Page 61 of His Housekeeper's Twin Baby Confession
Massimo’s voice was tight when he answered. ‘The family seat, Linden Hall.’
Ah. Understanding dawned. He wanted to show her exactly what their children were going to inherit.
At first glance the building was almost pretty, but Carrie shivered slightly. All the windows and the two imposing wings on either end of the building gave it a slightly less pretty edge.
Massimo drove the car right up to the front door. But ‘door’ was too ineffectual a word for what this massive entrance really was. He got out and the door opened to reveal a relatively normal-looking older couple, who were smiling at Massimo.
Carrie was surprised to see him greet them warmly, with kisses. She got out, curious.
He turned to her and said, ‘Carrie, I’d like you to meet Sheila and Tom Fields. They live here and caretake the estate for me.’
Of course. Carrie had heard their names over the years, but she’d never met them.
She moved forward and shook their hands, smiling shyly. ‘I can imagine that’s some undertaking.’
Tom chuckled. ‘Oh, yes! We have four hundred acres here, not to mention the house, but we have a dedicated team to help us.’
Sheila smiled warmly. ‘Please, come in out of the cold. We’ve prepared a light lunch.’
Carrie’s stomach rumbled embarrassingly. She saw Sheila’s shrewd eyes drop to her midriff and widen slightly. Carrie looked down to see her coat hanging open and the unmistakable bulge of her growing bump on view. She smiled weakly.
They were ushered in and taken straight down to a massive state-of-the-art kitchen that still managed to be warm and homely. While Tom was talking estate business to Massimo, Carrie went to help Sheila with the lunch.
The older woman said, ‘So you’re Massimo’s London housekeeper. We never really go up to town, but we have heard of you.’
Carrie went still at the thought of what Massimo might have said. The woman seemed to take pity on her.
‘Don’t worry, he hasn’t said a thing. I’m putting two and two together and probably coming up with six. But all I know is that Massimo has never brought anyone here, and unless you’re coming to take over our jobs...’
Carrie smiled weakly again. ‘No, your jobs are safe.’
‘Well, then,’ Sheila said, with a twinkle in her eye.
But she didn’t elaborate on that, and Carrie was grateful as she helped her to set out soup and bread and some salad.
After lunch, and a very genial chat, Carrie knew she liked the couple. They were down to earth and straightforward.
Massimo stood up. ‘I’m going to show Carrie around.’
Tom stood up too. ‘Okay, but maybe not outside for now. I don’t like the look of that sky.’
Neither did Carrie when Massimo led her back into the entrance hall and she saw the vast mass of slate-grey outside. She shivered again.
‘Cold? Do you want me to get your coat?’
Carrie shook her head. ‘No, I’m fine.’
‘Come on—let me give you the tour.’
Carrie dutifully followed Massimo through vast reception rooms, ballrooms, dining rooms, and then upstairs to more bedrooms than she could count. It was dizzying.
When he took her up to the top level, where the servants’ quarters used to be, Carrie stopped in the middle of a corridor. He stopped too, and looked at her.
She put her hands out. ‘Okay, I get it, Massimo. Consider your point made. Our children stand to inherit one of the country’s finest estates.’
Massimo leant against a wall and folded his arms. ‘I’ve always hated this place. I had actually intended donating it to the National Trust, ensuring that all profits made would go to charity.’
‘Oh.’
