Apart from those awful china dogs. But, hey, no one was perfect.
They chatted about general things like music, films they liked and books they’d read.
‘Not that I had much time for reading until I went travelling,’ he told her. ‘Working on a sheep station is hard work. Well, any kind of farming really. You get up at the crack of dawn and you’re lucky to finish by ten thirty at night. But it’s a great life nonetheless.’
‘You miss it.’ Tess’s blue gaze was sympathetic. She’d obviously heard the slightly wistful tone of his voice.
‘Yeah, I guess I do. Maybe I should start over here? The countryside is perfect, although if I stayed at Merrick Court I’d need to buy more land for grazing as your late husband’s family seem to have turned a lot of their acres into woodland.’ He decided not to tell her about Fred yet.
‘That was Giles’s doing. He discovered that he could get some kind of grant if he planted lots of trees. Rosie tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t listen.’
‘Hmm, don’t mention that woman, please. She’s called several times and left me messages saying we should have “a little family discussion”. Not happening. I haven’t even rung her back.’
Tess smiled. ‘Oh dear, she’ll be getting so frustrated. But about buying more land, can you afford that?’
‘Sure. As I told you, I sold my station in New Zealand and I didn’t blow it all on travel.’ He gave her a lopsided smile. ‘I’m not a complete moron.’
Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. ‘I didn’t mean … Of course you’re not. It’s just, well, I wouldn’t know how much money you’ve got, would I? Land isn’t cheap.’
‘You’re right, but don’t worry. I think I could get what I needed if I want.’ He didn’t tell Tess that potentially he had plenty of money as he’d also invested in rental properties as soon as he was old enough to do so. If he sold them all, he’d make a tidy profit. The Auckland market had rocketed in recent years.
‘But what about your daughter?’ Tess was frowning and he wanted to reach across the table and smooth out her brow. ‘You won’t get to see her if you stay here. Or not very often anyway.’
‘No, but maybe she doesn’t want to see me? To tell you the truth, I don’t think I’m flavour of the month with her either.’
‘Why? Did your ex poison her against you? I’ve heard of that happening.’ Tess seemed concerned on his behalf and it gave Josh a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach. This woman, who’d only just met him, was already on his side and in a battle she knew nothing about.
He sighed. ‘Yes, I think she did, but it’s also partly because she’s a teenager and I refuse to buy her all the things she wants.’ He ticked them off on his fingers. ‘An iPhone, iPad, laptop, Wii, Playstation, clothes … you name it. I’m sorry, but I figured spoiling her wouldn’t make up for not seeing her a whole heap. And besides, Isla would’ve killed me.’
‘I can see why.’ Tess smiled now. ‘That would have made me mad too, if I was her. So how old is … Shayla, was it? … exactly?’
‘Sixteen.’
‘Sixteen? I thought you said you were …’
‘Thirty-four, yes.’ He shrugged. ‘She was a teenage mistake. I was eighteen when she was born and had just got married.’
‘Wow, that’s a bit young! Shotgun?’
Josh wasn’t sure if Tess was shocked or amused, but she didn’t look too bothered by his carelessness. ‘Sort of. Isla’s dad was a Methodist minister and mine was … not there, but my mum was and I realised I’d let her down. Kind of made me grow up overnight, I guess you could say.’
‘Hmm, yes. Quite a responsibility for an eighteen-year-old. So is that why things didn’t work out with Isla? You were both too young?’
‘Yes. That and the fact that we’re very different. She likes living in a town, I like the countryside. She wanted flashy cars and clothes, I couldn’t care less … and so on. A match made in hell, really.’ He smiled. ‘But let’s not talk about that any more. As for Shayla, once she grows up a bit, I hope she’ll come to see I’m not the bastard she thinks I am.’
They finished their meal and went for a walk along the river before driving back to Merrick Court. Josh wanted to take Tess’s hand, but resisted the impulse. He could sense her reserve. She probably wasn’t ready to jump into any relationship yet, let alone a casual fling, even though he was sure there were sparks between them. And he wasn’t ready for anything serious. He’d give her time and who knew, something might happen? In the meantime, perhaps he could at least give her a quick kiss goodnight?
