Second Chance with Lord Branscombe

by Joanna Neil

  Impishly, she decided to play him along. She’d never said there was anything going on between her and Jake, but Nate seemed concerned about their relationship. ‘He’s very passionate about his work.’

  ‘More than he is about you?’ His dark brows rose in disbelief. ‘Doesn’t he know he’s leaving you open to being chatted up by the likes of me?’

  She smiled. ‘We’re just friends.’ She sent him a fleeting blue glance. ‘Besides, there’s so much history between our families...’

  ‘Yes, there is,’ he said, trying to ignore the elephant between them. He checked his watch, a stylish gold timepiece that looked good on his strong tanned wrist. ‘We’ve an hour or so left before I have to call the raffle results—we could go back to the house and get Charlie some water and I could show you round, if you like? You’ve never seen the inside of the Manor, have you?’

  ‘Only the lodge, where my father had his office.’ She smiled. ‘I think I’d like that. I’ve always wondered what such a grand house was like inside.’

  ‘Come on, then. We can take a shortcut from here across the field to the back of the house.’

  He showed her the way along a narrow path that led to a hedgerow and a wooden stile. He held Charlie’s lead while she swung her jeans-clad legs over the railing and stepped down into the field beyond. From here she caught a glimpse of the Manor House through the thicket of ancient trees that surrounded it.

  ‘Are we going in through the servants’ entrance?’ she asked with a mischievous smile as they approached the back of the house. There were no stalls set up out here, and there was no sign of people coming away from the main event and wandering about. She guessed he’d had it temporarily fenced off.

  ‘There’s no servants’ entrance nowadays,’ he said, ‘but it’s not quite as grand as the archway at the front of the house.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know about that...’ She gazed at the covered portal. ‘It’s quite impressive.’ The lawn and gardens here were beautiful, with wide flower borders and tall trees and a verdant shrubbery. Sophie went with Nate into the house through a pair of wide, solid oak doors and then stopped to look around in wonder.

  She was standing in the kitchen, a huge room with gleaming pale oak floorboards and golden oak units all around. There was a large central island bar with a white marble top, and to one side there was a dining table with half a dozen chairs set around it. Above the range cooker there was a deep, wide cooker hood with a tastefully designed tiled splashback. All along one wall were feature windows with square panes and two of the windows were decoratively arched. The room was light and inviting—it was the most wonderful kitchen she had ever seen.

  ‘Oh, I’m almost speechless,’ she said, gazing around. ‘I wasn’t expecting anything like this. It’s so traditional, yet completely modern.’

  Nate smiled. ‘I persuaded my father a couple of years back that it needed updating. I’m pleased that for once he took note of what I said.’ He went to the sink and poured cold water into a large stainless-steel bowl and set it down on the floor for Charlie. The dog drank thirstily and then flopped down on the tiles, watching them, his head on his paws. ‘What would you like to drink?’ Nate asked Sophie. ‘Something cold, or tea, coffee...? Something stronger, if you like?’

  ‘A cold drink would be lovely, thanks. It’s so warm today—it’s left me with a real thirst.’

  ‘Watermelon?’

  She nodded and he took two glass tumblers from a display cabinet and filled them from a dispenser in the front of the tall double-door fridge. ‘This is a mix of watermelon, a dash of lime and a hint of cucumber,’ he said. ‘I think you’ll like it.’

  She took the glass and swallowed deeply. ‘Mmm...that’s lovely. Thank you.’

  ‘You’re welcome.’ He finished off his drink, tipping his head back. Sophie watched, fascinated as his throat moved, but she lowered her gaze as he put the glass down on the table. ‘I’ll show you the rest of the house,’ he told her, ‘the main part, at least. It would probably take too long to go through the East and West Wings.’

  ‘Okay.’

  There were several reception rooms, one used as a library and another as an office, all tastefully furnished with the same pale oak used in carved, decorative panelling on the walls and in the bookcases and desks. The drawing room, though, facing out on to a paved terrace, was very different.

