Darcy

“It’s official, we’re at war,” I said as I opened the door to Aurora. I’d asked her to come over early before the Parish Council members arrived. I was on a charm offensive that would outdo Logan’s.

“With the Parish Council?”

“No, of course not. With Logan Steele.”

“War? I’m not sure we should be at war with any of the villagers.”

I sighed as I spun around. “He’s not a villager,” I replied. “Not really. He’s been here five minutes and it shows.” I led her into the glass-roofed sunroom which was all set out, ready for tea.

“This looks nice,” she said.

“Yes. W.I. jam, of course. We’ve tried to use things from the farm shop. I hope it’s part of the subliminal message.” We took our seats on two of the upholstered cream chairs that faced the door, therefore giving the Parish Council members the view of the gardens.

“And you’re sure we should be doing this?” Aurora asked. “You don’t think we’re meddling?”

How could she have any doubt? As soon as I’d returned from my kidnapping, I’d called around the members of the Parish Council and invited them over for tea. Although I was reasonably confident that they would reject Logan’s plans, I wanted to be sure. So at tea, I’d ensure they were all planning to vote against the plans and then give them the Westbury’s full support of their decision. The Westbury name still meant something around here, but Logan Steele was wealthy and influential in his field and I didn’t want the Parish Council intimidated.

“Of course, I’m sure. We want the Council to know they have our support. And I want to ensure they’ve thought of every way Logan’s plans could be disastrous.”

“I’m surprised you want to go against Logan.”

“This isn’t me against him, it’s us trying to maintain our beautiful village.”

“I just thought that, you know, since you kissed him and everything. Going to war with him doesn’t seem the natural first step in a relationship.”

“Please don’t remind me.” I guffawed. “And a relationship? That was never going to happen.” I’d considered having sex with him, but dating? He wasn’t at all husband material as far as I was concerned. “Anyway, he was probably just trying to get me on side so when he announced the plans I wouldn’t object.”

“You think he deliberately engineered bumping into you at the restaurant?”

“Don’t you start. He denied it vehemently, of course.”

“Well, to be fair, I don’t think he tricked you into kissing him.”

Aurora was right. I didn’t really think Logan engineered our run-in. I was just disappointed with the way things had turned out. I’d enjoyed his company at dinner and his kiss even more. I was annoyed at myself for thinking that maybe there might be something more. Something after the kiss. How could I have let myself like him?

“Probably not,” I conceded.

The butler, Lane, interrupted us. “Miss Darcy, Mr. Dawson and Mrs. Beadle,” he announced and I bounced to my feet to greet my guests with a double kiss. I’d known both of them since I was a child and they’d always been kind to me. Despite my ulterior motive in inviting them over—which they were bound to have guessed—it was genuinely good to see them.

“We were just saying that we haven’t been to Woolton Hall since the Duke died. Are you finding it terribly lonely?” Mrs. Beadle asked.

It was as if an icy breeze curled around my heart at the mention of my grandfather. I still missed him terribly. “I still feel his loss every day. But this year, the summer party will be back. The last couple of years were just too much, and I know he would have scolded me for letting the tradition lapse, so I’ll have to make it up to him this year and hold the best party that Woolton has ever seen.” The Woolton Hall Summer Ball had been the party where he’d met my grandmother, the place where I’d first seen my brother in love. And I knew he’d have been disappointed that we’d skipped it to tend to our grief. I wanted to make it up to him.

“I’m so pleased to hear that,” Mr. Dawson said. “You know how much everyone enjoys it.”

“As do I. And it’s so important to keep these traditions alive. It’s what we all try and do, after all. What kind of tea would everyone like?” I asked as Mrs. MacBee entered the room, bringing with her the other three council members, Mr. Newton, Miss Price and Mr. Adams.

With tea ordered and everyone in their seats, I decided to take the bull by the horns. “Speaking of keeping up traditions, I was surprised to see the plans that the new owner of Badsley House had submitted,” I said.

“They’re certainly ambitious,” Mr. Adams said.

I held his gaze, willing him to add to what he’d said. I wanted to know whether or not he thought ambitious was good or bad, but before he could say anything more, Miss Price interrupted. “I can’t think of anything worse,” she said. “All those awful city types stamping through our little slice of heaven.”

My heart swelled. I knew Susan would understand. We were on the fundraising committee for the local mobile library and we both cared passionately about the community.

“I think it would be a real shame to turn Woolton into a huge tourist town,” I said, leaning forward to move the vase of peonies, ready for the tea that Mrs. MacBee would bring through, and trying to seem relaxed, as if the plans for Manor House Club had just come up in casual conversation.

“But at the same time.” Mr. Newton tapped his finger against his leg. “Logan makes a good point about providing local employment for the village.”

I turned to Susan to see if she’d fight our corner, but Mrs. Beadle spoke up. “Yes, there will be construction jobs, but they’re not likely to be local. So, long-term, he means a few bar and restaurant staff. I’d prefer to see another restaurant opened in the village than some exclusive club that won’t be open to villagers unless we pay thousands of pounds of membership fees.”

“That’s an excellent point,” I replied and glanced at Aurora, wondering why she hadn’t joined in yet.

“I don’t like the exclusive nature of it either,” Mr. Dawson said. “It will be a huge part of the village, but exclude local people. That doesn’t sit right with me.”

I shook my head. “City people.” I sighed.

“Well, maybe we can talk to him, get him to give free membership to residents of the village,” Mr. Newton said.

“Do you think he’d do that? I’m not sure how exclusive it would be if he started handing out memberships to us villagers.” I shrugged.

Mrs. MacBee brought in the tea and set it down. I set about pouring drinks for everyone while I listened to everyone’s opinion. I wanted to know how hard I was going to have to work to get Logan’s plans defeated.

“You know the thing I’m worried about?” I said in a lull in the conversation. “The drinking and what that does to people. Remember the Foleys?”

“I don’t think it would be like that. That was a specific issue with that couple. And remember, Mrs. Steele grew up in this village. She doesn’t want it ruined any more than we do.” Mr. Adams smiled as I handed him his tea.

They had to understand that Mrs. Steele probably didn’t have any control over Logan’s plans. Surely she would have already persuaded him to change his mind if she could have.

“That’s a good point,” Miss Price murmured. “My mother knew her when she lived here after her husband died. She seems like a very nice woman. One of us.”

I nodded. I couldn’t disagree with her. Partly because it was true, and also because as much as I might want to win this battle with Logan, I didn’t want to do it by trying to tarnish his grandmother in any way.

“And I suppose I’m a little concerned that Woolton will suffer the same fate as Kingsley. Once the floodgates are open, there’s no going back.”

“That’s exactly what I said.” Susan took a sip of her tea. “It’s the beginning of a slippery slope.”

Over the course of the conversation, the pile of sandwiches in front of us was replenished three times. It was pretty clear the Parish Council was split. Mr. Newton and Barry Adams were the most open to it. And Susan and Mrs. Beadle were set against it. Mr. Dawson seemed to change his mind, depending on the last thing that was said. At least now I knew where I stood and who I had to persuade.

Logan Steele might have a brilliant business brain, but he shouldn’t have underestimated me. He should have taken more time to understand the importance of tradition and connections in a village like Woolton.