Page 78 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

“All finished, sweetie?” Jocelyn asks, coming over to take my empty plate.

“It was amazing, thank you,” I say appreciatively.

“I hope you made the most of it. Your mum’s made changes to your diet from tomorrow.”

“Oh God, now what?” I ask, dreading what stupid thing she’s read online this time that will fix my complexion and make my brain more efficient.

“Nothing too crazy… yet. Wider variety of fruit and veg mostly. More fish.”

I try to hide my distaste, but I fail. Jocelyn knows as well as I do that fish isn’t my thing.

“I’ll find ways to make it work.” She winks at me and my smile curls up as I think of the little secret treats she’s been leaving for years in my bedroom.

If Mum ever found out, she’d probably string Jocelyn up for it, but that doesn’t seem to faze our resilient housekeeper.

“I don’t know how you do it,” I say. “Surely you could get a better job somewhere else.”

“It’s not so bad, Calli. Sometimes it’s better the devil you know.”

“I guess,” I mutter, hopping off my stool and heading for the fridge for a lemonade.

“Enjoy that. You’re on water tomorrow.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Sadly not.”

“I need to move out,” I hiss, cracking the top of the can and dropping a kiss on Jocelyn’s cheek in thanks.

She’s been with us since Mum decided that Nico and I didn’t need nannies anymore. She’s in her mid-fifties, I think, and is basically the kind, gentle grandmother I never had.

No matter what she’s doing, her white shirt is always pristine, her trousers perfectly pressed, and there’s never a hair out of place in her chignon. I more than understand why Mum likes having her around. She’s the image of perfection even thirty seconds after scrubbing the floor.

“You can’t go yet. Who will I have to talk to?”

My heart aches for her. As far as I know, she’s never married and her only son died not long before she started working here. She’s lonely, that’s more than obvious.

“I’d take you with me if I could,” I assure her.

“One day, sweetie,” she promises like she always does. We’ve talked at length before now about how she’ll follow me to my marital home and help me raise those little soldiers Dad is so desperate for. Knowing she’s willing to stand by my side is about the only thing that seems bearable about it all.

“Are you sure you don’t need me to give your room the once over? I’m sure those sprinklers made a right mess over all your… things.”

“It’s all under control,” I assure her.“I’ve got homework to do, but if you get lonely, you know where I am.”

“Thank you, sweetie. But I’m almost finished up if you don’t need me.”

“Go and enjoy your evening. You never know, tonight might be your lucky night,” I tease her.

“Pfft.” She waves her hand at me. “I’m too old for all that now, young one.”

“Never. You just need to find the right… inspiration.”

“You, Callista Cirillo, are almost as bad as that brother of yours.”

I laugh at her faux stern expression as she thinks about Nico and his antics.

“I won’t be offering up my friends’ services to you, don’t worry.”