by Dilys Xavier
‘Well, Mr Carlisle,’ she said, when the tranquil music stopped, ‘so where do we go from here?’ She waited for him to answer, but when he remained silent, she continued. ‘We seem to have crossed another bridge this weekend. One that’s brought us even closer.’
‘I’ve been thinking the same thing,’ Richard agreed. ‘However, I’m reluctant to utter those three little words that have become so meaningless in a world that loves ice-cream, loves tee-shirts, loves sporting heroes ... and so on and on.’ He paused. ‘I’d like to think we are on a plane that transcends that level.’
‘I agree with that,’ Cecile said, in a choked tone of voice. ‘Like you, I think the word love has become trivialised, but at the same time it is the only word I can think of that expresses my feelings for you.’ She drew his head closer and gently kissed his lips. ‘It’s the first time in my life I’ve been able to say that to a man.’
Richard had originally intended to go home after he had dropped Cecile at her apartment, but now he was reluctant to leave. And she was adamant that he should stay the night. By the time they went to bed that night, they had agreed to become engaged.
*
Catherine made her way down to stables as soon as she had finished breakfast the next morning. She patted each of the horses and fed them titbits as she made her way from box to box, peering into the interior of each one to determine whether they were clean and tidy. Satisfied with what she had seen she moved on to the outbuildings and then headed for the gardens. Dave looked up as she approached, and smiled. Catherine tried hard to keep the tremor out of her voice as she returned his cheery hello, because suddenly she was painfully aware that she would not be his employer for much longer.
‘You’ve done well with the roses, this year, Dave,’ she said, as he looked with concern at her troubled expression. ‘In fact the whole place is credit to you.’
‘Thank you, ma’am.’
When she returned to the house she asked Pippa to find her husband and bring him into the study.
‘I’d like to have a talk with you both. Together,’ she added, as to reinforce her request.
Leslie Johnson kicked his boots off before entering the study and perched on the edge of a wooden stool. He looked at Pippa and then Catherine at as she began to address them.
‘First of all I’d like to know if you are happy with the agreement we made when you applied for the position.’ When they both nodded, she continued. ‘Now, I daresay you are well aware of all the gossip concerning this place.’ With her brows raised questioningly, she looked from one to the other. ‘When you were hired, I was still the heir apparent of Langley Hall, but of course that is no longer the situation. The new owner of the estate is a Mr Richard Carlisle.’
‘How is that going to affect us?’ Leslie’s tone of voice was guarded.
‘It’s not for me to speculate, but Mr Carlisle is a busy man, running a successful electronic business, and he probably won’t have the time to handle the day to day management of this place. So I assume he will need someone to take care of things for him.’
‘So you don’t think he’ll dispense with our services?’
Catherine drew in her breath before answering. ‘As I have already said, it’s not for me to speak on his behalf. However, I am satisfied with the way you have carried out your duties during my absence so I shall suggest that he should continue to employ you both.’
‘Thank you.’ Leslie glanced at his wife again. ‘When do you expect Mr Carlisle to take up residence?’
‘We haven’t come to an agreement about the change-over as yet, but I daresay we will within the next few weeks.’
‘Will he allow us to live on the premises?’
‘I don’t see why he would object to that,’ Catherine replied. ‘I will suggest that he continues to honour the agreement we made when you were employed, which included providing suitable accommodation for you both.’
When they nodded, she smiled. ‘Good, that’s out of the way.’ She paused and then glanced at the ring-grip pad she was holding in her hand. ‘I’ve made a note of a few things that need attention.’ She ripped off the page and handed it to Leslie. ‘They’re only minor problems which won’t entail much work to put right. Ruben probably didn’t explain things clearly enough or was unaware of the way we usually do things here.’
She laid aside the notebook to indicate that the meeting was over and then complimented them both once again. As they stood up to leave, Catherine asked Pippa to open up the Lodge and air the building. She could not put off the inevitable any longer - it was time to bite the bullet.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Catherine was on her way to inspect the Lodge the following morning when Cecile sped through the gateway and skidded to a halt beside her. She tooted the horn a couple of times and literally bounced out of the Alfa Romeo.
‘I can see you – and hear you. Anyway, what are you doing here this early?’
‘Oh, I just thought I’d drop in and tell you the good news.’
‘Well, whatever it is you look very pleased with yourself.’ Catherine had not seen that sparkle in her friend’s eyes for some time. ‘What have you been up to? Have you found another beau, or has an old flame been rekindled?’
‘Nothing at all like that,’ Cecile replied, with a toss of her dark tresses. ‘Richard and I are engaged.’
‘You are - what? You - engaged? I can’t believe it.’
‘Yes, it’s true. Of course we haven’t set a date or anything, but we’ll get around to that in due course.’ She sighed contentedly. ‘I feel as if I’m walking on air.’
‘Isn’t it a bit premature, I mean ...’ Catherine left the sentence unfinished.
