(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.
So having overcome their initial difficulties of not being accepted in each other’s worlds and having set out to make a world of their own, they made the decision, after spending two weeks together on a narrow boat on their first holiday together, that they should move in together.
(Part 02)
Samantha asked “In Tipton or in Brocklington?”
Her house was up in Tipton, although she was rarely in it as she spent more time living in hotels than she did her house so it had never felt like home to her, but she thought it might if she had someone to share it with but Neil had a nice cottage in Brocklington and that would also be lovely so when he replied.
“Neither”
To her question, she was taken aback.
“Neither?” she asked
“I think we should buy somewhere new, a blank canvas, somewhere that will be ours and not yours or mine” he replied and a she exclaimed
“That’s perfect”
However as perfect as that solution was it didn’t solve the problem of where they should set up home.
Samantha was from Tipton in the north of the county but when she fell in love with Neil she also fell in love with the Finchbottom Vale so they considered buying a house in the area and they almost bought one in Forestdean but it fell through at the last minute.
At the time they were quite upset about it but every cloud has a silver lining because they found a place in Applesford that needed a bit of TLC but by the time they completed and took possession it was almost a year after they started courting.
Because of her high powered job with the family business, Samantha had to spend a lot of time away on business.
It was during one of her trips away that Downshire was gripped in winters bitter grasp and snow fall and near blizzard conditions had closed a lot of the Downshire roads and Samantha was stranded in Northchapel on the evening before Neil birthday.
“I can’t get back tonight darling” she said on the phone “But I’m going to try again in the morning”
“Don’t risk it hon” he said “it’s not worth it”
“But I want to celebrate your birthday with you” she said
“We can still celebrate the next day or the day after that”
He pointed out
“It won’t be the same though” she said sadly
“Promise me you won’t do anything silly” he said
“But…”
“Promise me” he insisted
“Ok I promise” Samantha said with her fingers crossed
“Ok I’ll see you soon” he said “I love you”
“Love you too”
Washed and shaved Neil decided to go and put the kettle on before he got dressed so he slipped on his dressing gown and made his way down the stairs to the kitchen and it was when he reached the bottom step that there was a loud knocking so he went to the door and when he opened it Nanook of the North stepped into the hallway.
The figure was dressed in a fur hat, long winter coat with a heavy woolen scarf wrapped around the neck and knee length boots and Nanook was carrying a hold all.
In fact the only part of them that was visible was there eyes but he recognized them immediately.
“Samantha?” he said, “What are you doing here?”
(Part 03)
“Samantha?” he said, “What are you doing here?”
“I didn’t want to miss your birthday” she replied through her scarf.
“You could have had an accident” he said crossly and took off her fur hat and kissed her forehead as she un-wrapped the scarf from around her neck.
“Where’s your car? I didn’t hear you pull up,” he asked as she sat on the stairs and unzipped her boots
“Do the honours?” she said holding out a leg.
Neil hung her hat on a peg and pulled her boot off to reveal a knee length red sock”
“I had to park down on the main road and walk up” she replied as she held out the other leg
“Happy Birthday” she said as he removed her other boot and she stood up and kissed him
“Thank you” he said “But I’m still cross with you”
“You can spank me later” Sam said and kissed him again
“I didn’t want to miss your birthday” she replied “and I wanted you to have your present on the day”
“I didn’t mind waiting hon” he said “I would rather have had it late than risk losing you”
“It was quite safe” she said and kissed him softly “I followed a snow plough all the way”
“I don’t know what I would do if I lost you” he said and held her tightly
“That’s never going to happen” she whispered “You’re my soul mate”
“And you’re mine” he said
After a prolonged embrace she broke the silence
“Do you want your present now?” she asked
“Well as you risked life and limb to bring it to me I better had”
“Good choice” she responded as she unbuttoned her coat and slipped it off to reveal her beautiful figure in a red wool dress.
“Oh is that my present?” he asked hopefully
“If I’d known that was all you wanted I wouldn’t have brought you these” she said as she carried the hold all into the lounge and then she shouted “happy birthday”
And she emptied the hold all onto the sofa.
When he had opened all his presents Samantha looked at him smugly
“I did good didn’t I?”
“Yes you did, I loved my presents” he said and she looked up at him childlike and smiled and then he kissed her smiling lips.
“I love that you are here with me, but I’m still cross that you took such a risk in the snow, but having you with me has made it a perfect day” he said and she looked up at him childlike and smiled and then he kissed her smiling lips
“But...”
“But? There’s a but?” she asked with a frown
“But there is something that would make it even more perfect” he said enigmatically
“What? What could possibly make the day more perfect?” she asked
“Just one thing” he said
“Yes but what is it?” She asked impatiently
“The one thing that would make the day more special and more perfect is you agreeing to be my wife” he said and handed her a ring box and her mouth fell open.
“You want to marry me?” she asked disbelievingly
“Yes” he replied suddenly doubting her response “if you don’t like the ring I can change it”
“NO!” she shouted “I’m never giving this back”
“So you like it?” he asked
“I love it” Samantha replied “it’s perfect”
“So is that a yes then?” he asked
“To what?” she asked as she admired the ring on her finger
“Will you marry me?” he asked
“Of course I’ll marry you” Samantha replied and threw her arms around him and showered him with kisses
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Downshire Diary – (65) Propositioning the Muse
(Part 01)
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 our story begins in the East, or more precisely, 20 miles inland from Sharpington-By-Sea, equidistant between Finchbottom and Pepperstock Green, in the sprawling village of Denmead.
Owen Carrington’s Uncle Glyn died on New Year’s Day and left him his Cottage and a small cash sum, more than enough to keep him going for a few more years.
He left it to him because he felt they were kindred spirits, he wanted to be a writer himself but his father made him get a proper job, Owen really liked him and he was a great story teller, and it was his Uncles colourful tales that helped him when he was writing his novels.
His death came as a great shock as it was sudden though not unsurprising given his health.
So that was how he found himself living in a lovely Victorian Cottage in the quaint Downshire Village of Denmead.
It was a very tranquil place though not without its distractions.
From his study he could look out through the open French windows and across the expanse of lawn to a stand of ancient woodland, there was no fence to separate garden and wood the two just merged.
And on the other side of the wood was the hub of the village, the Green Oak, everyone seemed to go there at some point, either for a drink, the restaurant or the coffee suite.
As a writer Owen’s star was definitely in the ascendency after the success of his first Romantic novel “The Maiden Muse” but the change in the fortunes of his writing career were not universally well received, his publisher liked it, his new agent loved it, the bank manager was ecstatic about it but his mother was disappointed by it because she thought it was a bit girlie.
But it wasn’t just his writing career that was climbing high, so was his love life thanks to his muse and lover, Juliana Molesworth, who had brought his writers block to an end, and since she had become his muse he had become a writer of bodice ripping romances which had proved to be an occupation which suited him very well indeed.
And it suited him in many ways, but the main benefit was that he was able to work at home, so he had no tedious commute every day and his working day was flexible to the point that some days he didn’t write at all.
This afforded him the opportunity of playing a round of Golf during the working week when most people had their noses to the grindstone or even taking a day out to go fishing.
However his muse was in her third year at the University of
Downshire where she studied English at Abbottsford.
In the short time they had been together she had come to mean everything to him so in the final weeks of the year he did something that rocked her world.
(Part 02)
Owen Carrington’s muse and lover Juliana Molesworth, was in her third year at the University of Downshire where she studied English at Abbottsford.
In the short time they had been together she had come to mean everything to him so in the final weeks of the year he did something that rocked her world.
He had driven up to Abbottsford to see her unexpectedly to find bedlam in the house that she and her friends rented.
He had hoped to get a quiet half an hour with her but it didn’t work out that way.
When he got there it was really busy and that weekend there was a houseful but she was pleased to see him.
“What a lovely surprise” she said “I wasn’t expecting to see you until next weekend”
“I have something important to talk to you about” he said but she didn’t hear him because of the rowdy atmosphere.
