Through the Dark Keyhole

by Rosalyn Richardson

  However, as the evening unfolded, my expectations were very different from the outcome that I had been expecting.

  Chapter Eleven

  Neil was relaxing, with his seat reclined in his Bentley Continental. His driver’s door was wide open, and he was soaking in the early evening sun. He lay there, totally relaxed and I suspected that he was asleep. The sounds of Elgar’s Enigma Variations played from his CD player.

  He must have sensed that I was there, as his eyes opened as I approached, and he straightened himself up.

  He grinned and said, “I’ve something special in mind, hop in.”

  I became excited with anticipation and my stomach began to feel as though it were doing somersaults.

  Neil and I chatted away about each other’s events of the day. He then pulled up outside a rather suave looking restaurant in Netterby.

  It was now late summer and the sunset was glorious. It was about eight p.m. The fiery red glow of the sun as it settled behind the hills. The bright green carpets of grass and the distant sounds of tractors in the fields, made the atmosphere exquisite. There was still a pleasant warmth in the air, and from the direction of the restaurant, the aroma of different herbs and spices filled the air.

  The restaurant was packed – Always a good sign, I thought to myself.

  As we approached the reception, a tall dark handsome waiter approached us who spoke very good English with an Italian accent.

  “Ah, Mr Garside,” he began, “Mademoiselle”, he uttered, as he nodded and took my hand. “Please follow me.”

  He led us to a table near the conservatory windows, which looked out onto a courtyard with a very impressive fountain with lilies floating on the surface. In the distance, the remains of an ancient abbey could be seen.

  The conversation between us flowed easily and, as had become the norm, I felt safe and warm in Neil’s company.

  When we left, I glanced up at the night sky and could see that the blanket of night was now almost knitted together with threads of stars embedded on it. The sweet smell of the Phlox filled the air.

  As we made our way back to the car, Neil suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned to me and pulled me into a strong embrace and then said, looking straight into my eyes,

  “Natasha, please let me show you where I live before I take you back to Ryedale. I’m sure you will like it. I would like you to get to know me better and vice versa, and to trust me.”

  I was rather overwhelmed. I felt delighted at the idea and of course I agreed.

  We didn’t say a lot to each other on the journey to Neil’s house, but the quiet wasn’t uncomfortable and I enjoyed soaking-in the beauty of the scenery and looking at the multitude of lights as they shone from the array of hill farms in the area. Neil had soft gentle music playing in the background.

  My attention was drawn back to the road as he slowly drove up a long drive, and came to a stop. He came and opened the car door on my side. I stepped out on to the cobbled area which was lit by one single street lamp. Neil’s house was the last one of four terraced cottages, set in the adjoining hillside.

  As he ushered me inside, I was immediately impressed by the cosiness of the living room. There was a large open fire – something I had always wanted myself. There were two armchairs and a matching settee and recliner.

  I commented on even though he had been out all day that the lamps were already switched on even before we had even entered the door. He then surprised me and told me that he always set them to come on at a certain time, obviously according to the time of the year. He also astounded me by saying that the bath was set to run at a set time, and, according to his schedule, he would set it for the evening before he left each morning.

  I could tell that the house was still a bit “bachelorised”, but it was spotless and it had very few ornaments etc., but was still cosy.

  Neil caught hold of my hand and led me through to the kitchen with its range cooker. Everything was modern, expensive, precise and tidy. I had never had the house or the man I wanted, and this was just too good to be true.

  In the centre of the kitchen stood a farmhouse dining table on the stone floor with pine chairs around it. An expensive looking porcelain fruit bowl sat in the centre of the table, brimming over with a beautiful array of the colours of different fruits.

  He smiled as if he sensed my thoughts, as I soaked in the pleasure of the environment.

  “Let me pour you a glass of wine,” he said still smiling. “I think I’ll have a glass of beer. I can only stand a small amount of wine.”

  “Come, let’s relax in the lounge,” he suggested.

  I felt at home already and certainly didn’t want this evening to end. I however said, “I’ll just have this one and then I’d better go, if you don’t mind dropping me back to the office. I’ve had a superb evening Neil,” I said sincerely.

  With that Neil came up close to me and knelt by me with those gorgeous brown eyes that had now had taken on a pleading look, as I sat relaxing on the settee.

  “Please stay with me tonight Natasha. I have fallen in love with you,” he said.

  I gasped, “How can you have? I do however feel that we seem to know each other well, but I’m scared that everything is going at such a rapid pace that something is going to suddenly bring us back to earth with a bang, and spoil something so special. I don’t want to sound negative, but I’ve never had the privilege to experience, feelings, yes love, like this and I’m just too overwhelmed by it; to be honest.”

  Neil gently put his index finger to my mouth to allow him to speak. “I can understand your fears and anxiety after what you have been through; but I trust my instincts and I fell in love with you the very first day I met you in the car park. Please let me be a part of your life – a massive part.” He kissed my hand, then my arm, then my ear, then my lips and we were locked in a delicious kissing session. I couldn’t resist him.

  “Let me show you upstairs,” Neil said encouragingly.

