by Anna Jacobs
‘I’ll ring Jeffries tomorrow morning and ask him to come round in the afternoon. All right?’
She nodded. ‘Mmm.’ Then she realised they’d been standing in the doorway kissing in full view of any passer-by. Slamming the door shut, she pulled him closer. ‘That’s Jeffries dealt with, but I think you’re right about the other matter. We do need a bit of practice at this … this smooching.’
‘Smooching? That’s an old-fashioned word.’
She was suddenly a little afraid. ‘Maybe I’m old-fashioned. It’s been a long time, Angus, since I’ve … felt that I wanted someone.’ There. She’d said it.
His voice was gentle. ‘I know, love. We can go at a pace you find comfortable.’
Then, as if he understood that this was enough high emotion for the moment, he put his arm round her shoulders and led her into the living room. He thumped one fist down on the sagging old sofa, and a cloud of dust rose. ‘Ugh. I’m not sitting on that thing. Let’s go and practise smooching at my place. I have food, wine and a very comfortable bed.’
She knew if she said no, he’d go along with what she wanted, but she was annoyed with herself for acting like a timid virgin. This was the twenty-first century, for heaven’s sake. ‘All right. I’ll go and pack an overnight bag … if you want me to stay.’
‘Oh yes, I do want. In fact, I want you very much.’
His smile was so warm, his expression so sunny and open, her doubts subsided. ‘It’ll only take me five minutes.’
‘Good. I’ll contain my impatience.’
Once again he twiddled that imaginary villain’s moustache; once again the tension changed to laughter.
A short time later, as they stopped outside Angus’s house, a police car followed them up the drive and came to a halt behind them.
A female officer got out. ‘Mr Denning?’
‘You don’t have to ask; you already know my name.’
‘Are you aware that one of your rear brake lights is not working, sir?’
‘No. I’ll get it fixed straight away, Officer.’
She walked round his car. ‘I think there’s more than the brake light to fix. The bodywork is rusty. I was worried about that last time we spoke. The whole car looks unsafe to me. In fact, Mr Honourable Denning, I don’t think this vehicle should be on the road at all.’
Nell watched in surprise. The woman seemed to be enjoying her moment of power and was taunting Angus rather than speaking courteously. Her fellow officer was standing by the car, frowning as if he disapproved of how it was going, but he wasn’t making any attempt to moderate the exchange.
She moved forward and linked her arm in Angus’s; feeling so much tension radiating from him, she decided to step in and defuse the situation, much as she’d often stepped between her sons at times of crisis.
‘It’s very polite of you to try to use his title, Officer, but you don’t call people “Honourable”, you only write it. And anyway, Angus doesn’t care to use it. So old-fashioned, don’t you think?’
The basilisk stare was turned on her. ‘And you are?’
‘Nell Chaytor. I’ve moved into number 95 Peppercorn Street,’ she gestured back towards the street and waited for an answer. She didn’t get one for so long she wondered what was going on in her companion’s head.
The woman was looking shocked rigid and her voice was barely above a whisper as she eventually asked, ‘You’re a Chaytor? Is that your married name?’
Nell was puzzled by the way she asked this. ‘Yes, I’m a Chaytor. And it’s my maiden name.’
‘I’ve … er, not seen you around before, Ms Chaytor. Are you from Wiltshire?’
‘No. I’m from Australia.’
‘Ah. You’re the one who inherited Felicity Chaytor’s house.’ This wasn’t a question.
‘Yes.’
The other officer moved forward to join them, as if realising his colleague was struggling for words. He gave Nell a professional smile. ‘Edwina’s mother’s family name is Chaytor. It’s not a common one, so if you had family round here, the two of you are probably related.’
‘Goodness. We must go through our genealogy over coffee some day and see how we connect,’ Nell said. ‘And I agree absolutely with you about Angus’s car. I’ve already told him we should use mine from now on.’
Edwina hesitated.