As his car drew up by the back door of the Court, however, Josh could see that this plan was doomed to failure. On the steps sat a teenage boy who looked extremely pleased to see Tess. Louis.
‘Oh my God!’ Tess exclaimed. ‘What’s he doing here?’
‘Looks like you’re about to find out.’
Josh tried not to feel disappointed that it wasn’t quite the end to the evening he’d envisaged. But he really didn’t want an audience if and when he kissed Tess, so he left her to sort out the boy. Kissing could wait.
Tess didn’t know whether to be pleased or annoyed to find Louis sitting on the kitchen steps. She’d had a lovely evening with Josh and had spent the entire car journey back to Merrick Court wondering if he’d try to kiss her goodnight or not. He hadn’t taken her hand as they walked along the river – a romantic opportunity if ever there was one – so she’d come to the conclusion he probably wasn’t interested, but she’d still been on tenterhooks.
Now, she’d never know.
As Josh drove off, she hurried over to her nephew with Vince in tow. They’d picked him up from Bryn on the way home, but he hung back a bit at the sight of Louis, as always wary of strangers. ‘Louis? What on earth are you doing here? Has something happened?’
Louis stood up and allowed her to hug him. Instead of responding in that awkward teenage way of only half leaning into it, he threw his arms around her and almost crushed her, which made Tess conclude there was something very wrong.
‘Let’s go inside then you can tell me what’s up.’
He nodded and bent to hold out his hand for Vince to sniff. ‘Who’s this?’
‘Vincent. He’s a rescue dog and I’m fostering him for a while. Come in.’
While Louis and Vince got to know each other, she made two cups of hot chocolate, even though it was really too warm for drinks like that. It was soothing, and as she sat down at the table opposite Louis she saw him put his hands round the mug as if gathering strength from it.
‘I finished my exams already,’ he finally said, not looking at her but studying the table as if his life depended on it. ‘I’ll get shit marks, even though I tried. I really did. But the dyslexia … I just can’t see the words, you know? They … it doesn’t work.’ He shrugged. ‘So school’s out and I decided to spend my summer holidays with you. If that’s okay?’ He looked up at last and Tess almost melted. There was no way she could have resisted the pleading in his eyes.
‘Of course you can stay here if you want. You’re always welcome, you know that, although I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be here myself. Still, we’ll worry about that later. But what did your parents say? Are they okay with this? And surely school can’t be totally finished. It’s only June.’
‘I didn’t tell them. Mum and Dad, I mean. I had some savings so I just took the train and the bus. That’s why I arrived so late. And then you weren’t here …’
‘Sorry. I was just out for dinner with Josh. The heir, remember? He’s still here sorting things out.’
‘Yes, ’course I remember.’
‘So your parents think you’re still at school?’ Louis attended a very expensive boarding school somewhere in the Home Counties so Rosie and George wouldn’t necessarily know that Louis was gone, unless the school had informed them.
Louis nodded. ‘I’ll text them tomorrow.’
‘And the school?’
‘They�
�ve given us leave. As soon as the exams were done us sixth formers could do what we wanted. I’ll just have to go back for the official end of term and maybe a party or two. I told them I was visiting you and left your address and phone number.’
‘Oh, good.’ At least he’d had the sense not to just run away.
They drank their chocolate in silence for a while, then Louis sighed and started talking again. ‘Mum and Dad want me to go and study accountancy – I’m okay with numbers. But it’s not what I want. I’m done with studying. I just can’t handle any more. And even if it’s mostly numbers, there will be essays and shit to write, then I’ll get bad marks again and they’ll be disappointed …’
‘What do you want to do then? What’s your dream?’ Tess had heard his unspoken plea for support and she gave it to him without hesitation. She’d thought for quite a while now that his parents didn’t seem to understand what a struggle school was for Louis. They thought that if only he worked harder, he could overcome the dyslexia and do better. To a certain extent, it was possible to learn to cope with it, but she sensed that Louis wasn’t the studious type anyway.
