Downshire is a relatively small English
county but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful
coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock,
the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the
rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm
land as far as the eye can see from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the
south, to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their
affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in the north, but it’s in the Town
of Abbeyvale where the participants of this tale live their lives.
Simon Tempest was a modest, well mannered, well-groomed and good-natured
man, knocking loudly on the door of his fiftieth birthday.
He owned and managed a coffee house in the town, a nice one, called Café
Société, it was not one of the chains, in fact it was a very swanky
establishment, with prices to match, which attracted the discerning punter and
deterred the riff raff.
Simon was a single man, not that he was opposed to the idea of marriage,
far from it, unfortunately the one he would gladly have made his wife was in
fact already married, so he thought if he couldn’t have her, he was not
prepared to settle for second best.
So, he remained unmarried and was content with his life, until the day the
recently widowed Georgiana Rushworth walked into his coffee shop and back
into his life.
After her first “out of the blue” appearance in Café Société she became
a regular and whenever she walked in he would drop everything and spend as much
time with her as possible.
However, on one occasion in January when she entered and beamed a smile
at him, he was unable to leave his position behind the counter as he was short
staffed due to a flu epidemic, unperturbed Georgiana proclaimed
“Not to worry, if Mohammed can’t come to the mountain then the mountain
must come to Mohammed” and then she gracefully climbed up onto one of the
stools at the counter.
“Excellent, as soon as the cavalry arrive, we can go and sit somewhere
more comfortable” he said although he liked her where she was as he had a
wonderful view of her legs.
While Simon made her coffee, Georgiana rummaged in her handbag and took
out a flyer for the upcoming Burns Night Supper at the Abbeyvale Court Hotel
and laid it on the counter.
“Ah it’s that time again all ready” he said gesturing towards the flyer.
“Are you going?”
“No” she said
“Oh! Why not? I’d have thought it was your kind of thing”
“It is yes” she replied, “and I normally do go”
“But?”
“But I don’t want to go on my own” she replied, and he looked at her
with puzzlement and then said
“Why not?” he asked, “You’re not exactly lacking in confidence”
“I know I’m not” she replied and smiled
This made her blush and averted her gaze after a few moments she looked
back at me.
“And you won’t be among strangers either” he pointed out
“I know, but when my husband was alive,
he was an arm to hold on to and I didn’t need confidence” she said “now I’m
alone so it’s a case of no escort, no supper”
“What about you brother, he’s unattached” Simon suggested
“Well, he would do it if I asked him because he loves me, but I know he
can’t abide haggis, and he thinks bagpipes are an abomination”
“Ok I see how that might be a problem” he said and they both laughed
before she said.
“I have had offers though”
“I don’t doubt that for a moment” he said “you are a catch”
“You are too kind” Georgiana said and bowed
“So, who is in the running?” Simon asked
“My sister’s new man Michael suggested his brother as an escort”
“Really? I’ve met him” he said brightly “he’s very nice”
“Yes” she agreed, “I like Michael”
“Yes, so do I, but what I meant was that I’d met his brother, Steve” he
responded
“How do you know them?” she asked
“They’re regular customers” he replied “and they’re nice guys”
“That’s as maybe, but...” she began but left the sentence unfinished
“But what?” he asked
“I’m a bit old for blind dates” she replied “And I haven’t been on a
date of any kind for so many years”
“Is that all that’s holding you back?” Simon asked
“Well partly”
“So, what else is worrying you?”
“Well, I’m not sure I want a stranger knowing where I live” she
admitted.
“Ok, if you don’t want him to pick you up at your house you could always
go with Clarisse and Michael and meet Steve at the Hotel”
She sat quietly for a few moments drinking her coffee and he judged that
she was not altogether convinced by his argument and then a thought occurred to
him and he said
“If you’re still not sure there is a very simple solution you know”
“What’s that?” she asked vaguely
“You could go with me instead” he said
She didn’t speak but was considering the merits of his suggestion in silence,
so he pressed on
“I’m quite partial to Haggis, I can tolerate bagpipes and I already know
where you live”
Again, there was silence until he added
“So, what do you think?”
“I think No, if you’re only asking because you feel sorry for me?” she
said
“Of course, not” Simon recoiled
“Really? So, you actually want to take me?” she asked and he began to
panic because the truth was that he thought of nothing else but being with her
but he had held back because he was unsure of his ground but he was now in a
catch 22 situation so he walked around the counter and replied
“Yes, I do”
“Promise?” she asked
“Promise”
“Very well you can pick me up at 7 o’clock” she said and slid
effortlessly off the stool and then reached up and kissed his cheek.
And as she left the coffee house she smiled and said to herself
“Well played Georgiana, very well played indeed”
