My breath caught in my throat. He stretched out a hand in front of him and examined his nails. ‘In fact, I might just tell them anyway and let them wheedle it out of you.’
My stomach churned with fear but I refused to let it show on my face. Ignoring the thud of my heart, I got to my feet and leaned both hands on the table.
‘I wouldn’t if I were you,’ I said in my best sinister voice. ‘You have no idea what you’re dealing with.’
He lifted a finger and pointed it directly at me. ‘And neither do you.’
There was a noise at the door and Andy and I turned in unison.
‘Ben!’ I gasped.
Chapter 5
Ben was back!
His hair was all mussed up and longer than when I’d last seen him, his jaw was dark with stubble and his cheeks had a healthy weather-beaten glow. He stood in the doorway, waterproof coat rustling as he lifted his hands to his hips and gave Andy a suspicious look before turning to me.
‘Sorry, Holly, didn’t mean to make you jump,’ he said, breaking into a smile.
‘You didn’t, it was just that . . .’ I looked quickly at Andy and then back to Ben. ‘I’m fine.’
I attempted a casual smile instead of the big soppy one that was threatening to escape. Warmth spread through me like molten chocolate and I felt a pull in the pit of my stomach.
I hadn’t seen him since I’d fled from him in the gardens on the first day of the festival eight weeks and three days ago. Not that I was counting. Obviously.
This was ridiculous, I mused, aware of my quickening breath; I’d only known him for a few months. And he’d been away for a lot of that time. And I was grinning like a model in a toothpaste commercial.
Oh, who cares? Ben was back again. Back at Wickham Hall.
I smiled at him. ‘Welcome home, stranger.’
It was probably just as well that Andy was in the room; left to my own devices I’d have probably launched myself at him, hugged him tight and proclaimed how much I’d missed him.
From nowhere Esme’s words came floating through to me: just relax, enjoy the chase . . .
Best not say a word then. And I should preferably wait for some sort of indication that there was even going to be a chase before jumping on the poor man.
‘Benedict!’ Andy’s hand flew to his hair as he began preening. ‘What a surprise! You’ve just missed the Bonfire Night meeting. We’ve got some very exciting ideas.’
He was babbling, which was fine with me; it gave me a chance to recover from Andy’s threat and get over the shock of Ben’s sudden appearance.
Ben slid his gaze from Andy and his face softened as our eyes met. ‘You look pale, Holly. Everything OK?’
I nodded vigorously. ‘Absolutely.’
He nodded, looking unconvinced and turned back to Andy. ‘I’ve just unloaded some of my paintings into the gift shop store room for temporary safe keeping.’
‘Oh lovely, I can’t wait to see them,’ Andy simpered. ‘I’ve always said that we should be selling your paintings in the gift shop; you are sooo talented.’
Ben exhaled. ‘The place was a tip, Andy. Empty packaging strewn all over the place, boxes piled in front of the doorway. If nothing else it’s a fire hazard. I want it cleared up first thing tomorrow.’
Andy grimaced. ‘Yes, but we had a big delivery and there’s been a problem with the bin collection—’
Ben held up his hand. ‘Just deal with it, Andy.’
Andy pulled a face like he was chewing a particularly nasty wasp and began to put his jacket on. ‘Fine,’ he muttered.
‘Holly, I’m sorry to drag you away, but can I borrow you for a second?’
My heart flipped: borrow, keep . . . whichever.
‘Of course,’ I said, focusing on not sounding too joyful.
Ben strode from the room and I jumped to my feet, scooped up my papers and shoved them into my handbag. Andy caught my eye and I just about restrained myself from sticking my tongue out at him triumphantly.
I pushed Andy from my mind as I scurried after Ben. He was already at the end of the corridor, pushing open the door that led to the Red Sitting Room. The hall was closed now for the day and we had the room to ourselves. He held the door open for me and grinned as I brushed past him. He smelled of the outdoors, the faint tang of the sea and his own special scent – all citrusy and male – and my heart performed a perfect somersault.
‘Are you absolutely furious with me for deserting you for so long?’ He watched me carefully as he stooped to switch on a table lamp.
