Country Pursuits

by Jo Carnegie

  They’d reached the gazebo now, and, as if by magic, an impeccably dressed waiter appeared. ‘Madam, sir,’ he said solicitously, and pulled their chairs out. Benedict waited until Caro was seated before he walked round to his chair.

  Caro was only just remembering how to speak. This was probably the most romantic setting she had ever known.

  The waiter appeared again and handed them two thick white menus embossed with gold lettering. ‘Shall we?’ asked Benedict. Caro realized she was absolutely starving.

  The next three hours passed like a dream. Caro didn’t know how or where it had been prepared, but a mouth-watering three-course meal was served to them. She ate sea-fresh prawns and exquisitely tender lamb and laughed until her sides hurt at a story Benedict told her about one of his eccentric clients. Benedict told her all about his design agency The Glass Ceiling. ‘It’s been a hard slog setting it up these past few years, but it finally seems to be paying off,’ he said, leaning across the table to refill her glass.

  ‘And you’ve got a place in London?’ asked Caro. ‘Stephen and Klaus mentioned it . . .’

  Benedict smiled at her teasingly. ‘Oh, you’ve been checking up on me? Yes, I’ve got a place in Chelsea: Montague Mews. Stephen and Klaus live a few doors down. They’ve been very generous to me.’

  Caro hesitated. ‘Now the agency is doing so well, will you move back to London permanently?’

  Benedict’s eyes scanned her face. ‘I don’t know,’ he said softly. ‘I’ve become rather attached to Churchminster.’

  Caro wanted to whoop with joy.

  As coffee was served, she looked across the table at Benedict, reflecting. For the first time in her life, Caro felt she could be herself with a man; that she wasn’t going to be sneered at or put down. He was actually interested in everything she had to say. Benedict made her feel bright and alive, even laughing at her stupid jokes, which Sebastian had always dismissed as childish and puerile. She gazed at him, noticing how his handsome, carved features were accentuated by the shadows of flickering candlelight. ‘Can I ask you something?’ she said.

  Benedict’s strong fingers caressed the bottom of his wine stem. ‘Fire away.’ The corners of his mouth turned up. ‘Are you going to press me for my deepest, darkest secrets?’

  It was Caro’s turn to smile. ‘Of course not. Not unless you try to press me about mine. Not that I’ve got any.’ She got a bit flustered. ‘I mean, I suppose I have but they’re not that bad. I mean . . .’

  Benedict’s right eyebrow rose in amusement, and Caro quickly composed herself, taking a deep breath. ‘That night at the ball,’ she continued, ‘you never did tell me why you seemed to hate me for so long.’ Caro lifted her hand and gestured around. ‘All this is just wonderful. The time we spend together is wonderful, but it feels like two different lifetimes.’ She leaned forward hesitantly. ‘Why the change, Benedict? I mean, what really explains that?’

  A bleak look came over Benedict’s face, and he stared over her shoulder into the distance, as if remembering something he didn’t want to.

  ‘Caro, I . . . When I met you, all the joy had gone out of my life. What with the divorce and Harry.’ His voice cracked. ‘I was an empty shell. I didn’t think I deserved any happiness and was quite determined to lead a solitary life where I could never hurt anyone or be hurt myself.’ His face softened as he looked at her. ‘Then I met you, and you were everything I was trying to avoid, everything I’d told myself to hate and stay away from.’ He laughed derisively. ‘What a fool I was.’

  Spellbound, Caro sat perfectly still.

  ‘The moment I met you outside your house, it was like all the lights in the world had switched on again. I felt something I’d never felt before, and I tried to fight it all the way. I didn’t want anyone in my life again, so I tried to push you out.’ He smiled wryly. ‘Unfortunately that just translated into me being the rudest bastard imaginable.’

  ‘You were, rather,’ Caro teased.

  Benedict held his hands up. ‘Guilty as charged,’ he said. His face turned solemn again. ‘But after the ball, what Sebastian did to you . . .’ Caro’s face fell at the memory and Benedict trailed off, not trusting himself to speak for a second. ‘Caro, you had every right to kick me into touch after the way I’ve behaved. You still have the right. My only defence is that I was a proud idiot and, thank God, I realized I can’t live my life like that. I’ve changed.’ His strong, warm hand reached for hers across the table. ‘You’ve made me change,’ he whispered. He squeezed her hand. ‘Caro, will you forgive me?’

  Apart from Milo’s birth, Caro couldn’t remember a single moment when she had felt happier. ‘I’ve never been very good at holding grudges,’ she whispered back, and squeezed his hand in return.

  By midnight they were back in the Bentley, gliding towards Churchminster. At dinner, the conversation had flowed easily, but suddenly the atmosphere changed and they sat in silence, like strangers forced to share a small space together. Caro wondered if Benedict could feel the sexual tension radiating off her, but when she glanced across at him, his elegant profile stared thoughtfully ahead into the darkness.

