reasoning, perhaps he was just too good looking and therefore a potential distraction she could ill afford. But seeing him standing there made her smile, nonetheless. He certainly was good looking and those eyes hadn’t become any less dazzling overnight. He seemed just that little bit sexier dressed in work clothes, big thick work socks and boots. As she appraised him she noticed that he had extraordinarily lovely athletic legs. Stop this, Sophia she warned herself.
“Good morning Brandon. Good to see you turned up” Sophia said trying to keep it light.
Brandon felt that she must have had the feeling he wouldn’t be here this morning. This puzzled him a little, perhaps he looked to soft and maybe Sophia felt that a hard day work would have scared him off. That put a small dent in his male ego, just a little one.
“Morning My Lady” Brandon replied with a small bow of his head. Sophia’s eyes narrowed whilst looking at him make the formal gesture. Was he mocking her? No, perhaps not on second thoughts, being American he may not be sure how to address her and acknowledge her title. It seemed like a genuine gesture although there was a slight glint in his eyes as he raised his head and a very slight tightening of his lips as though he was trying not to laugh. The other three men who emerged from the building where looking at them both rather puzzled and a little bit of amusement crossed all their faces at Brandon’s address of her. “Good Lord, My Lady I do hope you don’t expect us to start bowing at you?” said one of the men. The other two both took their hats off and bowed at her with very solemn looks on their faces. Sophia turned to the first and proceeded to hit him across the shoulders with her hat. It was a gentle and playful act. She then told the other two that if they bowed at her again she would lock them in the dungeon and perhaps bring them out for target practice at some later stage. Had he done something wrong? Brandon was feeling as though he was on very unfamiliar ground, which was well, unfamiliar. Did she really have a dungeon? How good a shot was she?
She turned to Brandon and said “Alright, I’ll show you what we are doing for the rest of the week. Then if you like, I can show you what we have done so far and what I have in mind for the rest of the gardens?” Sophia stated. She had every intention to test him to see if he really did have any knowledge about historic plants and garden layout. If he didn’t he would be handy on the end of a shovel. Brandon knew this was going to be a test and he was looking forward to having to prove himself.
Sophia turned her attention to the little girl “Lilly, would you please leave the dogs alone and go back inside. Remember you have the morning off school but have to go at 11am.” Sophia turned to Brandon “Lilly is my little girl, who has too much energy and somehow thinks she should run the grounds with the dogs and not attend school.” There was very genuine affection on Sophia’s face. “Lilly met Mr. Brandon. “ She said to the little girl as she approached them and stopped directly in front of Brandon. He suspected that he must have appeared very tall to such a little girl, so he crouched down to her level for an introduction.
Before Brandon could think of what you say to a little girl by way of introduction, Lilly threw her arms around him. Brandon was completely unprepared for such a sweet display of affection. But he did think that he covered his surprise well. He wasn’t sure if he should return the hug but it would probably hurt the little girl’s feelings if he didn’t offer some response. With an arm around her he said “Hello there.”
Little Lilly drew back to look at him with a very serious expression on her face and said “I don’t think I should go to school today. Because on the days I am here my Mummy gives me the job of Chief Supervisor and that sounds important enough to stay home for. Don‘t you think?”
Brandon looked at the little girls’ face and said in all seriousness “Now that is a very important position,” Lilly seemed very chuff