Chapter Twelve
Twelve
‘Oh darling!’ Granny Viv said, getting all teary eyed when Kate came downstairs at precisely seven-fifty-five. ‘You look stunning.’
‘Absolutely beautiful,’ agreed Millie.
Even Rufus barked appreciatively. At least that’s what Kate decided he had done.
The doorbell startled them.
‘He’s early. That’s a good sign,’ said Millie.
‘He’s keen,’ said Granny Viv. ‘I knew he would be. It’s Fate.’
‘It’s not,’ said Kate heading to the door. ‘And it might not be him. I thought he’d wait in the car.’
‘No man with good manners would do that,’ Granny Viv called after her. ‘Invite him in for a drink.’
‘No,’ Kate called back before taking a deep breath and opening the front door.
‘I thought you’d … Oh wow.’ She scanned him from head to toe as he stood in the portico still holding a large, golf umbrella, his mouth open slightly and his brows raised as he stared at her in silent appreciation. ‘You look good.’
He was wearing a dark blue suit and a crisp white shirt with a dark blue and white silk, wavy striped, tie beneath the same open overcoat he’d worn earlier.
‘So do you,’ he finally said, sounding like he was chewing gravel. His eyes ran up and down the length of her body several times as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.
‘Thanks,’ she croaked, conscious of the effect his admiring gaze was having on her body. He looked completely captivated by her, and although that made her feel wonderful, and sexy, and desired, it also made her feel nervous about where this might lead.
The dress had wide adjustable shoulder straps with a low, straight-cut neckline that revealed just enough cleavage to be attractive without looking cheap by exposing too much.
The satin dress had a tulle overlay adorned with all-over star-shaped appliqués giving an impressive three-dimensional effect.
The internal boned corset provided enhanced support making even more of Kate’s cleavage.
She knew she looked good. And he hadn’t even seen the lace-up detailing at the back, which she was sure he would want to undo, row by row, even if only in his imagination.
Not that it would do him any good. The satin laces were merely for show. The side zip was what enabled the dress to be slipped on and off with ease.
‘Hel-l-o!’ Granny Viv, called out.
‘Good bye!’ Kate called back, grabbing her coat, closing the front door, and stepping outside so suddenly that her body was almost touching his because he hadn’t moved an inch.
They stared into one another’s eyes for a moment before Kate stepped to one side and shrugged on her coat.
‘Shouldn’t I have said hello?’ he asked.
‘No,’ she replied. ‘Trust me. You’d be safer in a Lion’s den. I thought you’d wait in the car.’
‘Sorry. But I couldn’t do that. Here.’ He held out his crooked arm and she gingerly linked her arm through his.
The tingle of excitement made her gasp for breath as, their bodies touching, albeit through several layers of various materials, he led her down the steps and to the passenger side of the car.
He held the umbrella over her until she was inside.
He let it down as he got in, and in just those few seconds, his coat and suit and shirt and tie were wet.
Kate tugged at the hem of her purple mini dress, acutely aware that, due to its figure-hugging quality it had ridden up when she’d sat down and more of her legs were on display now than she’d have liked.
But when she spotted his sidelong glance, she left the hem alone, and basked in the admiration.
It had been a very long time since Kate had experienced this and she was determined to make the most of it.
He coughed and shifted in his seat then pressed the start button on his Volvo XC90, and reversed out of the drive.
If he spotted Granny Viv and Millie staring at them through the large bay window, he didn’t react as if he had, and she was pleased about that.
‘It’s really coming down,’ she said, stating the obvious.
‘I think it’s set in for the night,’ he replied.
‘Thanks for coming to get me.’
‘My pleasure,’ he said. ‘I’m really glad you called. As soon as I’d sent you that text earlier, I thought I might’ve crossed a line or something, so I was relieved I hadn’t. But patience isn’t one of my virtues and when, after a few hours, you hadn’t responded, I could’ve kicked myself.’
