‘Not a chance, Liam. We’re not getting back together and no you are not coming to live here,’ Madeleine bellowed for what seemed like the twentieth time since the funeral had been over. She made a mental note to lower her voice; albeit most of the family members had gone home, some still remained and as far as she was aware, they had now gone back up to their rooms for the night. ‘What on earth would make you think that that would happen?’
Liam slouched in the chair as he pointed aimlessly around the room. He was obviously worse for wear on the free drink, which had flowed continuously during the afternoon. He sat with his arm above his head, looking very much at home in the library.
‘Maddie, darlin’, you know it makes sense. I kind of thought we’d start again, you know, a fresh start. We were good together, you know that. What could be better than me and you being here, together? I mean look at this place.’
Madeleine turned her back to him and stared out through the library’s huge Victorian window. Darkness had descended hours before and the beauty of the garden was now hidden from view. She could see his reflection in the glass and cringed. It was only now that she truly wondered what on earth she’d seen in him in the first place.
‘Come on, Maddie. We could be happy here.’
‘In which brain cell do you honestly believe that we would ever be happy?’
He really did think that they could pick up where they’d left off, pretend nothing had happened and live happily ever after. She felt furious at the thought that he could actually believe that she would fall back into his arms. Which she wouldn’t. It would be impossible for her to ever trust him again and only with trust could there ever be love.
‘No, Liam. What you mean is you’d be happy here. I’d never believe anything you ever did or said again.’
‘Darlin’, I know it would take time, but we could start slow.’
‘Slow?’ she said with a laugh. ‘I don’t want you near me. You repulse me. Don’t you understand that?’
He shook his head. It was more than obvious that he didn’t understand and chose to ignore every word that she was saying.
‘I think you should consider it. This place will take some running. Everyone loves my charm, Maddie. I could work front of house, meet and greet the guests. Maybe sit with them for a drink, chat and tell them the history of the house.’
Madeleine glared at Liam. He looked so confident, so utterly at home and so irritatingly sure of himself. ‘Wow. You’ve got it all worked out, haven’t you? You really can see yourself as lord of the manor, can’t you?’ She reached out and held onto the mantle for support. ‘Have you already ordered your suit, Liam? I mean, lords always wear suits, don’t they, waistcoats maybe?’
He smiled, sipped his whisky and slouched further down in the chair. ‘You know it makes sense, Maddie. Of course, I’d have to look the part. Guests expect a certain amount of pomp and ceremony in hotels like this. Besides you need a man around here, you need someone to protect you.’
‘I can look after myself, so if you don’t mind, I think it’s time you left.’
Liam laughed. ‘Don’t be silly now. I’ve had far too much to drink to go anywhere tonight. Besides you have a huge four-poster bed up there in your room. You could show it to me, wouldn’t be the first time we’ve shared now, would it?’ He stood up and staggered over to where she stood, moved a strand of hair from in front of her face and leaned forward, lips pursed. ‘I promise to take it slow, darlin’.’
‘Touch me and I’ll stab you,’ she growled through gritted teeth as she picked up a toasting fork from beside the hearth. ‘Today was my father’s funeral and I’m really not in the mood to listen to your pathetic drivel, Liam. You got that?’
‘Come on, darlin’, put that thing down, you don’t mean it.’ He wobbled, puckered and then fell backwards onto the settee that stood behind him. His legs flew up into the air as he landed heavily on his bottom. He began to laugh and made an attempt to clamber back to his feet. ‘You know we’re good together, we could make this work.’
‘I’ll get you a taxi.’
‘Don’t be stupid, Maddie. There’s your bedroom right up the stairs.’ He pointed towards the back staircase, making Madeleine’s mind do somersaults.
‘Liam O’Grady, how the hell do you know, one, where my bedroom is and two, that it has a four-poster in it? Now, get out or I’ll call the police,’ she shouted as she moved to the door, opening it in the hope that he’d manage to stand up and walk right through.
‘Maddie, come on.’ He walked right up to where she stood, his hand dropped heavily onto her shoulder dragging her to him.
‘Okay, I’ve heard enough. Touch her once more and you’ll have me to deal with,’ Bandit growled menacingly as he burst into the room with the energy and propulsion of a tornado. He grabbed Liam’s shoulder and launched him to the other side of the room.
‘You okay?’ he asked Madeleine as a protective arm went around her shoulders. She nodded, grateful that he had intervened and for once she felt assured by his over protective nature.
