Page 17 of Christmas off Script
‘No! Never!’ Leo tugged on her hand and drew her in for a hug. ‘You’re the loveliest person in the whole world and I’m so lucky to be your BFFFFFF.’
‘Is that another F?’ she mumbled into his chest.
‘Yes. It stands for fortunate.’
Ella and Leomade lebkuchen for the rest of the afternoon and listened to their favourite Christmas songs as they sobered up from drinking an entire bottle of limoncello. Leo then helped her pack as many of her belongings into his car as would fit, and they set off through the village towards the manor.
As they drove through the massive stone pillars that flanked the entrance, Ella gazed in awe at the building waiting for them at the end of the long drive. Originally built in the sixteen hundreds, Foxbrooke Manor was now a double-fronted, three-storey building with two large wings projecting from the front. Ella had taken years to get used to the fact she was welcome here more than anywhere else she’d ever lived or visited.
‘I know I should take the piss about you being twenty-seven and still living with your parents,’ she began. ‘But when this is your home?’
Leo grinned as he carefully brought the car to a stop outside. ‘Don’t forget, I also get all my meals cooked for me.’
‘By Perry, who’s an incredible chef.’
‘Yep. But I could still cook for myself if I needed to.’
‘If the menu consisted solely of Christmas cake, pudding, biscuits and mince pies.’
‘What more do you want?’
‘Turkey? Pigs in blankets? Stuffing.’
‘I can do them, too.’
‘Then we’re sorted. You’ve got all the important food groups accounted for.’
Leo smiled. ‘Speaking of nosh, by the time we’ve got all this up to your room, it’ll be time for dinner.’
Uncertainty prickled again in her guts. ‘Are you sure—’
‘Yes! My folks are ecstatic you’re staying, especially with Mom in LA shooting a film, Summer in London poncing about for social media, Henry and Libby spending more time at their cottage, Estelle and James at the livery, and Connor either on shift or at his house in the village. Without any grandchildren yet, Dad’s panicking about his empty nest. Having you here redresses the balance, and he and Mammy adore you.Everyoneadores you.’
Ella smiled, but his words were a painful reminder that her own family thought the absolute opposite of her.
A woman in her fifties exited the manor and gave them a wave.
Leo leaned across Ella and opened her door. ‘Go on. We all love you and want you here, even Bridget, who’s half dragon.’
Ella got out of the car and was pulled in for a hug by the manor’s housekeeper, a brisk and forthright woman who kept the staff on their toes, as well as Leo’s wayward father.
‘Darling Ella, I’m so glad you’re coming to stay with us.’
‘Hey, why don’t you ever callme“darling”,’ Leo complained.
Bridget narrowed her eyes. ‘Have you tidied your room yet?’
Leo looked up and to the left, his forehead furrowed, then gave Bridget what Ella knew was his self-titled ‘winning’ smile. ‘Yes, I have.’
Putting her hands on her hips, Bridget’s eyes were now slitted. ‘When? Last year?’
‘Yesterday,’ he replied confidently, as Ella bit her tongue to stop a laugh from escaping.
Bridget slapped his shoulder. ‘Stuff and nonsense. Kicking your dirty clothes under the bed then throwing blankets over the rest of the piles of rubbish does not, and I repeatnot,constitute tidying. I’ve told the girls not to touch your room until I can send them in without the risk of catching a disease.’
‘Hey! It might be a bit messy but I’m very clean! I wash and everything!’ Leo turned to Ella. ‘I smell nice, don’t I?’
She swallowed her grin. ‘Very nice.’
