FOURTEEN
“ H ey!”
I jumped with a start and turned to see Barn standing there with a boyish grin on his face. “You scared me half to death.” I looked down at the cup and saucer that I was returning to the kitchen after my morning tea. “And I almost dropped everything.”
He laughed, took the cup and saucer from my hand and brought it to the kitchen counter. “What are you up to this morning?”
“Not much. Just enjoying the day off.”
“Yeah,” he said looking around at the kitchen and adjacent dining room. “I’m feeling a little claustrophobic in this place. How about we hit the town and... I don’t know... do a little shopping maybe.”
“Claustrophobic? In this huge place?” I said with a laugh. “Okay. Whatever. Sure. Going into town sounds fun.”
“Well then, hurry off to get dressed in something pretty and meet me out by my car,” he ordered. “The Aston Martin,” he specified.
After changing into a backless foam green dress with a flared skirt, I met him at his car.
The drive out to London was pleasant, with good old music from the British Invasion era blasting our ears. We reached the city, and I marveled at the beauty of the high-end stores that beckoned us. Shopping. I had a feeling this was going to be a unique shopping experience.
“Ever been to Harrods?” Barn said.
“Heavens, no,” I said with a laugh. “I doubt I’m even worthy enough to stand before their store window.”
His amused chuckle filled my ears, and I longed to make him laugh again.
“Come on,” he said as he parked the car. “This is going to be quite the treat.”
What an understatement, I thought as we entered the store that seemed to glisten from floor to ceiling. It was all so fabulously expensive and luxurious. I suspected that buying anything was beyond my means, but simply walking through the famed store was a dream.
“I was thinking of buying my parents a special bottle of wine for their upcoming wedding anniversary,” Barn said as he guided me to a section filled with expensive looking champagne and wine bottles.
“That’s so sweet of you,” I said. I glanced at some of the prices on the bottles. ￡2,000. ￡5,000. ￡7,500. ￡25,000. My goodness.
“Oh,” he said finding what he wanted. “This is perfect. The year my parents were married. And it’s only ￡3,500.” He looked at the clerk and slipped him a business card. “I would like to have this delivered to this address, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
We strolled through the perfume section, flipped through a few books in the book corner, and filled our nostrils with the aromatic scents of the food section. It was all so intoxicating.
“How about a Gucci bag?” Barn said.
I giggled as I shook my head. It was far too decadent. Everything was.
“You have pens here that sell for hundreds of dollars.”
“Pounds,” Barn corrected.
“Right. I don’t know how many dollars that works out to, but I’m certain it’s a lot.”
“Come on,” he said as he guided me to the elevator. “Let’s take the lift up.”
We browsed a bit on various levels, enjoying the sights and smell of it all.
“Oh,” I let out as we reached the gift shop. “Look at the teddy bears.”
“Harrods famed bears.”
“Aren’t they adorable.”
“Which do you prefer?” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “The one dressed in green, in blue or in red?”
“Oh, the red... oh, but the green is so cute. The green.”
“The green it is.” He picked one and held it up to me. “Just for you.”
“You’re too sweet, Barn,” I said as he paid for the bear.
“Let me carry that for you,” he said as he took the bag.
With the bear in a Harrods bag, we left the famed store.
I floated on a cloud as Barn led the way down Oxford Street where we ducked into Marks and Spencer.
“I love all the trinkets and pretty little things,” I said as I admired a shelf filled with biscuit tins.
“Here’s a neat little trinket that you might like,” he said holding up a pewter cat.
“Oh, that’s adorable.” I took the two-inch-tall cat from his hand and examined it. “Isn’t it so perfect.”
“It’s yours,” he said.
“I can’t, Barn,” I argued. “This is the second time that I say I love something, and you purchase it for me.”
He pulled me into his arms and kissed the tip of my nose. “That’s right. I’m ready to do anything to please you.”
My heart soared and I suddenly wished we could be alone.
“Come on,” he said as my knees turned to mush. “Let’s go grab lunch somewhere.”
We turned and came face to face with Rhonda. My heart instantly sank, and my legs went numb.
“Well, what a pleasant surprise,” Rhonda said her bright smile meant only for Barn. “Looks like the cast and crew of Pride and Prejudice is out on the town.”
“This is great,” Barn said, a little too quickly. His eyes practically devoured her. “Kind of like a mini cast party.”
Great.
“Isn’t that right, Ayra?” he added.
“Yeah,” I said with a forced smile. “Nice.”
“We were just about to go grab some lunch,” Barn went on. “Why don’t you join us?”
“Sounds like fun,” she said.
Yeah. A real hoot.
“Where were you guys going to go?”
“We haven’t decided yet,” he said. “Where would you like to go?”
I could go for some fish and chips, I wanted to say but...
“I’ve been dieting these past weeks, but I could sure go for a big, beefy burger.”
“A burger joint it is,” Barn said without bothering to ask for my opinion.
They turned to head out of the shop seemingly forgetting all about me.
“Hey, Ayra,” Barn said as we all stepped out. “You don’t mind, do you?”
Okay, so a little late, but at least he asked.
Hmm.
“No,” I said, knowing that their relationship was important to maintaining that chemistry for the movie. “It’s absolutely fine.”
With Barn between us, we walked down the sidewalk in search of a burger place.
“So,” Barn said to Rhonda, “what sort of diet are you on?”
“Oh, nothing special. Just counting calories and keeping them to a minimum.”
He looked her up and down. Wearing a navy blue and white striped mini dress that hugged her slim frame, she looked good... too good.
“Well,” Barn said. “Whatever you’re doing, it’s working. You look fabulous.”
She smiled and gazed lovingly into his eyes. “Thanks. That’s sweet. Although, with those empire style dresses that we have to wear for the shoot, I think I might have been dieting for nothing all this time.”