‘Are you kidding me?’ I arched an eyebrow. I walked to the French doors and looked up at the evening sky. ‘The peace and quiet was divine. My clipboard has been permanently on duty and my diary is almost full from now until Christmas.’
But I’ve missed you. A lot.
‘Well, that’s a relief,’ Ben said, pretending to mop his brow. ‘I would hate to think of you pining for me while I was gone.’
He came to lean on the doorframe by my side, close but not quite touching me.
‘And me,’ I asked, keeping my voice light. ‘Did you cry into your pillow at night from missing me?’
He scratched his chin thoughtfully. ‘Only once. Although I will admit to wondering what you were up to.’
‘Working hard to keep the events department running as smooth as silk. Single-handedly,’ I said, nudging him with my elbow. ‘Without a word from my boss. For two months.’
‘God, I’m sorry. My painting was going so well that I couldn’t drag myself away.’ His eyes sought mine and his face looked serious for a moment. ‘I probably shouldn’t do this in case you sue me or something . . .’
I looked up at him, holding my breath.
‘But I’m going to do it anyway.’
I was in his arms before he’d even got the words out and then he was laughing and swinging me round and I was laughing too and thinking that I hadn’t been this happy since the last time I’d been in his arms.
‘This is a definite improvement on the last time I saw you.’ His lips tweaked into a smile. ‘I’ll have to go away again. Remind me to check my diary.’
‘You haven’t got a diary,’ I retorted, pulling myself out of his arms reluctantly. ‘And besides I need you here.’
‘Oh? That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said, Miss Swift.’ He pressed a hand to his chest and pretended to swoon.
‘I’ve talked myself into running a Guy Fawkes competition with the local schools. But you’d be much better at that sort of thing than me.’
‘Guy Fawkes!’ He grinned. ‘I love it. I haven’t made a guy since I was about twelve.’
I shook my head affectionately. ‘You sound just like your dad.’
A shadow passed over his face and he exhaled sharply. ‘Hmm. I haven’t seen him yet, or my mum.’
I winced. ‘Ah. Well, I’m sure they’ll be glad you’re back.’
He sighed, and dropped down into an armchair and I did the same.
‘They’re piling the pressure on for me to officially agree to take over at the hall. I’ve asked for more time and some space. And it didn’t go down well. Especially with my mother.’
‘I guess they just need to know where they stand so they can plan for their retirement,’ I said diplomatically.
Ben nodded and gave a heartfelt sigh. ‘I’m proud of my heritage and of this place, even if my mother does try to smother me on a regular basis.’
We shared a wry smile at that.
‘But equally I’m proud of the career I’m making for myself. As an artist. I just can’t see myself sitting in some boring boardroom having meetings with the trustees, day in, day out.’
He sat back in his chair and rubbed a hand through his dark hair.
‘Everyone has to submit to responsibility at some point,’ I pointed out gently. ‘And you have dodged it pretty well till now.’
‘Nothing wrong with that.’ He grinned and shrugged his shoulders.
‘Ben . . .�
� I paused, waiting for him to be serious. ‘You will do a brilliant job when you take over from your father. Believe me.’
‘Yes, well, that’s a long way off.’ He frowned and slapped his hands down onto the arms of the chairs, signalling the end of the conversation, and I sighed under my breath, hiding my frustration.
‘Anyway, what was I interrupting there in Dad’s office? Between you and Andy?’
I wrinkled my nose and shook my head, hoping that my cheeks didn’t betray me. ‘Oh nothing,’ I said breezily.
He leaned closer and tapped my nose. ‘Come on, Miss Tiny-but-Fierce, out with it.’
I chuckled and lifted my eyes to his, wondering if I should confide in him. It was a risk, but quite honestly, I was more than ready to get the whole bracelet thing off my chest and if anyone could think of a way to get it back unobtrusively into his mother’s possession, it was Ben.
I took a deep breath. ‘Would you like to hear a love story?’
‘Am I in it?’ He lifted an eyebrow mischievously.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I shook my head. ‘Sorry, this one is before your time, Romeo.’
‘Holly . . .’ He hesitated and my heart missed a beat. ‘I’ve driven for what feels like a week. Can we go up to my apartment so that I can grab a beer and shed all these layers?’
