The Reluctant Elf (Kindle Single) by Michele Gorman

Author:Michele Gorman
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: love, humour, single in the city, talli roland, best-seller, Christmas, relationships, nick spalding, romantic comedy, romance, chick lit, holiday, top 100, Scarlett Bailey, wedding, Sophie Kinsella, humor, romantic, Jenny Colgan, bestselling, bestseller, London, Chrissie Manby, novella, ruth saberton, women's fiction
Publisher: Notting Hill Press
Published: 2014-11-13T00:00:00+00:00

‘They’re here!’ Mabel shouts from the parlour window where she can see the driveway. ‘They’ve got a lot of bags.’

Danny and I go out to greet them.

‘Mr Grey-Smythe?’ I look between the two men taking luggage out of the boot.

‘Yes, that’s me. Please call me Rupert.’ The taller man shakes my hand. ‘Are you Kate?’

‘Oh, no, I’m not. I’m her niece Lottie Crisp. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Unfortunately my aunt has been in an accident and she’s not able to be here.’

His brow creases with concern. ‘I’m sorry to hear that. I hope she’s all right?’

‘Yes, she’ll be fine, thanks.’

‘Did I miss a memo somewhere?’ he asks, scanning my dress.

‘Ah, yes, well. Welcome to your Victorian Christmas!’

I bob into a little curtsey like they do on Downton Abbey.

‘This is Danny, our chef.’

Danny just nods. ‘Can I help you with your bags?’ he asks.

‘Thank you, yes. Hugo, leave those. The man will get them.’

Rupert strides toward the front door as I hurry to beat him to it.

His nose twitches as he enters the hall.

‘It smells of shoe polish,’ he says.

‘Uh, yes, it’s a complimentary service. You can just leave your shoes outside your door in the evening and we’ll polish them. We’ll take care of everything for you here.’

He nods.

‘Yes, well, as I said, welcome to your Victorian Christmas. And you are?’ I stick my hand out to the forty-something slender woman who hasn’t cracked a smile since she arrived.

She doesn’t bother making eye contact when she speaks. ‘Prunella, Rupert’s sister.’ She waves her hand at the others. ‘These are my twins Oscar and Amanda and my husband Hugo.’

The children look around Mabel’s age, both pale and slim like their parents. In fact, Prunella and Hugo could be twins themselves with their beaky noses, close-set watery blue eyes and very high foreheads. Rupert, on the other hand, though slender like his sister, is darker with strong but not sharp features that assemble into a pleasing, if austere, countenance.

Hugo scans me up and down as he offers me his soft damp hand.

‘Have you got Sky?’ Prunella asks.

‘No, I’m sorry, there’s no television.’

‘Mother!’ says Oscar, glaring at me. ‘How are we supposed to watch Bad Santa without a TV?’

‘Never mind, darling, we’ll watch it on the computer. You do have fast broadband, right?’

Her look dares me to disappoint her again.

‘There’s 3G in the conservatory.’

‘Rupert,’ she whines, ‘I told you this would be the middle of nowhere.’

‘I suppose it’s meant to be rustically charming, Pru.’

This isn’t the start I hoped for. ‘It will be charming, but I promise you it won’t be rustic.’

‘We’ll make the best of it, Pru,’ says Hugo.

‘Oh do shut up, Hugo, you always say that. I want a bath now. We’ve been traveling all day to get here. Where’s my room? And my luggage?’

Danny is just struggling in with all the bags.

‘I’ll show you upstairs then. Your rooms are all together on the first floor. You’re going to love our bathtubs. As part of the service, we’ll run

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