“Everyone got their seat belts on?” Finn glanced at her and Lucy felt a lurch in her stomach as she realized he must be thinking of Charlie, thrown clear from his car in the accident. Was it like this for Finn every time he got in a car? Did he always think about his brother? It made her heart ache to think that Finn might blame Charlie for his accident. She could imagine how angry she would be with Cleo in that situation because she loved her and couldn’t bear to be without her.

“Geoff’s just checking mine for me.” Johnny’s voice came from behind them and Finn’s expression lightened a little though his gaze didn’t waver from the road and his hands on the wheel were very steady. They pulled out of the drive and turned right onto the road into the village, past the shop where Lucy caught a flash of Persis’s bright hair and pale face turning to watch them pass. Finn took a right turn at the crossroads and headed down the hill past the chocolate box thatched cottages and the duck pond.

Lucy turned her head to look at the passing scenery. They were crossing the flatlands of the Vale of the White Horse. Craning her neck she could see the horse’s stylized outline against the deep green of the hills to the east. The road took them through another village and then they were dipping down past a farm and over a narrow bridge across a little river. Real horses drowsed in the fields on the right and the shadows of the trees that lined the road whipped overhead.

“What a beautiful place,” she said. “It’s been so long since I visited Verity. I’d forgotten how lovely it is here.”

“Have you always lived in London?” Finn asked.

“We grew up in Manchester,” Lucy said. “I moved to London to study. So I have only ever lived in cities really. I used to think the countryside wasn’t for me, but that’s mostly because it didn’t suit my lifestyle. Now I don’t know. I’m free to live and work where I want—once I decide what I want to do.”

Finn shifted slightly. “That reminds me, I rang up to see if there were any current vacancies at Mortimer Hall this morning but they’re fully staffed for once. Sorry.”

“That’s okay,” Lucy said. “As you pointed out last night, I probably wasn’t right for them anyway.”

Finn smiled. “Well, you would certainly have had to rewrite your welcome speech,” he said. “Dissing the place to visitors probably wouldn’t have been the best move.”

“Are you looking for a job?” Johnny leaned forward.

“I’m looking for something temporary for a few weeks or so whilst I try and decide what to do with my future,” Lucy said. “I’m sure something will turn up. Though I doubt Cleo will give me a job in the bookshop,” she added. “I get distracted reading the stock.”

“Essential for the job, I would’ve thought,” Johnny said, grinning.