He leaned into her and laughed. “But wearing that dress there... va va voom.”
They laughed and leaned into each other.
“And I love what you’ve done to your hair.”
She flipped her long dark hair back. “It’s so freeing to be able to wear it loose. My God, what horrid style they had back then. I mean, those tight little curls around my face are not flattering... not one bit.”
“Anything looks flattering on you, Rhonda.”
“Oh.” Rhonda leaned forward to look at me. “Isn’t he just the sweetest?”
“Yes,” I said with a lack of conviction.
But Barn only had eyes for her. He didn’t even glance my way. We walked on and the further we went, the more they ignored me.
“There seems to be a burger shop down this street,” I said as we crossed an intersection.
But they continued as if I’d said nothing.
Seconds later, just as we reached the opposite sidewalk, Rhonda said, “Hey, there’s a burger shop over there.”
“Eagle eye, girl,” Barn said. “Eagle eye. Let’s go.”
I rushed to keep up with them and quickly reached the restaurant. Being that it was well past lunchtime, the place was relatively empty and quiet.
Barn and Rhonda walked in and thankfully passed by the table for two and sat at a table for four, saving me the embarrassment of having to drag a third chair to their table.
We ordered burgers and fries, and I sat there listening to them whine about the movie shoot throughout the meal.
“I can’t wait for this movie to be over,” Rhonda said.
“I know what you mean,” Barn said. “Staying at Moon Manor is starting to wear thin.”
“It’ll all be over soon enough.”
Will this be over soon enough?
Satisfied with my meal, but with my senses numb, we left the burger place. For hours we strolled the streets of London. I wanted to comment on the architecture of certain buildings, question the utility of others or simply chat idly with the man I’d come into town with, but Rhonda monopolized the conversation.
“Oh, look!” Rhonda suddenly let out as she stopped in front of a beauty shop. “I came here last week to get my hair done.”
“They are one of the finest in the city,” Barn said with an approving nod.
Rhonda turned to me as if suddenly remembering that I was still with them. “Did you know that Barnaby is truly an expert in beauty? He has an eye for these things... a natural instinct.” She leaned back to admire him. “I mean... look at him. He is the epitome of manliness, of masculinity, of virility.”
Indeed.
She cocked her head to the side and looked at me, her eyes narrowed with a touch of reproach. “You know, if you truly want to capture the full essence of this man and all his masculinity, you really should listen to the directions he offers on set. He knows what his best angles are.” She smiled and winked at him. “Although, I think he’s fabulous from every angle.” She looked back to me. “It really is a shame that you don’t accept his views more.”
“Well,” I began, not really sure where to go. Clearly, she was taking his side and suggesting I not meddle. But... this was my project, too. I had a say in the making of this movie. Not only did I want to make it clear that Keely had asked me to meddle, but that Keely was the best director for this project, that she knew what she was doing. “I think...”
“Actually,” Barn cut in. “The more I think about it, the more I realize that I was right about just about every suggestion that I made... especially those regarding a close up of my face. I mean, that’s the whole idea with this movie, right? We want the world to fall in love with Mr. Darcy and... well...” He grinned and pointed up at his face with both index fingers. “Who in the world wouldn’t fall in love with this face?”
Rhonda giggled and leaned heavily into him, causing him to laugh along with her.
“Isn’t he just so artistic,” she said to me.
Indeed.
“And you are just so full of flattery,” Barn said, leaning into her so much that I thought he was going to kiss her right then and there.
He turned to glance at me, and I could’ve sworn there was a touch of disdain playing on his lips.
“You know, Ayra,” he said. “You really should be supporting me in this. I mean... I am the star of this movie and... It’s not cool that you ignored my suggestions Not cool at all.” He winked at Rhonda who giggled some more.
I felt certain that my cheeks were ruby red. How dare him scold me in front of a cast member. How dare he question my devotion to this project by insinuating that I wasn’t doing what was best. And in front of her. In front of her!
His tone of reproach was like that of a man to his wife... too customary and too at ease... and yet... Hadn’t he been the one to ask that we remain discreet... especially in front of Rhonda.
My confusion was almost debilitating. What was he doing... and why? My, God, why?
“You know... if you ask me,” Rhonda offered, though no one had asked for her opinion. “Barn here is a stud... a real stud... a man among men. And he deserves all the adoration and admiration that comes his way. And he should only be surrounded by people who show their adoration for him. Clearly, you don’t appreciate him as you should.”
What the hell does that mean?
I considered her words for a moment and truly questioned; did I not appreciate him enough?
Yes, Barn was a good-looking guy. He had a great body, great muscle tone, perfect proportions. He had everything going for him. And yet... I looked at him. Did he perhaps think a little too highly of himself? As great as he looked... a little humility wouldn’t hurt.
“Rhonda’s right. I really should be surrounded with people who adore me.” He looked at her. “I mean, what’s not to adore, right?”
Rhonda playfully pinched his cheek.
“Besides, Ayra,” Barn said as he pulled Rhonda’s hand away from his cheek and held onto it. “I hate to sound like a big shot, but I am the star of this movie. I am the big name. My name alone is going to draw crowds whether this movie actually turns out to be good or not.”
As I stared at him in disbelief, he turned to squarely face me.
“If you really think about it, you were wrong to side with that female director. I mean, she’s nice and all, and I’m sure she’s a decent director, but... come on... I’m the star here. Whatever I say should go.”
“I think we’ve argued the point enough,” Rhonda said as she grabbed his arm. “Let’s go have some fun.”
Stunned, I stood there as they walked away.
Really? Did Barn just turn and leave me stranded in London?
“Seriously?” I muttered to myself as those who passed by looked at me funny.