As a result of the raucous gathering he wasn’t able to get her on her own and that was a problem because he really needed to talk to her and the longer it went on the quieter and more troubled he became and Juliana had picked up on that so she also became quiet and troubled.
When they eventually found themselves alone together on the doorstep before his drive home he said more forcefully than he intended
“Juliana I need to talk to you”
“Oh ok” she said with a sense of foreboding
“Not here though” he said “Lets walk over to the park”
They walked in silence, Owen deep in thought and Juliana fearing the worst.
It was a cold evening and the park looked eerily beautiful in the moonlight and they eventually found themselves sitting on a bench in the little park looking up at the moonlit sky.
“Juliana I have something important to say….” he began
“Oh God,” she exclaimed “You’re going to dump me”
“No of course I’m not going to dump you” he replied “Why on earth would you think that?”
“You’re not dumping me?” she said quietly “Honestly?”
“Juliana Molesworth I promise you that I have no intention of dumping you” He said frankly
“What then? You turn up out of the blue, you’ve been really quiet all day, and then you say you have to talk to me, about something important no less” Juliana said “so if you’re not dumping me then what?”
“Juliana Molesworth will you please stop talking for one moment, just long enough, so I can ask you to marry me” he said
“What?” Juliana exclaimed
“Will you marry me?” he asked,
“Yes, yes, and yes” she screamed and threw her arms around his neck.
“I haven’t got a ring” he said “We need to buy your ring together”
And then they kissed, but not just another kiss in a long line of kisses, not just of affection or of gratitude, this was a kiss that marked an engagement, and it was a kiss which lead to them spending the night in the Abbottsford Regents Hotel.
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 our story begins in the East, or more precisely, 20 miles inland from Sharpington-By-Sea, equidistant between Finchbottom and Pepperstock Green, in the sprawling village of Denmead.
Owen Carrington’s Uncle Glyn died on New Year’s Day and left him his Cottage and a small cash sum, more than enough to keep him going for a few more years.
He left it to him because he felt they were kindred spirits, he wanted to be a writer himself but his father made him get a proper job, Owen really liked him and he was a great story teller, and it was his Uncles colourful tales that helped him when he was writing his novels.
His death came as a great shock as it was sudden though not unsurprising given his health.
So that was how he found himself living in a lovely Victorian Cottage in the quaint Downshire Village of Denmead.
It was a very tranquil place though not without its distractions.
From his study he could look out through the open French windows and across the expanse of lawn to a stand of ancient woodland, there was no fence to separate garden and wood the two just merged.
And on the other side of the wood was the hub of the village, the Green Oak, everyone seemed to go there at some point, either for a drink, the restaurant or the coffee suite.
As a writer Owen’s star was definitely in the ascendency after the success of his first Romantic novel “The Maiden Muse” but the change in the fortunes of his writing career were not universally well received, his publisher liked it, his new agent loved it, the bank manager was ecstatic about it but his mother was disappointed by it because she thought it was a bit girlie.
But it wasn’t just his writing career that was climbing high, so was his love life thanks to his muse and lover, Juliana Molesworth, who had brought his writers block to an end, and since she had become his muse he had become a writer of bodice ripping romances which had proved to be an occupation which suited him very well indeed.
And it suited him in many ways, but the main benefit was that he was able to work at home, so he had no tedious commute every day and his working day was flexible to the point that some days he didn’t write at all.
This afforded him the opportunity of playing a round of Golf during the working week when most people had their noses to the grindstone or even taking a day out to go fishing.
However his muse was in her third year at the University of
Downshire where she studied English at Abbottsford.
In the short time they had been together she had come to mean everything to him so in the final weeks of the year he did something that rocked her world.
(Part 02)
Owen Carrington’s muse and lover Juliana Molesworth, was in her third year at the University of Downshire where she studied English at Abbottsford.
In the short time they had been together she had come to mean everything to him so in the final weeks of the year he did something that rocked her world.
He had driven up to Abbottsford to see her unexpectedly to find bedlam in the house that she and her friends rented.
He had hoped to get a quiet half an hour with her but it didn’t work out that way.
When he got there it was really busy and that weekend there was a houseful but she was pleased to see him.
“What a lovely surprise” she said “I wasn’t expecting to see you until next weekend”
“I have something important to talk to you about” he said but she didn’t hear him because of the rowdy atmosphere.
As a result of the raucous gathering he wasn’t able to get her on her own and that was a problem because he really needed to talk to her and the longer it went on the quieter and more troubled he became and Juliana had picked up on that so she also became quiet and troubled.
When they eventually found themselves alone together on the doorstep before his drive home he said more forcefully than he intended
“Juliana I need to talk to you”
“Oh ok” she said with a sense of foreboding
“Not here though” he said “Lets walk over to the park”
They walked in silence, Owen deep in thought and Juliana fearing the worst.
It was a cold evening and the park looked eerily beautiful in the moonlight and they eventually found themselves sitting on a bench in the little park looking up at the moonlit sky.
“Juliana I have something important to say….” he began
“Oh God,” she exclaimed “You’re going to dump me”
“No of course I’m not going to dump you” he replied “Why on earth would you think that?”
“You’re not dumping me?” she said quietly “Honestly?”
“Juliana Molesworth I promise you that I have no intention of dumping you” He said frankly
“What then? You turn up out of the blue, you’ve been really quiet all day, and then you say you have to talk to me, about something important no less” Juliana said “so if you’re not dumping me then what?”
“Juliana Molesworth will you please stop talking for one moment, just long enough, so I can ask you to marry me” he said
“What?” Juliana exclaimed
“Will you marry me?” he asked,
“Yes, yes, and yes” she screamed and threw her arms around his neck.
“I haven’t got a ring” he said “We need to buy your ring together”
And then they kissed, but not just another kiss in a long line of kisses, not just of affection or of gratitude, this was a kiss that marked an engagement, and it was a kiss which lead to them spending the night in the Abbottsford Regents Hotel.
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Downshire Diary – (64) The Demerera Girl
Tony Ritson was the manager of Nettlefield Furniture Palace and was fast approaching his fortieth birthday and as he approached that milestone he had lost his heart to his new assistant manager Shona Sarai, who was his junior in more than one respect because apart from being his assistant she was also 12 years younger than him.
She was what was termed in the 21st century as mixed race, but in that regard he did not consider himself to be her superior because he just adored her.
He was her boss certainly, he was older than her undeniably but he was not better than her in anyway shape or form.
Some of his employees however thought she was inferior because of her ethnicity but not him.
He wasn’t entirely sure what her heritage was, and he thought it indelicate to enquire directly, but the result was most pleasing to his eye.
He thought of her as his “demerara girl” although he wasn’t sure if that was an offensive term or not, he just thought of her like that because she was as sweet as sugar and her skin was a beautiful soft brown.
Over the three months they had worked together he had grown fonder and fonder of her but what he didn’t realize was that she had fallen for him from the first moment they met, but he didn’t find that out until the end of August.
It was the August bank holiday and the store had closed an hour earlier than normal, the rest of the staff had gone home and Tony and Shona were just finishing up.
Shona had done the walk round of the shop floor, while Tony did the same on the basement level, and then she sat herself on one of the large corner sofas at the back of the store adjacent to the top of the stairs.
In reality she was draped there more than sat and as he appeared from below he swallowed hard when he came upon her.
“Have you finished?” he asked trying to appear indifferent and failing spectacularly
“Yes all done” she replied “Why don’t you sit down for a moment”
“Ok” he replied dry mouthed but sat down on the opposite end of the suite from her.
“That won’t do” she said to herself, so she got up and walked over to him and sat on his knee.
“Oh dear me” he exclaimed quite flustered
“Do you know what this means?” she asked
“No” he replied
“It means this” she said and she put her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth, a hot liquid kiss, passionate yet measured.
He had dreamed of that kiss many time but that hadn’t prepared him for it to be quite so wonderful which made his head swim but despite just how much he was enjoying it he still stopped.