  ‘We went for a much lighter touch in here,’ Nate said. ‘There’s no panelling, as you can see, but we chose a very pale silk covering for the walls.’

  ‘It’s lovely,’ she murmured. ‘It’s all so restful.’ She looked around. ‘You’ve kept the original inglenook fireplace, but everything blends in perfectly.’ The fireplace was a pale stone arch with a wood-burning stove set into the recess. There were two cream sofas in here, with splashes of soft colour in the cushions and in the luxurious oriental design rug and floor-length curtains. Again, the windows were tall, with square panes, and there were glazed doors opening out on to the terrace.

  ‘I’m glad you like it.’ He smiled. ‘Let me show you upstairs.’ They went out into the large hall, almost a room in itself, and Sophie looked up to see gleaming pale oak rafters and a mezzanine floor set off by a beautifully carved oak balustrade. ‘I have my own office up there,’ Nate said, following the line of her gaze. ‘I like to sit up there in the room and look out over the moors. You can see the lake from there, and a good deal of the estate. Come on, I’ll show you.’

  He reached for her hand and led her up the wide staircase to the open balcony that looked down on to the hall. His fingers engulfed hers and instantly she felt a thrill of heat pass through her at his firm touch.

  The room opened out on to the internal balcony. There were a couple of easy chairs up here, with bookcases to hand along with a small glass coffee table. She imagined him sitting here, reading and being able to look down into the hall when anyone arrived downstairs.

  Further back in the room, through a wide, square archway, there was a bespoke furnished study, with a built-in desk and units and glazed square-paned display cabinets above them. The main features, though, were the two wide arched windows that took up a good part of the back wall.

  ‘Come and see.’ Nate took her with him to stand by one of the windows. ‘See what I mean?’ He slipped his arm around her waist, holding her close. She knew she ought to move away but it felt good to have him hold her, to have him so close that she could feel his long body by her side, and she couldn’t bring herself to break that contact. Instead, she wanted him to wrap his arms around her. His nearness was intoxicating.

  ‘Oh...it’s incredible!’ She gasped softly in delight. ‘You’re so lucky to have such a wonderful view.’ From here, with the house situated at the top of the hill, she could see all around for miles. She saw the lake and the copse, and beyond that she glimpsed some of the houses beyond, white-painted and nestled into the hillside. She looked at him, her lips softening with enchantment. ‘It’s all so lovely. I’ve never seen it set out like this before.’

  ‘You’re lovely,’ he said huskily, his gaze lingering on the pink fullness of her mouth. ‘It means so much to have you here with me like this. I’ve missed you, all those years we’ve been away from each other. I kept thinking about you all the time we’ve been apart.’

  ‘Did you? Me too...’ It was true. She’d never been able to stop thinking about him. And now she was lost in his spell, enticed by the compelling lure of his dark eyes and mesmerised by the gentle sweep of his hands as they moved over the curve of her hips, drawing her ever closer to him. He bent his head to her and gently claimed her lips, brushing her mouth softly with his kisses. Her whole body seemed to turn to flame and she melted into his embrace, loving the way his arms went around her. Her limbs were weak with longing. She wanted his kisses, yearned to know the feel of his hands moving over her.

  ‘
I’ve been desperate to kiss you ever since I saw you that day at the Seafarer,’ he said, his voice roughened with desire. ‘I wanted to hold you, to feel your body next to mine.’

  She felt the same way about him, but his words made her stop and think about what she was doing. Her father had been upset when he’d heard about that meeting. He’d warned her about falling for Nate all over again. They’d never made any commitment to one another but, whenever he was around, she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame and, even though they’d argued, she’d been upset when he went to work in the States after her father’s accident. How would she feel when his job here came to an end and there was the possibility of him leaving once more? It was better, surely, not to let things get out of hand?

  ‘I wanted it too, Nate, but... I can’t let this happen. I’m sorry if I led you on in any way. I’m very confused right now. I need time to think...’

  ‘Why, Sophie? Tell me why.’

