Chapter 32
32
The drive back to Lower Brambleton was loaded with anticipation. This was only their first real date, but it felt to Charlotte as though she was already really getting to know Tristan. Far from being the standoffish, grumpy guy she’d encountered a couple of weeks ago on her first full day in Lower Brambleton, this Tristan was funny, sexy and definitely fun to be around.
‘Everything OK?’ Tristan asked as they cruised along the M5. For once, the motorway was running fairly well, and as the signs for the next junction sailed past, Charlotte looked over at him.
‘Everything’s fine,’ she said softly. ‘And you?’
Tristan glanced back at her. ‘Not bad at all,’ he replied with a grin.
There was a pause as both seemed to be wondering how this day was going to progress. It was late afternoon and the evening stretched ahead of them, full of possibility. Charlotte was sure she didn’t want their date to end just yet, but she still wasn’t sure what to suggest to prolong their time together.
They were entering Lower Brambleton from the east side, which meant that they needed to wend their way to the village crossroads through a succession of smaller lanes and roads. Charlotte got the feeling that Tristan had taken a scenic route back, rather than drive straight to Nightshade Cottage, and she noticed a number of features and landmarks she hadn’t spotted before on this impromptu tour. She was tickled by the vintage-looking cast-iron black and white painted signposts, which seemed like something out of Miss Marple . There were various pretty cottages interspersed along the lanes, and a cute wooden board with ‘Purrfect Paws Feline Rescue Centre and Boarding Cattery’ and an arrow pointing down another narrow driveway.
‘What’s that building over there?’ she asked as they passed a long sweep of lawn that led to a smart Victorian manor house. She craned her neck back to read the sign by the gate, but she couldn’t make out what it said.
‘That’s Cherry Tree Court,’ Tristan replied. ‘It’s an exclusive venue that does mainly weddings and the odd black-tie function. Used to be owned by a branch of the Treloar family, who also owned Roseford Hall, back in the day, but they sold Cherry Tree Court in the fifties to realise some capital and it’s been in the hands of a succession of people ever since.’ He paused tantalisingly. ‘Rumour has it that a certain Australian pop princess was considering buying it at some point in the early 2000s, but it was snapped up by a high-end boutique hotel chain and turned into a destination venue. It’s even got its own helipad out the back, as the odd celeb likes to come down and use the spa facilities from time to time, or so I’ve heard.’
‘I’ll have to check it out; it sounds right up my street!’ Charlotte giggled. ‘I do so love an exclusive boutique venue.’ She affected a posher tone, and was relieved when Tristan laughed.
‘They do actually hold a winter party every year for a select guest list,’ Tristan replied. ‘Local business owners and the like get an invite, and those the hotel company consider to be the great and the good. Nick and Annabelle get the nod every year, along with their dad. I remember being Annabelle’s date for it a few years back when Jamie was away on business, and it certainly opened my eyes.’
‘You’ll probably get your own invitation this year,’ Charlotte remarked. ‘I mean, Flowerdew Homes is a pretty big fish in this pond now that Observatory Field is underway.’
Tristan slowed down to look both ways at the crossroads that led to the village centre, and as he did so, he met Charlotte’s eyes. ‘If I do, you could always come with me, er, if you wanted to, that is.’
Charlotte blushed. Winter seemed an awfully long way away from this beautiful summer day, with the hedgerows in full bloom and the warmth of the season in the air, but she was flattered by the invitation. ‘I’d love to,’ she murmured. ‘Keep me posted and I’ll make sure I buy a new frock.’
Before long, having completed the impromptu tour of Lower Brambleton, Tristan was pulling up in the driveway of Nightshade Cottage.
‘I had a really great time today,’ he said as he cut the engine and turned towards her. ‘Thank you for showing me some of the sights.’
‘Any time.’ Charlotte felt her pulse speeding up as there was another loaded pause between them. ‘Should we, er, do it again sometime?’
Tristan smiled and she thought again how lovely and open his face was when he did. ‘I’d like that a lot.’ She watched as he ran a hand through his hair. ‘Look, Charlotte… I’m a bit out of practice at all this. The last few relationships I’ve had have been pretty casual. But I’ve really enjoyed today.’ He hesitated, and she saw him shifting nervously in his seat before he spoke again. ‘Would you, er, like to come to lunch at my place tomorrow?’
‘I’d like that,’ Charlotte replied. ‘But there’s a bit of a problem with getting there. You live in Taunton, right? I’m pretty sure it’s not walking distance!’
‘Right,’ Tristan smiled. ‘I’ll pick you up at twelve. And I promise I’ll bring you home afterwards as well, no matter how lunch goes. If it all goes pear shaped and you decide that spending time with me was a terrible mistake, I won’t make you walk back here. Scouts’ honour.’
