by Ally Forbes
‘I’m great, really. And there’s no place that I’d rather be tonight, promise.’ And it was the truth. However, she couldn’t help thinking about Xander. He had unbalanced her, their encounter leaving her wanting more. She had lost control in his bedroom and although it scared her, it also excited her.
She took another drink and felt the tension start to ease from her shoulders.
‘What’s cooking? It smells great.’
‘ Rabbit. Sit down Tara. Dinner should be another fifteen minutes or so.’
She left the warmth of the fire and sank into the soft cushions on the sofa. The beer had started to soften and smooth her jangled nerves and as she watched the dancing flames in the fire she felt Arlen watching her closely.
Aware that she had been lost in her own thoughts, she smiled openly at him and tried to explain,
‘Arlen, I’m sorry if I seem a bit distracted. It’s been a strange couple of days.’
He sat on the chair closest to the fire and Tara could tell that the beer had started to relax him too. His long legs stretched out over the rug and he leaned back into his chair, beer in hand.
‘I understand.......Living and working here can give you a bit of a skewed perspective on life, makes you a bit insular. Your arrival has shaken things up a bit Tara.’ He smiled again, and continued, ‘It’s a great place to be, though. I know you’ll love it. The estate owner died about five years ago. He’d let the place go.’
‘You know...today when I went round the Garden ....it’s magical. I’ve never seen anything like it...so untouched. It’s such a fabulous chance to restore something like this. Horticultural archaeology.’
Talking about the project ahead with someone who was genuinely interested made her push her thoughts of Xander away and she began to focus on the man who sat in front of her.
He was watching the fire, as she had been, and the reflection of the flames danced across his face. His dark eyes were far away, lost in some distant memory. His jaw was strong and a slight evening shadow contrasted against his olive skin. He was strong and powerful and yet he had a vulnerability that Xander did not possess.
‘How long have you worked at Blackfell?’
‘I’ve been here a long time.’
She waited for him to expand on this but knew by his silence and body language that this was as much she was going to get.
Sensing the awkwardness in his reticence, he tried to give make her feel more comfortable.
‘I studied and lived in Dublin through my teenage years into my early twenties but I always wanted to come back here. The place gets into your soul.’
Tara wanted to know more about this man but at this moment he was not ready to tell her.
He stood up abruptly.
‘Come Tara. Dinner should be ready now. I’m guessing you must be hungry.’
He stood beside her and took her hand, a gesture that Tara found both charming and intimate.
He guided her through to the kitchen and dining room. The under lighters in the kitchen were on and a few candles were lit on the dining table. Two place settings, a couple of wine glasses and bottle of wine graced the table. The candles flickered in the soft eddies that their movement created.
‘Arlen, this is... this is just lovely.’
‘Have a glass of wine..........and take a seat....please’
He moved to the table and poured her a large glass of white wine.
‘I know a lot about your professional career Tara but tell me a bit more about you. Who is Tara Applebee?’
He handed her the glass, moved back into the kitchen and took a dish from the oven and started serving their meal.
‘Well, where to start?,’ she smiled shyly at him. ‘My parents were the last of generations of fisher folk. From a small coastal village on the West coast of Scotland. My mum died when I was four, so it was just me and my dad.’
‘I’m sorry Tara.’ He lifted his eyes from the food preparation, his gaze direct. His tone was genuine and reflective.
She smiled at him, ‘I can’t really remember my mother. Just short moments – her laugh, the smell of lavender, funny little things really. My dad and I were a great team though. He was ....just.. well, you know, everything you could wish a dad to be. But I always wanted to see more of the world and I worked hard to get to university because I knew it was my ticket to get out of the village.’ She paused, lost in thought.
‘I did a Landscape Architecture degree at Edinburgh University. I put down some roots there. I love Edinburgh.’
She watched Arlen as he worked. He was methodical and professional and moved around the kitchen with a minimum of fuss. He served up the rabbit and accompaniments and brought them to the table.