  She looked up at him. ‘I know you’re not right for me,’ she said quietly. ‘It would be madness if I were to fall for you...again. We’re worlds apart.’

  ‘You don’t know that.’ His hands circled her waist. ‘You seem absolutely perfect to me. I’d do everything I could to make you happy.’

  She shook her head. ‘But you can’t. And what you’re going to do will hurt my family and friends. Think about what you’re doing—you’re planning to sign away the homes of everyone who lives in property belonging to the Branscombe estate. It’s no use saying you haven’t made a decision yet. It’s what you’ll do to make sure that you can keep this house, isn’t it? I understand that—the Manor has been in your family for generations; you said so. But do you really know the pain you will cause?’

  He ran his hands lightly over her bare arms. ‘If it came to that, if I have to sell the properties, I could negotiate a deal for you so that you could buy your house for a rock-bottom price.’

  ‘And my father’s home? What will happen to that? Can you tell me it won’t be demolished to make way for a hotel or shopping mall? Isn’t that what that company does? Will anything be left of our lovely tranquil village when they’ve finished?’

  He winced. ‘I’ll make sure that your father gets a better place. He won’t suffer.’

  ‘He’s already suffering. He’s only just getting used to going around in a wheelchair and negotiating ramps. The last thing he needs is to be uprooted all over again.’ She sighed heavily. ‘It’s as though you’re moving chessmen on a board, deciding their fate.’ She gazed searchingly at his face, studying the taut line of his jaw and the bleak sea green of his eyes. ‘Nate, isn’t there anything you can do to stop this?’ She lifted her hand to his chest and ran her palm lightly over the warmth of his ribcage. ‘Can’t you find another way? Please?’

  For a moment, his expression was agonised. ‘I wish I could, Sophie, but a place like this, with all the land and outbuildings associated with it, costs a fortune in upkeep. I’ll do what I can. You know I’d do anything not to hurt you.’

  ‘I know you will. But things don’t always work out the way we want them to, do they?’ She eased herself away from him and took a couple of steps backwards. ‘It’s getting late. There’s the raffle to draw and I should go and see what Charlie’s getting up to. It’s time we set off for home. He should be rested well enough by now. Thanks for showing me around.’

  He walked with her to the kitchen. ‘I could take you home in the Range Rover. Charlie could go in the back.’

  ‘No, it’s all right. We’ll walk.’ She needed to be alone right now, away from him, so that she could clear her head. With him around, it was impossible.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ‘HI, JAKE. HOW did your weekend down in Cornwall go? Did things work out all right for you?’ Sophie walked into Jake’s office at lunchtime on Monday, greeting him with a bright smile. She was glad to see him. He was a calming influence—everything Nate was not.

  She should never have gone back to the Manor House with Nate. That had been a big mistake, and she might have known he wouldn’t be one to miss an opportunity. After all, he had nothing to lose.

  Even now, she remembered how it had felt to be in his arms, to know the touch of his lips on hers. Her whole body tingled with nervous excitement at the memory.

  ‘Oh, hi, Sophie.’ Jake looked up from the mound of paperwork on his desk. ‘Yeah, it went okay, thanks. We managed to get quite a lot sorted.’ He frowned. ‘The hotel was a bit crowded, though. There was some sort of event going on in town—a music festival—so it was quite noisy.’

  ‘But it must have been good to meet up with your friends?’

  He nodded. ‘Yes...yes, it was.’

  She hesitated momentarily. He seemed harassed and out of sync with things, not at all his usual self. ‘I came up here to see if we might have lunch together?’ she suggested. ‘Maybe you can tell me all about it over a plate of spaghetti?’

  He frowned again, glancing at his watch, and then started shuffling through papers. ‘I’m sorry, Sophie. I’ve a stack of work to wade through and I have to get a report ready for a meeting with my boss this afternoon. Do you mind if we give it a miss and meet up later?’

