Chapter 37
Elizabeth
We pull through a set of black, seven-foot wrought iron electric gates and along a gravel driveway that takes at least thirty seconds to reach the grand country manor entrance.
The SUV wheels crunch along the driveway, stopping at the steps to the front door.
I get out and look up, ivy climbing the stone wall in front of me.
Nigel retrieves the suitcase out of the boot and carries it up the concrete steps to the house.
I stand still, unsure of what I’m supposed to be doing.
Theo takes my hand and leads me through the large entrance.
The floor has a black and white chequered pattern, and there is a sweeping staircase in front of me leading to the next level.
Gold chandeliers hang from the ceiling, stealing my breath away with the sparkle they emit.
I look to the left, where I can see a kitchen the same size as my entire cottage.
White marble countertops and olive coloured cabinets.
I look to my right, where there is a living room, full of suited men.
I don’t recognise any of them, but they all look very stern and serious.
Theo holds my arms gently. “I have to head in there for a meeting. Make yourself comfortable, and I will come and find you when I am done.” He kisses me on the forehead and stops for a moment, staring at me. I wonder what he is thinking, but before I can wonder anymore, he wraps me in his arms.
“Don’t worry. You’re safe here, Sunshine.
I’ve got you.” He releases my body and strokes my cheek before walking off.
I wander into the kitchen and make my way over to the window seat that wasn’t visible from the entrance.
I sit and pick up one of the cushions, hugging it into myself tightly, the softness becoming a comfort.
I sit there for an hour watching the birds fly in and out of the trees. Uncertainty pools in my stomach.
I pick up my phone and dial Fiona’s number.
“Elizabeth, are you ok? What’s happening? Is Theo back?” So many questions, and it scrambles my brain. There’s so much I need to tell her. “Hello? Elizabeth.”
“Sorry, Fi, I don’t know where to start.” I hear Fiona take a long breath, and then the tone of her voice changes.
“Ok. Let’s start from the beginning. Are you ok most importantly?” Her voice is back to the calm Fiona that I know.
“Yes, I’m ok. I’m at a country manor about half an hour away.” My voice is still shaky, and I move myself from the window seat to the kitchen table.
“Second question. What’s happening with you and Theo? I’ve seen the news, but I want to hear it from you.”
“Theo asked Olivia for a divorce the night she was taken to hospital. He came to me that day and told me he wants to be with me. Look after me and Nellie. I believe him, Fiona. I think this is it.” Silence stretches, and I can hear the faint sound of Fiona’s breathing on the other side of the phone, uneven.
“If he hurts you, Elle…” she stops as her voice quivers. I can hear the pain and distrust in her voice, and it tugs at my heart.
“He won’t, Fiona. I trust him.”
“I’ll be here, Elle, every step. Every happy moment, I want to know about it. I want this to work out for you. You deserve it, but don’t go back to the cottage, please. It’s too dangerous. If you need anything, I will go and get it.”
“I know. Me and Bear are safe here. Listen, I must go, but I will call you, ok?” We exchange ‘love you’s’ and we hang up.
I can hear the faded words of the many people in the other room.
Rising from my seat, I make my way back to the living room door and slowly crack it open to poke my head through in search of Theo.
All heads turn to me. A flash of heat creeps up my neck and floods my cheeks at the sudden attention.
Theo stands and makes his way over, calm and protective.
He opens the door and guides me inside, introducing me to his ‘PR Team.’
“Ok, I think we’re done here. We’ll pick this back up later.
Let me know if there are any updates.” With that, every single person rises from their seats and leaves.
Theo pulls me into his embrace and holds me.
He kisses the top of my head and rubs my back gently.
After a few comforting moments, he lifts my chin. “Come on, let’s show you around.”
He holds his hand at the small of my back and gives me the tour of the seven bedroom, nine bath manor that is decorated to perfection.
Bright neutral walls, plush furniture, throw cushions, and plants in every room.
An orangery off the back of the kitchen, holding a twelve-seater dining table.
In the living room sits a beautiful black grand piano in the corner.
It reminds me of the one Theo played at The Savoy all those months ago.
“This place was supposed to be our escape,” Theo starts.
“When I found out I was divorcing Olivia, I bought this for us. For our family. I hadn’t planned on showing it to you this way.
” He turns to face me, and I notice a hint of nerves.
He rubs his hands through his hair. “If you agree, this will be where we live.”
I look at him in shock. He wants me to live here with him. In this beautiful home. My hand flies to my mouth as I look around. This seems so fast, but so natural for our family. I don’t see any other future than the one I see as I stand here, looking up the sweeping staircase.
“You want me to move in?” I question.
“I would love nothing more than waking up every single morning with you next to me, Sunshine.”
Slowly, I nod.
I melt into his embrace. He gently touches his lips to mine and then leads me upstairs.
He opens a door to an empty room, sun streaming through the open window. It looks over the acreage out the back, two deer grazing on the grass in front of me.
“I thought you could decorate this room for the nursery. I’m not telling you to sell the cottage.
That’s yours to do as you please, but I think this is a better sized nursery for our growing baby.
What do you think?” His arms wrap around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder, his hands caressing my stomach.
I lay my hand across his, interlacing our fingers just as Nellie kicks.
“I think it’s perfect, Theo.” I release him from my grip and walk around the room, leaving my hand on my belly the whole time, daydreaming of how I will decorate the perfect nursery for our baby.
My body is flooded with so many emotions, fear from today’s news, relief at being safe here in this house, and love. So much love for him.
I walk over to where he is standing and put my lips to his ear.
“Where’s our room?” I whisper.
He quickly leads me away from the nursery and into a room on the opposite side of the landing. There, in the middle of the wall, is a cream wood, four-poster king size bed, dressed in the softest white linen sheets. A dusky green throw at the end and double doors looking out to the garden.
Theo sits on the end of the bed, with me standing between his legs in front of him.
He rubs his hands down my back and along my bottom as I drag my hands through his hair.
He lightly kisses my belly, and I take a moment to appreciate that he is finally with us.
Finally, part of this extraordinary journey.
The longing I feel removes the fear from my mind.
For the first time in days, my body feels like mine again. I dip down to kiss him.
Slowly, I untie my dress, releasing my swollen breasts and wearing nothing but my lacy knickers.
A seductive grin spreads across his face and, God, I have missed that grin.
He lowers my knickers to the floor, and I step out of them as his hands explore my new body.
The body he has never seen like this before, never touched before.
I clasp my hand along the bottom of his jumper and pull it over his head.
I climb on top of him, pushing him back.
He lies back on the bed and watches me as I unbuckle his belt and release his zipper.
As I lift my hips, he pulls down his trousers and underwear, releasing his already hard erection.
I move over him, adjusting around my bump.
Theo’s hands guide me as I move slower than I used to, mindful of the curve of my stomach.
I lower my face to his, and our lips meet.
He moans as my opening lightly touches the tip of his cock.
I grind along the length of him, just the way he likes, making him moan into my mouth.
I lift my hips one last time and lower, feeling myself fill with him.
It’s been so long since we have been this close.
This connected. I rock lightly at first, but as the intensity grows and I begin to reach my peak, I rock harder and faster.
I lean down, kissing his neck and nipping at his ear.
He raises his hips with power, matching my rhythm.
“I love you, Sunshine,” he whispers as he loses control, thrusting up harder. Once more, twice, and then we come together, goosebumps covering my body, our moans silencing the noises of the outside world. Forgetting all about the mess of the day.
Just the two of us.
Making love in our new home.