‘Arlen, you are quite something.’ Tara was genuinely impressed. The plate of food looked and smelled wonderful.
Without asking, Arlen topped up her glass.
‘I love cooking. It’s a great pleasure to me. Rabbit’s from the Estate..... Please start.’
She took a mouthful and delighted in the flavours.
‘You’re going to make someone a great wife one of these days you know,’ she smiled at him but he did not make eye contact with her.
He remained silent for a moment and then sa‘ and thid,
‘So tell me more about you Tara.’
She continued, ‘There’s not much to tell really. I loved University and Edinburgh and once I finished my degree I was lucky to get a job straight away at Kew. I’ve been all over the place in the last few years. There’s not a day goes past that I don’t feel lucky to have a job that I love.’
‘Have you ever been in love Tara?’
She took another mouthful and watched Arlen as he ate.
‘I’m really in the firing line tonight.’ She laughed but didn’t answer his question.
He remained silent and leaned back in his chair, taking his glass of wine and drinking deeply from it. He held her gaze until she dropped her eyes.
‘I feel like I’m being interrogated,’ she smiled uneasily and shifted in her chair, taking another sip of wine. She tried a change of subject.
‘This is a great wine. No label?’
‘Home brew. It’s a plum wine made with the fruit from the walled garden.’
‘As I said Arlen, you’re really quite something.’
The silence enveloped them and Tara caved in.
‘I thought I was in love once. I...I lived with one of my lecturers for most of my degree at University. He was fifteen years older than me.’
‘Were you in love?’
‘I don’t think so. It was so exciting at the beginning. It felt a bit...elicit, you know, lecturer and student, and we tried to keep things quiet. He had a wonderful bohemian flat and a wide circle of great friends and he made life very exciting. It was a great few years.’
‘So what happened?’ He was interested and had stopped eating, listening to her intently.
‘Well I finished the degree, got the job at Kew but he wanted to get married, have kids, settle down. I guess he was that bit older but I wasn’t ready for that. I was so excited at getting this wonderful job... and I was ready to make that break. So I don’t think it was love. I didn’t feel that heartbreak when I left.’
‘I’m guessing he did.’
Tara remained silent for a moment.
‘Well.....it got a bit....messy. He followed me to London but by that time I felt the relationship had run its course. He would’ve moved to London but it wasn’t right for me. Yes.....it got a bit messy.’
Tara took a gulp from her wine glass again, glad to have the fortitude that the wine provided.
Arlen reached over and topped up her glass. She put her hand over the top of her glass to emphasize she wanted no more.
‘No more Arlen. I’m driving back tonight.’
‘We’re on the Estate Tara. You can have a little more than is strictly legal if you want.’ He smiled encouragingly and winked and Tara continued.
‘I’ve moved around a lo
t with work over the last few years but it’s been great to have the freedom to come and go as I please .....after living with someone for a long time. I bought my cottage up in Perth and it’s a wonderful place to be. I’m really very happy with life.....I feel very lucky.’
Arlen had finished his wine and had topped up his glass too. He had nearly finished his meal.
‘God, I’ve been talking far too much. I’m way behind,’ she said and continued to eat.
‘So how about you Arlen? Have you ever been in love?’
‘No.’ His answer was immediate and sure.
‘Never? I can hardly believe that.’
‘I’ve met and dated a lot of women Tara, even lived with a few but there’s never been anyone I’ve loved. I’ve never felt that heart-flip moment on meeting someone, never felt that magnetism when I’m around them. No-one’s ever been....special.’
She remained silent for a moment, giving him time to reflect. He remained silent.
‘Listen to the two of us. Poor souls who have never been in love!’ Tara laughed, breaking the solemnity of the moment.
He smiled back at her, pushed his chair back and picked up their now empty plates.
‘Now Miss Applebee. How about some dessert?’
