since for years! She is a bit prickly, but she means well.’
‘Hmm, well, if you say so, I guess you know her better than me, but I can tell she doesn’t like me, so don’t expect us to be buddies ever.’
‘Of course not, she’s staff; just keep it professional and cordial, no cat fights in the great hall please.
‘Ha ha, funny, I think you would secretly like that, wouldn’t you?’
‘Oh yes, you and Mrs. Reed, naked, writhing around on the floor, what a sight!’
They laughed as he closed the door and turned the key.
‘Just in case, we don’t want her to catch us in flagrante on the sofa.’
* * * *
Mrs. Reed undid her plain black dress, pulled it off, and threw it across her bedroom in a fit of fury. She went to the dressing table and sat doubled over with rage.
She caught sight of herself in the mirror and straightened up. Attending to her hair, she pulled grips out of the severe bun and let her hair fall loose. She was hyperventilating with anger as she lit a Marlboro and inhaled deeply.
That little bitch, she thought. How dare she touch him, her beloved Lord St. John! She began talking to her reflection, having an animated conversation with herself.
‘ I will see to it that bitch is gone from Highcroft before the month ’ s end, yes I will!’ She spat, slamming her fist onto the dressing table in fury.
The first part of her plan was to inform the former Lady St. John of her husband ’ s latest dalliance. She knew Clara would be furious to learn he was bedding yet another young woman, just eighteen months after their divorce.
Clara always had been the jealous type. Mrs. Reed knew she hated anyone who was involved with James. She still hadn ’ t gotten over him divorcing her, and all because of a silly fling with the then gardener.
Of course he didn ’ t know about Clara ’ s affair with Marcus, only she knew about that, and she made sure Clara knew she knew . Their little secret had always come in useful for her when she required Clara ’ s assistance.
It didn ’ t take much to get Clara to agree an impromptu visit. Mrs. Reed suggested she should inform Miss Lowell of her place in the house and to let her know she certainly wasn ’ t the first PA Lord St. John had taken to his bed.
Chapter Eight
A few weeks later, Marisa was playing with the children, who were on their weekend visit. They were running around the garden playing hide-and-seek when she heard a car approaching. She was instantly curious to see a gleaming black Mercedes SLR turning into the drive, tires crunching over the gravel.
‘ Mama, Mama, ’ shrieked the children as they appeared from their hiding place and jumped off the tree house swing running towards the car.
Marisa followed, figuring she should introduce herself finally. When she saw the leggy blonde step from the sports car, she sucked her breath in. The woman was stunningly beautiful, and Marisa recognized her straight away as the blonde she’d seen having sex with Marcus in the maze!
Clara visibly steeled herself as the children rushed her. Lunging into her, they hugged her legs, and she struggled to shrug them off, smoothing her expensive silk dress, making a grand fuss. ‘ Careful, my darlings, don’t mess my dress up. Mama has a dinner to go to! ’ she chided.
They clung on anxiously as Clara unclenched strong little fists that clung fast to her skirts. They reluctantly relinquished their grasp and ran to Marisa.
‘ Marisa, this is our mama! ’ they trilled happily. ‘ Mama, Marisa is Daddy ’ s special friend, and she works for him, too!’ They grabbed one of Marisa ’ s hands each and swung on them, giggling.
‘ Hello, you must be Clara. It ’ s great to meet you finally, ’ Marisa said as she stepped forward and offered her hand.
Clara nodded. ‘ Hello, you must be the new Corinne, ’ she replied, her tone sarcastic. Marisa let her hand drop, feeling dejected as Clara turned away, deliberately ignoring her
‘Hmm, well, if you say so, I guess you know her better than me, but I can tell she doesn’t like me, so don’t expect us to be buddies ever.’
‘Of course not, she’s staff; just keep it professional and cordial, no cat fights in the great hall please.
‘Ha ha, funny, I think you would secretly like that, wouldn’t you?’
‘Oh yes, you and Mrs. Reed, naked, writhing around on the floor, what a sight!’
They laughed as he closed the door and turned the key.
‘Just in case, we don’t want her to catch us in flagrante on the sofa.’
* * * *
Mrs. Reed undid her plain black dress, pulled it off, and threw it across her bedroom in a fit of fury. She went to the dressing table and sat doubled over with rage.
She caught sight of herself in the mirror and straightened up. Attending to her hair, she pulled grips out of the severe bun and let her hair fall loose. She was hyperventilating with anger as she lit a Marlboro and inhaled deeply.
That little bitch, she thought. How dare she touch him, her beloved Lord St. John! She began talking to her reflection, having an animated conversation with herself.
‘ I will see to it that bitch is gone from Highcroft before the month ’ s end, yes I will!’ She spat, slamming her fist onto the dressing table in fury.
The first part of her plan was to inform the former Lady St. John of her husband ’ s latest dalliance. She knew Clara would be furious to learn he was bedding yet another young woman, just eighteen months after their divorce.
Clara always had been the jealous type. Mrs. Reed knew she hated anyone who was involved with James. She still hadn ’ t gotten over him divorcing her, and all because of a silly fling with the then gardener.
Of course he didn ’ t know about Clara ’ s affair with Marcus, only she knew about that, and she made sure Clara knew she knew . Their little secret had always come in useful for her when she required Clara ’ s assistance.
It didn ’ t take much to get Clara to agree an impromptu visit. Mrs. Reed suggested she should inform Miss Lowell of her place in the house and to let her know she certainly wasn ’ t the first PA Lord St. John had taken to his bed.
Chapter Eight
A few weeks later, Marisa was playing with the children, who were on their weekend visit. They were running around the garden playing hide-and-seek when she heard a car approaching. She was instantly curious to see a gleaming black Mercedes SLR turning into the drive, tires crunching over the gravel.
‘ Mama, Mama, ’ shrieked the children as they appeared from their hiding place and jumped off the tree house swing running towards the car.
Marisa followed, figuring she should introduce herself finally. When she saw the leggy blonde step from the sports car, she sucked her breath in. The woman was stunningly beautiful, and Marisa recognized her straight away as the blonde she’d seen having sex with Marcus in the maze!
Clara visibly steeled herself as the children rushed her. Lunging into her, they hugged her legs, and she struggled to shrug them off, smoothing her expensive silk dress, making a grand fuss. ‘ Careful, my darlings, don’t mess my dress up. Mama has a dinner to go to! ’ she chided.
They clung on anxiously as Clara unclenched strong little fists that clung fast to her skirts. They reluctantly relinquished their grasp and ran to Marisa.
‘ Marisa, this is our mama! ’ they trilled happily. ‘ Mama, Marisa is Daddy ’ s special friend, and she works for him, too!’ They grabbed one of Marisa ’ s hands each and swung on them, giggling.
‘ Hello, you must be Clara. It ’ s great to meet you finally, ’ Marisa said as she stepped forward and offered her hand.
Clara nodded. ‘ Hello, you must be the new Corinne, ’ she replied, her tone sarcastic. Marisa let her hand drop, feeling dejected as Clara turned away, deliberately ignoring her
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