Hester cast an assessing eye at the tall, slender child. ‘But I think you need new ones. You’ve grown out of these.’
‘Yes!’ Lowri punched the air in triumph. ‘How soon can we go shopping? I want new jeans, lots of tops, trainers, a miniskirt like Chloe’s—’
‘Hold on,’ said Hester, laughing. ‘I need a chat with your father first.’
Hester loaded the washing machine then suggested they take a stroll in Victoria Park, but, with Connah’s instructions fresh in her mind, she asked Sam to drive them there.
‘I’ll wait here, Hester,’ he said as he parked near the entrance gates. He took a paperback thriller from the glove compartment. ‘I’m well prepared.’
‘Are you sure about this, Sam?’ asked Hester.
‘If you mean is it OK with the boss, yes. Just press my button and I’ll come after you at the double if you need me. Not,’ he added, looking round the peaceful, sunlit park, ‘that I think you will.’
‘I don’t either.’ She smiled wryly. ‘But I’d rather not break any rules on my first day.’
Hester’s previous charges had all been toddlers with limited conversation and it was a refreshing change to listen to Lowri talk about her friends in school and the boy from the farm near her grandmother’s home.
‘I used to go there to buy eggs with Alice—she was my nanny when I was little. Owen’s twelve, but he’s only a bit taller than me,’ she said with satisfaction. ‘He’s nice. He helps on the farm after school and his father pays him wages. I just get pocket money.’ Lowri looked at Hester hopefully. ‘I’ve got some left. I could treat you to an ice cream from the park café. May I?’
‘I don’t see why not. I’ll have a vanilla cone, please.’
Lowri’s long legs covered the short distance to the café at top speed.
‘Thank you,’ said Hester, accepting her ice cream. ‘Do you want to walk or sit while we eat these?’
‘Walk, please!’ Lowri cast Hester a glance as she licked. ‘Do you live here in the town?’
‘When I’m not working in other people’s houses, yes. I have a flat all to myself at my stepfather’s home.’
‘One of my friends has a stepfather and she doesn’t like him.’
‘How sad for her! I’m lucky. Robert’s a darling. He had my flat redecorated just for me. If your father agrees,’ Hester added, ‘I could take you to see it one day, if you like.’
Lowri’s eyes widened. ‘Go to your house? Could I?’
‘We’ll ask your father this evening. If he gives permission, I’ll get my mother to make cakes. She’s a great cook.’
‘I hope Daddy says yes,’ said Lowri wistfully. ‘I never go to other people’s houses, except to play with Owen sometimes.’
‘You stayed with your friend Chloe,’ Hester reminded her.
‘Only because Grandma was too ill to have me for half-term.’
As they strolled back to the car, Hester hoped she hadn’t raised hopes that Connah Carey Jones would dash. But he’d not only met her mother, he had good reason to be grateful to her. His daughter would come to no harm in the Marshall household.
As soon as they got back, Hester provided Lowri with milk and biscuits, then took a tea tray up to the study.
Connah looked up at her in surprise. ‘Hester! Sam could have done this.’
‘I’m supposed to be the housekeeper,’ she reminded him. ‘Lowri chose the biscuits, so please eat one or two.’
He stared down at the plate, bemused. ‘Oh. Right. Thank you.’
‘If you can spare a few minutes, I’d like to talk to you later,’ she informed him.
‘Problems?’ he said sharply.
‘None at all, so far. But I need instructions. You’re obviously busy right now, so perhaps you’ll let me know when it’s convenient.’ She smiled politely and went from the room, closing the door behind her.
She found Lowri glued to a cooking programme on the kitchen television, and Sam got up to go, eyeing Hester with something like diffidence. ‘I eat my dinner downstairs on my own in peace, by the way.’
‘Then I’ll make a plate up for you. Any dislikes?’
‘You serve it, I’ll eat it,’ he assured her. ‘Thanks, that would be great, Hester. Connah eats at seven when Lowri’s with him, so I’ll collect mine a few minutes beforehand, if that suits.’
‘Of course. I’ll ring down when it’s ready.’
Lowri tore her eyes away from the television when he’d gone. ‘This programme’s making me hungry.’
‘Then let’s see what’s on the menu for dinner,’ said Hester and went off to the giant refrigerator to find that Sam had ordered every conceivable kind of food necessary to serve a cold supper.
‘Can we have more of your chicken?’ said Lowri eagerly.
‘We certainly can. I’ll lay the dining room table.’
‘Can’t we eat here?’
Hester shook her head. ‘I’m sure your father would prefer the dining room.’ At least she hoped he would, then, like Sam, she could relax with her own meal in peace.
‘I’ll ask him!’ Lowri shot out of the room before Hester could stop her and went running from the kitchen to make for the study.
Hester thought about following her to apologise, then shrugged. If Connah disapproved he could tell her in private later. She collected some potatoes and had scraped several by the time Lowri came back, tongue between her teeth as she concentrated on the tray she was carrying.
‘Daddy said he only uses the dining room for visitors, and would you please put supper in here for the three of us.’
So that was another question answered. ‘Thank you, Lowri. And before we eat we must have a bath and change our clothes.’ Sometimes one just had to be nanny. ‘But first I’ll finish these potatoes, then wash some salad greens and boil some eggs. I’ll show you how to devil them, if you like.’
Lowri nodded eagerly. ‘Chloe’s mother let us help her in the kitchen and make scones and things, but Mrs Powell does Grandma’s cooking and she hates mess, so I don’t go in the kitchen much in Bryn Derwen.’
‘We’ll do some baking some time, if you like,’ offered Hester. ‘And if you make a mess, you clean it up. Deal?’
‘Deal!’ said Lowri, beaming.
Sam