‘The best part of the meal. Can’t wait, Mr Emberline’
His mood seemed to have lifted and whatever she had said had satisfied him.
‘It’s just a chocolate cheesecake but in my view you have to go a long way to beat a proper baked cheesecake.’
He carried a beautiful looking cake to the table, decorated with chocolate shavings, a truly exquisite looking thing.
‘You know the way to my heart Arlen. I adore chocolate cheesecake and if it tastes anything as good as it looks then you’re on to a winner.’
Arlen smiled and proceeded to cut the cake. She watched him serve dessert and tingled inwardly with delight. He was so extraordinarily handsome.
‘What did you study at University?’ she asked.
‘Well, there’s a story,’ he teased her, and then remained silent.
‘Arlen, please. I’ve given you my life story. Time to reciprocate....’
He grinned and passed her a plate of the delicious cake.
‘I’m a doctor. Studied medicine.’
Tara just about dropped her spoon.
‘Good grief. You’re a man of mystery, Doctor Arlen Emberline. How did you end up as Estate Manager at Blackfell?
He laughed again at the surprise on her face. A genuine, heartfelt laugh that made his face light up. It was then that Tara realised that she had not yet seen this lighter side of Arlen. He had been serious and sombre on every occasion they had met. He was even more handsome when he laughed.
‘Oh Tara,’ he sighed, ‘I have stories to tell but that’s not for now. I had a father who expected that I’d be a lawyer or a doctor and I went along with it. I did what was expected of me. But....well..... things change.’
Tara watched him closely. He was relaxed with no sense of bitterness or anger about his change in career or the expectations that had been made of him.
He poured some more wine into her glass.
‘Are you trying to get me drunk Arlen?’ she asked, half serious.
‘I would never want that.’ He looked at her, the smile now gone from his face.
‘I can call a taxi from the village for you Tara. Please don’t worry.’
Tara took another mouthful of wine. It had a fruity, heady scent and was strong.
‘I think that might be a good idea. I guess I should do that now, you know, by the time I’ve called and waited. Might take a while. And as lovely as this has been I need to get back. I’ve got an early start tomorrow. I’m sorry to eat and leave but you employed me for a purpose.’ She smiled apologetically.
Tara got up to get her phone from her bag and realised that she had drunk far more than she had thought. Either that or Arlen’s wine was particularly strong. She felt light headed and her legs unsteady. She sat straight back down again.
‘That must be strong wine. I didn’t think I’d drank that much.’
‘It’s a bit of a show-stopper. Are you OK Tara?’
‘It’s gone straight to my legs.’ Tara laughed, ‘I’m just fine, promise.’
She took one last spoon of the delicious cake.
She noticed his phone sitting on the kitchen work surface.
‘I really have to make that taxi call Arlen.’
‘Tara, there’s no rush. I know Jack, the taxi driver from the village. He’ll be here in five minutes when you need him.’
‘That’s great but I think I need him now Arlen. I’ve had a bit too much to drink and I don’t want to end up being late and hs gg late ung over on my second day of work.’
‘Give me another half hour Tara. Please. Have a coffee with me.’
Tara studied his face. He didn’t look at her and pushed a flake of chocolate round his plate. He looked dejected and Tara decided that after having enjoyed such a lovely meal that staying for coffee wouldn’t make any difference. She relented, ‘OK. Coffee would be great.’
He jumped up from the table, his smile broad.,‘ Go and get comfortable beside the fire and I’ll bring through the coffee.’
‘Sure. That’d be wonderful. Can I help clear this away?’
‘Leave it to me. Go Tara Applebee.’
Tara got up slowly from the table and made her way somewhat unsteadily to the soft sofas, the flickering light of the log fire casting a warm glow over the dimly lit room.
Tara curled up in a corner of the sofa and felt truly at home. She hugged a cushion in her arms and felt sleepy and relaxed.
The phone rang in the kitchen and she couldn’t help overhear the conversation.
