Under New Management Read Online Free Page B

shadows over one side of the Hall.
    Before Mollie walks too far from the gateway, she hears voices. Glancing up towards the front steps, she raises her eyebrows as she notices a gorgeous, gleaming silver car parked on the circular drive. ‘Looks like one of those James Bond cars; an Aston Martin, or whatever,’ she thinks absent-mindedly. Next to the silver car is a black limousine and she stops abruptly as she realises there is activity around it. In panic, and quickly looking around for cover, she darts towards the old chestnut with its solid trunk. It will have to do. Shuffling backwards towards it, she flattens her chest up against its trunk and peers round to get a better view.
    Mollie sees a tall man in a dark suit open the back door of the long car. He leans forward and holds out his hand which is, in turn, taken by someone inside. The hand belongs to a dainty looking woman with bobbed, silver grey hair. She steps elegantly out and says something to the man. Even from this distance Mollie senses the class. Two men and a young woman also emerge from the car, the two men looking distinguished, perhaps in their fifties. Both are bald. In fact, they are very alike. The younger woman looks very pretty and it is difficult to age her, but Mollie guesses that she is in her late twenties.
    The guy who had opened the car door, obviously the chauffeur, glances her way and Mollie quickly ducks back. Shit, did he see her? God only knows why but she panics and breaks into a run flying back through the courtyard to the kitchen. Once inside she comes to her senses. Christ, what is she thinking skulking about like a criminal? The thought of running into the new owners before she’s ready is not exactly appealing. Mollie orders herself to get a grip as she realises her behaviour is ridiculous. So what if they notice her? What's the worst that can happen? They might actually say hello and she might have to reply. After giving herself a few minutes, she makes the decision to behave herself. She pulls herself up to her full height and again leaves the kitchen heading for the courtyard. Surely they must have gone into the Hall by now, but just to be on the safe side she’ll  stay close to cover.
    Sneaking back round to the front of the house she peers round the wall. All quiet, thank God. Her heart is hammering from the exertion. Mollie has another word with herself for being a plonker and heads for her car.
    “Blimey that was a close call.” She mutters to herself as she crosses the drive, relief flooding through her. But then she looks up. "Oh fuck, what the hell does he want?" There, lounging against his Land Rover, which he has parked next to her Peugeot, is David.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
    Kieran McLaren helps his mother out of the limo she has insisted on hiring for the occasion, completely unnecessarily in his opinion. Her sole intention is to show off to Lady Sedgwick. He shows his disapproval through sarcasm, acting like the chauffeur they did not employ. Marylyn McLaren narrows her eyes at her son, "No need for childishness, Kieran," she informs him haughtily. Kieran merely smirks at her. His cousin Jack has driven the limo; he couldn't wait to get his hands on the 'beast' as he had so eloquently named it. He is still sitting in the driver's seat, pushing new and exciting buttons.  Kieran shakes his head at him.
    Kieran’s beautiful sister, Megan, exits after his mother looking unruffled and faintly bored. She flicks her long perfectly straight brunette hair over her shoulder and roams her intelligent grey eyes over the Hall. Megan pouts her full lips and frowns slightly, "Very 'Pride and Prejudice’,'" she states.
    The family solicitors, the two Mr Bagleys, exit the car on the far side.
    "Well, well Marylyn. I can see why you are so enamoured of the property," comments the elder Mr Bagley as his eyes roam over the front of the Hall. He has two years on his fifty-five year old younger brother.
    "Divine,