Chapter 31
31
Descending the steps of the tower was somewhat easier than the heart-attack-inducing climb to the top, and as Charlotte thanked Gary for the tour, and she and Tristan meandered out into the bright sunlight of historic Park Street, she smiled up at him. ‘Fancy a coffee, or do you want to do some more exploring first?’
Tristan smiled back at her. ‘Why don’t we grab a takeaway and keep walking? I’m sure there’s lots more you could show me.’
Charlotte didn’t miss the undercurrent of suggestion in his voice, and her face felt warm as she thought back to their kiss.
‘Deal,’ she said. Feeling a jolt of pleasure as Tristan reached for her hand, they’d soon stopped at Brown’s café and were making their way up Whiteladies Road towards Clifton Down.
Charlotte loved this part of Bristol, and she felt at home in the long, wide, sloping streets that led one way down to the city centre and the other to a haven of greenery that undulated towards the sheer, dark-brown stone drop of the Avon Gorge. Since coming back here as a house parent she’d been happier in Bristol than at any point in her life. That was why she was so keen to show Tristan some of the sights: she felt the need to share the happiness with him.
Tristan was looking with great interest at the buildings as they walked further, and again Charlotte wondered why he wasn’t more familiar with Bristol as a city.
‘I’d forgotten how lovely this place is,’ he said as they walked towards the downs. ‘I don’t get into town much these days, since I’m usually based either in head office or on a site somewhere. It’s nice to see buildings and not be making decisions about whether they stay or go!’
Charlotte smiled at the lightness in his tone. It was lovely to see him enjoying her tour of the city, and she was looking forward to doing more of the same.
The sun was high in the sky now and as they reached the Downs, they found themselves laughing at the antics of various dogs gambolling happily over the swathes of green space, interacting mostly amicably with other canines on their constitutionals, and sniffing around the trees and posts that marked out the space.
‘Comet loves coming up here, too,’ Charlotte explained. ‘Although he doesn’t know he’s born now he’s got the woodland around Lorelai’s house to explore.’
‘Must be good for him, being out in the countryside,’ Tristan said. He paused. ‘Is it good for you, too?’
They’d come to a stop by the railing that marked off the drop of the Avon Gorge, and Charlotte took a moment to gaze out, taking in the glorious view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and collect her thoughts.
‘It’s very good for me,’ she murmured, ‘although I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the city. I’ve lived here for so long and got so used to having everything on my doorstep that it was a bit of a culture shock, moving out to the middle of nowhere!’
Tristan tried and failed to look affronted. ‘If you think Lower Brambleton’s remote, I’d better show you some of the places further away from the M5 – the true depths of deepest Somerset!’
He affected a long, rolling ‘r’ on the name of the county, and Charlotte giggled. ‘Spoken like a proper native! But I’d love to see some of them.’
‘Maybe that’ll be our second date.’ Tristan raised a hopeful eyebrow. ‘If you’re not completely sick of me by now.’
‘I’d be prepared to give you a chance to make good on that promise to show me the more, er, rural areas of Somerset, if you’d like to,’ she replied. ‘So long as there’s a pint of cider to refresh me at the end.’
‘I’m sure that can be arranged,’ Tristan said.
‘So,’ Charlotte said slightly nervously after a beat or two. ‘Are you hungry yet? There’s a café up here with great views of the gorge, or we could head back down and find something on the way.’
Before he could reply, Tristan looked embarrassed as his stomach gave a mighty rumble. ‘Seems like I’ve worked up an appetite!’ he said.
They wandered towards The Downs Café, a charming establishment where they could sit outside and still watch the world go by. As they waited for their lunch order, they chatted easily. Charlotte could sense that, at last, Tristan was starting to relax in her company, and she felt a warm rush of pleasure as he laughed more and moved closer to her as they observed the people who were out and about.
‘That one’s a spy… MI6 for sure,’ Tristan muttered into her ear as they saw a smartly dressed woman in a lightweight grey suit striding purposefully towards one of the benches that were dotted around. ‘Wearing a suit on a Saturday? Watch out if she produces a poison-tipped umbrella!’
Charlotte smirked. ‘Nah,’ she replied. ‘She’s an estate agent, if ever I saw one. Property’s a cut-throat business in Bristol. Although you still might be right about the umbrella, in either case.’
Their discussions got dafter and dafter through their lunch, and by the time they were ready to walk back down the hill to the car, they were completely at ease with each other.
‘This has been lovely,’ Charlotte said as they meandered their way back down Whiteladies Road and onto Park Street. ‘I feel as though I’ve been looking at Bristol with new eyes this afternoon.’
‘Me too,’ Tristan smiled at her. ‘It’s been nice.’
‘Nice?’ Charlotte stopped in the middle of the pavement and stared up at him. ‘Is that all you’ve got?’
‘Well, I’m never knowingly overstated,’ Tristan murmured. ‘I thought you might have noticed that about me by now. I am the model of restraint in all things.’
‘All things?’ Charlotte said mischievously. ‘I mean, that’s quite a claim…’ She stood up on her tiptoes and placed a hand on Tristan’s shoulder, smiling as he instinctively dipped his head towards her. ‘Forgive me if I’d quite like to test out that hypothesis. I do have a background in science, after all.’
‘Feel free to test it,’ Tristan replied huskily. ‘I promise you; the hypothesis will stand any amount of interrogation and exploration.’
‘I’ll definitely hold you to that,’ Charlotte whispered as their lips met again.