  We climbed the stairs hand in hand. His bed in the main room was in a large oak carved style, what I recognised as Egyptian cotton sheets. The gorgeous aroma of the air conditioner perfumed the air and soft spring green cushions were spread on top of the pillows.

  The dark coloured oak farmhouse styled door with a latch, led firstly into a toilet with a wet room, which then led on to a bath and shower in the next room.

  “Come to bed with me,” Neil said suddenly in a soft gentle voice, followed cheekily by, “or we could always start in the wet room and see where we go from there.”

  “Sounds good to me,” I replied confidently, and I licked my lips sensuously.

  A brief thought flitted through my mind, Where has this come from? – this is a new Natasha, but I like her!

  We slowly and delicately peeled each other’s clothes off, savouring the moment. As we stood opposite each other in the wet room area, completely naked, Neil reached out for a blob of shower gel massaging it into the palm of his hand from a small shelf. He gently caressed my breasts with it, and slowly worked his way down my body. I was becoming completely lathered, both inside and out.

  I then did the same to him and my hands caressed his erection and other areas. Our eyes locked on each other and that longing joined us together. It wasn’t just the ecstasy that was so wonderful, but that great feeling of trust and belonging between us, that I had never experienced at any time in my previous life and relationship. I knew that he wouldn’t hurt me and it was delicious to be a slave to my feelings and my desires and to be totally at his mercy, to fulfil my longing and needs. As we both climaxed in unison, we held each other, holding on to that wonderful moment.

  Neil tilted my chin upwards and kissed me tenderly. He then whispered, “Would you like a glass of wine?”

  I giggled. I expected him to say something serious – about us, not to offer me a glass of wine.

  Then I said seriously, “I’d love to but I’d better not. I have to drive back home, remember?”

 
Neil gently pulled me closer and with those deep brown eyes looked at me and said, “Please stay with me tonight and then we can go to work together in the morning.”

  I couldn’t resist that. It all felt so right. I was here with someone who I wanted to be with all the time. Neil had an addictive influence on me, and I felt so safe with him.

  We had our glass of wine and lay curled up in each other’s arms. We slept peacefully. I awoke to the sounds of the birds singing happily away and the cows mooing and the sheep baaing as if answering each other, through the open window. The sun was already spreading its warmth across the meadows.

  It sounded as though Neil was downstairs in the kitchen. I showered and dressed, and climbed down the thick pile carpet stairs with my hand on the dark oak bannister. Neil came towards me and put his hands on my shoulders. He kissed my forehead and then he planted a long lingering kiss on my lips.

  He then beckoned me towards the kitchen. The table was set for breakfast, with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and the percolator already full of coffee.

  “You said you liked poached eggs,” Neil reminded me. I nodded and smiled. In a flash there were two poached eggs on toast before me. The smell of real farmhouse bacon and the gorgeous aroma of the coffee were delightful.

  “Well, I am being spoilt, waited on hand and foot,” I said with a chuckle.

  “You’re more than worth it,” Neil responded stroking my right cheek.

  We set off in Neil’s Bentley to work. When we arrived at work; I glanced towards the entrance to the offices, and caught sight of Tim and Joe having their usual morning coffee before they started work. I saw them nudge each other, in that “Nudge, nudge, wink, wink” fashion.

  “Morning Neil, morning Natasha. You look as though you had a good night last night,” commented Tim cheekily.

  I just grinned looked at Neil and said that I would see him later about his client lists. I then made my way towards my office.

  I had just walked through my office door when my phone rang. I somehow already sensed it was Neil and I was right.

  “Ignore those two, they’re like two schoolboys,” Neil assured me.

  “I don’t bother these days. They are only having a bit of fun and I’m learning quickly!” I replied.

  “Good, well when you have a minute, could you pop around and see me?” Neil said, in a matter-of-fact voice.

  “Oh, might that be for an encore?” I asked cheekily, but light heartedly.

  “I think we could safely mix business with pleasure,” Neil remarked.

  Later that day when we had both stopped panting and recovered from our erotic episode, Neil put his arm round me, as we lay naked, on the famous sheepskin rug. He looked at me in earnest as he asked, “Will you move in with me?”

  I was taken aback and shocked by this sudden life changing question. After a few moments silence, I replied, “Neil, you have certainly swept me off my feet, but that is a huge commitment for both of us, and so soon?”

  “I realise that,” he said understandingly, “but I feel it, we just feel right.”

  “I need to come up for air, my Darling, and I need to think. We both have had bleak experiences with our previous relationships and I don’t want anything to spoil this beautiful and special relationship that we have. It’s early days and it could be considered fragile,” I answered with all the courage I could muster, not because of Neil, but more because of myself.

  “Okay, I’ll back off about that, but say you will still consider it?” Neil said, a little deflated.

  “I will, I promise,” and I gently kissed him on the cheek.

  I can’t believe I’ve just said that, I thought to myself, half amused and half in disbelief. I really was changing and becoming stronger as a person. I was thinking of me for a change and what was best for me, instead of having to live my life through others and to suit others, as I had done all my life.

