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years as a city banker have taken their toll, I’m afraid, and he has to take care of himself now.’ She fiddled with a gold bracelet she was wearing, her index finger rolling around inside it as if she was building up to something important. ‘He’s got his country club, of course, and spends a fair bit of time up there when the weather is good, but he’s also had this mad notion about writing a novel. Can you believe it?’
    ‘Really?’ Nina said, her eyes wide with surprise.
    ‘Mad fool that he is. But little be it for me to try to stop him. Who knows, he might actually have a real bestseller in his head. But, unfortunately, that’s where it will remain if he doesn’t get someone to help him.’ Olivia looked across at her son and tilted her head to the left. ‘Are you all right, Dominic?’
    ‘What?’ he said, his eyes rising from his jeans.
    ‘You look as though you’re waiting for the world to end.’
    ‘I’m fine,’ he said, looking awkward under her scrutiny and shifting in his seat.
    ‘Good. Anyway,’ Olivia said, turning her attention back to Nina, ‘Dudley’s been in a bit of a state recently. You see, our last secretary, Teri, left us all of a sudden and we’ve never heard from the girl since.’
    Dominic cleared his throat, causing his mother to look across at him, but he merely shifted in the chair again, eyes fixed to the floor.
    ‘And with this anniversary party to organise, you could say that we’re in a bit of a pickle and could do with a helping hand.’
    Nina nodded in sympathy, wondering what the punch line was going to be, not daring to hope that it might involve her.
    ‘Well, I’ve been thinking and it seems to me that we’d both be doing each other a huge favour if you’d agree to work as Dudley’s secretary and research assistant – for the summer period at least.’ Olivia paused, allowing her words to sink in for a moment as she tugged on the gold bracelet. ‘We could even let you stay in your old room – if you wanted to – it has an en suite, if you remember?’
    Nina nodded, remembering the numerous occasions she had slept over at the mill when Mr and Mrs Milton had had a particularly late night or if they’d invited her to stay so she could join them for lunch the next day.
    ‘We had it all replaced just last year. I’m sure you’d be very comfy. You will say yes, won’t you?’ Again, the vivid green eyes had set into an expression that made it hard for anyone to say no.
    For a moment, Nina sat absolutely stunned. It wasn’t that she didn’t want the job; it was just that she hadn’t expected to be handed such a lovely one on a plate.
    ‘ Do say yes!’ Olivia pleaded, leaning forward in her chair until she practically fell out of it.
    Nina thought of the comfortable bedroom at the top of The Old Mill House. She thought of roaming around the fields and woods with the boys, collecting little branches of wood for the fire and making giant snowmen in the winter. She thought of the buttercup meadow in the summer and of the long hot days when they would dip their toes into the shallows of the river. She thought of how she’d always longed to be part of a family like the Miltons; how growing up as an only child had led to the belief that being part of a clan was better than being alone.
    She took a deep breath. ‘I’d love to work here,’ she said, and laughed as Olivia flew across the room to embrace her.

Chapter Seven
    ‘I think it best if you see the study first, don’t you?’ Olivia asked, leading the way out of the living room. Nina turned to look at Dominic, whose face was now quite red.
    ‘Wish me luck!’ she whispered excitedly.
    ‘Good luck,’ he said with a tiny smile.
    Olivia marched Nina along the corridor. The study was at the front of the house and, when Olivia opened the door, Nina had to stop herself from laughing out loud at the sight that greeted her.
    Up until then, Nina had believed that Hilary Jackson was the most disorganised