Chapter 5 #2
‘I thought she was the bloody housekeeper! If I’d have known who she was, I never would have accepted. And even then, have you ever tried saying no to your mum?’
He opened his mouth as if to reply then apparently reconsidered his answer.
‘Admittedly, she can be quite… insistent at times.’
‘Exactly. But don’t worry. I’ve no intention of inveigling myself into anyone’s company. All I wanted this evening was a hot shower and an early night with my book. The change in those plans was hardly down to me.’
We pulled up outside Rose Cottage and my fingers were curled around the door release before the car had fully come to a stop.
‘Thanks for the lift,’ I said with little enthusiasm and making a point not to look at him. Bloody Lord of the Manor. I wasn’t some minion from Victorian times he could boss around and have his way with.
What? Where the hell did that come from?
‘Wait.’ His hand was on my arm. ‘Are you all right? You look quite flushed all of a sudden.’
‘I’m fine.’ I shrugged off his hand and jumped down from the Range Rover. ‘Goodnight.’ I closed the door before he could respond – assuming he was planning to – and marched off.
‘Shit.’ My shin collided with stone as I missed a step in the darkness and I felt the heel of my hand scrape against the cold surface in my endeavour to prevent a total face plant. In the midst of the swirling emotions of annoyance, humiliation and pissed-off-ness, a plummy voice drifted through.
‘Are you all right?’
‘Fine,’ I said again as I pushed myself up from the ground. Suddenly, that got easier as two hands hooked under my arms and stood me upright.
‘I said I was fine.’ I spun on Edward and tripped over what I assumed was one of his bloody great big feet. ‘Argh!’
His arm was around me this time while the other flicked on the torch which he shone at the ground.
‘Remind me to tell Isaac not to give you any power tools.’
‘Oh ha, ha.’ I wriggled out of his surprisingly strong hold.
‘I assume you don’t have a torch either. I’ll ensure one is delivered tomorrow.’
‘Thanks but I’m fine.’
‘So you keep saying. However, circumstances are persuading me otherwise.’
‘God, are you always this insufferable?’
‘Apparently so. Do you have the key and I can assist you inside?’
‘I don’t need any assisting inside,’ I repeated the last two words with my posh-o-meter switched to full power.
‘Very amusing. Now, do unlock the door so that I can assure my mother you have returned to the cottage in one piece. Of course, whether you stay that way is anyone’s guess.’
‘It’s your fault.’
‘Is it really?’ he asked, his tone suggesting he wasn’t especially interested in the reply.
‘Yes.’ I twisted the key in the lock, having located it now he was shining the torch in the direction of the door. ‘I’m perfectly capable of conducting myself in a more coordinated manner usually.’
‘I’m sure,’ he replied flatly in a way that suggested he was anything but.
‘What are you doing?’ I asked, my voice rising in pitch just enough to make me cringe as Edward stepped in after me.
‘This.’ The hiss of a match being struck was followed immediately by its warm glow.
He reached into the drawer of the nearby console, lifted one of the taper candles there and lit it.
I’d discovered the stash of candles in the kitchen but hadn’t realised there were also some in the hall.
The candle flickered then caught, the flame growing as Edward lifted out an old-fashioned candle holder replete with curved handle.
All I needed now was a nightshirt and cap and I’d be set.
Placing it in there with a firm hand, he then put it down on the table.
‘I’m sorry if I frightened you. I just didn’t want any more falls occurring when you were alone.’
‘You didn’t frighten me.’ The reply was quick and automatic. Another hangover from my peripatetic childhood and always being the ‘new kid’.
Edward shifted his weight but I avoided his eyes.
‘And personally, I’d have preferred to have been alone for the previous one.’
‘Two.’
‘Pardon?’
‘Two. You fell twice.’
‘Bloody hell! You really are a pedant, aren’t you? OK then yes. I fell twice but one of them was caused by your bloody great feet being in the way so that doesn’t count.’
‘I see.’ He looked down at his feet for a moment. The light from the candle dipped around his features and made shadows under his cheekbones. Golden flecks danced in the amber eyes which then, unexpectedly landed their gaze squarely on me. ‘Then I apologise.’
‘Oh. Right. Thanks.’
I nodded for emphasis. Don’t ask me why.
There was a glimmer of a smile. Or perhaps it was the candlelight.
‘Next time, I shall drive off and leave you fumbling in the dark. That way, I’ll have no cause to be in your way.’
Stuck up, insufferable—
‘I am, however, sorry for the omission of the matches.’ He placed a large box of Cook’s Long Matches on the table next to the candle.
‘I will send the plumber to fix the water issue in the morning. In the meantime, those,’ he pointed at a six pack of two-litre still water bottles next to the car, ‘should hopefully suffice for most needs. Give me a moment.’
Edward walked over to collect the water, marched back up the steps and deposited the bottles just inside the door. With that, he turned away and strode down the steps in the direction of his car. I slammed the door before he got to it and rested back against it.
‘What have I done?’
I threw the bolts, turned the key and slid off my wellies.
With a sigh, I picked up the candle and made my way upstairs.