Chapter 1 - The Train
Lily sat alone on the train to London Euston, her reflection flickering in the window as the countryside blurred past. Every word she and Rhys had exchanged over the past two days replayed in her mind on a relentless loop. Had she explained herself badly? Been too harsh? Too soft? She pressed her forehead against the cool glass. A single tear slid down her cheek before she brushed it away with the back of her hand.
“Is this seat taken?”
Lily looked up. A man—around forty, with sandy blond hair and impossibly blue eyes—stood beside her, a small suitcase in hand and an easy smile hovering on his lips.
She blinked, startled out of her thoughts. The table had four seats, all empty, except for hers. “No, please—go ahead.”
He lifted his case into the overhead rack and slid gracefully into the seat opposite her. From his rucksack, he took a small punnet of green grapes.
“Would you like some?” he asked, offering them with a polite smile.
Lily realised she’d been staring. “No, thank you. I’m fine.” She turned back toward the window, embarrassed.
“Well, that’s your loss—they’re lovely and sweet.” His grin was boyish, his eyes crinkling with warmth.
Lily hesitated, then smiled faintly. She was going to have to learn how to talk to strangers again. “Oh, go on then,” she said softly. “But only a couple.”
He slid the punnet across the table. She took a small handful and passed it back.
“Business or pleasure?” he asked conversationally.
Lily blinked, confused.
“Your trip,” he clarified, still smiling.
“Oh—sorry.” She gave a small laugh. “My brain’s not firing properly today. I suppose it’s both. Mostly business. I’m going to London to find work—and somewhere to live.”
Even as she said it, she cursed herself inwardly. She’d just told a stranger she was unemployed and homeless. “I had an accident a while ago and had to recover for a few weeks, and then… I left my boyfriend. So it’s time for a fresh start,” she added, hearing the oversharing spill out of her.
“What sort of work are you looking for?” he asked.
“I’ve been a PA, a secretary, and an admin manager. I’m flexible.”
He frowned slightly, as though deep in thought.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, laughing to fill the silence. “I’ll stop talking your ear off.”
“No, please don’t,” he said. “I was just thinking if I knew anyone hiring.” His eyes lit up. “Actually—I might. A friend of mine’s looking for a PA or secretary. Do you do audio typing?”
“Oh yes,” she said, brightening. “Eighty words a minute, sometimes faster.”
“Perfect.” He picked up his phone. “Give me a second.”
Lily turned her gaze back to the window, watching the fields rush past in flashes of green and gold. She could hear him talking but tried not to listen. His voice was low and pleasant, with an easy confidence.
“Seb, hi—yeah, I’m good,” he said. “Listen, you still looking for a replacement for Melissa? … You are? Brilliant. I’ve just met someone on the train—she’s impressive. Want to talk to her?”
Before Lily could react, he was handing her the phone.
Her heart leapt into her throat. “Hello—this is Lily.”
“Hi Lily,” said a friendly male voice. “Sebastian Holmes here—call me Seb. My PA’s leaving for the States soon, so I’m looking for someone to take over. You’d have a couple of weeks to work alongside her and learn the ropes. Does that sound like something you’d be interested in?”
“Yes,” Lily said quickly. “Absolutely. Could I come in for an interview?”
“Would tomorrow at eleven work for you?”
“Yes, that’s perfect.”
“Great. Give me your number and I’ll WhatsApp you the address. We’re based in Islington—near the Angel.”
“I know it well,” she said, smiling. “Let me just get my phone number for you” Lily rummaged through her rucksack and found the packaging for her brand new phone that she had bought at the train station. It was nothing fancy, just a very basic phone. Once she had located the number, she then handed the phone back to the man opposite, who was still grinning.
When he hung up, Lily said, “Thank you—I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Elias,” he said, holding out his hand. “Elias Roberts.”
“Lily Bailey.” She shook his hand, his grip firm and warm.
“So, Lily Bailey,” he said lightly, “what are you running from?”
Her smile faltered. “What makes you think I’m running from anything?”
He tilted his head. “Most people who relocate already have a job and a flat sorted. And you don’t exactly have much luggage.”
“What makes you think that suitcase over there isn’t mine?” she countered.
He looked at her gently. “Is it?”
Her shoulders sagged. “No,” she admitted.
“I didn’t mean to pry,” he said softly. “Just thought I might be able to help. Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?”
