Chapter Forty-Six
Henry picked at his lamb, trying to show willing.
The catering team had done a great job and he didn’t want them to think he hadn’t enjoyed it.
Henry thought about Granger, lying across the foot of the double bed up in his room, where he left him as he had dressed and come down.
Having him by his side now might have helped him out; he was a Labrador after all with a pit for a stomach.
Mrs Jenkins, or Glinda as he now called her, drew Henry’s attention.
‘She’ll come, you know.’
‘Pardon?’
‘Ava, she’ll come.’
‘Is it that obvious?’ Henry smiled.
‘Yes, but don’t worry. I don’t think anybody else has noticed.
They look like they’re having a wonderful time.
’ She motioned to the room, and it was true.
Everyone was smiling, eating, drinking and chatting.
There was no ostentatious drunkenness, but everyone looked on the right side of merry.
Henry was pleased to see Ted talking to Flo who laughed raucously at whatever he’d said.
‘You did a brilliant job helping me with the organisation. Really, thank you. The orchestra is much more fitting than Dave the DJ’s offer of a disco. Contacting the college was inspired. I’m not sure we could have carried this whole thing off otherwise.’
‘You’re most welcome, and I’ve enjoyed it. It was hard, watching your father. He wouldn’t let me help enough. I sometimes felt I was walking on eggshells around him.’ Glinda looked at Henry with a look that made him wonder how much she knew.
‘The tumour caused mood swings — my mother has said the same.’ Henry didn’t think that was what Glinda meant but wasn’t going to be drawn into talking about the estate’s affairs.
She smiled and nodded. ‘I’m sorry I seemed stiff when you first took over everything.’
Henry looked at her, deciding it was safer not to comment.
‘I worked for your father for a long time, and I love this house. The family and the estate mean a lot to me. My family have worked here for generations. Forgive me, but I thought . . . I thought you might give up on it and sell. Some people would have.’
Henry looked at her. He had no idea if it was the alcohol making her speak this way but he welcomed the honesty.
He smiled. ‘I’m here to stay and, Glinda, I misjudged you too. I’m sorry for that.’
‘Really, what did you think of me?’
Henry pushed away all images of apparitions and broomsticks. ‘Why don’t we just start over?’ He lifted his glass. ‘To new beginnings.’
Glinda smiled and repeated his toast as her glass met his.
‘I think I’ll join that toast.’ Lady Bramlington stretched across the table, her glass meeting theirs. ‘To new beginnings.’
Henry wondered if he saw a lingering look between the two women, and decided not to question it. Instead, he drained his glass.
As he placed it, empty, back on the table, he saw Mary and Gino slipping into their seats. His pulse raced as his eyes searched the room. And then he saw her. Ava was standing in the doorway. When he looked in her direction she smiled.
Excusing himself, Henry stood and walked towards her, both pleased and nervous at her arrival.
‘You came, and you look incredible.’ His voice was a deep whisper as he took in the sight of her.
Emerald green satin caressed her body, pooling at her feet — contrasting with her flame-red hair, pale skin tone and the smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks.
Her blue eyes glinted as she offered him a smile that he felt as well as saw.
‘Thank you. You look stunning yourself.’
Henry felt his cheeks blush as Ava’s flirtatious eyes met his.
‘I should announce you’re here. Most of the village has turned out to support the charity — but I wish we were alone.’
Ava leaned up and kissed his cheek. The sensation of her hair touching his face, her scent, and the brush of silk against his arm, was intoxicating. He released an appreciative sigh.
‘Me too,’ she whispered, slipping her hand in his.
He looked down, and then back to her smile, wondering how he was going to contain the things he wanted to say and do with her until it was polite to slip away.
* * *
When at last the dancing was well underway, and most people were occupied being taught a choreographed waltz by one of the dance students who had agreed to help for the evening, Henry seized his moment. Taking Ava by the hand, he led her outside into the privacy of a walled courtyard.
‘Are you cold?’
‘No.’ She smiled.
The sun had all but set, its final flourish creating streaks of red and purple in the late evening sky.
‘I wanted to take you to the lake, but perhaps another time.’ Henry motioned to her dress.
‘No, I want to go. Please.’ Ava leaned against him and slipped off the high-heeled satin shoes Mary chose for her. ‘To be honest, these were killing me.’ She laughed.
‘OK, but you have to wear this. The warmth from inside won’t last all the way.’ Henry slipped off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders before opening a gate that looked like it should take them to a secret garden.
Walking hand in hand, they made their way towards the lake. The sound of music and laughter floated on the breeze until being replaced by the evening bird song as they drew near the woods.
‘Thank you for tonight. I really do appreciate it.’ Ava smiled.
‘I was concerned you wouldn’t come.’
‘I wasn’t sure I was going to. I was worried.’
‘Why?’
‘Worried about our families, the past and if I’d be able to move on from that and—’
‘Can you move on from that?’
‘I have to. I can’t stop my feelings for you and, if I’m honest, I don’t want to.’
Henry tried not to respond so she could go on talking, but couldn’t help the slight increase on his grip of her hand as he gave it an affectionate squeeze.
Ava continued, ‘You’re not responsible for your mum’s actions, and I can’t live to please my parents. I’ve tried and it doesn’t work.’
Henry couldn’t help the smile that played with his lips but knew he had to control his feelings until he’d heard her out. ‘There was something else. I thought you were going to say something else before I interrupted you.’
‘It’s silly, I know it is, but part of me was worried you thought I needed help with the charity. Moving the charity here, and throwing a ball is a big deal . . . like a fairytale. But I’m not looking for fairytales. I don’t need rescuing, and neither does the charity. I almost let that stop me.’
