Page 39 of Not Exactly Mr. Darcy
“Next Friday?” Was the woman mad? There was no possible way they could do that much in less than a week.
“Look, I know it’s a lot, but we’re here in the middle of July, and summer is the peak time for visitors. In order to make as much money as possible, you need to capitalize on this time now. So yes, that’s going to involve a lot of hard work. But if it means you’re building the capital that you can invest for next season, then it’s worth it, isn’t it?”
He blinked. He certainly didn’t expect this steely, business-minded focus.
“You’re quite the entrepreneur, aren’t you?” George said.
“My parents run a café back in my hometown, and they’ve taught me a thing or two about seizing opportunities. We have a local tulip festival each spring, so they go out of their way to have tulip-themed teas and pastries and cupcakes. I think you need to do similar things here. What are some local events you can support or pair with?” She shrugged. “I know that’s a lot, and I can get carried away. But from what I’ve seen, the main priorities need to be getting the gardens up to scratch, and reopening the house as soon as possible.” She glanced at Veronica. “Do you know if any of the other stewards would be willing to return and lead tours again?”
“I can ask.”
“If George is willing to lead tours, and there are a couple of others, we could have the house open next weekend too.”
“So soon?”
“It’s a little dusty, but that’s easily taken care of. Sure, it will eventually need a deep clean, but I guess you close the house sometime in the winter so that’s something you can do then.”
“I was thinking perhaps we could reopen next year,” he said stiffly.
“And lose a season’s worth of takings? I think we can do better than that.”
He bristled. Then, at George’s frown at him, swallowed his protest and exhaled. This was what he’d agreed to, after all.
“So, can you tell me about the financial position?”
Here went nothing. He shared about his accountant’s concerns, the need to pay the land taxes by January 1, and the trustees’ advice that the Hall should be sold.
“Sold?” Veronica and George held matching expressions of dismay.
Liv crossed her arms. “Well, that settles it.”
“Settles what?”
“We’re not going to give in. We’re going to give this a good hard crack this year, and if that means we die trying, then we die trying.”
Reluctant admiration welled up within. If this woman who had none of the ties he had to this place was willing to fight to keep this place open, then so was he.
Hartbury Hall would stay open on his watch.
Chapter 9
“And Mum, how are you feeling?” Liv’s mum asked her own mother on the video call.
Liv glanced at her grandmother, who had displayed exactly zero signs of needing to be looked after. Quite the contrary, in fact.
“I’m keeping myself amused,” Gran said meekly, as if to be the kind of aged person that was expected of her.
Liv swallowed a smile. Yes, Gran was amusing herself by throwing Liv into the deep end.
“And you, Liv? I imagine things must be a little slower paced than what you’re used to.”
Was it wrong to not tell her mother just what they were doing? Gran had cautioned against saying too much until things were actually underway. Apparently Gran didn’t mind a bit of subterfuge.
“I’m managing,” Liv said, finally answering. “It’s certainly a very pretty part of the countryside.”
“Have you seen the Hall yet? Did you get to see the fountain?”
“I, uh, still haven’t seen it up close and personal,” she admitted. Not the way she wanted, anyway. “The garden isn’t open every Saturday, and the weather hasn’t been fine, so …”
