She blinked. ‘You have a room just for boots?’ Hugh hadn’t shown her that.
‘It’s for boots, coats and muddy dogs to dry off in,’ Hugh explained.
The boot room turned out to be just off the kitchen. The room had a stone chequered floor that reminded Bella a bit of the orangery, teamed with white tongue and groove panelling on the cabinets. There were shelves of wellington boots, pegs for coats, and a couple of wicker picnic baskets on shelves; there were also a washing machine and tumble dryer, and she guessed that there would be an iron and ironing board in one of the cupboards.
Hugh checked her shoe size and came up with a pair of green wellington boots and an ancient waxed jacket that was too big for her. ‘You’ll need socks,’ he said, and rummaged in one of the wicker baskets for an old but clean pair of what looked like rugby socks.
And at least borrowing a jacket meant she had pockets to shove her hands into and she wouldn’t have the temptation of being hand-in-hand with Hugh—or the awkwardness if she tried to hold his hand and he rejected her, which she thought would be the most likely outcome.
Hugh’s brothers and their partners all joined them on the walk, along with Sophia in her pushchair, and the dogs romped along happily beside them.
‘So we’re going for a walk in the nearby woods or something?’ she asked.
Hugh nodded. ‘They’re part of the estate.’
Well, of course a huge manor house like this would come with an estate rather than just a garden. How stupid of her not to think of that before.
But her awkwardness turned to delight when they walked through the narrow paths in the woods and she could see bluebells everywhere. ‘That’s gorgeous!’
‘It’s still a bit early for them yet,’ Hugh said, ‘but they’re like a blue haze when they’re fully out.’
‘A real bluebell carpet—how lovely,’ she said. It made her itch to sit out here with a pad of cartridge paper and a box of watercolours. ‘I love the colour of new leaves, that really bright lime-green that means spring’s really here.’
‘Yeah.’
Somehow, Hugh was holding her hand again, and it sent a shiver of pure desire through her.
He met her gaze. ‘I’m not coming on to you,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Everyone will expect me to hold my girlfriend’s hand.’
‘Of course,’ she said, but she had to swallow her disappointment. Which was ridiculous in any case. She didn’t want a relationship and she didn’t want to mess up her job. Hugh was off limits and this was simply a bit of play-acting for his family’s benefit. They’d agreed. And the fact that he was holding her hand simply meant that the bluebells had just got rid of his Monday morning-itis, which was actually more like every morning-itis.
Back at the house, the others all disappeared to sort out various things, and Hugh’s father called him to come and help with something. Feeling a bit like a spare part, Bella went in search of Libby in the kitchen. ‘I promised to help you with the vegetables.’
‘You really don’t have to,’ Libby said. ‘You’re a guest.’
‘Even so,’ Bella said. ‘Is that beef I smell roasting?’
‘Yes.’
‘I could make the Yorkshire puddings, if you like.’ She laughed. ‘I admit I’m a terrible cook, but I’m actually quite good at cupcakes, pancakes and Yorkshire puddings. I guess it’s because they’re light and fluffy, like me.’
Libby gave her look as if to say that she knew there was much more to Bella than that, or Hugh wouldn’t be dating her. ‘You’re playing a part, this weekend, aren’t you?’
Uh-oh. She hadn’t expected Libby to call her on it. ‘A part?’ Bella asked, trying not to panic. ‘What makes you say that?’
‘Because the real you keeps shining through. The way you brought me my favourite chocolates, the way you looked after Lavinia yesterday afternoon, the way you drew those pictures for everyone, the way you haven’t minded a muddy dog draped all over you, the way you sat and cuddled Sophia this morning during breakfast and sang nursery songs to her.’ Libby ticked them off on her fingers. ‘If you were the dreadful airhead that you and Hugh clearly want us all to think you are, I’m not so sure you would’ve done any of that.’
There was no way she could keep up the pretence any more. ‘Busted, I guess. But please don’t tell Hugh you know.’
‘I won’t,’ Libby said softly. ‘But what I don’t understand is why you both feel that you have to play a part.’
‘I did tell him Plan B would be better,’ Bella said with a rueful smile.
Libby’s frown deepened. ‘What’s Plan B?’
Bella held up both hands in a surrender gesture. ‘Just ignore me. I’m rambling.’
‘No, I think this is something I need to know,’ Libby said.
Bella bit her lip. ‘Please, please don’t shoot the messenger, because you’ve all been so kind and I don’t want to be rude and ungrateful. Even though I’ve already been rude and obnoxious.’
‘Now you’re really worrying me,’ Libby said. ‘What’s plan B?’
‘To tell you the truth about his job and make you see how he feels. Hugh isn’t a stockbroker at heart,’ Bella said, ‘he’s a music producer. He loves his job and he’s really, really good at it. I really don’t mean to be rude or to offend you, but he seems to believe that you all want him to toe the line—to sell Insurgo Records to the highest bidder and join the family firm instead. If he does that, you’re going to break his heart and his spirit. He’d hate it so much and he’d spend all his time wishing he was somewhere else. And then he might grow to resent you all instead of loving you like he does now.’
Libby was silent for so long that Bella thought she’d gone too far.
‘Mrs Moncrieff? Libby?’ she asked anxiously.
Libby’s eyes were glistening with tears. ‘Those were very wise words,’ she said softly. ‘And they came from the heart.’
Hugh was halfway down the corridor to the kitchen when he heard his mother ask, ‘So are you his real girlfriend pretending to be his fake girlfriend?’
What?
Oh, no. He knew his mother was perceptive. He needed to go in and head her off. Or had Bella already caved in and told her the truth?
To his horror, he heard Bella say, ‘That all sounds so complicated. But I was telling you the truth when I said I’m the designer at Insurgo.’
Oh, hell. She had caved in. She’d blown their cover completely. And he was shocked by how hurt and disappointed he was. He’d been telling himself that Bella wasn’t like Jessie—and yet she’d let him down, too. She’d promised to play a part and she’d gone back on her word. Betrayed his trust. Ratted him out to his mother, so his subterfuge was well and truly uncovered. So much for thinking that she was different. Obviously his judgement was still way off.
‘That,’ Libby said, ‘figures.’
‘What does?’ Bella asked.
Hugh went cold. Please don’t let his mother start talking about Jessie. He only realised he was holding his breath when Libby said, ‘If he hasn’t told you, I won’t break his confidence.’
‘That’s not very fair, given that I’ve just done that,’ Bella said.
She’d even admitted what she’d done. And it made him feel sick. How far had she gone?
He