Escape to Lilacwell by Sasha Morgan

Author:Sasha Morgan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2022-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Jasper was busy at his desk in the library, leafing through the paperwork which Colin had given him. He was deciding which of the crumbling old outbuildings were worth salvaging and was still considering how best to utilise the fields. Having Adira’s camper van on site had given him the kernel of an idea. Camping, or rather glamping, was all the rage these days. In his mind’s eye, he could see twee shepherds’ huts and maybe a few yurts in the fields nearest the stream. It would be an ideal spot – Adira had certainly thought so, he grinned to himself. The thought of her heated his blood.

Back to business, he sternly told himself. Yes, a glamping site could be a good solution to the land just standing empty and the outbuilding nearest to them could easily be renovated into a shower and utility block. Without knowing it, Adira had inadvertently given him an idea which had the potential to really take off and keep The Laurels running in modern times.

His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts on what else they would need to turn the land into an attractive glamping prospect. It was Zara.

‘Hello, Jasper.’

‘Hello, Zara. Everything OK?’

‘Well…’

Jasper sat up abruptly at Zara’s hesitant tone.

‘Abbas has asked to see your report.’

He frowned. ‘And?’

‘I just get the feeling something’s…’ Zara stalled with deliberate uncertainty.

‘What?’ snapped Jasper, not liking the sound of this.

‘Not quite right,’ she finished, supposedly at pains to disclose it.

‘How do you mean?’ asked Jasper tightly. Abbas certainly hadn’t mentioned anything to him last time they had spoken.

‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have bothered you.’ Zara sounded apologetic now.

She only just managed to keep the glee from her voice; she had obviously rattled Jasper enough. Mission accomplished.

‘I just thought I should warn you, in case something was amiss.’

‘Amiss? Such as what?’ Jasper was beginning to grow impatient with Zara’s elusiveness.

‘It’s probably nothing. Sorry, I shouldn’t have contacted you.’

Then why did you? thought Jasper in annoyance. Deciding to end the call, which he deemed pointless, he curtly said his goodbyes.

Minutes later though, Zara’s attempts to unsettle Jasper had succeeded. He kept replaying the ambiguity in Zara’s voice. It was unlike her to sound so unsure, which then prompted the question, could her instincts be a forewarning? But what could be wrong? The report he’d written was concise yet packed with relevant detail and good advice. The more he considered it, the more it played on his mind. He’d ring Abbas.

Then again, what if Zara was mistaken? How would it look for him to call with concerns – like he had something to hide? The best solution, his head was telling him, was to return to Dubai and face the inevitable decision he was avoiding. He couldn’t keep putting it off. Logically, now would be a good time to go back, for a while at least. The Laurels was in good shape, thanks to Adira, and the estate was under far more control now. Jasper would decide how to go forward with the outbuildings before he left and get Colin to make a start with the renovations.

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