They finally settled on Maureen-from-Wimbledon, a pale, eager-to-please twenty-five-year-old who was keen to move in and start work as soon as possible. Carefully highlighting her good points — she didn’t smell, possess an irritating laugh or an incomprehensible foreign accent — Guy prayed the children wouldn’t make mincemeat of her before she had a chance to find her feet. She barely seemed capable of looking after herself, but maybe she’d just been too nervous to create a dazzling first impression.
And at least, he thought dryly, recalling the very first candidate, she hadn’t fluttered inch-long eyelashes at him, surreptitiously edged up her short skirt and treated him to a flash of emerald-green knickers each time she’d crossed and re-crossed her legs.
Janey was working in the shop when Guy Cassidy and his children walked in.
‘I need some flowers,’ he said without preamble, removing his dark glasses and surveying the myriad buckets lined up against the wall. ‘For a wedding reception next Saturday. If ‘I place the order now, would you be able to bring them to my house on the Friday afternoon and arrange them?’
‘Of course I would.’ Janey was delighted. Men for whom money was no object were definitely her kind of customer. Reaching for her clipboard she said, ‘Tell me what type of arrangements you have in mind and which kind of flowers you think you’d like.’
Flowers, however, evidently weren’t Guy Cassidy’s strong point. Looking momentarily helpless, he frowned and said, ‘Well, blue ones?’
‘Berenice likes daffodils,’ supplied Ella, tugging his white shirt sleeve. ‘Remember? We picked her some for her birthday and she said they were her favourite.’
Janey had already guessed that the flowers were for Berenice’s wedding but now that Guy’s daughter had given her the excuse she needed, she raised her eyebrows and said, ‘You mean Berenice Taylor? Oh, I’m doing her bridal bouquet.’
Put it on my bill,’ said Guy casually, producing his wallet and pulling out a wad of twenties. With a self-deprecating smile he added, ‘She’s been our nanny for the last three years.
Holding the reception at our house is my present to her.’
‘How lovely.’ Janey returned his smile, then gave Ella an apologetic shrug. ‘I’m afraid daffodils are out of season now, but maybe we could see which flowers Berenice has chosen for her bouquet and work from there. I’ll have to check to be sure, but I think she decided on a yellow and white colour scheme. Yes, that’s it ... white roses and sweet peas with mimosa.’
Guy Cassidy didn’t even flinch when she eventually wrote down the estimated cost of the work involved.
‘As long as it looks good,’ he said good-humouredly, dealing the notes on to the counter.
Then, as an apparent afterthought, he glanced down at his children and added, ‘Actually, whilst we’re here, why don’t you two pick out a bunch of something-or-other for your new nanny?
She’s arriving tomorrow afternoon and some nice flowers will make her feel welcome.’
Josh liked the green, earthy smell of the shop but he was bored sick with flowers.
‘They haven’t got dandelions or deadly nightshade,’ he said, his tone dismissive.
‘Or stinging nettles,’ put in Ella with a smirk.
Poor new nanny, thought Janey. Without speaking, she selected a generous bunch of baby-pink spray carnations, wrapped them in pink-and-silver paper and calmly handed them to Josh.
Appalled, he said, ‘Boys don’t carry flowers,’ and shoved them into Ella’s unsuspecting arms.
Janey, watching the expression on his face, burst out laughing.
And Guy, who had in turn been watching her, said, ‘Of course. You’re Maxine Vaughan’s sister.’
‘Oh help!’ said Janey. ‘Not necessarily. Not if it means you cancelling the order.’
He looked amused. ‘Don’t panic, I don’t think I could face the prospect of going into another shop and starting all over again.’
‘But how did you know?’ She flushed. ‘We aren’t a bit alike.’
Tilting his head to one side and studying her in greater detail, he disagreed. ‘Physically, there are similarities. She’s skinnier ... blonder ... wears more make-up than you do, but the resemblance is still there. And you have the same laugh.’
This must all be part of the famous Cassidy charm, thought Janey. By cleverly reversing the usual comparisons he had actually managed to make her sound more attractive than Maxine.
What a neat trick.
‘And at least you’ve managed to find a new nanny.’ Changing the subject, she nodded at the gift-wrapped carnations. With an encouraging smile at Josh and Ella, she said, ‘Is she nice?’
‘She’s a wimp,’ replied Josh flatly.
‘But honest,’ Guy interjected, shooting him a warning look before returning his attention to Janey. ‘Unlike your sister.’
‘Look, Maxine isn’t as bad as you think,’ she bridled, springing instinctively to her defence.
‘She really wanted to work for you. And children adore her. If you ask me, you could have done a lot worse.’
‘Of course children adore her,’ drawled Guy. ‘She bribes them with money and ice cream.’
Josh brightened. ‘I liked her. The lady in the wedding dress, you mean? She was good fun.’
‘She had good references too,’ Guy remarked tersely, ‘but that still doesn’t make her ideal nanny material. Has she found another job yet?’
Janey shook her head. Maxine’s efforts in that department had been half-hearted to say the least. ‘Not yet.’
