Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (a court of thorns and roses ebook free txt) 📗

‘Don’t forget to tell her about my suit in case you want to get married too.’

‘We’ve only just got together, Dylan.’

‘That’s a shame. Mum says I grow so fast my suit won’t fit for long.’

*

Thea clutched her coffee cup tighter. She wasn’t sure if she should stay sitting down or go to Shaun’s side as he emerged from his meeting with Julian.

She could feel the AA were watching her, but her eyes stayed on Shaun as he rested against the door he’d closed behind him.

Ajay beckoned him forward. ‘Don’t keep us in suspense!’

‘You look like you need this.’ Andy pointed to the pint he’d already got in for Shaun to drink. ‘Or can’t you move from the door because your guarding Julian’s brutally murdered corpse?’

‘In which case,’ Ajay grinned, ‘I’ll go and get a wheelbarrow and we’ll all start work on a hole to put him in.’

Appreciating the AA’s attempt to lighten the atmosphere, Thea licked her lips. ‘Can you say what he told you, or have you been asked to keep quiet?’

Not missing the reference to Julian having told Thea not to share what he’d told her, Shaun confirmed, ‘He said he would rather I kept quiet about our conversation.’

‘I bet he did.’ Ajay growled. ‘And are you going to, stay quiet, that is?’

Shaun kept his eyes on Thea. She could see regret shining in his eyes. But is that for us or because of what Julian has just told him?

‘No, I’m not.’ Shaun pulled himself away from the door, glancing back over his shoulder, making sure Julian wasn’t right behind him. ‘But it has to go no further than the four of us.’ He fixed his gaze on the AA. ‘I mean that, boys. None of your tittle-tattle.’

‘As if we would!’ Ajay feigned hurt, but his eyes remained serious. ‘So, what’s going on?’

Trying not to mind that Shaun hadn’t even said hello, Thea put her cup down, and plunged her hands into her pockets. Shaun would know they were shaking, but she didn’t want the AA to pick up on her anxiety as she waited for him to speak. When he did, he took her by surprise.

‘Julian wants to speak to you now, Thea. That’s why he hasn’t come out. He wanted me to send you in to him.’

‘What? How did he know I was here?’

‘You were due today, weren’t you? By midday. You’re never late. We knew you’d be here.’

‘But he told you guys I wasn’t coming back, so…’ Thea shook her head, tired of trying to work out what game Julian was playing. She looked towards the door. ‘What does he want?’

‘You know what he wants.’ The reply was blunt. If Ajay and Andy hadn’t already worked out all was not well between their co-hosts, they knew now.

‘Can you tell me what he said to you first?’

Shaun grunted into his pint. ‘And keep him waiting?’

‘Until Hell freezes over if necessary,’ Thea snapped back.

‘Woah!’ Andy held up his hands. ‘What’s with you two?’

Ajay’s eyes narrowed. ‘I’d put money on Julian. He’s put his oar in here, hasn’t he?’

‘Please, Shaun.’ Thea looked straight at him. ‘Just tell us.’

Shaun put his pint down. ‘Sorry. He just winds me up the wrong way. He’s so damn smarmy.’

‘Agreed.’ Ajay picked a sandwich up from the plate in the middle of the table. ‘So, what’s he done?’

‘Thea. Tell them what Julian asked of you.’ Shaun hurried on before she could object. ‘It’s relevant, I promise.’

As Thea explained about the overheard phone call and Julian’s emails and invitation to guide her into the world of television properly, she spoke fast, apologising every second sentence for not telling them before.

Andy brushed her apologies away. ‘Man like that, you don’t know what to trust. Why tell us something that could be a pack of lies?’

Ajay agreed. ‘Or manipulation.’

Thea looked at Shaun as she replied, ‘I’m glad you two can see that.’

As a frosty silence descended, Ajay looked straight at Shaun. ‘Let me guess, you still think he fancies Thea? Well, I wouldn’t blame him if he did. Thea is a fine-looking woman, intelligent, funny and excellent on camera. Of course he’s attracted to her. That does not mean she’s attracted to him. So, with all due respect Shaun, wake up and smell the roses, and for God’s sake tell us what is going on before Julian comes out to collect Thea himself!’

Taken aback, Shaun caught Thea’s eye. She didn’t look triumphant, she just looked tired.

‘Okay. Okay.’ He cradled his pint as he spoke. ‘What Thea overheard is, sadly, in line with what Julian mentioned at that meal he held for us. Treasure Hunters have succeeded in getting a better timeslot on a more mainstream channel. One of the reasons for this is their presenter has been dumped.’

Ajay groaned. ‘Please tell they don’t have a brain-dead celebrity with no archaeological experience and no passion for the subject beyond increasing their profile.’

‘I have no idea who it is, but it has rattled our lords and masters’ cages.’

‘Including Julian’s?’ Thea wasn’t sure why she asked such an obvious question.

‘He was surprisingly smooth about the situation, but he’s made it crystal that a change of presenter here is bound to follow.’

Andy turned to Thea. ‘He wants you to do it, doesn’t he.’

Shaun looked directly at her too. ‘Well, has he asked you to do it?’

‘You know he hasn’t. But the implication was there. I told you that when we were at Mill Grange.’

‘Hang on.’ Andy waved his sandwich as he spoke. ‘What exactly did Julian say to you Shaun? Have you lost your job as our presenter? Is the show being re-commissioned next year?’

‘All I got was a lecture on the need to increase viewing figures, the changes in the viewing demographic, and how shows need young female presenters these days.’

‘In other words, he said nothing at all.’ Ajay rolled his