‘You… you can’t do that. Me and Maddie, we were talking,’ Liam tried to explain as he stood up and wobbled across the library, holding onto bookshelves as he went. ‘Shhhh, don’t tell anyone, but she loves me and we… we… we’re gonna get back together.’
‘In your dreams, Liam. How many times do I have to say it’s never going to happen,’ Madeleine chided.
‘I think the lady wants you to leave,’ Bandit snarled as he gave Madeleine a reassuring squeeze, before picking up a shocked and anxious Liam from where he slouched.
‘But I don’t want to leave.’
Bandit inhaled deeply and looked at Madeleine who nodded her head in agreement that Liam needed to go. ‘It wasn’t a request. I think you’ve overstayed your welcome.’
Liam quickly looked back at Madeleine in the hope that she’d come to his rescue.
‘Maddie, Maddie, don’t you dare let him do this. You’ll be sorry if you do.’
Liam’s feet seemed to run in mid-air as Bandit picked him up with ease and carried him across the room.
‘Maddie, call off the gorilla. I’m warning you. You’re not going to get away with this. I won’t let you.’
Bandit launched him from the library door and into the parlour where he landed in an undignified heap. ‘The lady asked you to leave. You don’t want her to have to ask again. Now get out.’
Madeleine could hear Liam’s disgruntled Irish accent get louder and louder as once again Bandit picked him up and carried him, kicking and screaming, towards the front door. A crunch on the gravel indicated that he’d landed heavily and she couldn’t help but laugh.
* * *
Bandit stood in the stone arched doorway of the hall watching Liam as he curled up on the grass, pretending to sleep. A taxi had been ordered and he had every intention of ensuring that Mr O’Grady got in it and left.
During the past week, he’d barely had time to speak to Madeleine. Yet each day he’d admired her control, compassion and dignity from a distance. She’d immediately realised that her father’s death affected everyone and had taken the time to speak to every member of staff individually, ensured that they were all right and had everything that they needed to do their jobs. Each one had been given lighter duties during the aftermath, time off when they’d needed it and had been encouraged to spend time together, relaxing between chores.
‘Your taxi’s here,’ he said as he poked Liam with his foot. ‘Come on, get up.’
Liam could be heard grumbling. He’d curled up in a tighter ball, a little like a hedgehog without the spikes; his snores vibrated and he continued to sleep.
Bandit looked over his shoulder. He could see Madeleine watching from the library window. She had changed her clothes, no longer did she wear the black attire she’d been in all day but was now wearing a fitted white T-shirt along with a pair of tight-fitting blue jeans that accentuated her shape.
Picking Liam up from the grass, Bandit dragged him to the taxi and threw him into the backseat. ‘If he doesn’t give you an address, take him to a Travelodge or something,’ he said as he passed the driver a twenty-pound note, closed the door and watched as the taxi left the grounds.
‘I put him in a taxi, he’s gone,’ Bandit said sheepishly, walking back into the library. ‘I hope I didn’t overstep the mark? It’s just, well, I was walking past and I heard you shout.’
‘And you thought you’d save me?’ She smiled. ‘Thank you.’
Bandit looked down at the floor. ‘You’ve got changed.’
Madeleine smiled again. ‘I did. I needed to check on Poppy and Jess. They’re both fast asleep, so I slipped into these and came back down to see you.’
* * *
Madeleine blushed. She’d liked the way he’d protected her and found his new chiselled look appealing. She’d also observed during the past week how he’d supported other members of staff, helped them with their work as well as doing his own. He had an admirable kindness and had even taken over the duty of walking Buddy through the grounds and in the woods, ensuring all her time could be spent not only looking after Poppy, but running a hotel that she knew nothing about.
‘Would you like a drink?’ she asked as she walked to the bar. ‘I think we deserve one.’
Bandit nodded. ‘Why not? I’ve got a morning off tomorrow. Chef doesn’t need any fresh game, you know, with the lack of guests. So I’ll get a lie in, for once.’ He paused, looked towards the inglenook and then shyly continued, ‘Shall I throw another log on the fire? We could sit for a while.’
‘I’d like that.’ It had been a long time since anyone had fought for her honour. It had amused her and had made her feel quite special that Bandit had made the assumption that she needed protecting. She looked over to the fire, where he stood. He was currently in the process of lifting away the fireguard and throwing a fresh log on top of the already glowing embers. It was probably a log which he’d cut, from a tree which he’d felled, from the gardens which he tended. It seemed only fitting that, for once, he should sit in front of the fire and enjoy the fruits of his labour.