‘I want to be a gardener.’ Louis almost whispered the words, but Tess heard him.
‘Okay. What kind? Parks? Landscape? Or do you mean like a garden designer?’ she asked.
Louis stared at her as if he couldn’t believe she was taking him seriously. ‘Er, I don’t know. Any, I guess.’
‘Well, whichever one you choose, presumably you’ll still have to study somewhere. Or maybe you can get an apprenticeship? Have you looked into it?’
‘No. I’ve been so busy filling in stupid uni applications, I didn’t think to … but, yeah, I guess I should have a look.’ His expression showed a flicker of hope. ‘You think they’ll buy it?’
He was talking about his parents, of course, and Tess’s first instinct was to say no, because she was sure they’d be furious. And not just with him, but with her for interfering. She decided to be honest with Louis. He deserved to be treated like an adult now he was almost eighteen.
‘Probably not at first,’ she admitted. ‘But if you come up with a proper plan for how you’re going to become a gardener and ultimately that it leads to a job, they’ll realise you’re serious. And maybe hint that you’re aiming to start your own business eventually, that’ll make it sound even better. It’s going to be tough, but you have to stick to your guns if this is what you really want to do. It’s your life, Louis, you decide. And I’m here for you if things get tough.’ She gave him a small smile. ‘It’s not as if your mum and I get on all that well anyway.’
He smiled then, a smile that again melted Tess’s heart. Even though she’d only known him for five years, she loved this boy as if he was her own and she wanted him to be happy. She would back him, and to hell with Rosie and George.
‘Thank you. You’re the best.’
Tess didn’t think that was true, but she wanted to be, for Louis’ sake.
‘Go for it, Louis. Now we’d better go to bed as it’s late. Come on, I’ll give you some sheets. Want your usual room?’
‘Yep, that’ll be fine, thanks.’
He stood up and without her asking, took both mugs over to the sink to rinse them off. Not his mother’s son, obviously. But she’d known that already.
Raglan Castle, 11th June 1646
‘You’re in an uncommonly good mood this evening, Howell, how come?’
Matthew Emrys was playing a game of dice with Arabella’s lover and a few others, while Rhys lounged against a nearby wall. He and Matthew had been watching Howell all day between them, but so far he’d gone about his business like everyone else. Although the man was slow to obey orders, he did as he was told, and he hadn’t slipped outside to sneak off for any assignations with the enemy.
Rhys wished he had, as that would have given him an excuse to pound the man and haul him before their superiors. But obviously Howell was cannier than that.
For the last hour or so, he had been drinking copiously though. Where he’d obtained so much ale, Rhys had no idea, as they were all on short rations, but Howell had been winning so perhaps the man had bribed someone to provide him with extra. The only good thing about it was that it was starting to loosen his tongue.
‘I had some good news recently,’ Howell replied to Matthew’s question, looking so smug Rhys had to put his hands in his pockets to stop himself from punching the man. ‘About an inheritance.’
‘Oh, aye? Won’t be much use to you in here,’ Matthew commented.
‘Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not planning on dying just yet. I doubt this siege will last long. The marquis will have to surrender fairly quickly and then we’ll all leave.’
Matthew shook his head. ‘You don’t seem to have much faith in his lordship. It’s a wonder you’re here at all. Are you sure you’re on the right side of the walls?’
‘No, no,’ Howell blustered, ‘I didn’t mean that. It’s just that I’ve heard … well, sieges don’t normally last long.’
‘Hmm, we’ll see, won’t we?’ Matthew took his turn to roll the dice. A pair of sixes, which made Howell swear as he peered at them.
‘I’ll beat you yet, see if I don’t.’ Howell rattled the dice in his turn, then smirked. ‘Not that it matters. I’ll have more than pennies soon …’
Rhys had had enough. It turned his stomach to hear the man brag like that and the thought of Arabella with this coarse bastard … How could she have chosen someone like him? He pushed away from the wall and went out into the courtyard, taking deep breaths of fresh air. He couldn’t stand to be in the same room as the man. May he rot in hell.
