Page 18 of Christmas off Script
‘There!’ Leo said to Bridget. ‘And I told you I would clean my own room.’
Bridget folded her arms across her chest. ‘Where’s the vacuum cleaner kept, then?’
‘Under the stairs,’ Leo replied definitively.
‘Nope.’
‘I meant the other stairs.’
‘Still no.’
‘A cupboard?’
‘Which one?’
Leo stared at Ella intently, as if willing her to save him.
‘You know where it’s kept,’ she said to him.
‘I do? I mean, yes of course I know, I’ve just temporarily forgotten because I’m so excited that my BFFFFFF is coming to stay.’
‘So, you’re blaming Ella for the fact you have no idea where any of the vacuum cleaners are kept?’ Bridget asked acerbically.
‘There’s more than one?’
Ella winced as Bridget’s nostrils flared and she drew in a sharp breath.
‘There’s a box room halfway down Leo’s corridor,’ Ella began quickly, ‘hidden behind a bookcase, which contains two vacuum cleaners, several mops, toilet rolls, towels, soap, other toiletries and cleaning products, as well as bed linen and extra pillows, blankets and duvets.’
Leo looked puzzled, then comprehension dawned. ‘Yes! I remember now! I mean, I already—ow!’ he cried as Bridget slapped him a second time.
‘Tidy it up by Monday morning, or I’m going in with a bin bag.’ She pointed her index finger at him menacingly.
‘I’ll lock it.’
‘And I’ve got a full set of keys,’ she replied before turning back to Ella and giving her another hug. ‘Like I said, darling. I’m so glad you’re here. Now let’s get you inside.’
‘I don’t knowwhen you last saw his room,’ Bridget said to Ella as they walked through the manor, Leo following. ‘But it’s an absolute disgrace. He’s messier than his father.’
‘I don’t think I’ve been in there since we were about eight,’ Ella replied.
One of Bridget’s eyebrows raised. ‘It was definitely tidier then.’
‘Summer’s worse than I am,’ Leo protested.
‘It’s a two-horse race,’ Bridget replied sternly, before smiling again at Ella. ‘Anyway, I’ve put you in the room next to his in the vain hope you might exert a positive influence.’
‘What?’ Leo cried. ‘I thought she was going in the Rose Room on the second floor!’
‘Who’s “she”? The cat’s mother?’ Bridget asked sharply. ‘AndI’min charge around here.’
‘I mean “Ella”,’ Leo mumbled, visibly shrinking under Bridget’s stony gaze.
She ignored him. ‘Now Ella, you remember the duke doesn’t approve of locks on any doors, however if you feel more comfortable, I can give you the key to your room. Normally, the inhabited rooms are only locked when we’ve got a tour on.’
‘I’ll be fine, thank you.’
‘Well, you’ve got Leo to one side, and Willow then Summer on the other, so you won’t be alone in that wing of the house.’