Angus opened his mouth but Nell dug her elbow into his side in a sign to leave it to her. ‘Is that all or is there something else?’
The other officer took over. ‘It’ll be enough if you take that rattletrap off the road voluntarily, Denning.’
Angus shrugged. ‘With you and my new partner nagging me, I have no choice but to give in.’
Edwina looked sharply at him as he said the word ‘partner’, so Nell cuddled up to him to back up his statement. She didn’t mind doing that at all.
‘Very well. We’ll, um, catch up sometime, Ms Chaytor.’ But Edwina didn’t offer Nell a phone number or time.
‘Good heavens!’ Angus murmured in her ear as the police car drove off. ‘You’re related to one of my enemies. This is going to be interesting.’
‘That woman didn’t seem filled with joy at the prospect of being connected to me, but at least I got her off your back.’
‘Yes. Thanks for that, love.’
‘What’s she got against you?’
‘I’m related to nobility. She’s Red Ed’s daughter. He used to be the local police sergeant and he doesn’t believe in a hereditary nobility. He thinks anyone connected to them should be stood against the nearest wall and shot. He’s retiring and has left the area, but Edwina moved here recently and seems to have taken over the vendetta against the Dennings. Talk about a chip off the old block.’
‘Sounds more like a chip on the shoulder to me. Anyway, she’s right about the car. It’s well past its use-by date.’
He patted it. ‘I’m going to miss the old girl, though. We’ve been together a long time.’
‘It’s a heap of rusty tin and that woman’s probably right about it being dangerous.’
‘I don’t think so. I do maintain the brakes and tyres. I’d not want to be involved in an accident.’
His expression was bleak now, and she suddenly remembered that his wife had been killed in a road accident, so she linked her arm in his. ‘I’ll drive you round the car yards tomorrow, shall I?’
‘Is that what you call them in Australia? Car yards?’
‘Yes. What do you call them?’
‘We get them from dealers. Though there are other words, and there are a lot sold online these days.’ He gave her a mock pitiful look. ‘What have I got myself into? Are you going to henpeck me?’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘When you move in here, after we’ve sold your house, are you going to boss me around?’
She gaped at him. ‘Who said anything about me moving in with you?’
‘You just did and I’m very happy about it.’
‘That was only for your enemy’s benefit. It’s too soon to move in together. We’ve only just met, barely know one another.’
‘Rubbish. We’re old enough to know our own minds. Let’s dive in at the deep end and see how well we can swim. It’d be daft for you to rent somewhere when I’ve got all those empty rooms – and an empty bed.’
‘But Angus—’
He stopped her protests with a kiss. ‘Mmm. Not your best attempt. You didn’t put your heart into that one. Come inside and we’ll try it again.’
Just like that, desire flared in her and her breath caught in her throat. How could this be happening so quickly?
He kissed her the minute the door was closed, then tugged her across the hall, kissing her every time she tried to protest, kissing her nearly senseless, so that in the end she quit fighting and kissed him back with equal enthusiasm.
‘That was much better,’ he said approvingly, kicking a door open. ‘I don’t want to rush you, but unless you object, I’m about to ravish you.’
‘Who’s objecting?’ she asked. ‘Not me.’
‘Good. In fact, very good. Mi casa es su casa, Nell. In every way from now on.’
She forgot all her worries about an older body that wasn’t as slim as it could have been, forgot too about being out of practice at making love, because it was Angus and he was so easy to be with, so kind and loving.
She thought she heard women’s laughter in the distance, but then he kissed her again and she forgot about everything else.
When Nick met Carla after work on the Monday she was looking upset.
‘What’s wrong?’
She gave him a wobbly smile. ‘Sorry, but I can’t go out with you tonight.’
‘Why not?’
‘I’ve been given notice to get out of my flat. I’ve been living with my friend Kylie to save money. We were both keen to do that, so though it was a bit cramped, we managed. Only she’s met this guy and she’s going to move in with him, so she’s given notice on the flat.’