  A few days passed. Neil and I spoke regularly and we made a point of saying goodnight to each other on the phone each night. I had texts daily on my mobile, more than once a day, to say, ‘I love you xx,’ from Neil. One morning I came into work to find a massive bouquet of red roses at my door with a note asking me to call Neil urgently.

  I sat down at my desk, and my hand hovered over the phone. Urgently, that didn’t sound good. I braced myself and called him. As he answered I asked, “Are you okay? What’s the emergency?” I asked, concerned.

  I heard Neil chuckle. “No there isn’t one, I just wondered if you would come to Rome with me next weekend?”

  I was irritated by this assertion and made him aware of it. “I don’t think that is an appropriate way to ask someone a question like that. You had me in a state of panic. I should say no for that very reason,” I replied in a annoyed voice.

  “Is this our first row?” Neil said teasingly. Then before I could answer, he responded, “You’re right, in retrospect it wasn’t an appropriate way to get to ask you, I’m sorry.”

  That’s a first, I thought. A man saying sorry, especially to me! It did feel good though.

  I then responded, “I must admit, it does sound pretty tempting.”

  “Right, Rome it is!” Neil replied, and then added, “I’ve taken the liberty, I know, of booking a table for dinner tonight at the usual spot for seven thirty p.m. Is that okay?” Neil asked humbly.

  “Yes, I’d like that,” I agreed, concealing my excitement at our conversation and what lay ahead for the immediate future.

  On the Thursday before we were due to fly to Rome Neil asked me if I would stay at his house, which made sense, so I agreed. This time I followed him home in my little car to leave it on his driveway. I didn’t want idle gossip coming from Tim and Joe if I left it in the car park at work for the next three days.

  I became caught in the traffic out of the busy town of Ryedale and it being a bad time of day when the world and his wife were going home from work, I lost Neil in the process. However, when I arrived the big oak front door was ajar so I knocked politely. When there was no reply, I gingerly let myself in. I would have felt better if Neil had been around.

  As I walked straight into the lounge from the front door, I couldn’t help but notice a tan coloured fur coat draped over the settee and next to it a black beret. I gasped, but I tried not to jump to conclusions. These were woman’s clothes. My mind and thoughts began to run away with me – was there something that he wasn’t telling me? Had he meant to move them out of the way before I arrived and hadn’t had a chance to?

  I had a sinking feeling in my stomach as I kept staring at the coat and hat. I felt my emotions going into alarm mode.

  I stood frozen to the spot for a few seconds. My head turned upwards towards the staircase. I couldn’t hear any sounds from up there. All was still and unnervingly quiet.

  Suddenly I heard Neil’s voice coming from the garden and guffaws of laughter. I shut the front door behind me, which must have alerted him and he came back into the house, still amused by the look of it by the conversation he had just had which was presumably with a neighbour. At first, I felt a childish surge of irritation.

  Neil’s smile suddenly disappeared and he came over and took my arm and said in a concerned voice, “Are you okay Natasha? You look rather pale.”

  “Yes, Yes, I’m fine,” I replied falteringly.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t hear you come in. I’ve just been teasing Rob next door. His mother-in-law is coming to stay for the weekend, so I’ve been winding him up with the famous jokes,” Neil explained.

  “Oh, right,” I replied, still distracted and with a weak watery smile.

  Neil followed my gaze as I glanced across at the fur coat and beret, which gave him the cue to satisfy my curiosity as to their presence.

  He chuckled and explained, “You’ve seen my surprise – ‘Voila’!” he said. “These are for you,” he continued, “a warm fur coat for walking around in Rome and a beret to finish off with, for an Italian look.”

  “I
don’t know what to say,” I said, taken aback. “How did you know what size to get?” I queried, still in shock.

  “Well, I couldn’t have had my hands all over that gorgeous sexy body of yours and not have a good idea of your measurements,” he said cheekily.

  “Do you mind!” I pretended to protest.

  Neil picked up the coat and brought it towards me to try it on. It was perfect.

  “You know what my mother would say?” I asked grinning. I paused and then quoted my mother’s well-known saying: “Fur coat, no knickers!”

  “I must say I like the no knickers bit,” laughed Neil.

  Suddenly logic must have kicked in, for he then said, “Why don’t you go and have a soak in the bath. I’ve prepared it all for you; in the meantime I will prepare one of my famous beef stir fries in front of the fire.”

  “That sounds perfect,” I said, as I kissed Neil on the cheek.

  When I entered the bathroom, the atmosphere was awesome. Neil had placed tea candles around the bathroom in various places and had lit them. By the taps stood a bottle of rose water bath oil.

  He never ceased to amaze me. He came up with surprises all the time and he certainly knew how to treat a woman, and knew how to pamper her.

  I pinned my hair up before I began to undress, and took my new pink short silk nightshirt out of my case and draped it over the bathroom chair next to the luxury lavender coloured towels, which smelt heavenly.

  I sank down into the bath and my body snuggled down into the water with my head resting on the padded head rest and I closed my eyes, wistfully blowing away from my mind the cares of the day.

  However, my thoughts were interrupted. I began to process some very mixed thoughts, which at first, I had found quite disturbing.

  Firstly, it bothered me how I had reacted when I first caught sight of the fur coat and beret earlier that day.