The Burlington Manor Affair

by Saskia Walker

  “I make no promises, but I’ll try.” Was Amanda actually trying to be friends again?

  “Thank you. Things haven’t been easy. You can imagine what people say, married and divorced from the local vicar inside a year.”

  “Yes, I can imagine.” Carmen bit her lip. “It’s going to take you a long time to live that one down. You really didn’t need to add to your colorful reputation by going after Rex and bad-mouthing me at the party.”

  Amanda groaned. “Look, I had no idea that you two had rekindled your old flame.”

  “That probably wouldn’t have stopped you,” Carmen retorted.

  “Probably not, but can you blame me? Rex is the sexiest thing to hit this place and far beyond for a long time. Hell, the next best thing was the local vicar and next to Rex he looks positively anemic. You’re always going to have women looking at Rex and wanting him, so you better get used to it.”

  Get used to it? Carmen puzzled over that.

  “Congratulations,” Amanda continued. “He’s a gorgeous man, and from what he said last weekend, he’s totally committed to making it work with you, long term.”

  He’d decided that back then, right after she’d walked out on him? Carmen was touched.

  Amanda stood up. “Oh, my, the look on your face is priceless! I’ll put the kettle on. You need a cuppa.”

  Carmen wasn’t going to argue on that point. She pulled out a chair and sat down, trying to work out what had surprised her most—the message, or the messenger.

  * * *

  “THIS MUST BE an important meeting,” Lance said. “Normally you’d have us drinking beer out of paper cups.”

  Rex smiled as he set out the glass flutes he’d purchased on his way to work that morning. “Slipstream is going places. We can’t drink out of paper cups now.” He popped the cork on the champagne bottle and filled the glasses as the small team took up their seats in the kitchen area. It’s where they held their group meetings because Rex wanted them to be as comfortable and relaxed with one another as possible.

  When they chinked glasses, he nodded. “First, I want to thank you for the hard work you’ve been putting in over the past few weeks. I believe it will be worthwhile for all of us, but I appreciated it, especially when my time has been divided with personal stuff.” He sipped the champagne, then set the flute down. “I’ve got something else I want to run by you guys. At this stage it’s only an idea and your feedback is very important to me, so don’t worry if you don’t like the sound of it. Just say so.”

  All three of them looked concerned, as if they expected not to like it.

  “As you’re aware, I’ve been dealing with my father’s estate in Oxfordshire. When we were at Rashid’s place his setup stimulated an idea. I was intending to sell out my share of my father’s estate, but that situation has changed...hopefully. I see potential there, in the way that Nikhil Rashid has developed his business outside the city. Now, this is just a crazy idea, nothing is set in stone, so just hear me out.

  “The estate has disused stables that could be used as workshop space. It would be way bigger than this.” He gestured around the unit. “We’d also have space for our own track to test things out.”

  “Cool,” murmured Ayo.

  Jerry frowned. “You’re telling us you’re going to move the company?”

  “No, I’m asking for your take on an idea that is very fluid at the moment, and I’m also aware that you’ve got families and commitments here in London. If it was something that we thought we could run with, I wouldn’t just be expecting you to rebuild from scratch. You’ve put your heart and soul into this business just as much as I have. I’d be offering a complete package, including accommodation for your families and a new lifestyle. It’s something I know you’ll have to discuss with your families, but there are cottages at Burlington Manor that will shortly be undergoing renovation.”

  That part had been Carmen’s plan. He paused as he wondered—and not for the first time—how she would react to the suggestion that they be for his guys and their families, rather than holiday lets. He couldn’t think too deeply right now. He had his goal, and soon enough he’d be discussing it with her in the same way he was putting out feelers with his men now.

  “I’m not asking you to say anything right now. I know that you need to go away and think about it and discuss it with the people it will affect. However, if you could give me an initial response after you talk to your families I can either look into it as an option this weekend when I’m up there, or I can let the plan go. Trust me when I say I mean it—if it’s not the right thing for you guys, it’s not the right thing for me.”

  Rex looked from one to the other of them, assessing their thoughtful expressions. If it wasn’t the way to go he would commute to Carmen and the manor at the weekends as he had been doing. “On that note, we’ll close up early today so you guys can go and give it some thought. But please let me know as soon as you decide. I’ve got another bottle for us to get through first, so let’s cheer the merger. I take the signed contracts to Rashid tomorrow and we’re in business!”

  When the men made their way out later on, Lance lingered. “My Amy would bite your arm off for this if you make this offer for real. She’s always dreamed of a life in the country.”

  “And you?”

  Lance nodded. “I’m all for it. I hope you can make it happen.”

  “Go talk to Amy. Be absolutely sure about it.”