‘But it didn’t.’
‘No, because . . . I realised it was a nice thing you were doing and that’s OK. ’
Henry stopped and she turned to face him. A hint of colour had crept across her cheeks from the evening air.
‘If you hadn’t have come, I would have come to find you.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it.’ She smiled before they continued to make their way to the lake.
As they drew near, the sound of the fountain could be heard. Ava turned to Henry, the look in her eyes making the effort worth it.
‘It’s working again, isn’t it?’ Lifting her dress with one hand and holding on to Henry’s jacket with the other, she ran the rest of the way, Henry following.
‘It’s beautiful.’
‘It’s a work in progress, but I wanted you to see it.’
Henry watched as she moved her hand over the stone edge before she touched the water — the reflection of the last of the sunset rippled across the surface in response.
‘It must be cold.’
She flicked a little water at him. ‘It is.’
As he leaned around her to splash her back, she squealed. Henry pulled her to him, stopping her with a kiss that she returned.
When they paused for breath, Henry looked into Ava’s eyes.
‘I love you, Ava Flynn. I’ve always loved you.
And I have never thought you needed rescuing.
If anything, now, and when I was younger, it is you who has rescued me.
And in case you ever wonder if I mind that, I don’t.
I really don’t.’ Henry laughed, the sound deep in the still evening air.
‘In fact, I would like you to keep rescuing me for the rest of our lives.’
Ava smiled a broad, happy smile. ‘Really?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good. Because I love you too and that sounds perfect.’
Henry slipped one hand into her hair and moved her closer as they kissed once more, his other arm slipping inside the jacket he had draped over her. He felt the silk of her dress, the only barrier to her smooth, soft skin he could feel beneath the fabric.
‘Wait!’ Ava moved back, just inches from his face, her rapid breathing evident in the rise and fall of her chest still pressed against him. ‘I have something for you.’
Henry smiled.
‘Probably not what you’re thinking, but something up at the house. It’s a gift.’
‘Really?’ Henry was intrigued. What more could she give him when he already had everything he wanted enwrapped in his arms?
‘Come on.’ Ava began making her way back to the house. Henry followed, catching her hand in his as he drew level with her — their silhouettes in contrast to the lights and sound of the house they moved towards.
Henry felt Ava’s hand in his; her words still echoing in his mind. I love you too. They walked in contented silence until Ava spoke.
‘Henry, I don’t mind being rescued sometimes.’
Henry laughed. ‘Good, then I can do this.’ He swooped her off her feet and lifted her into his arms. ‘Now I get to hold you close and you don’t have to walk through the damp grass.’
With Gino standing by her side, Mary sat on the steps at the back of Dapplebury House, stroking Granger. As they drew near to them, Henry saw a massive grin spread across her face before she spoke. ‘Oh my goodness, you’ve finally sorted yourselves out.’
Henry placed Ava’s feet back on the ground and smiled. Granger trotted to them, his innocent eyes belying his escape from Henry’s room.
‘I really must fix that door.’ Henry shook his head and greeted the dog with a rub behind the ears.
Gino looked at the three of them. ‘So you’re together now? Only, I didn’t see a plane or anything as impressive,’ he teased.
‘Ha, no but there was a lake and you know’ — Ava gestured to the house where the music continued to play — ‘an orchestra.’
‘I did my best.’ Henry shrugged.
Ava passed Henry back his jacket, put her shoes on and attempted to straighten out her dress.
‘Looking a bit ruffled there, Miss Flynn.’ Mary laughed.
‘Honestly, who chose silk? It’s very unforgiving.’ Ava smiled before turning to Henry. ‘Now, wait here.’ She slipped inside the house.
Henry looked at Mary and Gino.
‘We don’t know what it is either. We only know she had a waiter stash it away,’ Mary confessed.
As Ava walked back out, she held a package, wrapped in brown paper and tied with string.
‘I hope you like it.’
She looked nervous and Henry could see the quiver in her hands as she passed the gift over.
‘Thank you.’ He looked at Mary and Gino and then back at Ava.
‘I’d tell them to go but I think there’s a slim to no chance of that happening.’
‘She’s right.’ Mary nodded, and Gino sat next to her on the steps as if to make the point.
Henry untied the string and slipped his hand into the brown paper wrapping, feeling a frame inside, wondering what the picture might be.
Ava wrung her hands. ‘You don’t have to keep the frame. It’s all I had at the shop.’
Henry paused to listen but as he went to resume unwrapping the gift, Ava spoke again.
‘And if you don’t like it, that’s fine. Please don’t feel you have to keep it. Well, you should keep it. Not keeping it would be rude. But you don’t have to display it or—’
‘Ava! Will you let the man open his present,’ Mary interjected.
‘Yes, sorry, go on.’
Henry pulled the paper off the parcel, his eyes transfixed by what he saw.
‘I remember this day.’ His eyes welled with emotion at the picture, sketched by Ava on a hot summer’s day, too long ago.
‘I thought you should have a portrait of you, the real you, when you were younger.’ Ava’s voice betrayed her nerves and Henry felt his chest swell.
‘You’re amazing, thank you.’ He walked to Ava, kissing her in thanks, the frame held carefully in his hand.
‘Ah hum, can we see?’ Mary asked.
Henry turned the picture. It was a sketch of him in the woods, he must have been around fifteen, his hair and clothes messy. He and Ava had been foraging for blackberries, staining their skin and clothes before they decided to wash it all off by skinny-dipping in the lake.
‘Wow! Ava, that’s great. It really is.’
‘You’re very talented.’ Gino echoed Mary’s sentiment.
Ava blushed, the colour of her hair.