“What’s wrong?” she asked urgently
“Nothing” he said
“Did I do something wrong?” she asked in panic
“Of course not” he replied reassuringly
“Then why did you stop?” Shona asked in confusion
“Because I don’t think its right” Tony replied
“You don’t want me then” she said forlornly
“I didn’t say that” he corrected her
“Then what’s wrong?” she asked earnestly
“What’s wrong is that I’m your boss!”
“I don’t care” she said “so nor should you”
“But I’m also 12 years older than you” he pointed out
“I don’t care about that either” she said and tried to kiss him again but he evaded her
“So you don’t want me then” she said forlornly
“I don’t want you here” he said
“I don’t understand” she said with a confused expression
“I don’t want you to be a work place fling” he said “I want to take you out in the world, I want to take you out for dinner, or a movie and then I want to kiss you, and more”
Shona was wearing a beaming smile as she got off his lap and offered him her hand
“Come on then, old man” she taunted and she giggled like a schoolgirl.
She was what was termed in the 21st century as mixed race, but in that regard he did not consider himself to be her superior because he just adored her.
He was her boss certainly, he was older than her undeniably but he was not better than her in anyway shape or form.
Some of his employees however thought she was inferior because of her ethnicity but not him.
He wasn’t entirely sure what her heritage was, and he thought it indelicate to enquire directly, but the result was most pleasing to his eye.
He thought of her as his “demerara girl” although he wasn’t sure if that was an offensive term or not, he just thought of her like that because she was as sweet as sugar and her skin was a beautiful soft brown.
Over the three months they had worked together he had grown fonder and fonder of her but what he didn’t realize was that she had fallen for him from the first moment they met, but he didn’t find that out until the end of August.
It was the August bank holiday and the store had closed an hour earlier than normal, the rest of the staff had gone home and Tony and Shona were just finishing up.
Shona had done the walk round of the shop floor, while Tony did the same on the basement level, and then she sat herself on one of the large corner sofas at the back of the store adjacent to the top of the stairs.
In reality she was draped there more than sat and as he appeared from below he swallowed hard when he came upon her.
“Have you finished?” he asked trying to appear indifferent and failing spectacularly
“Yes all done” she replied “Why don’t you sit down for a moment”
“Ok” he replied dry mouthed but sat down on the opposite end of the suite from her.
“That won’t do” she said to herself, so she got up and walked over to him and sat on his knee.
“Oh dear me” he exclaimed quite flustered
“Do you know what this means?” she asked
“No” he replied
“It means this” she said and she put her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth, a hot liquid kiss, passionate yet measured.
He had dreamed of that kiss many time but that hadn’t prepared him for it to be quite so wonderful which made his head swim but despite just how much he was enjoying it he still stopped.
“What’s wrong?” she asked urgently
“Nothing” he said
“Did I do something wrong?” she asked in panic
“Of course not” he replied reassuringly
“Then why did you stop?” Shona asked in confusion
“Because I don’t think its right” Tony replied
“You don’t want me then” she said forlornly
“I didn’t say that” he corrected her
“Then what’s wrong?” she asked earnestly
“What’s wrong is that I’m your boss!”
“I don’t care” she said “so nor should you”
“But I’m also 12 years older than you” he pointed out
“I don’t care about that either” she said and tried to kiss him again but he evaded her
“So you don’t want me then” she said forlornly
“I don’t want you here” he said
“I don’t understand” she said with a confused expression
“I don’t want you to be a work place fling” he said “I want to take you out in the world, I want to take you out for dinner, or a movie and then I want to kiss you, and more”
Shona was wearing a beaming smile as she got off his lap and offered him her hand
“Come on then, old man” she taunted and she giggled like a schoolgirl.
Downshire Diary – (63) Heatherlands – Doctor in Conference
(Part 01)
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 our story begins slightly further south equidistant between Nettlefield and the Oxley’s, in the beautiful village of Heathervale.
When Chris Palmer moved to Nettlefield from Purplemere following a very acrimonious divorce he had sworn off women for good.
But he was a relatively good looking man who was fast approaching his 40th birthday, with a good physique and short sandy hair, greying at the temples and was possessed of piercing blue eyes, so he didn’t go unnoticed.
His reason for moving to Nettlefield in particular, over all the other places he might have chosen either in Downshire or beyond, was the Heatherlands District Health Centre.
It was a large practise that serviced a large area, covering Nettlefield itself, Oxley Green, Heathervale, Oxley Ridge and Tipton and Chris had been fortunate enough to land the job as practice manager and he also found himself a nice little flat in Nettlefield.
The senior partner, and Chris’s boss, at the Health Centre was Dr Clarisse Lowe, a tall statuesque woman who dressed in tweed, with Chestnut hair, a voluptuous figure, lovely long legs and a generous frontage, who was in her mid-forties and was just the kind of woman Chris would have fallen for in his previous life.
Clarisse had been married to Edward Lowe, who had been an eminent surgeon in Downshire, he had also been twenty years older when he married her and he had two children from his first marriage, Josie being the oldest.
The marriage was a happy one but only lasted five years because Edward died suddenly on the Tipton Twelve Trees Golf course after suffering a heart attack.
She had been a widow for 10 years when Chris arrived in her life, her widowhood had left her lonely but also afraid of risking her heart on someone who might end that loneliness
But apart from the fact that she had vowed not to risk her broken heart again she also had instigated a policy at the practise forbidding fraternisation between members of staff, so even if she were so inclined toward Chris she wouldn’t be disposed to go against her own edict.
But the heart wants what the heart wants which was why two people who despite their reluctance to expose themselves to love again and who were very definitely not looking for a relationship, let alone love, found it anyway.
And as a by-product of the loving relationship she scrapped the “No Fraternizing policy” which meant that the surgical gloves were off in regard to work place relationships.
(Part 02)
As a bi-product of the loving relationship she began with Chris, Clarisse scrapped the “No Fraternizing policy” which meant that the surgical gloves were off in regard to work place relationships which was just what the doctor ordered for a lot of the staff, but for doctors
Tony Dark and Denise Guilford it made no difference at all because they had been romantically involved for two years.
The scrapping of the relationship ban should have given them the green light to come out of the closet but the simple truth was that they rather liked the closet, they enjoyed the sneaking around.
When they were around other people at the health centre they were cold and aloof, but in private they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, so whenever an opportunity to enjoy some intimacy presented itself they grabbed it with both hands.
And from the first moment when Denise made the decision to seduce Tony it opened up a whole new world of sensual pleasure, dirty, lustful, naked pleasure.
They both loved the excitement of sneaking around and it made them very aroused and they had to indulge themselves wherever they could.
Sometimes they did it in his house, occasionally in hers, at times they met at hotels and from time to time they did it at the surgery and even on occasion in her car, but never in his as it was far too small.
So whenever an opportunity to enjoy each other’s “company” arose they grabbed it with both hands.
For example on the day of an important patient conference call with the surgical team at St Augusta’s Hospital in Nettlefield.
Tony had been looking at Denise very lustily all morning, but he had to put his lust aside for the duration of the shift, as the call with the St Augusts was particularly important.
The call was scheduled for 11am in the Video Conference room, and Tony was a few minutes late, as he had to take a phone call.
When he arrived he found Denise was already sitting at the table and looking pensive.
“Five minutes” he said from the doorway and to the staff in the vicinity he added
“Absolutely no interruptions”
“What about emergencies?” Mrs Clarke on reception shouted
“No exceptions” he replied and closed the door and turned the key.
He walked towards where Denise was sitting with all the relevant documentation in easy reach of her trembling hands and stood behind her.
“Just relax” Tony said and put his hands on her shoulders and peered down inside her gaping blouse.
“You really need to relax” he added and then without further preamble he plunged his hands inside her gaping blouse and displaced the cups of her bra with his hands.
“We haven’t got time for that” she said and pulled his hands out “we only have a few minute”
“We have 45 minutes because Dr Steadman just called to apologize because the conference call has been delayed until 11.45am” he replied
“Oh” she murmured and fed his hands back inside her bra
“Good choice Doctor” he said and bent down and kissed down into her mouth.
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 our story begins slightly further south equidistant between Nettlefield and the Oxley’s, in the beautiful village of Heathervale.