  It’s what he needed to do, too. Talk to Carmen about all of this. The task seemed immense, complicated as it was by history and the games he’d played in recent weeks, before he’d realized what he really wanted. The basic premise was simple enough. He wanted them to be together. That meant he had to exorcise the ghosts of the past, as well as make a working future viable. No matter how simply he spelled it out for himself, Rex knew that he was still on fragile ground with Carmen.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  ON FRIDAY EVENING Carmen stood in the center of the music room and stared up at the elaborate ceiling. The room had been closed up for a couple of years and she’d asked Leanne to open the shutters and take down the dust sheets earlier that day. Carmen planned to spend the evening there making notes on any restoration that was needed.

  The room maintained many of its original features and was the most obviously Georgian in the house. The walls were covered in red damask and the white marble fireplace was large and beautifully carved. At the center of the ceiling, the molded plasterwork depicted a muse playing a lyre. Around the coving, a musical score had been inscribed into the plasterwork. The piano was a genuine eighteenth-century piece, but hadn’t been used for some years. Carmen made a mental note to have someone come up from London to tune and service it.

  She was on her knees, examining the upholstery on the chairs, when Leanne entered. “You have a visitor.”

  “Really? Who is it?”

  Leanne rounded her eyes. “Didn’t give her name, but I think I’ve seen her in magazines.”

  Carmen leaned forward and saw Kelly Brown standing there in the hallway. With an internal groan, she rose to her feet. When Leanne looked at her quizzically, she put the girl out of her misery. “Rex’s supermodel ex,” she murmured as she walked by.

  As she approached, she noticed that Kelly was assessing the place with a half smile and a possessive look in her eyes. “Kelly, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Kelly replied as she turned to face Carmen, and flicked her long hair back over her shoulder. “Oh, it’s you.” She spoke with obvious disappointment.

  “You were expecting Rex.” Carmen felt quite composed. Amanda’s comments earlier that day had hit home.

  “I thought I’d stop by to see if he needed any help with anything.”

  Carmen smiled. “We don’t need any help, but thanks for offering.”

 
Kelly pursed her lips, making no attempt to hide her dissatisfaction. “So, is he here?”

  “No, but I’ll tell him you were here.”

  Kelly looked really put out when she heard that.

  She didn’t have a clue, Carmen decided. When she looked back on it, she recalled that Rex had given his ex no signs of encouragement that night at Raphael’s. In fact, he’d been quite distant with her, yet here she was. “Look, you’ve obviously come up here with good intentions.” That was debatable, but Carmen felt generous. Besides, as Amanda had so rightly pointed out, she was going to have to get used to women wanting him. “I should probably inform you that Rex is seeing someone else now.”

  “Oh, right.” Kelly cursed and grimaced. “Who is the bitch?”

  Nice. How different she was when Rex wasn’t around. “The bitch is me,” Carmen said calmly, and laughed. “Don’t look so shocked. I’m not his sister. That was an error on your part.”

  Finally it seemed to dawn on the woman that she’d walked into their home on a misguided mission. Her perfect porcelain skin colored dramatically on the cheekbones. “Well, this is awkward.”

  “No, of course it isn’t. You didn’t know. Can I offer you a drink before you leave?”

  Kelly shook her head and reached into her shoulder bag. She pulled out a set of car keys. “No, thanks. I’ll get on my way.”

  Carmen followed her to the door and watched as she climbed into a two-seater sports car and shot off down the drive at breakneck speed.

  She smiled. I’ve grown up, she realized. I really can fight for my man.

  * * *

  IT WAS LATE, but Rex had one last thing to set in motion before he could leave the office. He picked up the phone and rang the family’s solicitor.

  It was time to play his trump card.

  “Chris, I’m sorry to disturb you after hours, but there’s something I want you to do for me. It involves drawing up a contract.”

  “Name it. I know that you’ve been through a lot recently. I read about Olivia Fordyce’s handiwork up at the manor.”

  “I’m sure you did.”

  “I met her once, years ago,” Chris said rather awkwardly, “and I thought she was trouble then. Told your father as much. I’m sorry it’s affected you and Carmen...your dad would be sorry, too.”

  Rex couldn’t answer that directly because the comment made him want to demand why Chris hadn’t mentioned Olivia before, but he was first and foremost a professional solicitor. That came before being a friend to the family. “The shadows are long in our family, or so it seems. But I think I’ve found a way to deal with her, above and beyond what’s in line for her courtesy of the Crown Courts.”

  “What have you got in mind?”

  “I believe she was involved in Sylvia Shelby’s death. I’ve visited her in prison and she didn’t deny it, but she won’t give me a confession. I need that confession for Carmen’s peace of mind and I think I’ve got a bargaining chip that could work.”

  “How can I help?”

  “I need you to draw up a contract that you can take to her acting solicitor. In exchange for her full story about the circumstances surrounding Sylvia Shelby’s death, I will give Jason Fordyce part of the estate my father left me.”

  “Goddamn it, Rex, are you sure about that?”

  “She won’t budge.” Rex summarized the situation with Olivia’s health and her lack of concern about her own destiny. “She knows I’ve got a private investigator tracking down the so-called witness, who at the time was seeing Olivia’s eldest son.”

  Chris inhaled sharply. “That’s pretty damning in itself.”