‘Yes, what is it?’ Arlen’s voice was soft and strained.
There was silence and then,
‘I don’t know where she is.’ And then he hung up.
Her sleepiness had left her and she knew in an instant that it was Xander on the phone trying to find out where she was.
She was shocked firstly that Xander had been trying to trace her and second that Arlen had lied about her whereabouts.
She continued to clutch the cushion to her, feeling too tipsy to know what to do for the best.
Arlen appeared with a couple of mugs of coffee, slightly flustered.
‘Everything OK?’ she enquired.
‘Yes..... yes of course.’
He handed her the coffee and she cupped her hands round the warm china, inhaling the comforting aroma of the rich coffee.
‘I think this is exactly what I need just now.’
She took a sip of the hot liquid and sighed.
‘I’ve had a lovely evening. Thank you Arlen, man of mystery.’
‘Entirely my pleasure.’ He stared into the black coffee in his mug, a frown of concentration furrowing his brow.
‘Tara, this might not be entirely appropriate but...... I’ve not been able to think of anything but you since I saw you at the house.’
‘Arlen.....’ she whispered.n>
‘I felt ....I felt totally miserable... when I thought you weren’t going to come to dinner tonight.’
Tara held her mug of coffee in a tight grip, unsure what to do or say.
‘‘Arlen, shhhh. I really should go.’ She had decided that Arlen had maybe had too much to drink tonight too and all she could think of was how embarrassed they would both be in the morning.
She stood up. Arlen got up from his chair and took her coffee mug from her.
He gazed into her eyes and whispered,
‘You are so beautiful.’
He reached behind her and expertly removed her hair pin, setting loose her long, dark hair which spilled down her back and around her shoulders.
Tara felt powerless, completely caught in the intensity of the moment.
He pulled her to him and buried his head in her hair, holding her close. Slowly she moved her arms around him, feeling the stre
ngth of his body through his shirt, running her hands slowly up his back.
Lifting her head gently, he pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her softly, slowly, his large hands pressing warmth into the small of her back. Every part of Tara responded to this exquisite man.
‘Tara, my beautiful Tara.’
Tara remained silent, feeling caught in a dream, unable and unwilling to wake.
He took her hand and led her to the stairs, which curved up to a huge attic bedroom that spanned the entire floor area of the house below. A wide band of glass extended from the apex of the roof to the floor, slicing the roof in two. A huge, oak-posted bed beckoned underneath. Outside, the pitch black night was speckled with a vast array of stars that could only be visible in a place like this, a place far away from the street lights that hid this wonderful site to the city dweller.
‘Oh Arlen, this is just beautiful.’
He said nothing but lifted her off her feet and carried her easily to his bed. She felt feather light in his arms and his strength and confidence made her feel helpless, carried along on a tide of desire that she could not fight.
He placed her gently on his bed and stood up to remove his shirt, towering above her. He did not take his eyes from her for one moment.
He kneeled beside her and removed her shoes and then stretched over her to undo the clip on her trousers, pulling them over her hips and off to the floor.
He moved slowly, treacle slow, savouring each movement. His hands glided over her skin and Tara inwardly moaned, yearning for more of his touch.
He reached up to her hips and took the thin silk fabric of her pants and ripped them offs, ped the with ease. He could have been tearing paper. He pulled them from her and discarded them on the floor.
Tara watched him, in her slightly drunken state, unsure whether she was dreaming, not wanting to wake.
Moving to sit on the bed beside her, he reached behind her neck, expertly undoing her halter neck, pulling it gently over her head.
Bending his head, he slowly kissed her breasts through the fabric of her bra.
Tara rolled her head back as he unclipped the front fastener, releasing her breasts from their confines.
He took a deep ragged breath, a man struggling to maintain control.
Bending his head her took her nipple in his mouth and sucked gently, pushing her breasts together, kissing and sucking, gradually more forcefully. He cupped her full breasts and licked from one nipple to the other.