When Chris Palmer moved to Nettlefield from Purplemere following a very acrimonious divorce he had sworn off women for good.
But he was a relatively good looking man who was fast approaching his 40th birthday, with a good physique and short sandy hair, greying at the temples and was possessed of piercing blue eyes, so he didn’t go unnoticed.
His reason for moving to Nettlefield in particular, over all the other places he might have chosen either in Downshire or beyond, was the Heatherlands District Health Centre.
It was a large practise that serviced a large area, covering Nettlefield itself, Oxley Green, Heathervale, Oxley Ridge and Tipton and Chris had been fortunate enough to land the job as practice manager and he also found himself a nice little flat in Nettlefield.
The senior partner, and Chris’s boss, at the Health Centre was Dr Clarisse Lowe, a tall statuesque woman who dressed in tweed, with Chestnut hair, a voluptuous figure, lovely long legs and a generous frontage, who was in her mid-forties and was just the kind of woman Chris would have fallen for in his previous life.
Clarisse had been married to Edward Lowe, who had been an eminent surgeon in Downshire, he had also been twenty years older when he married her and he had two children from his first marriage, Josie being the oldest.
The marriage was a happy one but only lasted five years because Edward died suddenly on the Tipton Twelve Trees Golf course after suffering a heart attack.
She had been a widow for 10 years when Chris arrived in her life, her widowhood had left her lonely but also afraid of risking her heart on someone who might end that loneliness
But apart from the fact that she had vowed not to risk her broken heart again she also had instigated a policy at the practise forbidding fraternisation between members of staff, so even if she were so inclined toward Chris she wouldn’t be disposed to go against her own edict.
But the heart wants what the heart wants which was why two people who despite their reluctance to expose themselves to love again and who were very definitely not looking for a relationship, let alone love, found it anyway.
And as a by-product of the loving relationship she scrapped the “No Fraternizing policy” which meant that the surgical gloves were off in regard to work place relationships.
(Part 02)
As a bi-product of the loving relationship she began with Chris, Clarisse scrapped the “No Fraternizing policy” which meant that the surgical gloves were off in regard to work place relationships which was just what the doctor ordered for a lot of the staff, but for doctors
Tony Dark and Denise Guilford it made no difference at all because they had been romantically involved for two years.
The scrapping of the relationship ban should have given them the green light to come out of the closet but the simple truth was that they rather liked the closet, they enjoyed the sneaking around.
When they were around other people at the health centre they were cold and aloof, but in private they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, so whenever an opportunity to enjoy some intimacy presented itself they grabbed it with both hands.
And from the first moment when Denise made the decision to seduce Tony it opened up a whole new world of sensual pleasure, dirty, lustful, naked pleasure.
They both loved the excitement of sneaking around and it made them very aroused and they had to indulge themselves wherever they could.
Sometimes they did it in his house, occasionally in hers, at times they met at hotels and from time to time they did it at the surgery and even on occasion in her car, but never in his as it was far too small.
So whenever an opportunity to enjoy each other’s “company” arose they grabbed it with both hands.
For example on the day of an important patient conference call with the surgical team at St Augusta’s Hospital in Nettlefield.
Tony had been looking at Denise very lustily all morning, but he had to put his lust aside for the duration of the shift, as the call with the St Augusts was particularly important.
The call was scheduled for 11am in the Video Conference room, and Tony was a few minutes late, as he had to take a phone call.
When he arrived he found Denise was already sitting at the table and looking pensive.
“Five minutes” he said from the doorway and to the staff in the vicinity he added
“Absolutely no interruptions”
“What about emergencies?” Mrs Clarke on reception shouted
“No exceptions” he replied and closed the door and turned the key.
He walked towards where Denise was sitting with all the relevant documentation in easy reach of her trembling hands and stood behind her.
“Just relax” Tony said and put his hands on her shoulders and peered down inside her gaping blouse.
“You really need to relax” he added and then without further preamble he plunged his hands inside her gaping blouse and displaced the cups of her bra with his hands.
“We haven’t got time for that” she said and pulled his hands out “we only have a few minute”
“We have 45 minutes because Dr Steadman just called to apologize because the conference call has been delayed until 11.45am” he replied
“Oh” she murmured and fed his hands back inside her bra
“Good choice Doctor” he said and bent down and kissed down into her mouth.
Downshire Diary – (62) House Warming
(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.
So having overcome their initial difficulties of not being accepted in each other’s worlds and having set out to make a world of their own, they made the decision, after spending two weeks together on a narrow boat on their first holiday together, that they should move in together.
Samantha asked “In Tipton or in Brocklington?”
Her house was up in Tipton, although she was rarely in it as she spent more time living in hotels than she did her house so it had never felt like home to her, but she thought it might if she had someone to share it with but Neil had a nice cottage in Brocklington and that would also be lovely so when he replied.
“Neither”
To her question, she was taken aback.
“Neither?” she asked
“I think we should buy somewhere new, a blank canvas, somewhere that will be ours and not yours or mine” he replied and a she exclaimed
“That’s perfect”
(Part 02)
However as perfect as that solution was it didn’t solve the problem of where they should set up home.
Samantha was from Tipton in the north of the county but when she fell in love with Neil she also fell in love with the Finchbottom Vale so they considered buying a house in the area and they almost bought one in Forestdean but it fell through at the last minute.
At the time they were quite upset about it but every cloud has a silver lining because they found a place in Applesford that needed a bit of TLC but by the time they completed and took possession it was almost a year after they started courting.
Neil spent a lot of time doing up the house, he was good at DIY, and there were things they wanted to do before they moved in completely, so he had been staying in the house all week decorating and doing some repairs while Samantha was away on business.
He was up early on Friday morning which was just as well as at 8 o’clock Samantha arrived at the house dressed in joggers and a T-shirt, not her normal apparel at all, in fact he had never seen her dressed down to that degree and he was quite surprised that she actually owned a pair of joggers.
“Can I help?” he asked
“It’s me you fool” she replied
“Who’s me?”
“Your girlfriend” Samantha said
“No, no, not dressed like that you’re not” he said
“These are my working togs” she said
“And it’s no good putting on that posh voice either” he said and laughed and then he kissed her
“What are you doing here?” he asked “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow”
“I wrapped it up early so I could come and help” she said
“And I missed you”
“I missed you too” he said and kissed her again
“So how have you got on?” she asked
“Pretty good, the dining room and the lounge are done they just need tidying and the furniture putting back” he said “So if we do that I’ll let you take me to lunch”
“Well the sooner we get started the sooner we’ll be finished” Samantha said cheerily.
So Samantha set about dusting and hovering the lounge and dining room while Neil started carrying things in from the garage and by eleven o’clock they were almost finished, there was just one small sofa to bring in and then they were done.
So the two of them set about the task and having maneuvered it through the hall and into the lounge all that was required was to push it into place and with both of them pushing, it moved easily into position.
Which was when with the job done he said
“Thanks Sam, it would have taken ages without you”
Samantha leant back against him and he kissed the top of her head,
“Welcome to your new home” he said and she turned around and kissed him.
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.
So having overcome their initial difficulties of not being accepted in each other’s worlds and having set out to make a world of their own, they made the decision, after spending two weeks together on a narrow boat on their first holiday together, that they should move in together.
Samantha asked “In Tipton or in Brocklington?”
Her house was up in Tipton, although she was rarely in it as she spent more time living in hotels than she did her house so it had never felt like home to her, but she thought it might if she had someone to share it with but Neil had a nice cottage in Brocklington and that would also be lovely so when he replied.
“Neither”
To her question, she was taken aback.
“Neither?” she asked
“I think we should buy somewhere new, a blank canvas, somewhere that will be ours and not yours or mine” he replied and a she exclaimed
“That’s perfect”
(Part 02)
However as perfect as that solution was it didn’t solve the problem of where they should set up home.
Samantha was from Tipton in the north of the county but when she fell in love with Neil she also fell in love with the Finchbottom Vale so they considered buying a house in the area and they almost bought one in Forestdean but it fell through at the last minute.
