I have to behave myself,’ said Lowri, resigned, and gave him a smile so brimming with mischief that he laughed and gave her a hug.
‘Hard work, I know, but you can do it.’
‘Of course I can,’ she said loftily, and beamed at Sam as he came into the kitchen. ‘Did you bring my rucksack from the car?’
‘It’s in your room with the rest of your stuff.’
‘Thanks, Sam.’ She looked at Hester hopefully. ‘I’m starving. Is it time for lunch soon?’
‘Right away. Sam’s already taken the tray into the garden, so if you go ahead I’ll bring the food out.’
‘You’ll join us, of course,’ said Connah courteously.
‘Thank you.’ Hester poured hot soup into a thermal jug, took the covered platter of sandwiches from the refrigerator and followed him into the garden.
Lowri polished off a bowl of soup with relish, despite the heat of the day, but Connah kept to sandwiches.
‘Excellent chicken,’ he commented. ‘From the local delicatessen?’
Hester shook her head. ‘I cooked it at home alongside my mother’s Sunday roast. I wasn’t sure what would be required for lunch today, so I made sure I had something ready.’
‘You must let me reimburse you,’ said Connah promptly.
‘If you wish.’ Hester smiled at Lowri. ‘I asked Sam what you liked, so I put cheese and crispy bacon bits in some and just plain old ham in others. You can tell me what else you like as we go along.’
Lowri nodded, downing a sandwich at top speed. ‘Yummy,’ she said indistinctly, then shot a sparkling look at Hester. ‘Though almost anything would be after school food.’
‘Try the chicken, cariad,’ advised Connah.
She made a face. ‘They do that a lot in school.’
‘Not like this,’ he assured her, and with a martyred look Lowri took a minuscule bite.
Hester felt absurdly gratified when the blue eyes lit up.
‘Wow! This is nothing like rubber school chicken. I love the stuffing.’
‘How is your grandma?’ asked Hester.
The blue eyes shadowed. ‘She was very tired.’
‘But getting stronger slowly,’ Connah assured her.
Lowri gave her father a worried look. ‘She doesn’t look stronger. I didn’t know she needed a nurse to look after her.’
‘I insisted on hiring one for a while. At Grandma’s age it takes time to get over surgery,’ he told her. ‘Don’t worry. She’ll soon pick up now she’s beginning to eat normally again.’
‘I hope so. Will she be well enough for us to have Christmas at Bryn Derwen?’
‘Good Lord, yes.’ He ruffled her hair. ‘There’s an entire term at school to get through before then.’
Lowri smiled as Sam approached with a coffee tray and a jug of orange juice. ‘Is that for me?’
‘Yes. Have you finished your lunch?’ he demanded.
She smiled smugly at the empty platter. ‘Every crumb.’
‘No sarnies left for me?’ he teased, then relented as she looked stricken. ‘Only joking, pet. I ate mine before you arrived.’
‘Did you have some with chicken?’ she asked eagerly.
‘I certainly did.’ Sam put the tray down and bowed in Hester’s direction. ‘Best I’ve ever tasted.’
Connah finished his coffee and got up to follow Sam into the house. ‘Thank you for lunch, Hester. Be good, Lowri; I’ll see you ladies at dinner.’
Lowri heaved a sigh as she watched him go. ‘Daddy’s always so busy,’ she said disconsolately. ‘And he’s got to go to London tomorrow. He said it’s urgent or he wouldn’t.’
‘We’ll have to think of things to do while he’s away,’ said Hester, pouring more juice.
‘Thank you.’ Lowri drank some of it, eyeing Hester over the glass. ‘But won’t you be too busy housekeeping?’
‘No,’ said Hester firmly. ‘With Sam’s help, it won’t take long. The rest of the time I’ll spend with you.’
Lowri gave her a very adult look. ‘Will you tell me the truth?’
Help, thought Hester. ‘I’ll try. What do you want to know?’
‘Are you really a housekeeper, and not some kind of nanny?’
‘Hey, do I look like Mary Poppins?’ Hester demanded, resorting to indignation to avoid a direct lie.
‘No. But you don’t look like a housekeeper either.’ Lowri giggled, then sighed gustily. ‘Anyway, Mary Poppins had two children to look after, and I’m only one. I’d just love to have a baby sister—even a baby brother would do.’
‘Maybe that will happen one day.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Lowri said forlornly, then brightened. ‘But I’ve made lots of friends in school.’
‘That’s good. Your father says you really like it there.’
‘I don’t like all the lessons, but otherwise it’s great. Some girls get homesick, but I don’t.’
Because you don’t have a mother, thought Hester with compassion. ‘Right, I must get these things indoors. Would you carry the jug, please?’
Once the kitchen was tidy, Hester said it was time to unpack.
Lowri made a face. ‘The trunk will be a mess. I’m rubbish at packing.’
‘Then let’s attack it right away. You can tell me where to put everything.’
‘I don’t really know. I’ve only been here once, and that wasn’t to sleep,’ said Lowri. ‘I usually go back to Grandma’s for school holidays, but last half-term I went to stay with Chloe Martin. It was brilliant. She’s got two brothers and a little sister and her mother’s very nice.’
‘Is her father nice too?’ asked Hester as they went upstairs together.
‘Oh, yes, but I didn’t see him much. He’s in the police. A deputy something.’
No wonder Lowri was allowed to stay there. ‘Deputy Chief Constable?’
‘That’s right.’ The child scowled at the trunk beside her bed. ‘I just hate this part.’ She looked guilty as Hester raised the lid. ‘I’ve got some clean things in my backpack, but