Eager to share her new found happiness, Cecile ignored the implication and related the circumstances that had sparked Richard’s declaration of love. How they had become parted on the Brecon Beacons, how he had carried her down the mountain and how he had lavished her with loving attention. As she listened Catherine felt a twinge of jealousy. Why did Cecile deserve that kind of consideration? After all, she had deliberately set out to seduce the man and from what Catherine understood she had not completely severed her relationships with all of her other beaux.
Although she was prepared to give Cecile the benefit of the doubt, she was well aware of her friend’s amorous nature. She had excitedly expounded the virtues of a lot of men over the years and Catherine felt that this liaison could end up like so many others. Within a few months she would move on to someone else. And what about Richard? He could be in for a rude awakening if he thought Cecile would remain faithful. She might love him today, but, and it was a big but, she might not love him tomorrow.
Instead of expressing her misgivings Catherine smiled.
‘Well, I don’t know what to say, I really don’t. It’s such a surprise.’
‘Just wish me well.’
‘Of course I do.’
Cecile looked closely at Catherine and then smiled. ‘That holiday in Ireland has done wonders for you; you’ve got colour in your cheeks again.’ When she became aware of the notebook in Catherine’s hand, she asked, ‘Have I stopped you doing something important?’
‘No not really, I was just on my way into the Lodge to do an inventory.’
‘Oh, then I’ll run along. I’m taking Aunt Jocelyn to lunch.’ She pulled a face. ‘She’s a bit of a bore, but mother likes me to look after her, take her shopping and lunch occasionally.’ She gave a short laugh. ‘I suppose I’ll be a bit of a bore when I’m sixty odd, too.’
Catherine hesitated before entering the former gatehouse. The squat black and white building situated just inside the main gates had been separated from the drive by a narrow garden some years earlier. When she pushed open the massive oak door it squeaked alarmingly as if reminding her of her neglect of the place. In the far corner of the room, barely visible because of the stacked furniture, lay a staircase leading to the upper floor. At one time the polished floor would have given the p
lace a warm feeling, but its effect had been spoiled by the installation of a fireplace that was too big and clumsy for the setting.
She made her way through the adjoining room to a tiny kitchen that looked out into a sizeable garden bounded by mature trees. Beyond them the well-kept lawns and gardens led onto the Hall itself. The uncovered treads creaked and groaned as she climbed the stairs to inspect the upper floor. It had originally consisted of three bedrooms, but one of them had been converted into a bathroom for the previous occupant. Pippa had thrown open all the windows and doors, but it still smelled musty.
Catherine tried to remember the last occasion the place had been used, but it eluded her. It had remained empty for a long time, and now it waited silently for her. She wandered around the cheerless rooms with a feeling of apprehension; they were filled with mismatched furniture and storage cartons of various shapes and sizes.
‘It’s no more than a storeroom,’ she muttered.
Tears welled up in her eyes as realised that the place would always be a constant reminder of her previous lifestyle. Snapping her notebook shut with a feeling of disgust and dismay she closed the door behind her. There was nothing worth keeping so why bother making a list. She would ask Leslie to hire a skip and clear it out so that she would have somewhere to store her own things until she had chosen suitable accommodation elsewhere.
She found a message from Fergus Miller waiting for her when she entered the study. He had spoken to James Farleigh, about arranging a suitable date to discuss the various aspects of the hand-over. When she phoned him back he suggested a meeting in his office to start proceedings.
‘I think it would be better to be on neutral ground, so to speak,’ he said, not unkindly. ‘You may feel uncomfortable discussing the matter in the place you still consider your home.’ Before saying goodbye they agreed on a date the following week, subject to the other solicitor’s approval.
Catherine had not expected Richard to attend the meeting so it was a bit of a surprise to see him get to his feet as she walked into the room on the appointed day. She acknowledged his greeting, thanked him for his concern about her health and then turned her attention to the other men. She just wanted to get the business over and done with as soon as possible.
After they had concluded the main aspects of the estate, Fergus peered over his glasses at Catherine.
‘Now, about the horses. I think you have a claim to them all.’ He looked at Richard. ‘Do you wish to dispute that?’
‘No, of course not. Catherine, er … Miss Lowestoffe is free to take them with her.’
‘They’re not all mine. Some them belonged to ... to Peter.’ She took a deep breath and continued. ‘I’ll just take Misty, Duke, and the sorrel mare that was bought for breeding purposes.’ She looked down at her hands and then back at the solicitor. ‘However, I have yet to make arrangements for their keep.’
‘So does Mr Hamblyn’s family have a claim on the rest of the horses?’ When Catherine hesitated, he continued. ‘We’ll look into that later.’
By the time they had finished the meeting, most of the items on the agenda had been dealt with to everyone’s satisfaction. Richard was surprised to find Catherine waiting for him when he came out of the building. He was about to say something when she pre-empted him.
‘I believe congratulations are in order. Cecile has just informed me that you’ve become engaged.’ She looked at him long and hard. ‘I’ve known Cecile for a long time. She’s a very good friend, and I love her dearly, but I also know how she thinks and what is important to her happiness.’
‘Yes ...’ Richard’s response was hesitant.
‘She’s accustomed to getting her own way.’
‘Is that a veiled warning?’