  They continued in silence until they reached the outskirts of the village, by which time Caro was beginning to despair at how it had all gone so suddenly wrong, when Benedict finally spoke.

  ‘Are you over him, Caro?’

  Caro was momentarily thrown off-balance by the question. She turned to Benedict and their eyes met. She smiled. ‘Yes, I really think I am,’ she said softly.

  The car pulled up outside Mill House, and after tipping the driver generously, Benedict walked Caro to her front door. She fumbled round in her bag for her door keys. ‘I don’t know where to start thanking you, I’ve had the most wonderful time,’ she told him. Suddenly flustered, she quickly thrust the key into the lock.

  As she turned it, Benedict’s hand enveloped hers. ‘You’re worth it,’ he said gently. She felt a jolt of electricity that made her stomach flip upside down. At that point, Caro knew there was no going back.

  ‘Would you like to come in?’ she asked.

  He trailed a finger slowly down her cheek. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘More than I’ve ever been,’ she said, and pulled him inside.

  The door shut behind them, and they stood in the darkness like a pair of awkward teenagers. Moonlight streamed in from the window above the door, illuminating Benedict’s perfect features. Stepping towards her, he cupped her face in his hands. ‘Oh my darling, I have waited for this moment for so long,’ he said shakily, and lowered his head to kiss her.

  His full lips were tender and practised, and he tasted vaguely of mint as his soft, probing tongue found its way into her mouth. Caro felt her body melt. Running her hands over his lean, muscular back, she felt her nipples harden and the long-forgotten pulse start between her legs.

  Benedict nuzzled her neck and moaned slightly. Through the fabric of his trousers, she could feel his rock-hard erection straining to get out. Benedict ran his hands up her bare thighs to her buttocks, pulling up her dress. He lifted her up into his strong arms and she wrapped her legs round his waist. Still kissing passionately, he began to walk down the hall, carrying her as if she was as light as a feather. Up the stairs they went, kissing, licking, and unbuttoning each other until they reached the top. Kicking the bedroom door open with his foot, Benedict carried Caro in and put her down gently.

  She pulled his shirt off. His body was better than she had ever imagined. Strong sculpted arms, broad shoulders and a six-pack stomach that tapered into a narrow waist. Caro’s fingers traced the V-shape leading to his groin, and he groaned again. ‘I want to see you first,’ he said, voice thick with desire, and Caro felt her halter neck being undone. He pulled her dress down over her body and she stepped out of it, kicking it away. Underneath, she was wearing just the skimpy black Agent Provocateur G-string she’d bought months ago but never had the guts to wear. His eyes ran over her hungrily, and he caressed her full, firm breas
ts before slipping his fingers down beneath the lacy triangle.

  Caro couldn’t wait any longer. She pulled his trousers and Abercrombie & Fitch boxer shorts down over his powerful thighs. Her fingers found his cock, gloriously long, wide and hard. Benedict groaned louder. He picked her up again and pushed her against the wall, splaying her legs apart. Caro gasped in pleasure as he slid inside her. They moved rhythmically together, slowly at first, and then harder and faster, building up to a crescendo.

  ‘Oh my God, oh my God,’ gasped Caro as she arched her back against the wall, wrapping her legs around him tightly to drive him in deeper.

  ‘Oh Christ,’ he moaned. ‘Oh my beautiful Caro . . .’

  They both cried out as their orgasms exploded together, hearts hammering and bodies bathed in sweat.

  ‘I love you so much. Will you marry me?’ gasped Benedict.

  Caro held on to him tightly, feeling every nerve in her body tingle. ‘Yes, my darling,’ she sobbed happily. ‘Yes, yes, yes!’

  Chapter 63

  THREE DAYS LATER Caro was sitting at the breakfast bar, laughing as she watched Benedict trying to feed Milo. The little boy was in his highchair, clearly not impressed at the organic yoghurt and fruit purée on offer. At this stage most of it was in Benedict’s hair.

  ‘He obviously gets his table manners from his mother,’ Benedict said, wiping a bit of strawberry off his ear.

  ‘Watch it, you,’ said Caro smiling. She was handing him a piece of kitchen roll when the phone on the wall rang. Reaching across, she picked it up. ‘Hello? Oh, it’s you. What do you want? No, I didn’t mean it like that. I just wasn’t expecting to hear from you.’

  She listened for a moment, a frown crossing her face. ‘I don’t know if that’s a good idea.’ She listened again and sighed. ‘OK, but I can’t meet you for long. No, don’t come here. I’ll see you in the Jolly Boot at one.’

  She hung up and turned to Benedict. ‘That was Sebastian. He wants to meet me at the pub at lunchtime.’

  Benedict studied her, holding Milo’s little wrists to keep the sticky grasping hands away from him. ‘Will you be OK? I can always come as well.’

