Page 116 of He's the One

Col heaved a sigh of relief when he did. James released his hold.

“What I don’t understand is why you thought you’d get away with it,” the marquess said.

“I nearly did,” Darnley muttered. “You were never here. You made it quite clear when I started that you didn’t want to be bothered with day-to-day details. I got the impression you never wanted the job. You were happy enough to let me and your idiot son get on with things.”

This time James stepped in front of the marquess.

“Watch your mouth,” the marquess snapped.

Darnley stormed out, his wife on his heels, and Luis and Col followed with James. Once the pair were in their car and heading away from the hall, James made a call.

“They’re on their way to the gate. When they’re through, change the code to what we agreed.” He turned to Luis and Col. “Thanks. I didn’t think he’d get violent, but I didn’t want to take any chances.”

“James,” the marquess called from the entrance to Asquith.

“I’m coming.” He faced Col and Luis. “You can go now, thank you.”

Col made his way back to the folly. He’d been shocked when Dastardly tried to blame Theo, and wished the comment hadn’t been made about him and Theo rolling around in the woods. Maybe he’d get the sack but it still wouldn’t stop him seeing Theo, as long as that was what Theo wanted.

Theo turned up that afternoon and gaped at the folly. “How can you have done so much? I thought it would take you weeks.”

“There’s still plenty to do but having all the stones makes a big difference.”

“It looks fantastic.”

“Thanks. Has your father filled you in on the events of this morning?”

“Yes. Now the police are involved, we have to wait. Oh, and he kept saying it wasn’t my fault, that it was all his fault, that he’d never wanted the job.” Theo huffed. “Something we have in common. I sort of feel it was my fault in part. I should have noticed before now but it was nice to hear that he doesn’t completely blame me. And he thinks he’s found out why Dastardly was quite so dastardly.”

“Why?”

“His daughter. She’d borrowed money to start her business and got into credit card debt. Dastardly was trying to help her out. My father suspects he might have tried to put the money back before it was discovered missing. I’m not so sure. But maybe it’s better that my father thinks that, rather than Dastardly considering him an easy mark. Which he was. He was just too busy, too distracted by his business interests, not interested enough in this place. I mean, he and my mother don’t get on. He never wanted to be here. Not even for me.”

“Maybe things will change. You’ve done a big thing for him and Asquith.”

“Maybe.”

“How did the shopping go?”

“I was lovely!” Theo winced. “I tried to be nice.”

Col hid his smile and walked over to him. “So you tried to be nice and failed in their eyes.”

“My mother wanted to buy me a suit. I don’t need one but I thought it was still a kind gesture, except she has no idea of current styles. When I finally convinced her to agree to the one I wanted, off the peg and it was perfect, a soft pale grey, though my grandmother was aghast at how tight it was, I was told we were going to meet Charlotte Roeburn and her mother for lunch in the V&A. I guessed the suit was my reward so I said I didn’t want it after all. There followed a lot of teeth gnashing. But I went for lunch. I remembered to use the correct knife and fork. And I was polite. But I didn’t chat. Can you believe that?”

Col laughed. “No.”

“Well, I didn’t chat much. I talked aboutHatchet. I reread it this morning before breakfast. Charlotte seemed quite interested but my motherandmy grandmother kept giving me death stares.”

“Yet you’re still alive.”

“I know. It’s a miracle.” Theo grinned. “I should loan myself to the army for research purposes.”

“Want to come on an adventure?”

“Does it involve a long, dangerous trek up mountains, down dales, over rivers and across swamps?”

“Yes.” Col picked up his mallet and walked into the folly.

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