(Part 01)
Neil Etherington was an average man approaching his thirtieth birthday not that he was a bad looking man, he wasn’t, but he wasn’t stunning, sexy or buff, he was strictly middling but his girlfriend
Samantha Barraclough was anything but, she was an absolute beauty three years younger, elegant, daintily petite, intelligent, funny, sexy and with a perfectly beautiful angelic voice, pure Carrington Chase educated perfection, Carrington Chase being Downshire’s version of Roedean, although those in Downshire thought it was the other way around, and it was a voice that made Charlotte Green sound common.
He pinched himself at the start of everyday, especially the ones on which he woke up beside her, just to check he wasn’t dreaming.
Because the good fortune that brought Samantha into his life was the type of thing that didn’t happen to him, and everyone who witnessed them together unanimously agreed that he was punching well above his weight.
They first encountered each other at a business meeting at the Abbottsford Regents Hotel, where she was a potential new client and he was trying to win a new account, but the meeting was unresolved as it was love at first sight.
Neil worked for a firm of architects called New Horizons whose head office was in Sharpington by Sea while Samantha Barraclough was approaching her 28th birthday and was a project consultant for the family business, Barraclough Ventures and the project that Samantha’s company was heading up was the regeneration of the former Industrial Power House of the county, Northchapel.
The love that bloomed between Samantha Barraclough and Neil Etherington in Abbottsford in June went from strength to strength
However things had not been all plain sailing since they had met, though not between the two of them they were completely simpatico.
The problems stemmed from a different quarter entirely and from those who should have been the most delighted for them, their close friends and family.
Neil and Samantha were the victims of snobbery, inverted and otherwise.
Her family thought she had set her sights to low while his nearest and dearest believed he had set his too high.
Her friends thought he was common while his thought she was a snob.
Only their closest friends Jonathon Hardman and Isabelle Decoene stuck by them.
So as a result they had found it difficult to fit inside each other’s worlds, but the couple believed that love will out and Samantha drew a line under the difficulties when she said
“If you can’t live in my world and I can’t live in yours we shall just have to make a world of our own”
If he hadn’t been in love with her already he certainly would have been after that speech.
However there were still some events that she was required to attend as a representative of the company, such as the Lord Lieutenant’s Summer Ball which was why he was at home alone in Brocklington on Saturday night.
He spent the day in the garden pottering about and the evening watching TV but by ten o’clock he was feeling a bit restless so he decided to take a shower then he would have a nightcap and go to bed.
(Part 02)
Although she had suggested they create a world their own there were still some events that she was required to attend as a representative of the company, such as the Lord Lieutenant’s Summer Ball which was why he was at home alone in Brocklington on Saturday night.
He spent the day in the garden pottering about and the evening watching TV but by ten o’clock he was feeling a bit restless so he decided to take a shower then he would have a nightcap and go to bed.
It was about half an hour later as he was coming down the stairs when the doorbell rang.
He had no idea who it might be, he certainly wasn’t expecting anyone and when he opened the door he was surprised to see Samantha standing on the doorstep in full evening wear and over her shoulder he could see a taxi pulling away.
“Hello” he said with genuine surprise
“Hello Darling” Samantha said and kissed him,
“Can I come in then?”
“Of course” he said fussily “come in, come in”
Once inside she slipped off her stole and walked through to the lounge looking absolutely gorgeous in a full-length black evening dress which was as usual perfectly accessorized with long elbow length gloves and clutch purse, etcetera, and he imagined her to be fully accessorized under the dress as well.
“You’re a bit overdressed for Brocklington” he observed while mentally undressing her.
“I know” Samantha said as she sat down “I was going to the Ball but…”
“But?” he asked
“I couldn’t face everyone quizzing me”
“About what?” he quizzed
“About my choice in men” she replied
“I’m sorry,” he said inadequately
“I’m not” Samantha said defiantly “I would rather be here with you”
And then she kissed him again
“So Cinders didn’t go to the ball” she added
“I prefer you to be here as well” he admitted
“And you’re welcome to wine and dine here”
“Well thank you kind sir” Sam said “Lead me to the wine”
Neil walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge and took out an open bottle of wine and two large wine glasses from the cupboard and filled them.
But before he returned to the lounge Samantha walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him.
“I love you” she said
“That’s good, I wouldn’t want a woman to spend the night with me who didn’t love me” Neil said
“You’re being a bit presumptive” Sam said
“Well I did see the taxi drive away” he retorted
“I can easily call another one” Sam added
“Oh ok then” Neil responded “I’ll just get the phone”
“Don’t you dare” Sam exclaimed and playfully punched his back and he turned around to face her
“Ok you can stay” Neil said and kissed her “But only because I love you”
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