His private apartment? Eek!
I lifted a shoulder nonchalantly. ‘Sure.’
Two minutes later we were in the west wing of the hall on the top floor. Benedict stood back to let me into his suite of rooms ahead of him.
‘Wow, Ben! This is amazing!’ I walked into the room and span round slowly. This room alone could fit our tiny cottage in it and I imagined it was as far removed from Ben’s life in London as it could possibly be.
‘Welcome to my humble home,’ he said, extending an arm towards a gold brocade sofa.
‘It’s very . . . gold,’ I said, taking a seat on the rather stiff sofa.
Everything was gold: the sofa, the two armchairs and the large rug. There were various drawers and cabinets in the room in a Chinese lacquered style – gold, of course – and, rather incongruously, a beer fridge in the corner. Through an open door I caught a glimpse of a sumptuous four-poster bed hung with gold drapes. There was a further door, which I guessed led to a bathroom or dressing room.
‘It is, in fact, the imaginatively named “Gold Room”,’ Ben said, opening the beer fridge.
He popped the lids off two bottles of Budweiser and handed one to me. I sipped the froth from the top while he peeled off his coat and jumper.
‘Zara and I had children’s rooms until we went to boarding school.’ He grinned as he lowered himself onto the other end of the sofa. ‘But now I get this when I’m back. It’s a bit full-on, isn’t it?’
‘But beautiful,’ I said, examining the exotic birds on the pale blue printed wallpaper.
‘Right,’ said Ben, setting his beer down on the low table in front of us. He rubbed his hands together. ‘I’m all ears for the love story.’
‘OK.’ I took another sip for fortification purposes. ‘Remember me saying that I was conceived at the Summer Festival?’
‘Hardly the sort of thing I’d forget,’ he said, his lips twitching playfully. ‘That thought kept me occupied on many a draughty night in my hermit’s cottage in Orkney. Lucky Lucy, the naughty minx.’
‘Ben, please,’ I said, wiping my palms on my skirt. ‘This is serious.’
‘Sorry,’ he whispered. And to give him credit he sat completely silently, as I told him how Mum had met Antonio and the story of that traumatic day when my grandfather died and she lost touch with Antonio for ever. Finally, I reached for my handbag and saw his eyes widen as I withdrew the pearl bracelet.
‘Mum had no idea that it belonged to Lady Fortescue, Ben.’
I held my breath as I handed him the bracelet. He stared at it, shaking his head slowly. My pulse was sky high; I had no idea how he would handle this new information about Mum and me.
‘Antonio had gone, her father had died and she’d lost everyone in the world who she’d cared about. She just couldn’t bear to part with the bracelet.’
Ben still hadn’t said a word. I looked down at my leg and realized it was trembling. I swallowed.
‘Of course, I’ll understand completely if you think I should leave Wickham Hall,’ I murmured.
Setting the bracelet down on the table, Ben turned to face me and took hold of my hand, encircling my fingers in his. ‘I’m so sorry, Holly.’
My heart sank. I nodded and lowered my gaze to our intertwined hands, loving the contrast of his rough skin against my pale soft fingers. Of course he’d have to tell Lady Fortescue the whole story, I didn’t blame him. Which made this potentially my first and last visit to his apartment. I swallowed a lump in my throat and looked up at him.
He peered at me from under his curls. ‘Poor Lucy having to face all that alone. And she never managed to trace him?’
I shook my head, thinking of all the newspapers she’d collected over the years, hoping to find a mention of his leather business at some other county show. ‘She tried, but it was pre-Google and she only had his first name to go on.’
‘Look,’ he tugged gently on my hand, ‘don’t give the bracelet another thought. I’ll get it back to Mum somehow. Leave it with me. OK?’
‘Really?’ My shoulders sagged with relief. ‘Thank you.’
I grabbed him round his neck and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
‘Oh my goodness,’ I sighed, ‘you have no idea how pleased I am to hand that over.’
Ben smirked as he tucked the bracelet into his pocket. ‘The kiss is a bit of a clue.’
Just then the door opened without warning and Lady Fortescue barged in.
