Dumbfounded by the revelation, she stood for a few moments, trying to accommodate the strange warm feeling coursing through her veins.
“I’ll be switching the main power off just now, Ms Phyllipa!”
Looking up in surprise she saw the butler, a smile on his face, regarding her with affection. her face coloured slightly, picking up the fallen towel she pulled it around her body again. “Tell me Bradford, have you ever been in love.” with an enquiring look on her face.
“Yes miss. When I was a young man, there was a girl in the village where I was born who was quite keen on me.”
“Did you marry her?”
Bradford shook his silver head. “No! I didn’t.”
Phyllipa didn’t wish to appear intrusive. “How does one know when one is in love?” she spread her hands out. “I mean does it suddenly hit you in the face or put you off your food, or what?”
“It can do any or all of those things. But, it’s the warm feeling which counts most of all.”
“Warm feeling?”
The butler nodded. “. When two people love one another, heated blood runs, creating a warm feeling. They tell me it is rather nice!”
“I see. Thank you Bradford.”
He nodded. “It’s always a pleasure. Goodnight!”
Phyllipa nodded to him as she looked around for her clothes, but her mind wasn’t on propriety. It was bubbling with all sorts of ideas aimed at making the coming Christmas day the finest one yet. Pulling her towel as tight as possible she snuck through the banqueting room. Apart from the orchestra packing up their instruments looked in amazement at her, the place was deserted. Quickly she ran up the stairs and was just waking the corridor to her apartment when she hesitated, turned around and ran to Steven’s room. He was breathing softly, fast asleep. For a few moments she stood looking down at him, a million thoughts rushing through her mind. With all fingers crossed and a bit of good luck, her momentous discovery could be the end of the old life for her. It could be the terminus for random lovers, hired gigolos and randy farmers. Bending over the bed she brushed Steven’s mouth with her lips, then returning to her penthouse, stopped to brush a stray tear from her eye. “It must be love.” She whispered to herself. “What else could possibly make me cry!”
Chapter 26
The packaging company was up and running. Monday morning was always a bit iffy, if the employees were going to report sick it was always on the first day of the working week. Fortunately, at the last count, they were all present and correct, and that pleased the Acting Director.
Phyllipa, looking smart in a grey business suit, the usual clip board in her hand was doing her morning rounds. Checking the huge printers, checking their output, and their quality. Checking, checking as infinitum! She had not seen Steven since Saturday, or rather early Sunday morning because she had certain things to tie up which concerned him, before her latest idea could come to fruition. Chuckling to herself that all was well, she returned to her office, picked up the telephone and dialled a number. “Has anything come back regarding my suggestion of last week?” Listening intently to the voice on the other end she finally nodded. “I’ll be waiting for your call. If you can’t reach me here, bell my mobile!” replacing the receiver, she looked at herself in the wall mirror. “As they say on the shop floor, Phyllipa you are playing a blinder!”
June was arguing with one of the printing staff when Phyllipa walked into the company office. Tapping the employee on his shoulder she hooked her finger in the direction of the print floor. “Scram! If you have a complaint, put it in writing.” The technician put the palms of his hand up in alarm. “ alright Ms Gore. I have no complaints!”
“Good!” Phyllipa said watching him scramble out of the door. “Today is a happy day and no-one is going to spoil it.”
June looked at her. “As good as that, eh?”
Phyllipa beamed at her. “I think so!”
A suspicious look crossed her friends face. “You look like that cat who always gets someone else’s cream. Something has happened hasn’t it?”
Phyllipa gave a slow motion shrug, and sat down. “It may have.” She screwed up her face. “In fact I think it has. I’ve found a chink in my armour that I may be able to slip through.”
“You’ve made it up with Steven, haven’t you? Go on say you have!”
“I have sorted myself out. I’m alright now! And as soon as I return to rosewood I’ll sort Steven out.”
Her friend smiled. “Smashing! I’m very fond of him and you couldn’t have picked a nicer guy.”
“It’s not just a kiss and make up thing June. It’s been a little more complicated than that.”
June smiled. “Alright, make it difficult, but do it!”
“Did you enjoy the party?” Phyllipa suddenly asked.
“Oh. I sure did, I had a great time and so did Clive. He told me you were the only woman in London who could give the kind of party that interests him. Horny lot, weren’t they?”
“Aren’t they always.” Phyllipa laughed. “Thank goodness.”
“Yes. So say all of us! Are you in for the rest of the day?”
“Why?”
