.

‘I thought I’d come and see where you work,’ she said.

‘Too busy to chatter,’ he told her, his voice more gruff than usual.

‘Oh. OK. Do you need anything?’ she asked, trying to peer around the door, which was open just a fraction.

‘Just to be left alone to get on with my job,’ he snapped, closing the door swiftly behind him. ‘Don’t you go poking around in my shed, girl,’ he added. ‘That’s private.’

‘You make it sound like a mystery,’ said Lily, laughing.

‘Just gardening stuff,’ he told her. ‘None of your business.’

He sounded so gruff and annoyed that Lily almost had the impression that he was hiding something in there.

But her grandad could be crotchety sometimes. It was obviously just one of those days. So she left him to his shed and returned to the drawing room, where she found Annie and Rose chatting away.

‘Good morning,’ said Lily to Rose.

‘Hello, darling,’ said Rose, with a large smile. ‘I was just telling Annie all about my delicious date last night. Let’s just say that I’ve done the walk of shame this morning.’ She gave a throaty chuckle as Lily realised what Rose was getting at.

It seemed that even a seventy-something-year-old had a better love life than she did.

Annie was merely shaking her head and laughing.

Lily remained standing as she asked Annie, ‘Have you managed to finish that food list yet?’

Annie shook her head. ‘No. Sorry.’ She looked sheepish.

‘It’s all my fault,’ said Rose, grinning. ‘I’m such a distraction. Or at least that’s what my lovers always tell me.’

‘Was he really blond all over?’ asked Annie, still agog.

‘Platinum!’ gurgled Rose, laughing.

Lily tried not to roll her eyes. There were things that needed to be done before the gossiping could resume.

‘Can you get the food list to me by the end of the day?’ asked Lily. ‘Is that OK? Then I can start to get things straight.’

‘Of course,’ said Annie.