Secrets of the Heart (8 page)

Andrew
had been such an extrovert and she had loved him for it, but Ross was a competent dancer and she felt strangely secure in his arms.

She
knew that he was only dancing with her out of a sense of obligation, but she was grateful to him for the gesture. She could have wished, however, that she didn't feel quite so disturbed by the torrent of feelings raging within her and she was glad when they returned to the table and he asked Sally for the next dance.

Tristan
had rejoined their party and was talking to John. Setting down his glass, he held out his hand to Annis. She couldn't very well refuse and accompanied him back on to the floor.

He
was not content with one dance, however, and after two, she begged to be excused. He was a bit of a show-off a clever performer who kept up a constant patter of talk and seemed tireless. Annis wasn't sure if he was trying to impress her or Vicki, who was dancing with one of the wedding guests.

`I
could do with some fresh air,' Annis told him presently, hoping to excuse herself so that she could slip away quietly but, for an answer, Tristan took her by the arm and guided her out of the marquee.

* * *

It was a beautiful, balmy evening and quite a number of guests were strolling towards the lake, but Tristan steered Annis in the opposite direction, towards the Mill. They reached the formal garden and, as they wandered beneath the trees, he suddenly caught her in his arms and kissed her full on the mouth.

He
had taken her unawares, and as she came to her senses and pulled away from him, Ross happened to walk past, escorting Bryn back to the Mill. Tristan called out a cheerful goodnight.

`That'll
give him something to think about,' he told her, and Annis found herself wishing it had been anyone but Ross who had come along at that moment. Her cheeks flamed.

`I'd like to go back to the others now, Tristan.'

`You
were the one who wanted to come for a walk. Having second thoughts?'

She
realised that she had annoyed him.

`It
was getting hot in the marquee, but now I'm beginning to feel chilly . . . I think you've misinterpreted things.'

He
laughed. 'You're a little tease, aren't you, Annis Fuller? Either that or you're playing some kind of game that I haven't quite fathomed out. Anyway, I've had enough of weddings for tonight. I'll see you around. Sweet dreams!' And he strode off in the direction of the Mill.

Annis
was grateful that no-one could see the colour in her cheeks. She realised just how careful she would have to be around Tristan in future.

Forgetful
of the chill in the air, she wandered down to the lake and sat on one of the seats, staring unseeingly into the water.

A
short while later Ross came to join her.

`Has Tristan deserted you?'

`He
had one or two things to do.'

`Just
a friendly word of advice, Annis . . . ' His eyes narrowed. 'Tristan came here with Vicki this evening. I'm afraid he's a bit of a playboy.'

`Really?'
She got to her feet and met his gaze levelly. 'Well, I'm quite capable of taking care of myself and making my own judgements, thank you very much. I came outside to get some fresh air, but I've had enough now, so I'm going back in.' And she marched off towards the marquee without looking back. Had she done so, she would have seen Ross staring after her, a curious expression on his face.

Annis
was aware that Ross had made her feel cheap for allowing Tristan to flirt with her, and wondered why his opinion of her should matter so much. She sighed, wishing life wasn't so complicated. Not for the first time, she wondered if she'd, made a very big mistake in returning to Heronsbridge.

Chapter Six

On
Sunday, Annis firmly refused Sally and John's invitation to lunch, feeling that they needed some time together before Sally went away on her course the following Wednesday.

Instead,
she had her meal in the staff dining-room, hoping to renew her acquaintance with former colleagues. In this she was disappointed, because most of the familiar faces from when she'd worked at the hotel previously had gone. She did still know a few members of staff, but none of them were around.

She
was just about to go to a solitary window seat when she found herself being hailed by Millie and Dean, who were sitting with a group of friends on the other side of the room.

She
was immediately swept up in a round of introductions.

`Mr
Freeman's given us permission to rehearse here this afternoon and he said we could all have our lunch first,' Millie explained. 'We thought of asking him to the rehearsal, but Mr Hadley said he's not to be disturbed because he's worn out from all the excitement of the wedding yesterday.'

`I
think he might prefer to see the actual performance, don't you?' Annis said diplomatically, realising that Bryn probably had an afternoon nap these days. 'I tell you what, though: I could come and watch for an hour or so, if you like, so that I can tell him all about it.'

`Would
you really?' Millie's face lit up. 'That would be great. We need an audience.'

The
youngsters chattered animatedly, like a flock of starlings, and Annis realised that a few years back she had been like that. Full of enthusiasm and vitality.

