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was thinking more a luxury hotel and spa,” he corrected.
    “But there would be people…strangers…staying in my home…”
    “Your brother sold up. It’s no longer your home,” he pointed out reasonably. “And judging by what I’ve seen of the state of the place the buyout didn’t come a minute too soon.”
    “But a hotel...”
    He grimaced. “Unfortunately, the manor’s less than useless as a hotel – too close to Chudley House. So, I could sell. Or...”
    “Or what?”
    “One of the options might be to renovate and live here myself.” Where had that idea come from, he wondered?
    He didn’t need a home, had never wanted one in the traditional sense. He already had the use of a private, luxury suite in every hotel and resort he owned around the world and that arrangement suited him just fine. Home had never been a haven for Theo and the very word conjured up childhood memories of a particularly unpleasant variety. So why had he suddenly succumbed to an inexplicable nesting instinct?
    It came back to the challenge he’d been missing. Renovating this manor would give him a new focus. And, if he still didn’t feel inclined to settle down to a permanent home once the project had been completed, well, he could always sell up at that point.

Chapter Five
     
    Yet again, he had rendered Rosie speechless. Not only was it very obvious there would be no place for herself and Evie here, she was also left still wondering what would become of the estate’s other inhabitants?
    She had to convince him the best course of action would be to leave the place as it was… If left to her own devices, she’d be able run the estate at a profit. She knew it. If only Theo would give her the chance she knew she could make it work. “The staff...” she croaked. “The tenants... You promised they could stay. You might not feel bad about throwing me and Evie out of the manor, but owning the estate brings responsibilities. Some of the families have farmed estate land for generations. And the tenants in the cottages would never be able to look after themselves.”
    “Why not? What’s wrong with them?”
    “Nothing as such, but they’ve been here since Dad’s days – people he met through the business.”
    He shook his head. “So, as well as a bunch of useless animals, we have a collection of musical has-beens and hangers-on?”
    “That’s not fair. You can’t speak about my tenants like that – they all pay rent. I’m worried about them, that’s all.”
    “I realise that. As I said, I’m just throwing ideas out there at the moment. Nothing’s been decided yet, but I can tell you nobody will be left homeless – I give you my word.”
    “Apart from me and Evie.”
    “For what it’s worth, I do feel bad about what’s happened. But the manor’s falling down around your undeniably pretty ears. Even if my foolish brother hadn’t squandered company money on it, your days here were numbered. If things are left as they are, it’s only a matter of time before the place is condemned as unfit for human habitation. You must see that.”
    She winced. She knew he was right, but she wasn’t happy it was Theo who was taking the time to point out the estate’s deficiencies. This was her home and she loved it. She’d put her life and soul into the place from the moment she’d been old enough to realise she had a soul. Wounded, she glared at him. “I’m well aware the place could do with a little maintenance.”
    “Understatement of the century.”
    “If it’s so awful why did you refuse my offer to try to persuade Harry to give you your money back?”
    He paused so long she thought for a moment he wouldn’t reply. But, eventually, he drew a loud breath and spoke. “This isn’t the time to go into it and I shouldn’t be the one to tell you. I’ve already had to do too much of Harry’s dirty work.”
    She could keep asking and annoy him. Or she could accept his answer for now and try to find out another time what