Page 55

“What’s all this in aid of?”

“Why do you look so shocked?” Eleanor asked.

Danni rubbed the back of her neck, stepping closer. “Dunno. I suppose I didn’t picture Lady Brewster slaving over a hot stove to make me a full English?”

“Doubting me already, are you?” asked Eleanor lightly.

Danni eyed her. “But then, I suppose I didn’t picture Lady Brewster naked in a pile of straw either, did I? So maybe I’m just not that good at picturing things.”

“I’m sure you’ll improve,” Eleanor said.

But Danni was already coming closer, already tilting her head, coming in, brushing her lips against Eleanor’s in a way that made Eleanor’s blood run hot in her veins. “I’ll improve at loads of things,” Danni said. “Just you wait and see.”

Eleanor groaned. “If you’re not careful, you won’t be going back out to that farm anytime soon.”

Danni laughed as she broke away. “Afraid work has to take priority, Princess,” she said, as she took a seat. “But I do appreciate the breakfast.”

Eleanor sat down and poured them both tea as Danni dug in, moaning in appreciation at her first bite. “Good?”

“You can seriously cook,” Danni said through a mouthful.

Eleanor hid her pleased smile behind the rim of her teacup. And she thought that she could really get used to this.

???

Tommy was watching Danni with deep suspicion. “You’re happy this morning.”

Danni tossed a handful of feed to the sheep, whistling between her teeth. “Am I?”

“Yeah.” Tommy folded his arms, eyeing her. “What’s got you in such a good mood, then?”

“Dunno,” shrugged Danni, emptying out a pail of dirty water. “Life’s good, I suppose.”

Tommy narrowed his eyes. “Nothing to do with her ladyship, then?”

For a second, Danni didn’t say anything. Then she couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across her face. She was just so damn happy, hiding it was going to be impossible. “Maybe.”

“Seriously?” asked Tommy, leaning up against the fence.

“Yes, Tommy, seriously. There’s this thing that grown ups do, it’s called ‘having a relationship.’ You’ll understand when you’re all big and grown.”

Tommy snorted. “You two are from different planets. What do you even talk about?”

Danni shot him a glare. “She’s smart, she listens, she’s funny, you don’t have to like the same bands to have something to talk about, you know?” She exhaled. “She makes me happy, alright?”

Tommy’s expression softened, but he still shook his head. “Just don’t get your hopes up too high. She’s still a lady, and a rich one, she might not stick around forever. You’re not really married, remember?”

She knew that Tommy was being protective, was caring in his own way. So, as much as his words bristled, she forced herself to let them go. Tommy didn’t know Eleanor the way that she did. Eleanor was going nowhere, and Tommy would just have to accept that he was wrong.

???

Eleanor wandered through the house, trailing Samson as heupdated her on all the works that had been done, the problems they were encountering, the solutions he’d come up with. She could see the vision coming together beneath the lingering dust. But her mind was elsewhere.

They walked into the dining room, the Victorian wallpaper carefully preserved under large sheets of plastic. And she could imagine a life here, could see Danni sitting at the long table, could see her drinking tea and pulling a face at fancy breakfast foods.

And it was the same with every room. Everywhere they went, Eleanor could see Danni sitting or standing or playing her part.

For a long time, Eleanor had seen the house empty, or seen the ghosts of the people who no longer lived there. Now, for the first time in what felt like forever, she could see the house with life in it, with Danni in it. And suddenly, everything felt possible.