At the time they were quite upset about it but every cloud has a silver lining because they found a place in Applesford that needed a bit of TLC but by the time they completed and took possession it was almost a year after they started courting.
Neil spent a lot of time doing up the house, he was good at DIY, and there were things they wanted to do before they moved in completely, so he had been staying in the house all week decorating and doing some repairs while Samantha was away on business.
He was up early on Friday morning which was just as well as at 8 o’clock Samantha arrived at the house dressed in joggers and a T-shirt, not her normal apparel at all, in fact he had never seen her dressed down to that degree and he was quite surprised that she actually owned a pair of joggers.
“Can I help?” he asked
“It’s me you fool” she replied
“Who’s me?”
“Your girlfriend” Samantha said
“No, no, not dressed like that you’re not” he said
“These are my working togs” she said
“And it’s no good putting on that posh voice either” he said and laughed and then he kissed her
“What are you doing here?” he asked “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow”
“I wrapped it up early so I could come and help” she said
“And I missed you”
“I missed you too” he said and kissed her again
“So how have you got on?” she asked
“Pretty good, the dining room and the lounge are done they just need tidying and the furniture putting back” he said “So if we do that I’ll let you take me to lunch”
“Well the sooner we get started the sooner we’ll be finished” Samantha said cheerily.
So Samantha set about dusting and hovering the lounge and dining room while Neil started carrying things in from the garage and by eleven o’clock they were almost finished, there was just one small sofa to bring in and then they were done.
So the two of them set about the task and having maneuvered it through the hall and into the lounge all that was required was to push it into place and with both of them pushing, it moved easily into position.
Which was when with the job done he said
“Thanks Sam, it would have taken ages without you”
Samantha leant back against him and he kissed the top of her head,
“Welcome to your new home” he said and she turned around and kissed him.
Monday, 22 May 2017
Downshire Diary – (61) The Distressed Muse
(Part 01)
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 our story begins in the East, or more precisely, 20 miles inland from Sharpington-By-Sea, equidistant between Finchbottom and Pepperstock Green, in the sprawling village of Denmead.
Owen Carrington’s Uncle Glyn died on New Year’s Day and left him his Cottage and a small cash sum, more than enough to keep him going for a few more years.
He left it to him because he felt they were kindred spirits, he wanted to be a writer himself but his father made him get a proper job, Owen really liked him and he was a great story teller, and it was his Uncles colourful tales that helped him when he was writing his novels.
His death came as a great shock as it was sudden though not unsurprising given his health.
So that was how he found himself living in a lovely Victorian Cottage in the quaint Downshire Village of Denmead.
It was a very tranquil place though not without its distractions.
From his study he could look out through the open French windows and across the expanse of lawn to a stand of ancient woodland, there was no fence to separate garden and wood the two just merged.
And on the other side of the wood was the hub of the village, the Green Oak, everyone seemed to go there at some point, either for a drink, the restaurant or the coffee suite.
Owen’s star was definitely in the ascendency after the success of his first Romantic novel “The Maiden Muse” but the change in the fortunes of his writing career were not universally well received, his publisher liked it, his new agent loved it, the bank manager was ecstatic about it but his mother was disappointed by it because she thought it was a bit girlie.
But it wasn’t just his writing career that was climbing high, so was his love life thanks to his muse and lover, Juliana Molesworth, who had brought his writers block to an end, but his muse was in her third year at the University of Downshire where she studied English at Abbottsford.
On the last weekend of the half term break when she was at home he met up with Juliana and her parents outside the Church of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal.
After the service, they thanked the Vicar “for a marvelous sermon” and said their goodbyes before they walked the short distance to the Green Oak and had a marvelous Sunday lunch, which was so good that a constitutional was necessary to walk it off.
It was a pleasant enough afternoon for it, very sunny but with a chill wind, so they opted for the west forest which would give them the benefit of the sun but shield them from the worst of wind.
They walked the woodland for over an hour and when they reached a cross roads, the route to the Molesworth’s house lay straight ahead and the path to Owen’s house was to the left so they said their goodbyes and Juliana and he made their way back to Owens cottage where they would make love.
(Part 02)
During the periods in the afterglow when feelings and emotions were expressed, souls were bared and hearts unburdened, and Owen pledged his love to her again, and then they did some serious talking and one of the things they discussed was her work load at University.
As a result she said she wouldn’t be home again until Christmas as she needed to keep focused, and he promised to support her anyway he could.
Owen suggested she should stop the part time job at the Green Oak and as he had such a great payday from the “Maiden Muse”, he said he would pay her rent for as long as she wanted.
She didn’t want to say yes but it would take so much pressure off her so she reluctantly agreed.
They also agreed on no more Skype video calls, because she said if she saw him she would miss him even more, and it would be hard enough as it was and this time he was the one that was reluctant to agree, but he did, and likewise with phone calls.
So it would just be emails once a week, and texts for emergencies, and he said he would drop everything if she needed him.
They felt at the end of it that they had archived something and they both felt a weight had been lifted of their shoulders.
Juliana wanted to spend the night with him, as it would be the last one for a while, but she still had to pack and such and she also needed to have the same conversation with her parents.
So he took her home and the next morning he drove her back to Abbottsford.
There were tears at the Molesworth’s house and he thought there would be many more later.
But eventually they set off and luckily the traffic was really light which meant they had time to unload the car and carry the bags up to her room before he dropped her off in time for her first lecture.
As predicted there were more tears, after all they wouldn’t be seeing each other for two months and when she was composed enough to get out the car she walked straight into the building without looking back.
It was two weeks later when Owen had set about catching up with emails and such like, sorting through the mail and settling some bills.
When he opened his bank statement he was surprised to see just how well he was doing and the bank balance made very good reading.
The next afternoon he was on his way to the Post Office when he spotted Gregory Molesworth coming the other way.
“Hi Greg” he called
“Hello Owen” he said a little distracted
“Is everything ok?” he asked but Owen could tell he was not, so he added
“Have you got time for a coffee?”
They sat at a table with their steaming mugs of coffee and he said
“I’m worried about Juliana”
“Jules?” he said surprised “Why?”
“She’s cut herself off from us” he said with real concern
“Is it drugs?” Greg asked and then he put his mug to his lip but without drinking he continued
“Do you think its drugs?”
Still he didn’t drink
“I think its drugs”
He took a sip this time and pulled a face before lowering the cup and pushing it away from him.
“Of course she’s not on drugs” Owen assured him “she’s too sensible for that”
Owen looked at him earnestly
“You and Lavinia have raised her well” he said but he didn’t look reassured
“She just needs to focus for the next few weeks and then she’s over the summit”
“We miss her” Greg said “I miss her, and I caught Lavinia crying again this morning”
“I miss her too” Owen said truthfully
(Part 03)
Owen thought Greg was in a slightly better frame of mind when he left him and so was he as he finished in the Post Office but as he was leaving his phone bleated at him informing him that he had a text so he fished it out of his pocket and he saw it was from Juliana.
He selected the text icon and read the message immediately and it said
“SOS I miss you”
After a few moments he replied
“I’m on my way”
When he reached Abbottsford he parked up outside Juliana’s digs and ran up to the front door and rang the bell.
The door was opened by one of the housemates, Jasmine, and he said
“Hi Jas”
“Hello Owen” she replied “Go straight up, she’s in her room”
So he went up the stairs and straight to Juliana’s door and knocked twice.
“Come in” she called and he went in and she was wearing the lovely green summer dress she had worn on that hot summer day when they first got together.
“Hello gorgeous” he said and smiled
“Oh Owen” she said and threw herself into his arms.
“I’m so sorry Owen” she said and started to cry “but I missed you”
“Don’t cry hon” he said, but it didn’t help, she was sobbing hard on his shoulder and he could feel her tears soaking his shirt as he made encouraging noises until she eventually calmed down enough so she could explain what was wrong.
“The work is going really well” she said and forced a smile
“And I’m really confident that I’m ahead of the curve”
But then she started to cry again
“I’m sorry Owen, but I just miss everyone so much, I miss talking to mum”
“Then why didn’t you call her?” he said
“Because it was my idea” she replied “and everyone is sticking to it without a problem”
“Everyone else is missing you like crazy” he said and he told her about meeting her dad only that day and about him catching her mum crying and she burst into tears again.