She shook her head, but alarm bells went off in her mind. Why was he being so kind? Men always had motives.
Elias was already dialling another number. “Hi, sis—it’s me. Quick one. You still renting out the granny flat? … Thought so. I’ve met someone who might be interested. Here, talk to her.”
He passed the phone to Lily.
“Hello?” she said hesitantly.
“Hi, I’m Ruth, Elias’s sister,” came a bright, friendly voice. “Yes, I’ve got a little granny flat, though it’s still a bit of a mess. Needs organising and decorating. Why don’t you pop round this evening and we can chat?”
Relief mingled with disbelief. They spoke for a few minutes—Ruth explained that the flat had belonged to their grandmother, who had passed away only a few months before. She wasn’t looking for much rent, she said, just someone ‘respectable and steady’.
Lily promised to come by that evening; it wasn’t far from Euston. When the call ended, the carriage was quiet for a while.
“Why are you helping me?” Lily asked suddenly. “For all you know, I could be a thief or a junkie.”
He smiled. “I’m a pretty good judge of character. Comes with the job.”
“Oh? And what job is that?”
“I’m a Detective Inspector with the Met.”
Lily froze. Her stomach dropped. Memories of Rhys, of Sean, of whispered threats and hidden crimes rushed through her mind. She, on the other hand, was naturally obedient. She briefly thought as to whether it was why she was naturally a submissive when it came to sex. She forced herself to breathe and immediately dismissed all of these thoughts to bring herself back to the current conversation.
“Oh,” she managed. “Have you always been in the police?”
“Pretty much. Did a degree in criminology at Southampton, joined the Met straight after. Never wanted to do anything else. What about you—how’d you end up as a PA?”
They talked as the train rattled on towards London. Elias spoke with quiet passion about his work, and his other great love—art. When Lily confessed that she painted, too, they fell into easy conversation. They disagreed completely about their favourite artists—Elias loved Damien Hirst, Lily thought him pretentious—but the debate was warm, full of laughter.
The journey flew by. As they stood to leave, Elias said, “You don’t have to see my sister until five. Let me take you to lunch. And lunch is on me. No arguments. I’m old-fashioned that way.”
Her pride bristled, but her bank balance made the decision for her. So in the end, she agreed. She followed him through the station, her small bag over her shoulder. For the first time in months, she felt a flicker of lightness—like she was stepping into a new chapter.
Elias hailed a black cab, and they rode in companionable silence to La Petite Auberge, a small French restaurant on Upper Street. The air smelled of garlic, wine, and baked bread.
Over lunch, Lily relaxed. “You’ll have to let me treat you when I get my first pay cheque,” she said, smiling. “Assuming I get the job.”
“Oh, you’ll get it,” he said confidently. “I’ll make sure of that.”
She laughed. The food was exquisite; the conversation easy. She realised with a jolt that she hadn’t enjoyed herself this much in years. There was no power dynamic, no edge of danger—just warmth.
When the meal was over, Elias offered to walk her to his sister’s.
“I’ll score some brownie points for showing up unannounced.” He said laughing.
Lily smiled. His family sounded genuine, kind. As they strolled toward Gibson Square, she admired the row of tall Victorian houses, their façades softened by climbing ivy and the gold wash of afternoon light.
“It’s only four-thirty,” she said. “I can’t turn up half an hour early—it’s rude.”
He chuckled. “She’s my sister, remember? I can show up whenever I like. Come on.”
He linked his arm through hers as they climbed the steps to an elegant townhouse. The doorbell echoed through the hall beyond, and after a moment, the door swung open.
Ruth stood framed in the doorway, smiling—a mirror image of her brother. She had the same sandy-blond hair, the same striking blue eyes, the same strong bone structure. Both were tall, fit, and carried themselves with an easy confidence. Ruth looked about Elias’s age; Lily wondered briefly if they were twins.
“Hey, Legs,” Ruth said, throwing her arms around her brother.
“Oh, come on, did you have to start with that one?” Elias groaned, though he was laughing as she squeezed him.
Ruth turned to Lily with a warm grin. “Come in, Lily! It’s lovely to finally meet you.”
Before Lily could respond, Ruth pulled her into a hug—something that took Lily by surprise. She wasn’t used to such casual affection. Her family had never been the hugging sort, but she decided to go with it.