Chapter Twenty
Merrick Court, 12th June 2016
Josh found Tess in her workshop, accompanied by Vincent and Louis.
‘Good to see you again,’ he said to the boy. ‘You were here briefly when I’d just arrived, weren’t you?’
‘Yep, with my mum.’
Louis was using an electric sanding machine to get old paint off some of the furniture Tess had bought the day before so Josh waved her outside for a moment. ‘Can’t hear yourself think in there,’ he said.
‘Yes, it’s deafening.’ Tess leaned on the bottom half of the stable door, which was the entrance to her workshop.
‘Nice stuff you have in there.’ Josh smiled. ‘Now I see what you meant about the “tarting up”.’
‘Thanks. It does seem to sell well.’ Tess’s cheeks turned pink.
‘And why shouldn’t it?’ Josh tilted his head to one side, wondering why she was embarrassed.
‘I … er, no one’s ever actually said they liked it before. To Giles it was only ever a “little hobby” and I don’t think he saw the beauty in the pieces I’m creating. Or the hard work that goes into it.’ She shrugged. ‘Art wasn’t his thing.’
The guy had obviously been a moron not to appreciate his wife’s talent, but Josh refrained from saying so. ‘Well, I think it’s great. You have real talent, for sure.’ He decided to change the subject. ‘So was there an emergency?’ Josh kept his voice down, just in case Louis could hear them. He’d been wondering what had brought the kid here so late and uninvited.
‘Not really. He’s finished his exams and he was a bit down because he doesn’t think he did very well.’ Tess went on to explain about Louis’s dyslexia, his parents’ hopes for him and his own dream. ‘So he wants to spend some time here with me. Do you mind? He’ll have to leave if you decide to sell, of course.’
‘No, that’s fine.’ Josh was glad Tess wouldn’t be alone in the house any longer. Despite the presence of the dog, he’d wondered about her safety.
She added in a whisper, ‘We’re hiding out in my workshop because he’s sent his mum a message to tell her and she’s bound to be on the phone immediately. Only, we can’t hear the house phone out here and as you’ve probably found out already, mobiles don’t work at Merrick Court.’
‘Er, wouldn’t it be better to talk to her?’ Josh wa
s sure Louis’s parents would have more than a thing or two to say about him having come here without permission, but the boy seemed like a nice kid and if he had genuinely been struggling, Josh agreed it seemed cruel to make him study just for the sake of it.
‘I think she needs to calm down a bit first or she won’t even listen to what Louis has to say.’ Tess made a face. ‘Much better to wait until at least lunchtime.’
‘Right. Well, if he wants to be a gardener, shouldn’t he be outside working with Bryn?’
‘He would be normally, but he spotted you earlier so I think he figured the old man had enough help.’
‘You can never have enough help in a garden. Want me to take him with me? I’m sure Bryn would love to see him.’ And maybe that would give Josh more time to spend with Tess. Not that he should really, as he was getting much too addicted to her company, but was that so bad? He enjoyed being with her, talking to her and …
‘Would you?’ Tess’s eyes lit up and looking into their blue depths he would have done anything for her at that moment.
Oh, shit, he was in trouble.
He was definitely starting to feel at home here and if he got to know Tess even better, he wasn’t convinced he’d ever be able to leave at all. But maybe he wasn’t meant to? He had to put down roots somewhere; why not at Merrick Court? In fact, since arriving here he hadn’t once experienced the ‘itchy feet’ sensation he’d had so often before leaving New Zealand.
And hell, he’d even been welcomed by one of the spirits. Well, invaded more like, but still …
‘Sure.’ He returned his thoughts to the matter at hand and waved in the direction of Tess’s workshop. ‘Maybe later when you’re done here we could do some more work in that knot garden?’
‘I’d like that. I’ve just got to get the first coat of paint on some of these items then I’ll come and find you.’
‘I’ll look forward to that.’ Yeah, a little bit too much maybe. But Josh decided to ignore the voice inside his head. You only lived once and wherever this … friendship was heading, he’d enjoy it while he could.
The Velvet Cloak of Moonlight Page 18