‘You were a Scout?’ Charlotte could well imagine Tristan as a serious little boy in the khaki colours of the organisation. She had a hard time imagining him roughing it, camping in the countryside though.
‘I was, for a while,’ Tristan said. ‘I got caught smoking behind the Scout Hut with a mate of mine and his sister, and at that point they politely asked us all to leave!’ He grimaced good-naturedly. ‘Gran was livid. She’d known the Scout Leader since they were at school together.’
Charlotte laughed. ‘Sounds like a good reason to get expelled, though.’
‘Would have been if I’d actually liked smoking, but I was just trying to impress my mate’s sister, who thought I was a dork.’
‘Did it work?’
‘Nope. She ended up going out with the local bike mechanic and moving to New Jersey with him, so risking ruining my lungs was a complete waste of time!’
‘Well, I’d still like to come over tomorrow,’ she said. ‘I don’t care if your Scouts’ honour isn’t legally binding.’
‘It’s a date,’ Tristan grinned. Then his expression grew serious again. ‘Er, could I ask you a favour?’
‘Sure,’ Charlotte replied. ‘What is it?’
Shifting in his seat, Tristan drew a breath. ‘Can you not talk about things too much with Gran? She’s bound to ask you a whole load of questions when you see her, and it just feels a bit weird to know that she’s going to get the low down on us.’
Charlotte smiled. ‘Well, I don’t know how well I’ll stand up to interrogation if she gets the thumbscrews out, but I’ll do my best.’
‘Thanks,’ Tristan replied. Then all thoughts of Lorelai were temporarily forgotten as he kissed her again.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he murmured as they broke apart. ‘Thanks again for a lovely day.’
‘Thank you, too,’ Charlotte replied, as, on slightly shaky legs, she got out of the car. She watched Tristan reversing out of the driveway, and then, when his car was out of sight, she reeled to the door of the annexe and let herself in.
‘Good day, dear?’ Lorelai, on cue, asked as not even a minute later she knocked on the internal door that separated the annexe from the rest of Nightshade Cottage.
‘Lovely.’ Charlotte smiled broadly, and bent down to cuddle an excited Comet, who’d dashed through to find her. ‘Has this old chap been good?’
‘He was impeccably behaved all day, even when he spotted a rabbit in the woods,’ Lorelai replied. ‘He gave chase for all of about five seconds before he came back when I called him. Such a good boy.’
‘Thank you so much for looking after him,’ Charlotte said. ‘In the end, he’d probably have been fine mooching around Bristol, but it was good not to have to worry about him for the day.’
‘Any time,’ Lorelai replied, pausing before adding, ‘I take it my grandson was well behaved, too?’
Charlotte grinned. ‘He was.’ She didn’t elaborate, mindful of what Tristan had requested of her.
‘And will you be seeing him again?’
‘Tomorrow,’ Charlotte smiled. ‘Is, er, where he lives dog friendly?’
Lorelai quirked an eyebrow. ‘Well, he’s got a small garden, if that’s what you mean.’
‘That’s good to know,’ Charlotte replied. ‘Comet can chaperone me tomorrow, then.’
Lorelai laughed. ‘I don’t mind keeping an eye on him again for you, if you’d rather. Anything to smooth the course of true love and all that!’
Charlotte really did laugh, then. ‘It’s our second date, Lorelai – hardly the stuff of romantic legend, yet!’
‘Give it time,’ Lorelai replied. ‘Tristan’s a funny one, and I say that as his grandmother, but he’s a decent man, if a little, er, pedantic, sometimes.’ She paused. ‘But you let me know if he gives you any trouble, and I’ll have a word in his ear.’
Charlotte shook her head. ‘No trouble so far. He’s been the perfect gentleman.’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Lorelai said. ‘It’s good to know he’s behaving himself.’
Lorelai gave a last smile and then closed the partition door, leaving a head-shaking Charlotte in her wake. She was glad the older woman hadn’t pushed her for more information – she didn’t feel as though she’d given too much away. There wasn’t a lot to tell, but she felt as though she wanted to hug the details to herself, to protect the little world she and Tristan had created during their time together and keep it just theirs for as long as she could.
‘Well, old chap.’ Charlotte looked down at Comet, who was looking expectantly up at her. ‘It must be time for dinner.’ She wandered through to the kitchenette and was about to get Comet’s dog food out of the fridge when her phone pinged with a message. It was too soon to be a text from Tristan, who lived a good twenty minutes away, but, curious, she swiped to see who it was. She drew a breath as a familiar name appeared on her screen. Todd, at long last, was getting back in touch.