Ruth led them into the reception room on the ground floor. It was bohemian in the best way—bursts of colour everywhere, mismatched throws over deep, inviting sofas, beanbags tucked between armchairs, a large glass coffee table scattered with magazines and art books. Paintings filled the walls, some Lily recognised, some she didn’t. It was the kind of room that instantly made you exhale, a room that felt lived in and loved.
Lily relaxed for the first time in days. “So,” she asked with a mischievous smile, “why do you call him ‘Legs’?”
Ruth threw her head back and laughed, while Elias looked both amused and faintly horrified.
“When he was fifteen,” Ruth began, “he got drunk one night and decided to try on one of Mum’s dresses—tiny little thing—and her high heels. He wobbled into the living room like a newborn deer, showing off his legs, which—annoyingly—were better than mine! Ever since then, he’s been ‘Legs.’”
“You just had to ask, didn’t you?” Elias groaned, pretending to punch Lily’s shoulder.
But Lily couldn’t stop laughing, her face lit with delight. It was the first time in a long while that laughter didn’t feel forced.
As the conversation flowed, she learned they really were twins—Ruth the elder by a single minute, a fact she clearly relished reminding her brother of. They were so warm together, so effortlessly kind, that Lily felt as though she’d stumbled into the kind of family she’d always wished for.
“Oh, heavens, I never even asked if you wanted tea,” Ruth said suddenly, jumping to her feet.
“Oh, no thank you,” Lily replied quickly. “We only just had lunch.”
Ruth’s eyebrows lifted. She glanced at her brother with mock accusation. “So, you’ve already taken her out for a date, have you?”
Lily turned crimson. “Oh God, no! It was just lunch,” she stammered.
“Lily’s just come out of a relationship,” Elias interjected.
“Oh, I see.” Ruth grimaced good-naturedly. “That’s me—mouth first, brain later. Please don’t take anything I say too seriously.”
She stood, clapping her hands together. “Come on then. Let me show you the granny flat before I embarrass anyone further.”
Lily laughed and followed her.
“I’ll stay here,” Elias said, settling back on the sofa.
“Bring your bag, Lily,” Ruth added. “If you decide to stay, you won’t have to come back down for it.”
At the top of the stairs, Ruth unlocked a door with a proper front-door key and stepped aside to let Lily in.
Lily gasped softly. The space was far larger than she’d imagined—cluttered, yes, with old furniture, boxes of papers, and half-finished DIY projects scattered about—but beautiful. The flat had a quiet charm, even through the dust and disarray.
The kitchen gleamed beneath the mess: marble countertops, white gloss cupboards, sleek stainless-steel appliances, and an American-style refrigerator. Sunlight poured through the tall sash windows, touching everything with a golden sheen.
The flat had a spacious living area, a separate dining room, and a cosy bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. It wasn’t perfect, but Lily could see what it could become—and she fell in love with it instantly.
Ruth watched her with a knowing smile. “Well? What do you think?”
“I think it’s beautiful,” Lily said, turning in a slow circle. “And I don’t mind doing whatever work it needs.”
“This could work out well,” Ruth said. “You can stay tonight as my guest, and once you’ve got the job tomorrow, we’ll sit down and sort a tenancy agreement. I do everything properly—no funny business.”
“How much would the rent be?” Lily asked cautiously, already suspecting it would be far beyond her reach.
Ruth shrugged lightly. “Fifty pounds a week while you’re helping me get it sorted, then up to a hundred once it’s done.”
Lily’s mouth fell open. “But that’s far too low for this. You could charge triple that for a place like this, especially here.”
“Maybe,” Ruth said. “But I’d rather have someone decent and kind than squeeze every penny I can. Elias likes you—and I trust his judgement. If you want it, it’s yours.”
Lily’s eyes filled. “I love it. Thank you so much.” Her voice broke, and the tears came unbidden.
Ruth crossed the room and pulled her into a hug, warm and firm. “I don’t know what you’ve been through, my love,” she said softly, “but you’re safe here.” She pressed a small silver key into Lily’s palm.
Lily wiped her tears and smiled through them. “I can’t thank you enough, Ruth. Truly. If there’s anything—anything—I can ever do, just say the word.”
“Just be a good tenant,” Ruth said with a grin. “That’ll be enough for me.”
