Page 211 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

Maddie sighed, staring at the ceiling, she’d been awake for hours, her head trapped in a cycle of thoughts that she couldn’t just shut up.

Cole was still asleep and she watched him for a bit before becoming annoyed. Quietly, she slipped out of the bed and went to sit in the adjoining sitting room, wrapping a robe around her.

Brandon had left the file with them, and she looked over the papers like something might just jump at her but just like before there was nothing.

And shook her head before allowing her eyes to droop, just for a second. Just for a moment.

“Why are you sleeping out here?” Cole asked and she jumped in shock, pulling the paper from her face that she had drooled all over and evidently it had got stuck.

“Damn I’m attractive.” She muttered and he laughed. “I couldn’t sleep.” She said.

“You okay?”

“Yeah just, my brain wouldn’t shut up.” She sighed. “What’s the time?”

“Ten.”

She grunted in reply, at least she’d got a few decent more hours kip.

“I was thinking we could explore today.” Cole said.

“Explore what?”

“The grounds, last time we had to call it off early if you remember?” Cole replied.

“Yeah.” Maddie muttered. Her damn leg had been killing her. “Where are you thinking of taking me this time?”

“Everywhere.” He said and she smirked at the innuendo. “Get dressed, we’ll take breakfast to go.”

“You’re keen.”

He grinned back and she got up, jumped in the shower and then pulled what felt like appropriate clothes for a walk.

They’d been at the house for three days already, mostly avoiding his family, avoiding everyone but Charlotte, Brandon, Owen, and Hugo. She still hadn’t said anything to Cole about Owen but she was watching him now and when she got a moment she was definitely going to mention it to Brandon.

They walked down through the house, sticking to the servant’s corridors and taking the backstairs to the kitchens, grabbing some bacon sarnies that Ben hadn’t yet taken up to the rest of the family. Then they walked out through one of the side doors, clearly avoiding everyone else, past what used to be a servants block and along the side of the house.

Maddie stared up at it. Every time she saw it, it took her breath away.

“It is incredible.” She said before she could stop herself.

“It’s not bad.” Cole replied.

She rolled her eyes at him and followed him down the path.

There was a gently breeze and she could smell the herbs from the kitchen garden on the air.

“Could you get used to this Maddie?” He asked watching her.

“I’m not sure. It’s just so different from anything I’ve ever seen.” She replied.

He gave her a funny look and she rolled her eyes taking a bite out of her sandwich. Damn she was hungry, the only thing else she needed was a strong coffee.

“I want to develop this whole part of the estate.” Cole said as they walked further from the house.

“Into what?” She asked.

“At the moment there are shooting rights we give to a club. I want to build a farm shop, start making cheese too, make the estate cover its costs.”

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