Page 34 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

‘I think so,’ said Annie, as if trying to remember. ‘Apart from nobody being able to find anything, but we’ll remember for tomorrow.’

‘I’ll make sure I’m here in time for breakfast tomorrow. Oh, and I still need that list of weekly food shopping from you so that I can get organised,’ she added.

They were interrupted by Rose appearing at the steps. ‘Darlings! Good morning!’ she announced.

‘Morning, Rose!’ called out Annie.

‘Good morning,’ said Lily, as she brought out her folders from the large bag she had been carrying on her shoulder.

‘How was your second date?’ asked Annie.

Rose’s eyes narrowed as she came over to dump a small laundry basket on the table. ‘Well! You’d never believe it but the gentleman said that I was too old for him! I mean, me! I told him that I was only early sixties, but he wouldn’t believe me. Said he only met up with me because I looked foxy in my photo.’ Rose broke into a winning smile. ‘Soft focus all the way, darlings. Don’t I look like I’m only just in my sixties?’

She looked expectantly at them both.

Annie and Lily briefly exchanged a smile before saying at exactly the same time, ‘Of course you do! Only fifties, I would say!’

‘You’re both so sweet,’ said Rose. She looked at Lily with an enquiring look. ‘Now, you haven’t told me about your love life. Are you single?’

Lily smiled through gritted teeth. ‘Unexpectedly so, just recently.’

‘Men!’ said Rose, rolling her eyes. ‘They’re just too awful but, oh! L’amour! Who can resist them? Now, have you tried Tinder? I mean, you get a few freaks obviously but the sex is marvellous!’

Just at that moment, Lily caught sight of Sam starting to head down the kitchen steps and abruptly turning and leaving again.

‘Well, I’ve got a busy day planned,’ carried on Rose, completely oblivious to everyone else’s blushes. ‘Washing first and then I’m heading out to lunch with my WI ladies. A garden centre, God help me. Who wants to see petunias? I’d rather be in a champagne bar, but what can you do? One must keep up the local morale!’

‘Poor you,’ cooed Annie. ‘I’m seeing the midwife and then I’m going to visit Eleanor.’

‘And what about you, my dear?’ asked Rose, looking at Lily with piercing blue eyes.

‘I’m meeting the new maid and getting on top of the chores,’ said Lily, in a firm voice. ‘Starting with your washing.’

Rose looked a bit startled. ‘Really? I don’t mind,’ she stammered, glancing into the laundry basket. ‘One of the shirts is years old. Biba, from the seventies.’

‘All of Rose’s clothes are designer fashions,’ said Annie.

‘That’s absolutely fine,’ said Lily quickly. She was anxious not to fail at one of the major responsibilities of the job. ‘I’ll make sure it gets done properly.’

Rose appeared a little nervous but nodded. ‘Super! If you think so, sweetie. That’ll leave me more time to do my nails. Fuchsia pink, I think!’

As Rose walked over to the fridge, Annie said, ‘I don’t know what time Megan’s niece is arriving.’

‘I do,’ Lily told her. ‘I texted Megan last night to organise it all.’

Annie looked a bit startled. ‘Oh! OK. Great!’

‘She should be arriving any minute, so I’ll go and keep an eye out for her,’ said Lily.

She was quite excited about having an extra pair of hands to help around the huge house. Hopefully it would take away the constant stress she was feeling in her stomach at the moment.

She found Lauren, a blonde nineteen-year-old, standing in the middle of the driveway, her mouth gaping and her eyes wide.

‘Hi,’ said Lily, heading out to see her. ‘You must be Lauren. I’m Lily, the housekeeper.’

‘Hey,’ said Lauren, still staring up at the hall. ‘I’ve got to clean all of it?’

‘Not today,’ Lily told her, with a laugh. But the joke fell flat.