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Authors: Susanne James
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lovely dog… Benjamin obviously worships her,’ she added.
Oscar nodded. ‘Yes, his luck really changed when my aunt interviewed him.’
Helena looked up curiously. ‘Oh?’
‘Apparently he had lost his job in the city and was staying with a friend in the area who told him about the vacancy at Mulberry Court. When Isobel heard his story she considered that Benjamin’s genuine longing to be out in the open air—and his determination to learn quickly and to work hard if she’d give him the opportunity—were sufficient reasons to employ him.’
‘What caused all the problems?’ Helena asked.
‘Oh, it was a common scenario… successful city trader is unexpectedly made redundant, loses his wife and his home all at the same time…’ Oscar said. ‘There are apparently two children involved as well, who he doesn’t get to see very often. So Isobel decided that Mulberry Court might be just the thing for him to turn his life around. And from all outward appearances, she seems to have been right,’ he added.
Oscar turned and went towards the door. ‘I shan’t be long,’ he said, not looking back.
After he’d gone, Helena stood looking around her and marvelled again that this all now belonged to
her
… well, almost… and not just the house, but everything in it! And although it was to be only for one year, she was going to make the most of every second of the time she’d be staying here. And finding her way around the kitchen again would be a good start.
As Louise had said, the fridge was empty and had been turned off, but the freezer was still reasonably full of the usual staple items, none of which had yet exceeded their sell-by date, Helena noted, as she searched through the contents. This would still be OK for herown use when she returned in what she hoped would only be a couple of weeks.
The numerous cupboards held everything she’d need to keep herself fed while she was living here, and she could always shop for more, she thought, as she looked along the shelves. All the basic ingredients necessary for simple cooking were there, neatly arranged in Louise’s usual way. Helena smiled briefly. She was looking forward to having some time to cook for herself here in this wonderful kitchen, where all that time ago Isobel’s housekeeper had shown her most of the tricks of the trade.
After a while, she left the kitchen and wandered again through the rooms on the ground floor, before going slowly up the wide staircase. She paused for a moment to gaze out of the long landing windows at the garden beyond, biting her lip. It was really difficult to think of this place as belonging to her, she thought, whatever it said in Isobel’s will. This was a Theotokis property—Oscar was a Theotokis so it was obviously different for him. But she was the outsider. And once the house was sold next year, there would never be a reason for her to come near the place ever again.
Back down in the kitchen, Helena glanced up at the big clock on the wall. It was almost lunch time, and Oscar still hadn’t come back. She suddenly remembered the food she’d seen in the freezer and there were several packets of unopened staples in the cupboard, and they could have tea or coffee with the milk Louise had given them. Enough for a simple meal, Helena thought, setting the things out on the table. She wondered, idly, when he intended going back to London…He obviously wouldn’t be leaving it late because he’d said he would be flying back to Greece tomorrow, and anyway, she herself needed to leave in an hour or so. She wanted to be in the office early tomorrow, to start clearing her desk and tying up ends.
She decided to make some tea—she was certainly ready for some, she realized. She put out two mugs and plates and knives, then went over to fill the kettle, her mind going over and over all her hopes and plans and trying to keep her developing feelings for Oscar firmly out of her thoughts.
She stood waiting for a couple of
Oscar nodded. ‘Yes, his luck really changed when my aunt interviewed him.’
Helena looked up curiously. ‘Oh?’
‘Apparently he had lost his job in the city and was staying with a friend in the area who told him about the vacancy at Mulberry Court. When Isobel heard his story she considered that Benjamin’s genuine longing to be out in the open air—and his determination to learn quickly and to work hard if she’d give him the opportunity—were sufficient reasons to employ him.’
‘What caused all the problems?’ Helena asked.
‘Oh, it was a common scenario… successful city trader is unexpectedly made redundant, loses his wife and his home all at the same time…’ Oscar said. ‘There are apparently two children involved as well, who he doesn’t get to see very often. So Isobel decided that Mulberry Court might be just the thing for him to turn his life around. And from all outward appearances, she seems to have been right,’ he added.
Oscar turned and went towards the door. ‘I shan’t be long,’ he said, not looking back.
After he’d gone, Helena stood looking around her and marvelled again that this all now belonged to
her
… well, almost… and not just the house, but everything in it! And although it was to be only for one year, she was going to make the most of every second of the time she’d be staying here. And finding her way around the kitchen again would be a good start.
As Louise had said, the fridge was empty and had been turned off, but the freezer was still reasonably full of the usual staple items, none of which had yet exceeded their sell-by date, Helena noted, as she searched through the contents. This would still be OK for herown use when she returned in what she hoped would only be a couple of weeks.
The numerous cupboards held everything she’d need to keep herself fed while she was living here, and she could always shop for more, she thought, as she looked along the shelves. All the basic ingredients necessary for simple cooking were there, neatly arranged in Louise’s usual way. Helena smiled briefly. She was looking forward to having some time to cook for herself here in this wonderful kitchen, where all that time ago Isobel’s housekeeper had shown her most of the tricks of the trade.
After a while, she left the kitchen and wandered again through the rooms on the ground floor, before going slowly up the wide staircase. She paused for a moment to gaze out of the long landing windows at the garden beyond, biting her lip. It was really difficult to think of this place as belonging to her, she thought, whatever it said in Isobel’s will. This was a Theotokis property—Oscar was a Theotokis so it was obviously different for him. But she was the outsider. And once the house was sold next year, there would never be a reason for her to come near the place ever again.
Back down in the kitchen, Helena glanced up at the big clock on the wall. It was almost lunch time, and Oscar still hadn’t come back. She suddenly remembered the food she’d seen in the freezer and there were several packets of unopened staples in the cupboard, and they could have tea or coffee with the milk Louise had given them. Enough for a simple meal, Helena thought, setting the things out on the table. She wondered, idly, when he intended going back to London…He obviously wouldn’t be leaving it late because he’d said he would be flying back to Greece tomorrow, and anyway, she herself needed to leave in an hour or so. She wanted to be in the office early tomorrow, to start clearing her desk and tying up ends.
She decided to make some tea—she was certainly ready for some, she realized. She put out two mugs and plates and knives, then went over to fill the kettle, her mind going over and over all her hopes and plans and trying to keep her developing feelings for Oscar firmly out of her thoughts.
She stood waiting for a couple of
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