Page 16 of Gold Digger
“Your foot is better.” Stating the obvious was Vicky’s special talent, as was making uncomfortable situations even more so. “And you are no longer covered in wine.”
“Er… yes,” Lottie said slowly, shooting Vicky a curious look.
Then she stood up and attempted to tug the basket out of my hands, but I wasn’t letting it go. Instead, I grabbed the bottles she was holding and put them into the relevant slots then put the basket up on the counter.
Lottie frowned. “I can carry that, Your Grace.”
I gritted my teeth as Claire stifled a laugh. “Oh my God. You call himYour Grace? I’m sorry, but that’s priceless. I’m Claire, by the way,His Grace’ssister. I know you’ve already met my daughter, Florrie.” Lottie nodded, managing a small, nervous smile.
“Yes, your mum brought her over a couple of weeks ago. She’s a great girl.” Lottie bit her lip before continuing. “Listen, I’m so sorry for interrupting,” she said quietly, her eyes darting to the exit and then back to me, Vicky and Claire.
Claire frowned. “You’re not interrupting us. If anything, we’re interrupting you. Anyhoo, now we have interrupted you, why don’t you tell me about yourself?”
Lottie blinked. “I… er,” her eyes flicked between all of us before she gave a helpless shrug. “You don’t want to know about me, I promise. I’m boring.” She lowered her voice. “And I know I’m supposed to stay invisible.”
“Invisible? Who told you that?” Claire asked.
“Yes, Lottie,” I cut in, crossing my arms over my chest. Her gaze fell on them, then fixed on my chest before she managed to look away. “Who told you you had to be invisible?”
“Mrs H sure as shit isn’t invisible,” Claire put in. “What is it she calls you, Ols?”
“Fancy, pretty-boy, trust-fund, namby-pamby git,” Vicky said, as always remembering everything with perfect clarity.
“Whose Mrs H?” Lottie asked.
“Ollie’s cleaner,” Vicky replied.
“But…I’mOllie’s cleaner.”
“Yes,” I cut in, scowling at Vicky. “Yes, you’re my cleaner, Lottie. Mrs Husedto work for me.”
“But you just said—” Vicky started, but I cut her off.
“Claire, I’m sure you have a lot to be getting on with. Vicky and I have that meeting with Felix. So maybe you’d like to bugger off?”
“I’ll go and set up in the office,” Vicky said before she swept out. Vicky could never really manage complex social situations where she wasn’t sure of the rules, and this situation was more complex than most.
“Er…” Lottie’s eyes darted out to the corridor again and then back to me. “Do you need any of the other rooms? You’re not using the library, are you?”
I frowned. “What’s wrong with the library?”
“Oh nothing, Your Grace,” she said, trying to sound unbothered but the shake in her voice gave her away. “I just haven’t dusted in there yet so?—”
“We’re not intending to use the library,” I told her. How odd? Had she knocked something over in there?
She let out a relieved huff and then looked at the now pristine kitchen. “Shall I make a start in here?”
“Sure,” I answered.
“It’s just there doesn’t seem to be an awful lot to do.” She stared at me in confusion, then lowered her voice. “Listen, I’ve been dying to ask, but is this a rich person thing? Having a cleaner clean your already clean house?”
Claire snorted with suppressed laughter until I shot her a death glare.
“No, I just… I’m really tidy, so…”
“Okay,” Lottie said slowly. She was frowning up at me now and I had the distinct impression she knew I was lying.
Claire’s snort at that blatant lie was harder to cover up.