They
were a friendly bunch, and when they'd all finished lunch, she accompanied them down to the lake and sat on the grassy bank, watching them with genuine admiration.

It
was a clever interpretation of 'The Dream', and she soon realised that Millie and Dean were by far the most talented. Their performance was inspired, and Millie's dance was so beautiful that it brought tears to Annis's eyes.

The
time passed quickly and it was well over an hour and a half later that Millie came over and sat beside Annis on the bank.

`So
what did you think, Miss Fuller?'

`I
think that you're all very talented and that you should all be very proud of yourselves. I loved your dance, and everything else is coming together beautifully. By the time you've polished up the few areas that your producer's mentioned, it should be superb.'

`Thanks!'
Millie beamed at her. 'You can see now why I really want to go into the performing arts in a big way. Oh, I like Art and Design well enough, but I don't want to make a career of it.'

`It's
good to have ambition, Millie,' Annis told her, choosing her words carefully because she didn't want to influence the girl in any way. 'But as I said the other day, it's not a bad idea to have more than one string to your bow.'

Millie
smiled wryly, picking a daisy and twirling it round in her fingers. 'I've thought about what you said the other day, Miss Fuller, and I know it makes sense, but my mother works so hard and I want more out of life than that. Besides, Dean and I well, we're really good together and well, who knows . . . maybe in a few years’ time. . . ?'

`So
what does your mother think of Dean?' Annis asked.

`Oh,
she likes him well enough, but she doesn't realise how serious we are about each other. She thinks I'm still a child; she won't accept that I'm nearly eighteen — that I'm an adult with my own life to lead.'

`Might
I offer just one more piece of advice?' Annis smiled. 'Don't do anything on impulse. Think it through first, or you might live to regret it.'

Millie
nodded. 'It's strange, but I find it much easier to talk to you and Uncle Bryn than my own mother. Much as I love her, we're not on the same wavelength most of the time. I'm not even sure if I can persuade her to come to the production of 'The Dream'.'

`Oh,
I'm sure she wouldn't miss it for the world.' Annis got to her feet and brushed the grass off her skirt. 'Now, I'm going up to see Bryn. Good luck with the rest of the rehearsal and thanks for letting me watch.'

* * *

Bryn looked up with a smile as Annis entered the room.

`Come
to cheer me up? Sit down, lass.'

Annis
sat on the chair that he'd indicated. `Do you fancy a game of draughts, or perhaps cards?' she asked, and he chuckled.

`I
know you can't abide cards, Annis, so don't humour me! No, I'd just like you to talk to me. I'll ring for some tea.'

For
a few minutes they discussed Megan Smythe's wedding and then Annis told him about the rehearsal that she'd just attended.

`They're
a wonderful group of youngsters. I'm fond of young Millie,' he commented. 'The problem is, her mother's very possessive and proud. She's had a hard life and she's very ambitious for Millie but the girl must be allowed to be ambitious for herself. She's got her father's sunny nature — pity he died so young.'

`Did
you know him well, Bryn?' she asked, intrigued.

`Well,
I met him on several occasions.'

Tea
arrived at that point, and Annis poured him a cup and then passed the cakes. He asked her a few rather searching questions about her job in London.

`There's
something you're not telling me, Annis,' he said, surveying her with his astute blue eyes. 'You know, I have the distinct feeling that you don't like that job of yours in London very much, do you?'

She
hesitated for a moment. 'You could always read me like a book, Bryn. It was OK until recently, but then there was a change of management and I don't get on with my new boss.'

Bryn's
eyes twinkled. `So, do you think you could consider working here on a more permanent basis?'

Annis
thought about this and then nodded. 'I thought it would be impossible, but now that I've been here for a while, I've slipped back into the routine and it's not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be.'

`Annis,
I'd welcome you back with open arms, you know that.'

There
was a knock on the door and Ross looked into the room.

`Oh!
I thought I'd ask you to sign a few cheques so I can get them in the post first thing tomorrow, but I see you're busy, so I'll come back later.'

`You will not!' Bryn Freeman's eyebrows bristled. `Annis, could you make us some more tea, please? You'll find everything you want in the kitchenette. I'm sure Ross could do with a cup.'

`Make
it a mug I’m parched,' said Ross, smiling at her.

Annis
stayed in the kitchen longer than she needed to in order to give them time to deal with things, then she brought through the tea tray and set it in front of Ross.

`I'll
leave you to it,' she said, making for the door.