‘To be honest, I was with Granny Viv when it arrived, and you know I didn’t want her to think … well, anyway, then I forgot about it. Sorry. Erm. Do you normally expect a quick response to texts? You didn’t say you were waiting for a reply.’
He laughed. ‘No. Only when it’s something that … means a lot. Or when I’m unsure of myself, as I was today.’
‘Unsure of yourself? You don’t seem unsure.’
‘Believe me, I am.’
‘Sorry. If I’d known, I would’ve replied.’
‘No harm done.’ He turned his head and smiled at her.
‘I looked at your website. I was most impressed. But there isn’t a photo of you in the about us section, other than the one of you as a young boy. That’s a lovely photo.’
He cringed visibly. ‘I forgot that was on there. But my parents insisted. And it is a gorgeous photo of Hope.’
‘It is. But why isn’t there any other info about you?’
He darted her a look. ‘Like what?’
‘Well, you’re a co-owner and yet, as I said, there isn’t a photo of you as an adult, and there’s no bio about you as there is about the other people who work there.’
‘That’s because I don’t work there. I still teach. And besides, I’d rather stay in the background.’
‘Something to hide?’
‘No. Nothing. I’ve told you everything, I think. Far more than I would normally tell anyone. And I’m not sure why I did that, to be honest.’
‘I did the same with you. You know more about me than I think my doctor does.’
He laughed. ‘That’s a good thing, isn’t it? That we both felt safe enough to open up to one another about things we might not have said to other people.’
‘Yes. Probably. One question though.’
‘Yes?’
‘Why did you buy that dog food today? The rescue centre here won’t be open for weeks and you’re staying here, so it’s not for the one in Oxford.’
‘It is. I bought it because it’s made by a local start up, with all natural ingredients, and I wanted to buy some to take back with me.
I’d read about it and knew that Paws for Life had a limited stock, so I bought it today in case they ran out.
Or I forgot later. I’ve got quite a lot going on right now and my memory lets me down from time to time. ’
‘Oh, I see.’
I’ll give you a couple of tins for Rufus to try, if that’s okay with his owner, and you can let me know what he thinks. Rufus, not his owner.’
‘Thanks.’ She sat and watched the torrential rain as the wipers valiantly swept it away from the windscreen. ‘Your parents look like lovely people.’
‘They are. I’m grateful every day that they chose me. I dread to think where I might be right now if they hadn’t.’
‘Do you … do you ever think about your real parents?’
‘Emma and Matt Gale are my real parents as far as I’m concerned.
As I said, I have no idea who my biological parents are.
I know it’s important for many people to find out all they can about theirs, but I’ve never felt the need.
From a medical history standpoint, it makes sense of course, and I realise roots are important, but I don’t care about the past. I’m not the person I was prior to my adoption.
What matters to me are the present and the future. ’
‘So you’d never try to find them?’
‘No.’
‘What if they found you? Sorry. Am I asking too many questions?’
He shot her a look and then he shrugged.
‘I’m not sure I’ve ever thought about that.
I suppose I’d have to cross that bridge if I ever came to it.
But it’s unlikely now. They must be at least the same age as Emma and Matt, or older if anything.
If they’d wanted to find me, they would’ve done so long before now. ’
‘Thanks for being honest.’
He smiled at her. ‘There’s no point in being anything else. Pretending to be someone, or something we’re not is futile. The truth will out, as they say. We’re here. It’s a beautiful place. The gardens are spectacular, but not in this weather obviously.’
‘Yes. That’s what Granny Viv said and I looked at them on the website. Blimey. It’s even more beautiful in real life.’
Claybrooke Country House Hotel was a Georgian Manor House with a double height, semi-circular central bow section housing the large front beneath a portico that made the one at Granny Viv’s look like a doll’s house entrance.
The four columns were thick and tall and supported the upper storey.
The only similarity to Granny Viv’s was the glass lantern. But even that was grander here.