‘Is wine okay?’ she shouted through from the bar. ‘What do you drink? Red or white?’
‘Red would be good.’
‘Good.’ She smiled. ‘Same as me.’ She picked up a bottle, along with two fresh glasses, and made her way into the parlour to stand beside him.
‘Shall we?’ He indicated the settee and sat down with a satisfied thud. Madeleine looked between the two settees before sitting down opposite him. She placed the glasses down on the table between them and listened to the glug, glug, glug as the wine was poured into the glass.
‘Do you mind?’ he said touching his beret which he still wore, ‘It’s been a long day.’
‘No, of course, please take it off. Even though I must say it does suit you.’
For a while, they both sat silently, sipping the wine. The candles that surrounded the room flickered and the flames which danced haphazardly in the fireplace glowed with warmth that surrounded the room. There was a peaceful calm to the house, a stillness not often felt in the hub of a busy hotel and it occurred to Madeleine that they were both comfortable enough in each other’s company to sit without trying to make conversation. She reached over and switched off the small table lamp that stood beside her, allowing the tawny ambience of the firelight to take over the room.
Bandit stood up, walked to the fire and threw another log into the embers. Then he turned back to the table, poured more wine into each of the empty glasses and then consciously sat back down on the settee beside Madeleine.
‘Are you okay?’ he asked as he picked up the glass and passed it to her. The ruby red liquid swirled around the crystal, sparkling in the light from the fire.
‘I guess I will be,’ she whispered. ‘I still can’t believe he’s gone. That he’d, you know, do that.’
‘It seems very out of character for him. I’ve known him for a while and I wouldn’t have thought it would be something he’d do. None of it really makes sense. Will there be an inquest?’
Madeleine nodded and looked up into his eyes. ‘As you say, it doesn’t make sense. Just a couple of days before he said we had plenty of time to get to know each other. He was making plans and had promised that we’d take a holiday, him, Poppy and I.’ She paused, overcome with the enormity of her loss. ‘We were going to do so many things. But we didn’t get the chance and now I really wish we had.’ Tears sprang to her eyes and she fought to keep them under control.
‘Hey, come here.’ His voice was shaking as he held out his arms for a hug, making Madeleine wonder if he needed the hug as much as she did and her mind cast back to the morning he’d held onto Poppy’s hug as though his life had depended upon its existence. After all, he’d known her father for a long time, and it was obvious that he must be grieving too.
Curling up under his arm, she felt his arms entwine around her. His hold was warm, welcoming and for the first time since her father’s death she felt content, safe and protected.
‘I can’t believe that he left everything to me but his solicitor told me that he had changed his will to make me the sole beneficiary after Josie died. I don’t know why but I never expected that. I have so many questions to ask him, about his life and running the hotel. So much I need to know, and now it’s too late.’
‘It’s never too late. There are always ways for you to get the answers. Jack’s been his right-hand man for years, I’m sure he’d be happy to guide you.’
‘Actually, that’s what Liam thought he’d do, guide me. He really believed that he could walk in here, take over the running of the hotel and I’d automatically fall into his arms.’
‘Would you?’
‘Not a chance. I hate him so much. He was horrid and cruel. He changed the moment that Poppy and I moved in, like Jekyll and Hyde. One minute he’d be lovely, the nicest person ever and then he’d turn and become the nastiest man in the world. He shouted at Poppy when she needed me, wouldn’t allow her to play with his old Lego and I had to be careful with every single thing she touched in the house. It was as though he hated anyone being close to me, except for him. But then he cheated on me…’ She paused and choked back the tears. ‘I couldn’t believe it and it was the final straw. I actually caught him, you know, in the act with a woman in the hallway of our house. I couldn’t forgive him, not after that.’
She looked up; her eyes locked onto his for just a moment before looking back down at the table where her wine now stood.
He pulled her close. His eyes, black and shining had locked firmly upon hers, his lips pursed as a rush of excitement ran through her body. His hand gently lifted to stroke her cheek, then hesitated and dropped back down to his knee.
Simultaneously, they both sat forward and picked up their wine.
‘I’d better check on Poppy,’ she finally said, draining the last of the wine from her glass before heading towards the stairs.