Juliana had been in turmoil, she had wanted to call but was afraid of breaking their agreement, afraid of being a quitter when it was her idea, she wanted to be strong and independent.
When he had calmed her down he persuaded her to phone her mum and dad, persevering with the isolation was just making her unhappy.
If keeping focused on her studies was paramount she could still stay in Abbottsford until Christmas but she needed to phone Greg and Lavinia regularly.
She dialled the number and waited
“Hi mum it’s Jules” and then the tears flowed unrestrained
After the phone call Juliana looked across at him with a smile on her tear stained face.
“I love you” she said and walked over to him and kissed him
“I love you too” Owen responded and kissed her back.
“So why are you wearing the summer dress in November?” he asked “why do you even have it with you?”
She hugged him tightly and hid her face from him.
“I have it with me because it reminds me of that day” she said into his chest “and I wear it when I’m lonely”
They stood there holding each other for about five minutes after which he made love to her like it was the first time and then they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
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 our story begins in the East, or more precisely, 20 miles inland from Sharpington-By-Sea, equidistant between Finchbottom and Pepperstock Green, in the sprawling village of Denmead.
Owen Carrington’s Uncle Glyn died on New Year’s Day and left him his Cottage and a small cash sum, more than enough to keep him going for a few more years.
He left it to him because he felt they were kindred spirits, he wanted to be a writer himself but his father made him get a proper job, Owen really liked him and he was a great story teller, and it was his Uncles colourful tales that helped him when he was writing his novels.
His death came as a great shock as it was sudden though not unsurprising given his health.
So that was how he found himself living in a lovely Victorian Cottage in the quaint Downshire Village of Denmead.
It was a very tranquil place though not without its distractions.
From his study he could look out through the open French windows and across the expanse of lawn to a stand of ancient woodland, there was no fence to separate garden and wood the two just merged.
And on the other side of the wood was the hub of the village, the Green Oak, everyone seemed to go there at some point, either for a drink, the restaurant or the coffee suite.
Owen’s star was definitely in the ascendency after the success of his first Romantic novel “The Maiden Muse” but the change in the fortunes of his writing career were not universally well received, his publisher liked it, his new agent loved it, the bank manager was ecstatic about it but his mother was disappointed by it because she thought it was a bit girlie.
But it wasn’t just his writing career that was climbing high, so was his love life thanks to his muse and lover, Juliana Molesworth, who had brought his writers block to an end, but his muse was in her third year at the University of Downshire where she studied English at Abbottsford.
On the last weekend of the half term break when she was at home he met up with Juliana and her parents outside the Church of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal.
After the service, they thanked the Vicar “for a marvelous sermon” and said their goodbyes before they walked the short distance to the Green Oak and had a marvelous Sunday lunch, which was so good that a constitutional was necessary to walk it off.
It was a pleasant enough afternoon for it, very sunny but with a chill wind, so they opted for the west forest which would give them the benefit of the sun but shield them from the worst of wind.
They walked the woodland for over an hour and when they reached a cross roads, the route to the Molesworth’s house lay straight ahead and the path to Owen’s house was to the left so they said their goodbyes and Juliana and he made their way back to Owens cottage where they would make love.
(Part 02)
During the periods in the afterglow when feelings and emotions were expressed, souls were bared and hearts unburdened, and Owen pledged his love to her again, and then they did some serious talking and one of the things they discussed was her work load at University.
As a result she said she wouldn’t be home again until Christmas as she needed to keep focused, and he promised to support her anyway he could.
Owen suggested she should stop the part time job at the Green Oak and as he had such a great payday from the “Maiden Muse”, he said he would pay her rent for as long as she wanted.
She didn’t want to say yes but it would take so much pressure off her so she reluctantly agreed.
They also agreed on no more Skype video calls, because she said if she saw him she would miss him even more, and it would be hard enough as it was and this time he was the one that was reluctant to agree, but he did, and likewise with phone calls.
So it would just be emails once a week, and texts for emergencies, and he said he would drop everything if she needed him.
They felt at the end of it that they had archived something and they both felt a weight had been lifted of their shoulders.
Juliana wanted to spend the night with him, as it would be the last one for a while, but she still had to pack and such and she also needed to have the same conversation with her parents.
So he took her home and the next morning he drove her back to Abbottsford.
There were tears at the Molesworth’s house and he thought there would be many more later.
But eventually they set off and luckily the traffic was really light which meant they had time to unload the car and carry the bags up to her room before he dropped her off in time for her first lecture.
As predicted there were more tears, after all they wouldn’t be seeing each other for two months and when she was composed enough to get out the car she walked straight into the building without looking back.
It was two weeks later when Owen had set about catching up with emails and such like, sorting through the mail and settling some bills.
When he opened his bank statement he was surprised to see just how well he was doing and the bank balance made very good reading.
The next afternoon he was on his way to the Post Office when he spotted Gregory Molesworth coming the other way.
“Hi Greg” he called
“Hello Owen” he said a little distracted
“Is everything ok?” he asked but Owen could tell he was not, so he added
“Have you got time for a coffee?”
They sat at a table with their steaming mugs of coffee and he said
“I’m worried about Juliana”
“Jules?” he said surprised “Why?”
“She’s cut herself off from us” he said with real concern
“Is it drugs?” Greg asked and then he put his mug to his lip but without drinking he continued
“Do you think its drugs?”
Still he didn’t drink
“I think its drugs”
He took a sip this time and pulled a face before lowering the cup and pushing it away from him.
“Of course she’s not on drugs” Owen assured him “she’s too sensible for that”
Owen looked at him earnestly
“You and Lavinia have raised her well” he said but he didn’t look reassured
“She just needs to focus for the next few weeks and then she’s over the summit”
“We miss her” Greg said “I miss her, and I caught Lavinia crying again this morning”
“I miss her too” Owen said truthfully
(Part 03)
Owen thought Greg was in a slightly better frame of mind when he left him and so was he as he finished in the Post Office but as he was leaving his phone bleated at him informing him that he had a text so he fished it out of his pocket and he saw it was from Juliana.
He selected the text icon and read the message immediately and it said
“SOS I miss you”
After a few moments he replied
“I’m on my way”
When he reached Abbottsford he parked up outside Juliana’s digs and ran up to the front door and rang the bell.
The door was opened by one of the housemates, Jasmine, and he said
“Hi Jas”
“Hello Owen” she replied “Go straight up, she’s in her room”
So he went up the stairs and straight to Juliana’s door and knocked twice.
“Come in” she called and he went in and she was wearing the lovely green summer dress she had worn on that hot summer day when they first got together.
“Hello gorgeous” he said and smiled
“Oh Owen” she said and threw herself into his arms.
“I’m so sorry Owen” she said and started to cry “but I missed you”
“Don’t cry hon” he said, but it didn’t help, she was sobbing hard on his shoulder and he could feel her tears soaking his shirt as he made encouraging noises until she eventually calmed down enough so she could explain what was wrong.
“The work is going really well” she said and forced a smile
“And I’m really confident that I’m ahead of the curve”
But then she started to cry again
“I’m sorry Owen, but I just miss everyone so much, I miss talking to mum”
“Then why didn’t you call her?” he said
“Because it was my idea” she replied “and everyone is sticking to it without a problem”
“Everyone else is missing you like crazy” he said and he told her about meeting her dad only that day and about him catching her mum crying and she burst into tears again.
Juliana had been in turmoil, she had wanted to call but was afraid of breaking their agreement, afraid of being a quitter when it was her idea, she wanted to be strong and independent.
When he had calmed her down he persuaded her to phone her mum and dad, persevering with the isolation was just making her unhappy.
If keeping focused on her studies was paramount she could still stay in Abbottsford until Christmas but she needed to phone Greg and Lavinia regularly.
She dialled the number and waited
“Hi mum it’s Jules” and then the tears flowed unrestrained
After the phone call Juliana looked across at him with a smile on her tear stained face.
