Page 24 of Not Exactly Mr. Darcy
“They’re very lovely.” Liv glanced at her. “I was just thinking before that it would be nice if your brother could do something like this up at the Hall. There seem to be a few empty fields. But I suppose the owner would never agree.”
“The owner?” George nodded. “Hmm, it might be worth asking the question.”
There. She’d sown what seed she could. Clearly George, as a local, knew the owner and would know the best way to approach, making that kind of suggestion. Liv had to return to Australia soon anyway.
“So, Liv, is that short for Olivia?”
“My mum was a big fan of Olivia Newton-John,” Liv confessed. “And Jane Austen.” She winced. “That’s actually how I first met your brother. I saw the 2015 film ofPride and Prejudiceand wanted to come see the fountain where—”
“—the kissing scene was set!” George laughed. “You along with millions of others. It’s so romantic.”
For a moment, they were silent, as if reliving the magical scene when Mr. Darcy took Elizabeth in his arms and kissed her. Very thoroughly.
“Anyway, I was in the garden looking for the fountain and didn’t realize the garden was closed, and he got pretty cranky, and your dog tried to bite me—”
“Oh, I’m so sorry about that!”
Liv shook her head. “It’s okay. But let’s just say I didn’t leave the best first impression.”
“First impressions can be overrated in my opinion.”
“A kindred spirit, I see.”
George’s eyes lit. “Are you an Anne fan too?”
“It’s my dream to go see Green Gables on Prince Edward Island one of these days.”
“Mine too! Oh, I can’t believe how much we have in common. So, tell me, what do you do for work?”
“I’m a history teacher. I was working in my local high school when I got the call that I needed to come and help my gran. She’s been in the hospital lately.”
“Veronica, right? She used to be the chief steward at the Hall, didn’t she?”
“A decade or so ago. I know she loved doing that. I think my mum and I both got our love of history from listening to Gran talk about places like the Hall. I used to volunteer at a local manor house back home.”
“What did you do?”
Somehow Liv found herself sharing about her past. Talking to Georgina was a lot easier than she imagined. For the warmth and kind interest of sweet and funny George was light-years away from the cool aloofness of her gardener brother. If it wasn’t for a shared eye colour and a certain shape to their chin, she wouldn’t think they could possibly be related.
It was just as well she need not have anything to do with him.
“Tell me again what Veronica Hastings said to you.”
Liam glanced over at his sister. As usual for whenever George stayed here, she was in deep relax mode, like the studies and cares of her demanding career were shoved to one side whenever she entered this outermost corner of the Cotswolds. She was building a jigsaw, something she said she found relaxing. He couldn’t think of anything worse. And while most normal people would be focused on one task at a time, she still seemed to think it was her sisterly duty to interrogate her brother.
So he told her.
She nodded, eyes on the blue sky pieces which she’d grouped together in her methodical way. “Wait. Do you mean to say that Veronica ran all this past you without her actually asking Liv?”
He shrugged. “I guess she figured if I said no, then it wouldn’t matter. And as I said no, it doesn’t,” he added firmly.
She looked at him, hand suspended in the air. “But it does matter. You’re wasting away, worrying yourself to death about the place, and she’s there, wondering what to do with her life. Oh my goodness, Liam. She’d beperfectfor the role.”
So everyone kept telling him.
“You should meet her. Properly this time. She told me she felt bad about how you busted her in the garden.”
“I apologized for how I spoke to her,” he said stiffly.
