Page 7 of An Ill Wind in Seabury
Claudia’s lip wobbled, and she cleared her throat, trying to get a grip. She couldn’t decide if she was seriously angry or completely heartbroken. Either way, she needed to put it to one side and focus. This first part of the trip wasn’t about her – she was here for Freya. She’d been over the moon when her little sister had called to share the news of her engagement. Unfortunately, their mother had been the complete opposite.
‘You’d think marrying a pilot would be good enough!’ grumbled Claudia, as she continued to wobble her way up the hill.
Ever since the phone call, her mother had been doing everything she could to dig into the Pepper family. Frankly, her findings would have most parents over-the-moon about the kind of family their daughter was marrying into. A pilot, a concert pianist, and a high-flying doctor in the same family was practically a fairy tale. But it wasn’t enough to appease her mother.
“Just think—the other one owns a wool shop! I will not let Freya throw her life away on a family like that!”
As far as Claudia was concerned,Freya was a big girl. She was smart as a whip, funny and independent. She could love who she wanted and make her lifeanywhereand withanyoneshe chose. As long as she was happy, that’s all that mattered. It was all that had ever mattered.
Unfortunately, her mother didn’t agree. She was on the warpath and determined to uncover any skeletons the Pepper family might have loitering in their closets. Who was their dad?And what about their mum? Did they own Seabury House, or was there something dodgy behind it all?
Claudiamighthave been a bit more sympathetic about her mother’s fears for Freya if they’d come from a place of genuine love… but they just didn’t. As usual, her mum was thinking about money. Of course, she would never admit it in so many words.
“They’ve got to be the right pedigree! We’ve got the family name to think of!”
When her mother got frustrated by the lack of information available on the internet, Claudia had been dispatched to visit the Peppers in person. It was the last thing on earth she wanted to do, but Claudia really didn’t feel like she had any choice in the matter. For one thing, she was basically squatting in the pool house, and both her mother and stepfather kept using the threat of eviction as a highly effective bargaining tool.
It wasn’t just the threat of homelessness that had made her agree, though. There was an even worse scenario that had clinched it. If Claudia refused to go, her mother had threatened to take matters into her own hands. She could only begin to imagine the carnage if her mother and stepfather appeared in Seabury and hunted the Peppers down themselves. The wedding would be called off faster than you could say “snobby-gold-diggers.”
Still… it meant that Claudia was now faced with the task of carrying out her mother’s less-than-palatable mission. A cube of ice dropped into her stomach at the thought. It was all well and good searching the countryside for Seabury House, but she was dreading what she had to do when she actually found the place. How did you waltz into the home of a bunch of random strangers and basically tell them you were there to check they were good enough to be part of the family?!
‘Well… I might as well get it over with,’ she huffed, peering up the hill, searching for the SUV.
It was still there.
‘Worst luck!’ she muttered.
A tiny, rebellious part of her wished for a second that it had been towed. At least that would have meant she didn’t have to drive it anymore. Besides, it would have served her right, considering where she’d left it!
Claudia had been so distracted by her frustrated search that she hadn’t realised she’d managed to park right in front of a gateway, completely blocking some kind of entrance.
Great. Now she was going to have to hope she’d be able to reach the car and drive away without being spotted by a miffed local. Bowing her head, she scuttled forward as fast as her heels would carry her.
CHAPTER 4
GEORGE
With Hattie’s egg delivery cradled against his chest, George turned his back to the entrance of the Pebble Street Hotel. He pushed the heavy door open with his bum before reversing into the reception. Somehow, he didn’t think Hattie would be too pleased if he managed to inadvertently mix a giant omelette right there on the polished tiles.
‘Phew!’ he chuckled. ‘Made it with zero disasters.’
Behind him, someone let out a loud groan of pain, and George whirled around.
‘Lionel?’
The sight of his old friend slumped across the reception desk was nearly enough to make George drop the eggs in his hurry to get to him. It was a couple of seconds before he noticed that Hattie was already there, patting her uncle’s shoulder and looking faintly amused.
‘Hey George!’ she said with a bright smile.
‘What’s happened?’ he gasped, setting the box of eggs down before he dropped them, and willing his heart to calm down. Surely, if Hattie was smiling like that, there couldn’t be a real emergency going on, could there? ‘Do you need me to call someone? Is Lionel… okay?’
Hattie’s grin turned into a full-blown giggle, and George breathed out a sigh of relief. There was no way Hattie would be laughing if there reallywassomething wrong with her beloved uncle.
‘Don’t mind this one,’ she tutted, patting Lionel again, who was still slumped forwards with his head cradled on his arms. ‘He’s just being a drama queen,’ she added in a stage whisper.
‘You’d be a drama queen too if you’d just had to deal with our new…’ Lionel paused, clearly looking for the right word. ‘Our newguest!’ he finished with a hiss that made the word sound like a curse.
‘Hush, she’s still on the stairs,’ said Hattie, still giggling.
