Chapter Eleven

ARCHER

I usually worked through the day because leaving my forge lit and unattended would be asking for disaster. Today, I put out the fire shortly after my alarm went off, and headed to the house. I'd have liked a shower before lunch as I wasn't going back into the workshop, but it appeared lunch was ready. More startlingly, Tim was there, and he was smiling. At Ollie, to be sure, but still—smiling.

Saying anything to him would be the fastest way to get him to leave, so I ignored his presence and snagged a chip that had fallen onto the worktop where Ollie was strewing them around like chaff in the wind. He slapped my hand, and then froze, staring at me in horror.

"Shit," he said.

I couldn't help it—I laughed, before stealing another one, daring him to say anything about it. The relief on his face was marred by…

"You've got dirt in your hair." I reached to pick it out before realising what I was doing. Crap. "There's a mirror in the hall," I added swiftly.

Ollie left the room at high speed, and I turned to see Tim and Mia exchanging meaningful glances. Tim's eyebrows appeared to be making a bid for freedom from the top of his head.

"I'll be taking Ollie to meet everyone this afternoon," I told them. "You're welcome to come if you'd like." I aimed my words between them. I thought if I looked at Tim, it would all go wrong, but if I ignored his presence completely, it would go equally wrong.

"Got too much to do," he said, sitting down with a thump. He made that sound like my fault. Which it was. If only I could make enough money to have someone come and help him with the kitchen garden.

"In that case, I'll fill you in over lunch on what was discussed at the moot," I said, to his evident surprise.

It was the first time Mia and Ollie had the full picture as I told them details of what had been discussed.

"Do you think things are really going to change?" Mia asked when I'd finished.

"Who knows? I didn't expect most of them to agree to as much as they have. I guess it depends in part on how well this experiment goes."

"No pressure, then," Ollie said.

"It's on me more than you to make this work," I told him, because I didn't want Ollie to carry that burden. "When we're in town, we can pick up whatever you need for your stay here. My credit card's at your disposal." I hadn't missed the fact he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday.

"Thanks." That wide, brilliant grin flashed out again. "But my head of family's given me some money to cover the cost. I just need a way to get to the shops."

Despite Ollie's smile, the atmosphere at the table had changed. Tim was digging into his food with a force which suggested that, yet again, I'd upset him.

"So, Ollie, what's your style when you're not mooting?" Mia asked, and the fake enthusiasm in her voice suggested I wasn't alone in noticing the atmosphere.

She and Ollie began an interminable discussion over whether or not moot could be used in that way, and long before they'd stopped entertaining themselves with their, admittedly amusing, nonsense, Tim left.

I should be thankful that he'd turned up at all—it was a rarity these days. But instead of relief, I felt the sting of betrayal. When I thought about my family splitting, it had never occurred to me that my own brother might join the other side.

The realisation of how profoundly I'd failed hit like a gut punch. But there was no going back from the mistakes I'd made. I'd have to live with the consequences, whether I was ready or not.

OLLIE

To my disappointment, Archer disappeared for thirty minutes after lunch and came back showered and changed. The dirty old jeans that had clung so softly to his legs and arse were replaced by dark trousers and a long-sleeved shirt.

"Ready?" he asked me, when I was still finishing a post-lunch coffee with Mia.

Knowing it wasn't a real question, I left my mug half-finished and followed him out to the car. I wanted to ask what he'd been doing that morning that had ended up in dirt and sweat and the scent of smoke, but that would be impertinent given his position. I'd thought about asking Mia, but that felt like I was trying to sniff out information about Archer behind his back.

Jack had messaged me after lunch. Well?

I wasn't sure if he was checking in with me or if his dad was pushing to know what I'd found out. Going to meet the rest of the family later, I said at last, and sent him a photo of the moat in daylight to change the subject.

"What size shoe do you take?" Archer asked me as he swung the car in a neat turn and headed up the drive.

"Nine?" I said, surprised by the question that had come out of nowhere.

"You sure about that?" Something that might have been a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"I mean, yes, I'm sure. I'm just wondering why you're asking."

"There's some old gardening clogs you can borrow if you want to keep helping Tim with the garden," he said.

"Great, thanks. Wait! Are those baby donkeys?"

He stopped the car while I lowered my window and stuck my head out to get a closer look at the tiny little creatures grazing in a field by the drive. "They are so cute."

"Miniature, not baby. That reminds me, we haven't talked about where's safe to fly around here. I'll take you out on Thursday night if you like and show you."

"Thanks. I'm guessing wherever we go, it'll be nowhere near those babies. Minis. Donkeys." I hardly knew what I was saying because he'd leaned across me to look out of the window at them and all I could smell every time I breathed was him.

Sadly, he sat back up and eased off the brakes. "They belong to one of my neighbours. She paid for the fencing in return for grazing, and they keep the grass down. It's a win/win."

"So long as a dragon doesn't fly over and give them all heart attacks," I said. Damn, they were s o adorable. Two were brown and white, another one looked almost ginger, and the remaining four were grey with dark grey crosses on their backs. I so wanted to make friends with them, but I knew they'd run away as soon as I got close.

"Mia's spent time getting them used to us," Archer said, as if he'd read my thoughts. "Ask her to introduce you. If you take it slowly, it may be okay."

As we turned left out of the gates onto the main road, I realised I'd only got a glimpse of the extensive grounds. I'd have to put that right soon.

"Don't suppose you've got peacocks, have you?"

"Would doves do?"

Doves would definitely do if they put that smile in Archer's voice. I sat back in my seat and couldn't stop grinning.