‘Can’t you take it over and stay on there?’
‘I asked the landlord but he said no. He’s got a nephew who needs somewhere to live, you see, and family comes first. So I have to find somewhere else to live quickly.’
‘How soon do you have to be out?’
‘By the end of next week, if possible, then Kylie will get a rent rebate, which she’ll share with me. Only … well, places that cheap don’t come up very often and I can’t afford to live on my own, so I’ll have to look round for somewhere to share. Which can be chancy if you don’t know the other people involved.’
‘Move in with me, then. You know me. In fact, come and have another look at our flat now.’
‘Do you mean that?’
‘I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t.’
When they got there, she followed him round, then shook her head. ‘I thought I’d remembered a third bedroom, but there isn’t, is there?’
‘No. But since you and I are together, I’d rather expected that we’d share a bedroom.’
She grew very still.
‘Last night we admitted we’d fallen in love with each other. Didn’t you mean it?’
‘Of course I did. I’m crazy about you. Only … it’s a big step to move in, especially with someone you’ve only just met. And what’s more, it has implications.’
‘I know. I like the idea of implications very much indeed. I fell for you that first day at the supermarket, Carla, and I can’t imagine falling out of love – ever.’
‘My family will go mad if I move in with a guy.’
‘What about if we get engaged?’
‘They’ll still go mad if we try to live together. They’re Italian and very old-fashioned about things like that.’
‘Then how about we get married?’
She gaped at him, her mouth falling open, her eyes wide with shock. ‘Get married! We’ve only just met. People will think we’ve gone mad.’
‘Let them. You’re the one for me, Carla. I’m sure of that.’ And he was. Utterly certain. It had surprised the hell out of him, but there you were.
‘In just a few days?’
‘Yep. How about you?’
She fiddled with her bracelet, then took a deep breath and smiled at him, that wonderful wide smile that curled his toes, and affected a few other parts of him as well.
‘I’m crazy for you, too, Nick. You’re definitely the one for me. I feel so comfortable with you, so right. But our families won’t want us to marry this quickly. They won’t believe we can know our own feelings yet.’
‘I’m twenty-three; you’re twenty-two. No need to ask anyone’s permission. How about we just do it and then tell them afterwards?’ He got down on one knee in front of her and took her hand, raising it to his lips. ‘Carla, will you please marry me and make me the happiest man on earth?’
‘You did that beautifully. Have you been practising?’
‘No. I’ve never said it before and I never intend to say it to another woman again. So … will you?’
‘Yes. But I’m not sure about doing it so quickly.’
He snapped his fingers. ‘Of course. You’ll want a fancy wedding with a big white cloud of a wedding dress and bridesmaids. Most girls do. OK. I’m prepared to wait to get married if I have to, but I would like to live with you in the meantime.’
‘Actually, you’re wrong about that. I don’t want a big fuss. Well, it’s silly spending so much money on one day’s events when you’re going to need as much as you can to set up a home and furniture. And my parents aren’t rich, so I don’t want them spending money they can ill afford on a wedding.’
‘Very practical. But most people still seem to go for a big show. Are you sure?’
‘Yes, I am. Last year I watched my cousin Mariana turn into bridezilla for six whole months. She was unbearable, expecting the whole world to revolve around her wedding. And then she cried three times that I saw on the wedding day itself, because the details didn’t go exactly to her master plan. My aunt went equally silly about it all, getting into debt to buy clothes and pay for the fancy reception. All for one day. I vowed then that I’d not do it that way when my time came.’
‘Where does that leave us?’ He took her hands.
‘Together. You’re right. Let’s just do it.’
‘Don’t you want to think about it?’
She put her head on one side and studied his face, caressing his cheek with one hand, then nodded. ‘All right. I’ve thought about it. You’ll do for me.’