“I just wondered that’s all.” A sarcastic expression crossed June’s face. “It’s the sort of question that secretaries ask their boss’s from time to time.” Phyllipa chuckled. “I keep forgetting I’m the M.D… and no, I won’t be in for the rest of the day…” she broke off as June picked up the screaming telephone and handed it to her. “It’s for you.” Phyllipa put the receiver to her ear, listened, then punched the air with her fist. “Thanks a million Maisie.”
“I would hazard a guess that the call was good news?” June was inquisitive. Within the company, she never quite knew what her friend was up to.
Phyllipa nodded. “You would hazard correctly.”
“But I don’t think you are going to tell me about it are you?”
“Much as I would like to, I cannot.” She looked at June with a serious look on her face. “Did you tell Steven about your impending wedding and the fact you would be leaving the company?”
June nodded. “Of course!” she pulled a long face. He was delighted about me getting married, but disappointed about me leaving.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about that.”,With a secretive look on her face.
“Dear god!” June cried, acrimoniously. “You can be dammed esoteric when you want to be. What the hell was that call all about?”
Phyllipa got to her feet and went to the door. “Come on June, you know as well as I, there are some things Managing Directors just don’t discuss with the rank and file!” laughing she slipped into the outside corridor as the flying steel ruler, thrown by her friend, banged against the door frame, then rattled to the floor. Returning to her own office, she collected her handbag and car keys, then walking through to the print floor, loitered for a few moments, listening to the roar of the machines. Shaking her head in wonderment, she approached the door leading to the company car park. “That’s my kind of music.” She shouted, proudly, taking a last look at the busy scene. They were all on station!
Chapter 27
Phyllipa walked through the house to Steven’s bedroom. She was feeling happy, excited and a little apprehensive, for this could be the visit which could irrevocably alter her life, her life style and hopefully her destiny. She shuddered as negative thoughts shuttered through her busy mind. Perhaps Steven had changed his mind about loving her? Perhaps he had decided that she wasn’t quite the one? Perhap “Oh shut up Phyllipa!” she snarled rudely, opening the door to the sick room.
“You got here then?” he was sitting up in bed, looking at her with a peculiar look on his handsome face.
“ she smiled, and nodded at the nurse quietly leaving the room.
bending over his bed and kissed him. “Good evening! I hope you are comfortable.”
Steven stretched his muscular body causing the hardware supporting his leg to rattle ominously. “I’m alright, but I’m
fed up with lying here.”
Phyllipa steadied the gantry. “The doctor tells me all this stuff can come down at the end of the week.”
His face lit up. “Really?”
She nodded. “Really.”
“That’s good news, anyway. Is this what this visit is all about? Or have you merely called in to listen to the explanation which you demanded?” he looked at her hopefully. “You did say you would call our first row, quits.”
“I have forgiven you Steven, so there is nothing to explain.”
His eyes opened wider as he pushed himself more upright.
“Do you mean we’re friends again?”
“thats what you want isn’t it?”
“More than anything in the world, but not at the expense of your magnanimous integrity. I mean I wouldn’t like you to think you are just forgetting what happened between us out of some charity guilt trip.
Her eyes turned angry. “What do you mean charity guilt trip?”
Steven threw back his head and laughed. “I knew that would get you going. But, it was worth it, just to see you annoyed.”
“Oh!” for a few seconds she just stood there, slightly bemused, not quite sure who had won the point.
“Well it has nothing to do with guilt trips, compassion or even charity. I just thought it was time we called time on one another.” She fingered the corner of her mouth. “After all there may have been a little truth in what you said.”
“What sort of truth?”
“Don’t push it Steven! That’s as far as I go right?”
Shoving his head back hard against his pillows, he nodded. “Right! Welcome back!”
Leaning over the bed, her lips brushed against his mouth. Pulling a chair up to the side of the bed, she sat down. “We do have things to discuss.”
“What sort of things?”
“I think you and I should get married!”
He swallowed, hard, his face coloured as he wriggled his body, not quite sure whether she was on one of her fun runs, retaliating for his “Charity guilt trip” crack. The chromium harness swung, wildly. “What? You mean to one-another?”
she snorted in mock anger. “Who else ?”
He shook his head, still not quite sure what was going on. “For nearly a year I have been asking you to marry me.” His voice was soft as he gazed at her face. “And for nearly a year you have been turning me down. So what’s changed?”
“I am doing the asking. That is what has changed.”
Steven shrugged his shoulders. “Suddenly I break my leg and here you are wishing to be my wife. You’re up to something aren’t you?”
She laughed. “That’s one of the nicest things about you. You can be obtuse. I am not up to anything, but if you don’t fancy being my husband I can always go and…”
“You are not going anywhere!” he grabbed her waist, pulling her on to the bed. “Now tell me what this is all about?”