‘Take it whichever way you want, but just be aware of your own expectations.’ Catherine watched his eyes as she spoke. They clouded over for a brief moment, and she wondered if there was any doubt in his mind even at this early stage. Then she nodded her head towards the solicitor’s offices. ‘Thank you for your consideration of my requests. However, we still need to talk about Mr and Mrs Johnson. They want to know if you wish to retain their services, or whether they should look for alternative employment. Would it be convenient for you to meet them now?’
Richard glanced hurriedly at his watch.
‘I’m not sure. Excuse me for moment while I check my schedule.’ He pulled an electronic diary out of his pocket, scanned the screen and made a face. ‘I’m sorry but can’t make it now, I’ve got an appointment in fifteen minutes,’ he apologised. ‘I didn’t realise the meeting would take so long.’
‘Then maybe you’ll let me know when it will be more suitable,’ Catherine said, a trifle sharply.
‘Yes, I’ll get my secretary to juggle things around and make some spare time for me,’ Richard promised. ‘I’ll get her to ring you when she’s sorted something out if that’s all right.’ He gave her an unexpected smile. ‘I can barely keep up with things. It seems as if everyone wants to do business with me. It’s great, but I’m barely coping at the moment.’
Catherine took the opportunity to do some shopping while she was in town and did not return to Langley Hall until late afternoon. Richard had rung to say he would be free in the morning if that was a suitable time. After she confirmed it was all right, she made her way down the to the stables.
Duke nickered softly as she patted his neck before climbing into the saddle and heading out across the field. For some reason or other she was drawn towards the boundary close to the country lane where Peter was murdered. She had deliberately kept away from the place where he had met his untimely death, because of the likelihood of being seen by any of the morbid sightseers who had swarmed over the area once road had been reopened. The bridge had still not been repaired, but the lane was hardly ever used so it was probably no great inconvenience to anyone.
As Catherine thought about his death her eyes grew misty again. It had been part of a chain of events over which she seemed to have had little or no control and now it appeared to be on-going. Where can I go and what will I do? she wondered, for the umpteenth time. She supposed the best idea would be to buy a small property in some less populated area, where the prices were lower, so that she could have a reasonably sized house with a few acres to run the horses.
Josie always claimed that everything happens for a purpose, but Catherine found it hard to accept that any good would come from the present situation. Maybe, if Richard had found his mother’s letter immediately after her death, at the time when Cousin John was managing the estate, things might have been different; maybe it would never have come to this. She even wondered what might have happened if he had turned up before Adrian had swept into her life and hardened her heart against all men?
She had watched him climb into his car earlier in the day. He was the epitome of a successful businessman right down to his designer shoes; the cuffs of his expensive business suit barely concealed the tasteful gold watch and chunky matching bracelet. He wore the trappings of his profession with an undeniable flair, which made him even more attractive to women. She wondered if they might have been drawn together in more suitable circumstances. But of course, it was too late now.
And now her whole way of life was under threat; maybe not in a physical sense, but certainly emotionally and psychologically. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and sniffed. This will never do, she scolded herself. I must get on with my life. I’m only thirty; there are plenty things I can do to instead of feeling sorry for myself.
Richard arrived twenty minutes late the following morning, apologising profusely and lamenting the amount of time he was forced to spend talking on the telephone. Catherine had arranged for Leslie to escort him around the outbuildings, the stables and the machinery sheds, because she wanted him to understand the complexities of managing the estate. The Johnson’s role at the manor would be clearer if he saw what the couple had to contend with as manager and housekeeper. As Leslie concluded th
e tour, Richard gave a hollow laugh.
‘I didn’t realise it involved so much,’ he said. ‘Miss Lowestoffe has indicated that she is pleased with your efforts so far and I have no reason to dispute her judgement.’ He paused as if searching for words. ‘I’m going to have to rely very heavily on you in the short term, Leslie. My business is both demanding and time consuming, and until I can find someone to help me run the operation I’ll be tied up most of the time.’
‘When do you expect to take up residency, Mr Carlisle,’ Pippa asked, as she joined them.
‘I ... I don’t know,’ Richard replied. ‘I’m quite willing to wait until Miss Lowestoffe has found somewhere suitable. We’ll just play it by ear for the next few weeks, shall we?’
After he had shaken their hands and said goodbye, Richard sought out Catherine and thanked her again for her help. She watched him stride towards his car, his mobile already glued to one ear as he spoke to someone. After he had given her a final wave and slipped in behind the steering wheel, she made her way back into the house and rang Cecile to arrange a luncheon date for the next day.
Her friend seemed ill at ease when they met in the little Italian restaurant, and once again Catherine wondered whether she was holding something back. Did she feel guilty about her role in the seduction of Richard Carlisle now that she had formed a solid relationship with him? What had started as a half-hearted attempt to find out his intentions concerning the manor had backfired. Although she had been assured that Richard had not mentioned anything about the inheritance, an element of doubt still clouded her mind. In an effort to lighten the mood, she asked.
‘So are you any closer to setting a date?’
‘Oh, no. There’s plenty of time for that,’ Cecile said, with a little laugh. ‘He’s too busy and I’m ... well, I’m in no great rush.’
