Page 85 of He's the One

“Okay.”Oh God, did he mean Kaleb?What was he going to do, get a couple of muscley guys to persuade Kaleb to cough up? Did that happen in real life? Theo had forgotten he’d intended to ask Kaleb if he’d like him to look after his kids for a few hours. But Kaleb wasn’t going to want anything to do with him if he went in heavy-handed with Dastardly.

Theo was all too happy to escape the office, but as he left the room, he realised he was giving him the chance to remove anything from the safe that he didn’t want to be seen. So he went back in.

Dastardly was on his feet moving in the direction of the safe and looked surprised to see him. Probably because Theo usually took advantage of any chance to work outside. Hopefully, he wasn’t thinking Theo was trying to catch him out.

“It’s starting to rain,” Theo said, thanking the weather gods, though rain wouldn’t ordinarily have stopped him. “I hear we’re going to have a winter ball. Is there anything I can do?” He dropped down at his desk.

“You can check what other balls are happening and note the dates.”

“How wide an area?”

“The whole country. Look at ticket price and numbers. See what competition we’ll have.”

Theo switched on his laptop.The whole country?This was going to be a waste of time. People weren’t going to come all the way from Scotland for a ball at Asquith. But he googled anyway. He’d have to wait for Dastardly to leave the office. Or create a reason for him to leave.Hmm. Why not?With Dastardly unable to see what he was doing, he texted James.

Can you come up with a reason to call Dastardly out of the office to look at something?

It was several minutes before James responded.Not easily and if you want to be in the office without him there, what are you going to say when he tells you to come with him?

Theo curled his toes in his shoes. That was a good point.I’ll come with him if he asks, then make an excuse to leave. I need you to delay him for 10 minutes.

So why do I need to speak to him?

You know the wonderful new employee I pushed your way? Well, my father asked if thefolly could be repaired. Col could work 2 days a week in the garden, 3 on the folly. Is that okay?

James answered quickly.What are you up to?

Tell you later.

Do you expect him to be paid the going rate for a stonemason for those 3 days? If so, you’ll need to speak to Darnley.

Maybe that’s what you could ask to speak to Darnley about.

I could do that on the phone.

James! Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too many exclamations marks? He added a few more.

Give me a moment. And one exclamation mark will do.

Theo made a few notes about a ball thirty miles away. Not at a stately home but a hotel. It sounded dull compared to the fairy ball Theo had envisioned.

Dastardly’s phone rang.

“Yes… What? I think it’s perfectly adequate… Then repair it… No, but… Right.” He gave a heavy sigh. “Must I? … Fine. I’ll come down.”

Theo clicked to another ball.

“James has an issue. Come with me and we’ll talk to him together.”

Theo struggled to contain his glee. That meant there was probably something in the safe that he didn’t want him to see.

Dastardly picked up an Asquith umbrella from the stand by the door and waited. Theo grabbed the other umbrella.

“What’s the problem?” Theo asked as they set off.

“The roof of the gardeners’ hut is leaking. James wants me to see how bad it is and agree to money for a new one.”

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