hesitated because she’d been going to say ‘the lord of the manor’ but Sir Robert had always had time for her. Unlike Hal North, who had mocked her lack of ambition and then used his power to take her away from the news desk. Sideline her.
Taking her silence for agreement, he said, ‘You’re a local reporter, aren’t you?’
‘Not much of one according to you.’
‘You’ve sharpened up your act since then.’
‘I took your advice, Hal. Nothing personal.’
‘I think Mr Mean is about as personal as it gets, Claire. The fact that you haven’t been back to see Archie, asked Gary to deliver your cake, suggests you’re aware of that.’
‘I told you, I’ve been busy. There’s so much to do in the garden at this time of year.’
‘I know. The contractor is going to be clearing the rose garden next week.’
‘Hal!’
He said nothing.
‘Didn’t you contact any of the rose specialists I sent you?’
‘I’ve been busy. I have a company to run, as well as a house to restore.’
‘And motorcycles to play with.’
‘That, too.’
‘I’ll do it for you—’
‘Not unless you can wave your magic wand. You’re going to be far too busy granting other people’s wishes to work on your own.’
Working with Hal North Rule Number One: Keep it businesslike.
‘We’d better get on with it, then. I’ll see if the conference room is free. How do you take your coffee?’
‘Not from a machine,’ he replied. The hand at her elbow tightened imperceptibly as he began to steer her firmly in the direction of the door.
The heat increased a degree, tingling dangerously.
Claire told herself that it was anger rather than attraction. The sizzle that seemed to fry the air whenever they were in the same room was real enough, but he wasn’t interested in her. Nor, she suspected, was he interested in the Wish project.
Whatever fairy tale he’d told Willow Armstrong his return to Cranbrook Park was tied up with what Sir Robert had done to him. What her father had done to him.
He’d dealt with Sir Robert, but her father wasn’t alive to answer for his actions. Apparently she was going to have to stand in for him.
Working with Hal North Rule Number Two: Keep it totally businesslike.
She pointedly removed her elbow from his hand. ‘I’ll call your office and arrange a formal meeting at the Hall.’
She didn’t wait for his agreement but walked back to her desk and began tossing all her belongings into her bag.
‘Well, well, well,’ Tim said to nobody in particular, ‘that was a turn up for the book. The ambitious Miss Thackeray reduced to a playing Tinkerbell.’
‘Book? What book?’ she asked, refusing to rise to the bait. ‘I didn’t realise you had ever read a book, at least not one without pictures.’
‘Sweet. Does Henry North have any idea what he’s getting himself in for? The man must be a glutton for punishment.’
‘Have a care, Tim, or I’ll wave my wand and turn you into a frog.’ She turned to look at him, then put her hand to her mouth. ‘Oh, noooo… Someone’s already done that.’
She gave him a little wave, put her bag over her shoulder and went through to collect Alice who was safely tucked up in the library working on a project under the eye of one of the juniors who was on filing duty.
‘Come on, sweetheart.’ She’d held off Hal North for the moment, but he wouldn’t stay held off for long.
‘NOT rushing off on my account, I hope.’
‘Oh, sugar!’ The betraying words slipped out as Hal North straightened from the wall he’d been leaning against, out of sight until she was through the front door.
‘That was heartfelt. Why do I get the feeling that if you’d realised I was waiting you’d have left by the rear entrance?’
‘Why on earth would I sneak out the back way?’ Claire demanded, all the more indignant because it was true.
‘I don’t know. The words “rabbit” and “headlights” came to mind when you saw me in your space for a change.’
‘You’re the one who avoids the press.’
‘Oh, it was merely surprise? I thought perhaps you were worried that having poked your stick into my wasp’s nest—’
‘Don’t worry, Hal, I get it,’ she said. ‘I’ve been stung.’
He hadn’t complained about her, hadn’t got her the sack. Instead, he’d got her taken off the news desk, placed at his beck and call for weeks on end and had himself officially transformed from Mr Mean into Mr Generous at a stroke.
There would be no more snarky headlines written by her, or anyone else.
A result in anyone’s language.
‘So, coffee,’ she said briskly. ‘Shall we try the café in the craft centre? It’s Ally’s favourite.’
‘Ally?’
Ally, fed up with being taken to one boring place after another, having to be quiet and well-behaved instead of having fun like everyone else at half term, had been dragging her heels behind her, sliding down the wall with a sigh when she’d seen her mom stop to talk to someone. Not complaining, but thoroughly fed up.
Well, that was all about to change.
‘Come and say hello to Mr North, sweetheart, he’s going to buy you a milkshake.’
‘A milkshake?’ She scrambled to her feet, looked up at Hal. ‘Seriously?’
‘Seriously. You deserve one.’ She picked up Hal’s long, thoughtful look, smiled. ‘I did give you every chance.’
‘No. That would have meant you’d told me that you had your little girl with you,’ he said in the same pleasant tone, his own smile pitch perfect. Then, before she could let him off the hook, tell him that she was going to drop her off at Penny’s for the afternoon he turned to Ally and said, ‘Tell me, Alice, is your heart set on a milkshake at the craft centre? Or could I possibly tempt you to lunch by the river?’
‘Penny’s making you lunch,’ Claire said before she could