As he pulled her close, her eyes filled with tears and she said in a husky voice, ‘I do love you, Nick. I want to be with you for ever.’
Their kiss this time was gentle and sweet, full of unspoken promises.
Then she stiffened suddenly. ‘Oh, no! You aren’t a Catholic.’
‘I’m not anything.’
‘Then we’ll definitely have to have a quick civil wedding and present them with a fait accompli or my mother will set the priest on us. She’ll probably set Father Benedict on us anyway.’
‘Won’t the religious ceremony matter to you?’
She shook her head. ‘No. I believe in a God, but not that there’s only one way to reach him.’
‘That’s settled, then. Do you want to buy a bottle of champagne to celebrate? We ought to do something.’
‘I’m not much of a drinker.’
‘Actually, I’m not either. I used to pretend it made me sick to stop the guys trying to get me drunk, but I just don’t care about booze. I’m hungry now, though. Let’s get a celebratory takeaway from the Chinese restaurant down the road. Then we’ll go online and find out what you need to do to get married quickly.’
When they went outside, he picked her up, making her squeak in shock as he spun her round.
An older man complained as they got in his way, but Nick smiled at him and said, ‘She’s just agreed to marry me. I had to do something with all these happy feelings inside me.’
The grey-haired woman who had her arm linked in the man’s beamed back at them both. ‘How sweet. Don’t be so grumpy, John. I hope you two youngsters will be very happy together.’
As the older couple walked off down the street, Nick took Carla’s hand again. ‘I am so lucky to have met you.’
‘We’re lucky to have met each other,’ she corrected. ‘But I want to set one ground rule from the start: I’m not running round after you in the house. You’ll take your share in everything there is to do and so will I. I’m quite good with cars, actually.’
‘Sounds fine to me.’
‘I won’t have to nag you to do your share?’
‘No. You said something to me the first time we met that struck home: a grown-up should be able to look after himself. I’d been lazy, taking advantage of Ma. But you’ll have to teach me to do some jobs because I’ve still got my L-plates on about housework.’
‘That’s different.’ She
frowned. ‘What about your brother?’
‘Either he can find a place of his own or we will. Steve’s a slob, and I don’t enjoy living with him. Even before you and I decided to get married, I was going to tell him to get his act together or I’d move out. He’ll create a stink about it, though. Maybe I’ll see if I can get Dad onside about the arrangements. I know Steve hasn’t got the money to live on his own.’
‘Why did you move in with him if he’s so bad?’
‘I didn’t realise quite how bad he was till it was just him and me, because Mum cleared up the kitchen after him when we lived at home, even though she grumbled. And I didn’t go poking around in his bedroom.’
‘I might have to live at home for a week or two after I move out of the flat. I’d better not stay over with you till we’re married. I don’t want to give my family anything to complain about afterwards. You don’t know what they can be like.’ She hesitated, then said quietly, ‘Nick … you should know that you’ll be the first man in my life.’
He caught his breath in wonder and pulled her close. ‘I didn’t think there were any virgins left these days.’
‘There are in Italian families as watchful as mine, and probably in certain other ethnic groups, too. My dad created a big stink when I moved out, and for a while he kept turning up late at night to check that I wasn’t sleeping with a guy.’
‘I’m surprised a woman as gorgeous as you hasn’t found someone before.’
‘I’m a bit picky about men and I hadn’t found someone who bowled me off my feet … till now. It’s early days. I’m not exactly middle-aged, you know.’
‘You will be middle-aged one day and you’ll be as beautiful then as you are now.’
‘You’re not a tad biased?’
‘Of course I am. Why would you marry someone if you weren’t biased in their favour? Oh, what a wonderful evening! Wonderful world. Wonderful you.’
And he twirled her round again till they were both breathless and laughing.
When Steve came home, they’d finished the meal and were chatting quietly. He nodded when introduced to Carla, but his eyes were on the takeaway containers. ‘Anything left?’