  “It is, but even if we get a statement I’ve got to offer Olivia something substantial to admit it, something that represents the recognition she wanted for her sons. Charles, well, I’ve got nothing but disgust for him. He’s her willing henchman. But I believe Jason was largely innocent of her real intentions. I’m thinking that if we offer Jason the property in the Channel Islands, part of Dad’s estate, it gives him a chance for a new life...somewhere else.”

  “I catch your drift.”

  “How soon can you do it?”

  “I can have the paperwork drawn up within the hour, then it’ll just be a matter of getting in touch with her solicitor in the morning. No saying how long Olivia will sit on it, but we’ll make it sound as tempting as possible.”

  “Do you think her solicitor will be comfortable presenting her with this option?”

  “It’ll result in another charge against her, but in my professional opinion if she reveals her involvement in Sylvia Shelby’s death, a confession would be better in the long run. If the link between her son and the witness is likely to be mentioned and a witness statement is also a possibility, then I’ll make sure the solicitor takes that into account.”

  “Thank you. Keep me informed.”

  When he put down the phone, he prayed it would work.

  While he’d been on the landline, three text messages had appeared on his mobile phone. He could see that they were from his staff, the team of three that made up the rest of Slipstream. Their reactions were important. He opened Lance’s first.

  You better make this happen. Amy has already told the kids. We’re both delighted about what this might mean for their future. If it goes ahead, count us in.

  Rex smiled and nodded. The scheme felt ambitious, and he wasn’t entirely sure of it, but there was a feel-good factor about that response that made him believe that anything was possible. The second message that had come in was from Ayo.

  I’m not sure, man. Sounds good but I got my people here. I’ll check it out, but I need to be sure it’s right for me.

  Ayo was the one with the happening London life, the single man in the city. Rex understood that he didn’t want to commit as yet. If it came to fruition and Ayo didn’t want to make the move, Rex vowed he would find a good opportunity for him elsewhere. The final message was from Jerry.

  The wife is in tears! Look what you’ve done to me, Rex. She says it’s the next best thing to winning the lottery. I guess this means it’s a yes. ;)

  Would Carmen feel the same way about his proposal? He hoped so. She’d said she wanted the place to be alive with people again, and other than holiday lets, she had no specific plans of her own, unless that had changed. He took a few moments to compose himself before he picked up the phone and rang Carmen.

  “I hope you’re pleased with yourself, Mr. Playboy Stud,” she said as she answered.

  “Are you being cryptic?”

  “Not in the least. I’ve been fending off women left, right and center here today.”

  “Women?”

  “First of all Amanda turned up.”

  “I hope she apologized.”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, she did. We had a good talk.” Carmen paused for a moment before continuing. “Then your supermodel girlfriend turned up.”

  “Kelly? What the hell was she doing at Burlington?”

  “Looking for you. She seemed to think you were worth another go.”

  “I hope you explained that I was otherwise committed.”

  “That I did. I figured that even if this setup turned out to be a temporary whim on your behalf—”

  “It’s not.”

  “—well, I figured that she was intruding on my time and space with you and I fought my corner.”

  Rex could hear the teasing tone in her voice. Less than a week ago she took flight at the very prospect of another woman turning up. Not anymore. “I’m glad you sent her on her way.”

  “I’m glad you’re glad.” She laughed and the sound of it was too good.

  Things couldn’t be turned back the other way, not now, surely? “I’ll show you how glad when I get there tomorrow.”

  “When can
we expect you?”

  “Sometime in the afternoon. I need to go over some paperwork with my new business partner.”

  “The partnership is going ahead?”

  “Yes, and I’ve got some other ideas I’d like to run by you—business—if you’re interested?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” she replied.

  It felt like a huge step forward, and she was taking it with him.

  Rex closed his eyes, grateful for the hope that gave him. The next day, he would lay out his proposals for her—all of them.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  SATURDAY DRAGGED FOR Carmen because she was counting the minutes, waiting for Rex to arrive. Waiting for her man to come home. That’s what it felt like, although it made her nervous to even think it. Being in the manor wasn’t enough. Rex had to be there, too. She tried not to dwell on what that might mean for her long-term happiness and concentrated on thinking about what he’d said, the way he’d ask for a second chance.

  In the morning, she visited with Bill Amery at their cottage. He was in good spirits, and itching to get back out on the grounds. A friend from the village called in, too, and Carmen noticed that Bill’s version of events the week before became more dramatic with each retelling. His spirit certainly hadn’t been diminished by the drama and injury, quite the contrary. She was glad of that.

  At three o’clock Rex sent her a text saying he was on his way. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and it took her back to her teenage years when she’d been waiting for him to come home from university. For a moment, the intervening years vanished. She ran upstairs to check her appearance and then lingered at the viewing window on the upstairs landing, peering down at the driveway expectantly.

  I can’t have him finding me this way, she thought. She stayed there, though, right until she saw his car on the drive, then she ran down the stairs and opened the door to greet him.