Phyllipa pulled her legs on to the bed and snuggled at his side , Her fingers crept up his pyjamas, over his chest then swooped between his thighs, but he moved away in alarm.
“Please…”
She laughed again, withdrawing her hand. “Killjoy!” swinging herself from the bed, she kissed his cheek then sat in the chair again.
“Last night I decided to spend the rest of my life with you!”
“Just like that?”
She shook her head. “No, not just like that! I had to think about it, it is important. I have to be quite positive about this .”
“And you have chosen me?”
“If you agree?”
Holding her once again, he embraced her, and gently kissed her face. “It will be an honour to marry you.” His voice broke with emotion. “I will always love you.”
Phyllipa smiled “If you are going to accompany me through life, there are things you should know about me. I don’t want you on the outside looking in, centre page is where I am and that is where you will be. Up to now, most of my life has been spent away from home, so apart from my holidays I didn’t see much of this place.” Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. “When I was young, someone in a distant world decided they needed my mother than I leaving only my father to come back to, just the two of us. A brace of Inchcape-Gores!” taking a white lace handkerchief out of bag she touched her mouth with the edge of it, pulled Steven’s face toward her and kissed it. The gesture was almost mechanical, as if checking he was still there. Her voice strengthened. “I’m worth a great deal of money on the hoof. My ancestors were extremely generous to me, the older I become the richer I become. The family title falls through the male blood line, but the old wealth tumbles down the family money line to the first born.” She executed a half bow from the waist up as if introducing herself. “And here I am!”
The look on her face turned wistful again. “Both my father and I knew that my being sheltered all those years could possibly attract the wrong sort of men friends. And, that is why I have always played fast and a little bit loose, avoiding anything serious. So you must forgive me if I gave you a hard time, but I had to be absolutely sure.” She gazed at some spot in the ceiling. “I didn’t foresee your overdraft problems and in my wildest dreams, didn’t envisage your broken leg.” Her eyes hardened, ready for any opposition, but Steven, his eyes shining with affection, lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “You were always in control weren’t you?”
“I thought I was but Lord Braseby spoiled things a little, but that’s history now isn’t it.” They both looked up in surprise as Phyllipa’s father edged cautiously into the room. “I’m just checking on the patient.” He looked at his daughter. “Is he comfortable?”
Phyllipa nodded. “Ask him.”
Steven caught the conversation. “I’m absolutely marvellous, couldn’t be better.”
“We have something to tell you father!” with a slight blush on her face. “Steven and I have settled our differences and he has agreed to become my husband!”
A large smile, almost of relief crossed her father’s face. “That’s marvellous news.” He hugged his daughter to him whilst pumping Steven’s hand enthusiastically. “You have both made me a very happy man…” he paused, an expression of surprise on his face. “I didn’t know this was a leap year?”
Phyllipa sighed, “You stick to your conventions father, and I’ll stick to mine right!”
“Yes of course!” he chuckled. “Now perhaps we can keep the nursery door locked and bolted at night.” Phyllipa giggled.
“There was another reason for me visiting you.” Her father went on. Putting his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket, he brought out a black velvet covered jewellery case. “I never did like the way in which I won the bet. It was all a bit shady.” Opening the box, he removed the necklace, allowing it to cascade through his hands, then carefully placed it around his daughter’s neck. Watching in awe, Steven gasped at the scintillating layers of precious gem stones. Blue and yellow cabochon sapphires, glittering ice cold blue and white diamonds, backed by black lustred ocean deep pearls were festooned like bunches of grapes on a golden vine. It was swanking nature at her very best.
“Your grandmother always called this her necklace of love.” Her father explained. “So, it is fitting it should now belong to you.”
Phyllipa looked at her reflection in a wall mirror, then turned back again to her only parent. “Both you and I won the bet.” She said fondly. “There were no losers!”
“When is the big day?”Asked father.
“We shall marry when his leg is better. I’m not having anyone with a broken leg in my bed.”
He grinned. “This calls for a huge party! We’ll fill the house with guests.” But Phyllipa shook her head. “No! You can announce our engagement to the papers but no party. Sorry father, I don’t want this room filled with champagne bottles and well wishers.” She glared at Steven. “It is a sick room!”
“Just as you wish!”
“Spoilsport!” Steven shouted, pulling a
long face.
“It could be boiled fish time again.” She threatened.
Her fiancée grimaced, shaking his head. “Ok no party!”
Phyllipa, unlocking the diamante clasp, removed the necklace and handed it back to her father. “I know the rules about this. It must go back to the bank…but, it was wonderful of you to give it to me.”
Taking it back, her father, smiling with satisfaction, turned toward the door. “Now I shall leave you. Yesterday there was two of us now there are three.”
His Lordships Daughter Page 20