murmured as she walked with him. ‘What is it that takes up most of your time outside work?’
‘I help to manage my father’s estate. The manager has taken extended leave to deal with a family crisis in Ireland, so I’ve had to step into the breach in the meantime.’
His father’s estate. She frowned, and all at once alarm bells started to ring faintly inside her head. Memories of her past came flooding back to haunt her, causing a feeling of nausea to start up in her stomach, and she tried to quash the thoughts that were crowding her mind. There wasn’t necessarily anything untoward in what he was saying.
‘His estate?’ she said in a guarded voice. ‘That sounds like something quite involved. What kind of estate is it?’
‘Farming, mostly, with a dairy and creamery on site. There are other things going on there as well—there’s an orchard, and a lake where people can go to fish.’ He glanced at her, as though gauging her reaction. ‘My father isn’t too well at the moment, so he’s finding it difficult to oversee things. He tried to get someone to take over the management on a temporary basis, but that hasn’t worked out so I’ve had to get involved.’
‘You’re talking about Lord Birchenall’s estate, aren’t you?’ She said it in a hoarse whisper, while the blood drained from her face. ‘You’re his son?’
‘That’s right.’ He studied her, his expression solemn. ‘Does it matter?’
‘I thought there was something about you—that I knew you from somewhere. I just never dreamt …’ She pulled in a shaky breath and then looked up, her gaze meeting his. ‘You’ve changed. You’re so much more …’ She broke off. The gangly youth she remembered was gone.
This man was muscled, toned, his features etched by the trials and tribulations of the years that had passed. ‘I don’t suppose you remember me?’ He’d headed off to medical school when she had been around thirteen or fourteen years old. Why would he have given her a second thought?
‘Of course I do. It was a long while ago, and you’ve filled out in all the right places, but how could I forget you, Ellie? You were always up to something, climbing trees, camping out in the woods. I watched out for you, in case you landed yourself in a scrape.’
He’d watched out for her? She cast that thought to one side. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you knew who I was all along?’ A flash of bitter defiance shot through her, making her green eyes spark with anger. ‘You should have said something right at the start, when Zoe introduced us.’
‘And lose the chance of talking to you?’ His dark brows lifted. ‘I may be many things, Ellie, but I’m not a fool.’
‘No, you’re Lord Birchenall’s son—and you’ve been brought up to believe in his values and everything he stands for.’
‘And what would those be, Ellie?’
‘That all that matters is his own comfort, his own perfectly organised way of life.’ She bit out the words through clenched teeth as she gave vent to her feelings of resentment and betrayal. ‘Nothing must get in the way of his wellbeing, must it? Woe betide any hapless worker who falls foul of Lord Birchenall.’
‘Aren’t you being a little melodramatic?’
She gasped. ‘How can you say that to me? My father was Lord Birchenall’s estate manager for a dozen or more years until your father sacked him and threw him off his land. We lost everything … the house that went with the job, our livelihood, our unity as a family.’
‘I know that must have been a tremendous blow to you, but are you so sure your father didn’t bring it on himself? I remember my father being angry, at the end of his tether. Things had not been running smoothly, there were glitches, problems. I don’t know all the reasons why it happened, Ellie, but I’m sure my father wouldn’t have acted without due cause.’
‘And you didn’t care what became of his family afterwards?’
‘That’s not true. I did care. But I went away to medical school around about that time, and I didn’t know what went on after I left. I asked my father what happened to you and he said you’d moved to a house in the village.’
She opened the front door and stood to one side to let him pass.
‘What else could we do? We had to move in with friends for the first few months. He ruined our lives, that’s what happened.’ She pressed her lips together to hold back the anger that was taking hold of her. ‘I’d hoped I could put it behind me after all these years, but now it’s come flooding back with a vengeance.’
She stiffened, bracing her shoulders, and her gaze locked with his. ‘You should go,’ she said.
He stepped outside into the porch, and then turned to face her once more. ‘I’m sorry you feel this way. It was all a long time ago. Maybe it’s time for you to let it go.’
‘I don’t think that’s possible.’
‘That’s unfortunate.’ He frowned, studying her face in the moonlight. ‘Goodnight, Ellie.’ He nodded briefly and then strode across the gravelled drive to his car.
She watched him go. She’d thought the day couldn’t get any worse …
‘THANKS FOR THIS, Ellie.’ Noah folded the cheque Ellie had given him and slid it into his wallet. ‘I’ll pay you back as soon as I can, I promise.’
Her brother looked earnest, his youthful features lit with relief. ‘It’s just that things are difficult for me right now, with the magazine closing down—it was my best source of income. But I’ll make a go of this freelance work, I know I will.’
‘I’m sure you will, eventually.’ Ellie finished off the last slice of toast and brushed the crumbs from her fingers. It was worrying, the way things had been going for him lately. They’d been through a lot together, and she’d always looked out for him. If only there was some way she could help him get out of this mess.
‘Perhaps you could look for something a bit more secure in the meantime? There must be some regular jobs in photography—in advertising, maybe, or even something like illustrating medical books. I know it’s not what you’re used to.’
He pulled a face, his hazel eyes troubled. ‘I’ll try, honestly I will—I know I need to sort something out. I’ve spent the whole weekend looking for alternatives. But photojournalism’s what I’m really interested in.’
She nodded, and began to clear away the breakfast dishes. ‘Did you want any more tea, or shall I empty the pot?’
‘I’m fine, thanks. I should go and try to appease the landlord.’ He patted the wallet in his pocket. ‘This will keep him off my back for a while at least.’
‘And I must get ready for work.’ Her green eyes clouded momentarily and Noah gave her a thoughtful look. ‘Is something wrong? You don’t look too happy about that. I thought you loved your work?’
‘I do … mostly.’ Her patient’s death still haunted her, and the whole episode with Mel’s unsettling reaction had thrown her off balance somehow. It would take her some time to get back into her stride.
But that wasn’t it.
‘The new consultant’s starting work today.’ She winced. ‘I met him at Zoe’s party—turns out he’s Lord Birchenall’s son.’
‘Birchenall?’ Noah bit out the word with distaste. ‘No wonder you’re out of sorts. I thought we’d seen the last of that family.’ He frowned. ‘Perhaps I should have guessed. I read in the paper that he was back home to take care of his father—the old man is suffering from some kind of heart condition, apparently.’
‘Is