Page 40 of A Billionaire for Christmas

If Ava had still been alive, it might be no problem, but Molly was certain running the business alone was going to be too daunting. She had no idea where to start with marketing, managing bookings and hiring equipment and staff. That was all Ava’s field of expertise.

‘I’m sure Freda will hire you for the wedding. Won’t you?’

A pained look crossed Freda’s face before she answered. ‘Yes. Sure. Of course.’

Molly felt for her. Freda was going to have to admit that the wedding was off eventually.

But obviously today wasn’t going to be the day.

‘I’m sure you don’t need me for the wedding.

There must be a thousand catering companies fighting for the contract.

’ Molly wiped her hands on her apron and received a grateful smile from Freda.

‘Could one of you start peeling some potatoes, please?’

Neither of them made a move. Molly picked up her piping bag. The potatoes would have to peel themselves.

‘Mother said you were hoping to get the Henri brothers in. They have three Michelin stars between them,’ Lucca was saying, oblivious to his sister’s mood plummeting.

‘I will provide the booze of course, once we set the menus. And our dear brother can pay me extortionate amounts for overpriced wines. I was thinking, have you considered Monaco? I could probably get the Prince’s Palace as a venue for the five days. People can fly or sail in?—’

Freda let out a frustrated cry and slid off the bench. ‘Can we stop talking about the goddamn wedding? I’m sick of it. It’s all anyone talks about!’

Lucca and Molly stopped what they were doing.

‘There are other things happening in the world,’ she said loudly, stomping over to the fridge. ‘There’s a bloody war on, the planet’s burning around us, and it looks as though Louis Vuitton are discontinuing my favourite crossbody bag.’

Lucca gasped jokingly. ‘The one with the clean lines and sleek chain?’

Freda yanked out a bottle of wine and held it aloft. ‘Yes. It’s left me traumatised. Anyone care to join me?’

Lucca gave Molly a worried look as though wanting her to intervene, perhaps wrestle his sister to the ground and prise the bottle from her depressed, heartbroken fingers.

‘Too early for me,’ said Molly softly. ‘And too early for any of us.’ She raised her eyebrows at Freda. ‘Besides, we still have the rest of this romantic evening to organise. Did you sort out the cards for the quiz?’

‘Good idea,’ agreed Lucca quickly. ‘We’ll get straight on it. Freeds, we’ll leave Molly to crack on here. You come with me to finish the table settings and we’ll write out the cards to go with each round of the degustation. We only have a few hours to go before dinner.’

Freda reluctantly put the wine back in the fridge. Molly watched Lucca guide her over to the dining table. He stopped to throw her a grateful look over his shoulder.

Was every member of this family unable to tell the truth?

Molly busied herself filling a plate full of canapés and leftover pork, gravy and roasties to take to Toby.

Even though she was still mad at him, he’d had the good grace to avoid her.

She suspected he was hiding in his room as per instructions.

She left the siblings reminiscing in hushed whispers and knocked quietly on Toby’s door.

He answered immediately, took one look at the plate of food and scooped Molly into a hug.

‘I can explain. I’m so sorry about not telling Levi about the wine. ’

‘I understand.’

‘You can’t understand.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because Lucca did it on purpose to wind Levi up. They have a thorny relationship.’

‘You knew? Then why are you covering for him?’ Molly saw Toby’s cheeks redden. It was then that the penny dropped. ‘You and Lucca…?’

‘No. Lord no! But I do owe him a favour. He’s the reason I’m here.’

Why was he blushing?

‘Oh. You and Freda?’

Toby cleared his throat. ‘It was ages ago. It’s over. Ancient history. I just wanted one last chance to spend time with her. With them all. You can’t tell her you know.’

‘Why?’ whispered Molly. ‘You clearly still like each other.’

Toby winced. ‘Freda has a fiancé in case you hadn’t heard. And he’s very wealthy and very well-connected. Besides, it was a holiday fling. Nothing more. No one knows. Well, Lucca does but that’s it.’

‘So you’re carrying a torch for her but you haven’t told her how you feel?’

‘No. There’s no point. She’s getting married.’ Toby looked sadly at the floor, scraping his foot back and forth. ‘She’s not interested in me. And even if she was, Valerie would never approve. I’m from new money. I probably shouldn’t have come here, to be honest. It was a foolish hope.’

Molly raised her eyebrows. ‘Maybe you should talk to her.’

Toby seemed lost in thought for a moment.

‘You’re welcome to join us in the kitchen.’

‘Thanks, but I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got some laundry and cleaning down in the spa to do. Valerie has suggested a deep clean. See? She thinks of me only as the hired help. And she’s convinced someone has been up to no good down there,’ Toby said, closing the door.

* * *

Molly scurried back to the kitchen but the two siblings were still where she’d left them, quietly guffawing over some past childhood memory.

‘Sounds like it’s going well,’ Molly said, opening the fridge to get out an assortment of cream, eggs and fresh fruits to prepare the desserts.

‘Where’s Toby?’ asked Freda. ‘Didn’t he want to join us?’

Molly shook her head. She saw a look of disappointment creep into Freda’s eyes.

‘It’s about the wine, isn’t it?’ Lucca said quietly.

‘Partly.’

‘And why else?’ Freda asked. ‘Toby usually loves to join in. He’s almost part of the family. It’s why he comes to work here instead of helping his own family run their huge golfing empire.’

‘I’m not sure,’ Molly was quick to say. ‘He said he had lots of laundry and cleaning to do.’ And a huge unrequited crush on you to hide.

‘Not like Toby to miss a chance to have you all to himself,’ Lucca said to Freda, who instantly coloured. ‘Talking of suitors, anything you’d like to share, dear sister?’ Lucca put his hands on his hips.

‘For the millionth time, we’re just friends!’

‘I meant about Reuben. And the lack thereof.’

‘No.’ Freda looked him squarely in the eye.

‘Christ, this family and their secrets.’ Lucca shook his head.

Molly looked at him. It was the pot calling the kettle black. When Freda was out of earshot she tilted her head at Lucca. ‘Toby might have an unrequited crush on Freda, but how long have you been harbouring a crush on Toby?’

Lucca’s face fell a thousand feet.

‘Don’t worry. I’d never tell.’

‘Thanks, Molly. Is it that obvious?’

‘No. I’m surprised your family don’t know though?’

Lucca forced a laugh. ‘They wouldn’t care if I banged every female skiing instructor from here to Aspen, but if they knew my tastes lay elsewhere… I’m not sure they could handle it.’ He gave her a pained look. ‘Please don’t tell anyone.’

Molly’s heart went out to him.