“I love you” she said and walked over to him and kissed him
“I love you too” Owen responded and kissed her back.
“So why are you wearing the summer dress in November?” he asked “why do you even have it with you?”
She hugged him tightly and hid her face from him.
“I have it with me because it reminds me of that day” she said into his chest “and I wear it when I’m lonely”
They stood there holding each other for about five minutes after which he made love to her like it was the first time and then they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Downshire Diary – (60) A Christmas Tradition
(Part 01)
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 but our story begins considerably further south in the former industrial power house of Northchapel where the Hayward clan were gathered for Christmas, with the exception of Christina Hayhoe but plans were afoot in that regard.
Principally the plan involved one member of the family driving to collect the absentee and Jack Hayward thought he had drawn the short straw when he had to drive from the family home in Northchapel to pick up his 2nd cousin Christina Hayhoe from the village of Roespring in the far northeastern corner of the county on December 23rd.
However it was the long standing family tradition for the clan to gather together at Christmas in the ancestral home and even though everyone thought Cousin Christina was a pain in the arse she had to be got and that year it was his turn.
Although they were the same age, 35ish, were both single and shared a great grandfather, they had nothing in common whatsoever because he was an outgoing, personable and fun loving guy, whereas Christina was a dried up old witch, in the opinion of most in the family at any rate.
Jack on the other hand had always felt a bit sorry for her and had always tried to engage with her.
Christina lived alone in a big house, which she once shared with her deceased brother and parents, she didn’t socialize, she had never had a boyfriend as far as anyone in the family was aware or even a girlfriend for that matter and it was true that apart from the annual sojourn to Northchapel for Christmas she was a bit of a recluse.
She wasn’t really liked within the family in fact she was barely tolerated, but in the spirit of the season she had to be included.
But the truth of the matter was they didn’t really know her and made little or no attempt to rectify that situation, so no one knew what went on behind the façade that she presented to the world.
As he left Northchapel it started to snow, just lightly in the wind at first but it didn’t stay light, and the snow that had fallen ten days earlier was still evident on the ground so the fresh fall quickly settled.
He wasn’t keen on driving in the snow, and he didn’t like driving to Roespring either, doing it in the snow just made it worse so he drove very cautiously.
It was apparent that the snow was coming from the direction he was heading because as he was driving between the Oakham’s and Nettlefield the snow on the road was getting significantly deeper so he went even more cautiously until he finally arrived in Roespring.
(Part 02)
Jack parked the car on the drive and knocked on the door and when Christina opened it she looked the same as usual with her fine brunette hair scraped back off her face giving her a severe “Croydon facelift” appearance.
She also wore the familiar black pinafore dress over a grey blouse and black wooly tights.
There was a polite though monosyllabic exchange of words on his arrival but he urged haste on the basis of the weather and she quickly locked her front door while Jack put her case in the car.
“I’m not sure how long it’s going to take to get to Northchapel in this mess” he said as they set off
“I like the snow” she remarked
“Me too” he agreed “but not for driving in”
The road back to the Expressway was impassable so they tried the cross country road to the Oakham’s, however they only got as far as Millmoor and they had to turn back.
There was another route that involved taking a very circuitous route but the likelihood that it was anymore passable was severely in question.
“It looks like we’ll have to stay at yours and try again in the morning” he said
“Ok” she responded and looked out of the window and smiled
When they got back to the house he couldn’t get the car all the way up the slope of the driveway so he had to leave it where he came to a stop.
It was only ten yards from the car to the front door but the snow was calf deep so by the time they reached the sanctuary of her house the snow had got into their footwear and Christina’s thick woolly tights were wet through.
“Make yourself at home” she said and ran upstairs
Jack took off his coat and wet shoes and walked into the lounge and took out his phone.
“Where are you?” His sister Karen asked crossly “we were getting worried”
“I’m at Christina’s” he replied
“What still?”
“Yes, the roads are blocked so I’m staying here for the night and we’ll try again in the morning”
“So you’re spending the night with Cruella?” Karen said and laughed
“I hope you’re going to behave yourself”
“Very funny” he retorted
“Good luck” Karen said
Just then he heard Christina descending the stairs so he said
“I’ll see you tomorrow”
Christina walked into the room and she had lost the “Croydon facelift” look as her hair had been shaken out and was tumbling onto her shoulders.
She had also lost the black pinafore dress, the grey blouse and black wooly tights, instead she had on a full length pink fluffy dressing gown, pink socks and pink bunny slippers, an altogether more frivolous version of Christina than he had ever seen before.
In her arms she was carrying some clothes.
“It’s only joggers and socks” she said “they were Clive’s, he was about your size”
Clive was her brother, who died in the same car accident that took her parents.
“Thanks” he said still reeling from the softer pinker Christina.
But despite the fluffy exterior she was still the same monosyllabic woman as before.
At least that was the case until she opened the first of several bottles of wine and then she didn’t stop talking.
(Part 03)
Christina was still the same monosyllabic woman as before at least that was the case until she opened the first of several bottles of wine and then she didn’t stop talking.
Due to the snowy weather, which was showing no sign of abating, he was a captive audience as she sat and drank wine and as she did so she slowly revealed herself.
After Christina opened the third bottle of wine she proceeded to reveal more and more about herself with every drink, but the more she drank the more she tended to ramble and she spoke a lot about time and sands running through her fingers and choices and not knowing, but he couldn’t really follow her train of thought very easily as the alcohol had taken its toll, so before she could open a fourth bottle of wine he took the initiative and decided to steer her up to her room.
Once they reached her bedroom door he had to wedge her against the door jamb while he opened the door, unfortunately as the door swung open she fell into the room.
Dave instinctively reached out and grabbed her in an effort to prevent her from hurting herself but he unfortunately overreached and fell to the floor before she did and landed on his back just in time for Christina to land on top of him.
“If you wanted to kiss me all you had to do was ask” she slurred before planting an almost Labrador like kiss on his mouth.
“I’m too much of a gentleman” he said after extricating himself from her embrace and struggled to his feet and helped Christina to do the same before steering her into the bedroom.
“But you’re not a gentleman” she said as he plopped her onto the bed “so there’s nothing stopping you”
And she grabbed him by the lapels and planted another kiss on his mouth, much more controlled and unhurried than the first one and he started to reciprocate.
He had noticed before that despite the façade she presented to the world Christina was actually an attractive woman, but until the day he hadn’t realised quite how lovely she was and beneath her stern exterior she was a warm open person, with an altogether pleasant demeanour.
She was not the person that he and the family all thought she was, she was not the persona she projected to the world.
Christina began unbuttoning her dressing gown and her kissing became more intense and she snorted through her nose.
Jack couldn’t believe he was in Cousin Christina’s bedroom, kissing her while she was undressing herself, and enjoying it.
He thought his sister Karen would have laughed her socks off if she’d known he was snogging the “dried up old witch” and enjoying it.
But as he held her in his arms it didn’t feel to him like he was holding a witch, she was too warm, soft and tender, but he had to call a halt to proceedings before things went too far.
(Part 04)
Christina began unbuttoning her dressing gown and her kissing became more intense and she snorted through her nose.
Jack couldn’t believe he was in Cousin Christina’s bedroom, kissing her while she was undressing herself, and enjoying it.
He thought his sister Karen would have laughed her socks off if she’d known he was snogging the “dried up old witch” and enjoying it.
But as he held her in his arms it didn’t feel to him like he was holding a witch, she was too warm, soft and tender, but he had to call a halt to proceedings before things went too far.
As soon as his lips left hers she sighed and said
“I thought this day would never come”
And then she kissed him again.
After a few minutes, and only due to his strength of character he stopped again, it would have been the easiest thing in the world to take advantage of her, but she wasn’t worldly and wouldn’t have been fare so he broke away.
“No don’t stop” she exclaimed
“I think we should” he said “before we go too far”
“But I want to go too far” she said
“I thought you liked me”
“I do that’s why we have to stop” he said
“That doesn’t make any sense” Christina said “you just don’t want me”
Christina got up and went into the bathroom and while he waited for her to come back he paused to gaze out of the bedroom window and the snow was still falling fast and then he sat on the edge of Christina’s bed until she trudged forlornly back towards him.