`Are
you two deliberately trying to avoid each other?' Bryn demanded. 'Sit down, Annis — there's nothing that Ross and I have to discuss that you can't hear. Anyway, we've just about finished. Ross, Annis thinks I ought to make myself useful downstairs — she says it's time I got off my backside and did something worthwhile!'

`I
did not!' Annis's cheeks flamed. `You told me you were bored and so I merely suggested you might like to become a little more involved.'

`Actually
I think Annis might have a point,' said Ross, smiling. 'A few hours a week downstairs might make all the difference . . . '

`To
whom?' Bryn Freeman asked. `Tell you what, I'll give it a bit of thought, but I'm not so steady on my pins these days, so I can't go gallivanting about too much.'

Annis
and Ross eventually took their leave together and, half-way down the stairs, he paused and stood looking at her.

`I'm
a bit tied up at the moment, Annis we've got some delegates arriving shortly for tomorrow's conference,' he said. ‘But it seems to me that we never have time to talk other than in snatches, so how about coming for a drink in the bar tonight?'

`So
that you can take me to task over what I've suggested to Bryn? No, thank you!' she said spiritedly.

`You
don't have a very high opinion of me, do you?' Ross looked genuinely hurt by her outburst. 'Actually, you couldn't be more wrong. I happen to think it's an excellent idea. In the short time you've been here, Bryn's perked up and come out of his shell. It was kind of you to take the time and trouble to come up to tell him about the play rehearsal. I know he appreciated it.' He paused.

`Look,
I owe you an apology for last night. It's none of my business who you go out with.'

`You're
right there. You're behaving like a bossy older brother,' she told him.

He
was standing so close to her that if she attempted to move, she would have to brush past him. He reached out and removed a piece of grass from her sweatshirt sleeve and she caught her breath, realising with a shock that there was some kind of magnetism between them.

`Yes,
well, we look out for one another around here, like one big family. I thought you would have known that.' He looked straight into her eyes for a moment. 'I must go. There are a couple of things I've got to attend to right now, but if you want, I'll see you in the bar at eight — I can't make it any earlier, I'm afraid.'

She
stood staring after him as he took the remainder of the stairs two at a time and hurried off down the corridor. His cologne lingered in the air, fresh and clean. She realised then that her feelings towards Ross but be more than just friends . . .

* * *

After supper, she went for a brisk walk around the grounds, making a mental note to ask Ross about a key for the garden. And she decided that she
would
go to the bar, just for half an hour or so.

Ross
was there already and, while he was getting their drinks, she watched him chatting to some people who'd arrived early for the conference. He'd changed into a crisp white shirt and light trousers and looked every bit the confident businessman. He had all the social graces too, and she wondered if he felt that it was his duty to entertain her, or if it was just that he was at a loose end that evening.

`I'm
glad you could make it, Annis,' he said, sitting down opposite her. 'I wanted to welcome you personally to the team. I feel it's long overdue — and to give you this, rather belatedly.'

`What
is it?' She looked curiously at the pack he had pushed into her hands.

`Inside
you'll find a staff card for the swimming pool, some discount vouchers, and keys to the gardens.'

She
laughed, and he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

`What
have I said?'

`Oh,
it's just that I managed to get locked in the other day, after you'd left me!' She didn't explain how she'd got out.

They
talked about general things after that, about London and about some of the exhibitions, films and plays she'd seen in recent months, including a production at The Globe Theatre which he had seen too.

Presently,
they were joined by some of the other staff, and Annis was surprised to discover that a couple of hours had gone past without her noticing. She went off to bed in a much happier frame of mind.

* * *

The next day and a half were hectic. Sally insisted on getting up to date with as much as possible before she left for her course. She worked at a frenetic pace and by the time Annis finally persuaded her to go home at around half past one on Tuesday afternoon, they were both feeling tired.

Annis
decided to have a short break and a much deserved cup of coffee. She had just poured it when Ross stormed into the office.

`Where's
Sally?'

`She's
gone home. Is there anything I can do to help?'

`Jeff
Hughes has just been in to see me saying that one of the clients has made a complaint about the cost of the wedding stationery. He says he was promised a special discount which he hasn't been given. Look, here's the invoice — the client has obviously been charged the rate for a more expensive package. The number of times this sort of mistake has happened recently — it must be inefficiency on someone's part. And the florist has rung to tell me that they haven't received payment for the last few wedding orders.'

Annis's
heart sank.

`OK,
I'll look into it just as soon as I've had my coffee. Would you like a cup?'