  Caro giggled. ‘Can you imagine the look on his face? “Sebastian, I’d like you to meet my fiancé.” I don’t think his ego would be able to stand it.’ As Caro wasn’t officially divorced yet, they had only broken the news to their immediate families. Naturally everyone had been delighted.

  ‘I think I’ll hold my own,’ she continued. ‘Anyway, it’s a good chance to hurry him along with the divorce papers.’

  ‘I’ll be on standby if he tries anything,’ said Benedict darkly.

  ‘My hero!’ Caro said teasingly and leaned over to kiss him.

  It was a fine, dry day as Caro made her way over to the pub a few hours later. As she crossed the green, she realized the cramped, anxious feeling she was used to getting before seeing Seb had gone. She wasn’t looking forward to the meeting, but there was no dread there, either. Caro felt strangely calm.

  The pub door was open and as she ducked her head under the low beam, she could see Sebastian had arrived before her. He was standing at the bar, clearly trying to chat up Stacey Turner. Once upon a time the scene would have made Caro’s heart clench in misery. Now she just thought how worn and pathetic he looked.

  She walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. ‘Seb?’

  He turned around from leering down Stacey’s top, and his eyes widened in surprise. ‘Christ, you look amazing!’

  Caro did. She was in fantastic shape, but the glow of being in love illuminated her more than any make-up or toned figure ever could.

  ‘I’ll get you a drink,’ he said. ‘Sauvignon Blanc, isn’t it?’

  ‘I’ll have a Perrier,’ she told him. She wanted all her wits about her, she didn’t put it past him to try something funny like announcing he was going for sole custody of Milo. ‘I’ll find us a table.’ Caro walked over to one in the corner, feeling Sebastian’s eyes on her bottom.

  ‘So how are things? How is my wonderful son?’ he asked over-heartily a few minutes later.

  ‘Milo is great.’ Caro took a sip of her drink. ‘You can see him whenever you want; I’m not going to stop you.’

  Sebastian cleared his throat and looked around the room evasively. ‘Yah, you know how it is,’ he said. ‘I’ve been so busy. Work’s simply a bastard at the moment.’ He fixed Caro with his most beseeching look, trying to garner sympathy.

  It didn’t work. She had heard it all before, and simply didn’t care enough to challenge it. Sebastian was so transparent, it was laughable. Caro had a sudden urge to get out of there.

  ‘When are you going to sign the papers?’ she asked. ‘They’ve been with your solicitor for months now.’

  Sebastian took a glug of his vodka tonic, eyeing her over the glass. ‘Ah yes,’ he said lazily, a sly smile playing at the corner of his lips. ‘I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.’ He smiled patronizingly. ‘Don’t you think you’ve made your point, darling?’ He held his hands up in an insolent gesture. ‘All right, so I’m sorry! Sebastian’s been a naughty boy, and now he’s had his wrists slapped.’ Laughing, he took another slug of his drink. ‘Let’s just stop all this divorce crap and go home, shall we?’

  Caro sat perfectly still. ‘You really don’t think I’m serious, do you?’ she asked evenly.

  Sebastian sat back smugly and put his hands behind his head. ‘I know you too well. The ball-breaker act just doesn’t suit you.’

  ‘You don’t know me at all,’ she said quietly. ‘You never have. Because even if you were the last man on earth, I still wouldn’t stay married to you.’

  He laughed indulgently. ‘Sweetheart!’ His tongue ran revoltingly across his lips. ‘Mmm, I like it when you play hard to get.’ Sebastian reached over and put his hand on her thigh. ‘Stop it now, though, darling. You know we’re both dying to shag and make-up.’

  Caro pushed his hand off and stood up. ‘Sebastian?’ she said quietly. He looked up like the cat who’d got the cream, arrogant and smirking.

  She looked down at him. ‘Go fuck yourself.’

  Her words took a second to sink in. Sebastian’s jaw dropped slack with shock. ‘But, but . . .’ he stammered.

  Without a backward glance, Caro turned her back and walked out of the pub, ready to live the rest of her life.

  About the Author

  Jo Carnegie lives in London and Cardiff. She spent her early career as a fledgling reporter on Bedfordshire’s Biggleswade Chronicle before working at More! and Glamour. Most recently she worked as Deputy Editor of Heat and has interviewed stars from George Clooney, Justin Timberlake and Will Smith to Posh and Becks and Kylie Minogue.

  Country Pursuits is Jo’s first novel. She is now writing her second, Naked Truths.

  For more information on Jo Carnegie see her website at www.churchminster.co.uk

  TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS

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  COUNTRY PURSUITS

  A CORGI BOOK: 9780552157063

  Version 1.0 Epub ISBN: 9781407033921

  First published in Great Britain

  in 2008 by Bantam Press

  a division of Transworld Publishers

  Corgi edition published 2009

  Copyright © Jo Carnegie 2008

  Jo Carnegie has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

  This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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