  ‘No...no, of course not... That’s all right.’ She tried to hide her disappointment. ‘It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing... I hadn’t heard from you, so I thought I’d come and see you on the off chance. It doesn’t matter.’

  ‘Ah, yes... I should have phoned you. Everything’s been a bit hectic.’ He grimaced. ‘How about I give you a call when I’m free?’

  ‘Yes, okay. That’s fine. No worries.’

  She had plenty of other things to occupy her mind when she went back to the Children’s Unit after grabbing a quick bite to eat in the hospital restaurant. She checked up on her patients, taking time to look in on Josh, the five-year-old boy with the head injury, and she was thankful that his condition was at least stable now. He was still under sedation while they waited for the fractures to begin the healing process and while the swelling inside his head subsided. His parents were obviously worried about his prognosis and whether he would be brain damaged in any way, but Sophie reassured them as best she could before going in search of her next patient.

  As she was walking by a side ward, though, she heard a series of monitor alarms going off. Instantly concerned, she looked into the room to see what was happening.

  Nate was in there looking after a young girl who appeared to be around ten years old. When Sophie walked further into the room, she could see that the child was thrashing around on the bed, her limbs moving uncontrollably, her head tipped back and her body arching. She was having a full-blown seizure and Sophie hurried over to Nate and said quietly, ‘Can I help?’

  He nodded, giving her a quick smile. ‘Thanks, I’d appreciate that. The nurses are all very busy just now... Would you try to hold her still while I give her a shot of anti-convulsion medication? She only just seemed to come out of one seizure and now this...’

  ‘Of course.’ Sophie gently restrained the child while Nate drew up a syringe and inserted it into the intravenous cannula that was taped to the girl’s arm. ‘Are her parents around?’

  ‘Her father had to leave to go to work. I sent her mother to take a break and get some coffee. These last few weeks have been a worrying time for her and she’s stressed out. Luckily, she missed seeing these latest seizures.’

  ‘Do we know what’s causing them?’

  He nodded. ‘I think so. Lucy has been suffering from really bad headaches, nosebleeds and vomiting for some time now. Her blood pressure’s frighteningly high—it’s been getting steadily worse over a couple of years despite treatment. It isn’t responding very well to antihypertensive drugs.’ He withdrew the syringe and put it aside. Glancing briefly at Sophie once more, he said, ‘It might be a good idea if you were to stay with us while I expl
ain things to her mother. She’s quite upset by what’s happening to her daughter, and it might help her to have another woman present. I’ll need to get her consent for angiography.’

  ‘All right, I can do that.’

  Slowly, as the drug took effect and as Lucy recovered consciousness, Nate began to speak to the child in a low voice, soothing her and trying to keep her calm. Even Sophie began to feel more relaxed under the comforting influence of his gentle tones.

  ‘How do you feel?’ he asked the girl after a while. ‘Is your headache still as bad as before?’

  ‘No, it’s a bit better.’ Lucy was silent for a moment and then her face suddenly paled, small beads of perspiration breaking out on her brow, and she said urgently, ‘But I’m going to be sick again.’

  Sophie quickly found a kidney dish and held it for the little girl while she vomited, and then gave her a tissue so that she could wipe her mouth when she was finished. ‘I’ll just get rid of this,’ Sophie said, removing the dish and replacing it with a clean one. ‘I’ll be back in a minute or two.’

  When she came back into the room, Lucy was resting, leaning back against her pillows and looking completely washed out. Her dark hair was damp with perspiration. Her mother had come back from the cafeteria and Nate was sitting on the end of Lucy’s bed, gently explaining the results of tests that had been carried out earlier. ‘As you know, we’ve done lots of tests, along with ultrasound scans and a CT scan, and from those results we can be fairly certain about what’s causing the high blood pressure.’

  Lucy’s mother frowned. ‘You said it might be something to do with her kidneys.’

  ‘Yes, that’s right. From what we can see on the radiology films, the blood vessels to her kidneys are narrowed and that’s what’s causing the problems she’s been having.’

  ‘But you can fix it with tablets, can’t you?’