A porter with an even larger golf umbrella, or so it seemed, came out to greet them as Raff pulled up outside. Raff gave him the keys and a grateful smile, and then Raff led Kate inside.
The reception hall was impressive, with a grand chandelier taking pride of place in front of a sweeping central, ornately carved dark oak staircase, the bar was on one side of the reception hall, and the dining room on the other.
There was also a library, three other reception rooms open to guests, and a magnificent kitchen area with cellars below.
There were two-storey wings either side of the central bow section, each one containing five suites on the first floor.
In addition, there were three self-contained, two-bedroom cottages on the grounds, a two-bedroom converted coach house and the stables had been converted into another two-bedroom suite.
The house sat in five acres consisting of formal gardens, ornamental gardens, a kitchen garden, the rose gardens, two tennis courts, a croquet lawn, and another barn containing sauna, a hot tub, and a large indoor pool.
The rear of the property had a stone Terrace that ran along the entire length of the building and that, together with the bedrooms at the rear, and many areas of the gardens, had extensive views to the south.
Not that any of those could be seen in the dark, but Kate had looked at every photo in the gallery on the website.
‘Would you like an aperitif?’ Raff asked once they’d left their coats at the cloakroom.
‘We have fifteen minutes for a drink in the bar. We made good time despite the weather. A glass of champagne as it’s Valentine’s Day?
Not that I’m suggesting this is a date or anything.
I’m aware it’s just two new friends getting to know one another. A cocktail?’
‘Is it?’ Kate hadn’t meant to say that aloud and she quickly looked away and headed towards the bar.
Raff was by her side in a second and he placed his hand gently on her forearm, the gesture making Kate stop in her tracks as their eyes met.
‘Isn’t it?’ His brows half knit together and the look in his eyes was one of hope. Of expectation. Of something else too.
‘Don’t ask me. We’ve been dancing around whatever this is all day. I’m not sure what to think.’
‘Nor am I.’
‘A drink then,’ she said.
‘A much-needed drink,’ he replied, letting his hand slip from her arm as they walked side by side into the bar.
They both had champagne and then a second glass each.
‘Before we go any further,’ Kate said. ‘I’m paying for tonight.’
Raff nearly choked on his drink. ‘No you’re not.’
‘Yes I am. You paid for coffee. And I asked you to dinner, remember?’
‘No. I asked first. By text. You simply replied later with your phone call.’
‘No. My phone call had nothing to do with your text. I called you because, quite frankly, I was utterly fed up. I’d just had video calls with my daughter and my mum and they were having so much fun that when I realised my evening would be spent with my gran, playing cards, followed by an early night, something inside me wanted to scream.
In point of fact, you’re my escape. So I’m paying. ’
‘No. My night wasn’t looking any better. Dinner alone then back to my hotel room to watch TV. You’re my escape. We’re not going to agree on this, but it would make me happy if you’d let me pay.’
‘What about my happiness? I want to pay too. What about if we go Dutch?’
‘Go Dutch? Hmm. I suppose that’s an option. But I’ve never done that on a date before.’
‘This isn’t a date, remember? Plus. I owe you for the ball thing this morning as well as the coffees. And you came and got me, so that’s another thing I owe you for.’
‘You don’t owe me anything.’
‘I’ve made a decision,’ Kate said emphatically. ‘We’re going Dutch and that’s the final word on the subject.’
‘Or …’ he proffered. ‘I pay for this, because it was my suggestion to dine here. And we go out for dinner again soon, and you pay for that. You can’t argue with that reasoning.’
Kate grinned at him. ‘You clearly don’t know me. I could.’
He grinned back. ‘But you won’t, will you?’
‘Your table is ready,’ the barman told them, looking at Raff.
‘And…’ Raff added, grinning wider. ‘The table is in my name, so that’s another tick in my column.’
‘Fine,’ said Kate. ‘But I’m definitely paying next time.’
‘I’m already looking forward to it.’