slender – musician’s fingers – the nails short, practical, well-tended. ‘I’m afraid you’ve been deceived, Ms Kingston. There is no vacancy for a nurse here. Sadly, my uncle suffers from delusions. It was not only his body that was severely damaged in the fire, his mind was also affected. I can’t imagine how he contrived to make this arrangement with you but I’ll ensure that you’re properly recompensed for all the inconvenience you’ve suffered.’ He spoke politely and with certainty. ‘Mr Hyland is a wealthy man. I’ll speak to him and agree a settlement.’
She heard a sound from outside, a sneeze, quickly muffled. Hardly surprising with all that dust around. Moving swiftly, she crossed from the table and opened the kitchen door. Isobel stepped to one side and said, ‘Sorry, I’m trying to find the bathroom.’
Sophy closed the door behind her and spoke quietly to her daughter. ‘Go back to bed, Isobel. I’m having a private conversation with Mr Hyland’s nephew.’
‘He said we shouldn’t be here.’ Unable to disguise her hope, Isobel added, ‘It’s all for the best, Mum.’
‘I know what’s best for you and that’s your bed. Now scoot.’
Returning to the kitchen, she said, ‘Sorry about the interruption. Where were we. Ah, yes, you were telling me about your uncle’s delusions. Unfortunately, it seems that I’m one of them.’
‘It’s most unfortunate,’ he agreed. ‘I can only offer you my sincerest apologies for the misunderstanding. I take it you’ve a child here with you?’
‘Two daughters.’
‘I see. Well, it’s too late to settle anything tonight but I’ll return tomorrow with an offer from him. You won’t have to make contact with him again.’
‘Thank you, Mr Coyne—’
‘Victor, please. There’s no need for formalities.’
‘Victor, I don’t think my departure will be that straightforward…’ She picked up her backpack from the floor and removed an envelope. Opening it, she handed a sheet of paper to him.
‘This contract of employment which I signed was drawn up by your uncle’s solicitor,’ she said. ‘It was then witnessed by my own solicitor and it stipulates that I must care for Mr Hyland in Hyland Hall for the next twelve months. Why would his solicitor draw up such an agreement if he believed Mr Hyland was incapable of coming home from hospital?’
He read the contract then turned it over, as if expecting to find an answer on the blank side.
‘How did you hear about my uncle’s accident?’ he asked.
‘Word of mouth,’ she replied.
He waited for her to elaborate and when she remained silent, he left the contract on the table and stood, as if undecided whether to leave or stay. His black hair, lightly gelled, was brushed back from his forehead, and his eyes, an intense cobalt blue, were his most arresting feature. Her gaze followed the smooth plane of his forehead, the slant of his nose and flat cheekbones, the taut line of his jaw. His chin was square but not aggressively so, and there was a slight swell to his bottom lip. He was, she thought, startlingly handsome, but that was an abstract thought that went as fast as it came.
‘Jack is not in any position to enter such an arrangement,’ he said. ‘How can he return to this heap of rubble? Look at the condition it’s in.’ He banged his fist against the wall and a lump of plaster landed on the floor. She could feel the dust at the back of her throat, a dryness that caused her to cough before she could reply.
‘I agreed to come here under those conditions.’ She ran her finger under the clause that stipulated the length of time she could stay at Hyland Hall. ‘I have two options. I either leave here and render myself and my daughters homeless or I stay here until my term of employment expires. Thank you for offering to help but I am determined to fulfil my side of this agreement.’
‘You’re within your rights to stay here, of course,’ he agreed. ‘Obviously, I need to report what’s happened to my uncle’s medical team.’
‘Whether or not Mr Hyland returns here is immaterial.’ She slid the contract back into the envelope. ‘If he’s discharged into my care, I’m ready to assume my duties. If he’s moved into the nursing home, I’ll visit him and provide him with the companionship I promised when I signed that contract. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve had a long, stressful journey and I’m tired.’
‘I apologise for taking up your time.’ Once again, he glanced around the kitchen then shook