‘Benedict, I’ve just heard you’re home!’
She glided towards him, arms outstretched, and then froze.
‘Holly!’ she gasped, flaring her nostrils. ‘What on earth are you doing in Benedict’s room?’
Chapter 6
Lady Fortescue looked at her son and then at me and then back at him. The shock on her face couldn’t have been any more exaggerated if she’d caught us both stark naked. I took a sip of my beer to hide my discomfort.
Ben stood and walked towards her. ‘She’s drinking a beer, Mum. Not giving me a Thai massage.’
Was that the one with no clothes on? The beer slipped down the wrong hole and I began to splutter.
‘Benedict, really,’ she fretted. ‘As much as we all appreciate Holly’s role at Wickham Hall, this really is too much. And I must say I’m surprised at you, Holly. Staff are not permitted here, as well you know.’
‘I . . . I’ll go.’ I jumped to my feet, face blazing. But Ben touched my arm.
‘Mum,’ he said firmly, ‘Holly is here as my guest.’
She straightened her spine and shook her head, completely ignoring him. ‘Well, I’m afraid I’m very strict about privacy. These are Benedict’s private rooms. Whatever it is you need to see him about, I really don’t think—’
‘I invited Holly in, Mum,’ he warned her. ‘She’s staying.’
Lady Fortescue looked about to object but apparently thought better of it. ‘Well, it’s lovely to have you back, darling.’
Ben pulled her in close for a hug. ‘Thanks, Mum,’ he said, kissing her on her cheek. ‘Now close your eyes, I’ve got a surprise for you.’
She frowned at him for a moment but he grinned in response. ‘Go on,’ he urged.
‘Oh all right,’ she said with an exasperated tut.
As soon as her eyes were shut, he winked at me and pulled the bracelet from his pocket.
I stared at him, my face getting hotter and hotter. Surely he wasn’t just going to . . .? Not with me in the room?
He took her hand, uncurled her fingers and dropped her long-lost bracelet into the palm of her hand. Her eyes sprang open immediately.
‘Heavens above, Benedict! Where on earth has this appeared from?’
He pulled a face and shrugged. ‘No idea. It was left in an unmarked envelope at the gatehouse. I saw it when I picked up the spare key for the gift shop. Is it the one you lost?’
He flicked his eyes towards me and I detected the faint twinkle of humour, but I wasn’t ready to reciprocate yet. Adrenalin was coursing round my bloodstream like a tidal wave.
‘Yes!’ she exclaimed, eyes glittering. ‘Yes, it is! How lovely! Help me put it on, Benedict.’
She held out her wrist and Ben fiddled with the diamond clasp.
‘Such a shame I don’t know who to thank.’ She sighed, admiring the pearls.
‘Now you can go and relive the eighties.’ Ben grinned. ‘Put your Madonna album on and strut your stuff. Your secret’s safe with me. And Holly.’
He winked at me and I tried to laugh but made a noise like a goat in pain instead. This was so awkward.
‘I’m not the only one who should be going,’ Lady Fortescue murmured at Ben and inclined her head in my direction. She was so unsubtle that if I hadn’t been worried about emitting a second goat noise, I’d have laughed.
Ben shepherded his mother towards the door and kissed her cheek again. ‘We’re just leaving, actually. I’ll catch up with you and Dad at dinner, OK?’
I gazed around the room and through to the bedroom and my stomach clenched; would Ben remember my third wish, I wondered, about how I’d always dreamed of waking up in a four-poster bed?
‘Holly? Earth to Holly?’ Ben bent down, resting his hands on his thighs to look into my eyes.
I shook myself. ‘Sorry, miles away. Thanks for sorting the bracelet out. I’ve been carrying it around for weeks.’
‘No bother,’ he shrugged. ‘Come on, I’ve just had an idea.’
‘Oh, really?’ My lips twitched; I’d missed his spontaneous ideas.
He pulled me up to my feet and cocked an eyebrow. ‘One of my best, actually. But first I want to make a deal with you. If I can find out some more information about this Antonio, will you come on a date with me? This Saturday? I wrote it in your diary.’
Wickham Hall, Part 3 Page 5