“Why are you still here?” she asked bluntly
“Because I want to make sure you’re alright” he replied and he stood up and held her and she gave a rather smug self-satisfied sigh as he cuddled her.
“Did you really not want to stop?” she asked
“I really didn’t want to,” he replied “and I enjoyed kissing you”
“When can we do it again then?” she asked with her head on his chest.
“Tomorrow” he replied “if you still want to”
“Why wouldn’t I still want to?” she asked
“You may feel differently in the cold light of day” he pointed out “Without any wine”
“I won’t” she assured him
“How can you be so sure?” he asked
“Because…”
“Because?” he queried
“Because I’ve always wanted you” she replied as she looked up at him
“In which case we can do it all day” he said and kissed her
“But we have to drive to Northchapel tomorrow” she pointed out
“It’s still snowing so we won’t be going anywhere tomorrow”
“What about the Family Christmas Tradition?” she asked
“I suppose we’re just going to start our own tradition” he said
Christina lifted her head from his chest and looked at him coyly and said
“Then I hope it snows until twelfth night”
That Christmas the roads to Roespring were impassable until the day after Boxing Day and by the time they finally reached Northchapel Jack and Christina were very much a couple and the rest of the clan had long since dispersed for another year so they got straight back in the car and returned to Christina’s house and they stayed there, just the two of them, until the New Year.
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 but our story begins considerably further south in the former industrial power house of Northchapel where the Hayward clan were gathered for Christmas, with the exception of Christina Hayhoe but plans were afoot in that regard.
Principally the plan involved one member of the family driving to collect the absentee and Jack Hayward thought he had drawn the short straw when he had to drive from the family home in Northchapel to pick up his 2nd cousin Christina Hayhoe from the village of Roespring in the far northeastern corner of the county on December 23rd.
However it was the long standing family tradition for the clan to gather together at Christmas in the ancestral home and even though everyone thought Cousin Christina was a pain in the arse she had to be got and that year it was his turn.
Although they were the same age, 35ish, were both single and shared a great grandfather, they had nothing in common whatsoever because he was an outgoing, personable and fun loving guy, whereas Christina was a dried up old witch, in the opinion of most in the family at any rate.
Jack on the other hand had always felt a bit sorry for her and had always tried to engage with her.
Christina lived alone in a big house, which she once shared with her deceased brother and parents, she didn’t socialize, she had never had a boyfriend as far as anyone in the family was aware or even a girlfriend for that matter and it was true that apart from the annual sojourn to Northchapel for Christmas she was a bit of a recluse.
She wasn’t really liked within the family in fact she was barely tolerated, but in the spirit of the season she had to be included.
But the truth of the matter was they didn’t really know her and made little or no attempt to rectify that situation, so no one knew what went on behind the façade that she presented to the world.
As he left Northchapel it started to snow, just lightly in the wind at first but it didn’t stay light, and the snow that had fallen ten days earlier was still evident on the ground so the fresh fall quickly settled.
He wasn’t keen on driving in the snow, and he didn’t like driving to Roespring either, doing it in the snow just made it worse so he drove very cautiously.
It was apparent that the snow was coming from the direction he was heading because as he was driving between the Oakham’s and Nettlefield the snow on the road was getting significantly deeper so he went even more cautiously until he finally arrived in Roespring.
(Part 02)
Jack parked the car on the drive and knocked on the door and when Christina opened it she looked the same as usual with her fine brunette hair scraped back off her face giving her a severe “Croydon facelift” appearance.
She also wore the familiar black pinafore dress over a grey blouse and black wooly tights.
There was a polite though monosyllabic exchange of words on his arrival but he urged haste on the basis of the weather and she quickly locked her front door while Jack put her case in the car.
“I’m not sure how long it’s going to take to get to Northchapel in this mess” he said as they set off
“I like the snow” she remarked
“Me too” he agreed “but not for driving in”
The road back to the Expressway was impassable so they tried the cross country road to the Oakham’s, however they only got as far as Millmoor and they had to turn back.
There was another route that involved taking a very circuitous route but the likelihood that it was anymore passable was severely in question.
“It looks like we’ll have to stay at yours and try again in the morning” he said
“Ok” she responded and looked out of the window and smiled
When they got back to the house he couldn’t get the car all the way up the slope of the driveway so he had to leave it where he came to a stop.
It was only ten yards from the car to the front door but the snow was calf deep so by the time they reached the sanctuary of her house the snow had got into their footwear and Christina’s thick woolly tights were wet through.
“Make yourself at home” she said and ran upstairs
Jack took off his coat and wet shoes and walked into the lounge and took out his phone.
“Where are you?” His sister Karen asked crossly “we were getting worried”
“I’m at Christina’s” he replied
“What still?”
“Yes, the roads are blocked so I’m staying here for the night and we’ll try again in the morning”
“So you’re spending the night with Cruella?” Karen said and laughed
“I hope you’re going to behave yourself”
“Very funny” he retorted
“Good luck” Karen said
Just then he heard Christina descending the stairs so he said
“I’ll see you tomorrow”
Christina walked into the room and she had lost the “Croydon facelift” look as her hair had been shaken out and was tumbling onto her shoulders.
She had also lost the black pinafore dress, the grey blouse and black wooly tights, instead she had on a full length pink fluffy dressing gown, pink socks and pink bunny slippers, an altogether more frivolous version of Christina than he had ever seen before.
In her arms she was carrying some clothes.
“It’s only joggers and socks” she said “they were Clive’s, he was about your size”
Clive was her brother, who died in the same car accident that took her parents.
“Thanks” he said still reeling from the softer pinker Christina.
But despite the fluffy exterior she was still the same monosyllabic woman as before.
At least that was the case until she opened the first of several bottles of wine and then she didn’t stop talking.
(Part 03)
Christina was still the same monosyllabic woman as before at least that was the case until she opened the first of several bottles of wine and then she didn’t stop talking.
Due to the snowy weather, which was showing no sign of abating, he was a captive audience as she sat and drank wine and as she did so she slowly revealed herself.
After Christina opened the third bottle of wine she proceeded to reveal more and more about herself with every drink, but the more she drank the more she tended to ramble and she spoke a lot about time and sands running through her fingers and choices and not knowing, but he couldn’t really follow her train of thought very easily as the alcohol had taken its toll, so before she could open a fourth bottle of wine he took the initiative and decided to steer her up to her room.
Once they reached her bedroom door he had to wedge her against the door jamb while he opened the door, unfortunately as the door swung open she fell into the room.
Dave instinctively reached out and grabbed her in an effort to prevent her from hurting herself but he unfortunately overreached and fell to the floor before she did and landed on his back just in time for Christina to land on top of him.
“If you wanted to kiss me all you had to do was ask” she slurred before planting an almost Labrador like kiss on his mouth.
“I’m too much of a gentleman” he said after extricating himself from her embrace and struggled to his feet and helped Christina to do the same before steering her into the bedroom.
“But you’re not a gentleman” she said as he plopped her onto the bed “so there’s nothing stopping you”
And she grabbed him by the lapels and planted another kiss on his mouth, much more controlled and unhurried than the first one and he started to reciprocate.
He had noticed before that despite the façade she presented to the world Christina was actually an attractive woman, but until the day he hadn’t realised quite how lovely she was and beneath her stern exterior she was a warm open person, with an altogether pleasant demeanour.
She was not the person that he and the family all thought she was, she was not the persona she projected to the world.
Christina began unbuttoning her dressing gown and her kissing became more intense and she snorted through her nose.
Jack couldn’t believe he was in Cousin Christina’s bedroom, kissing her while she was undressing herself, and enjoying it.
He thought his sister Karen would have laughed her socks off if she’d known he was snogging the “dried up old witch” and enjoying it.
But as he held her in his arms it didn’t feel to him like he was holding a witch, she was too warm, soft and tender, but he had to call a halt to proceedings before things went too far.
(Part 04)
Christina began unbuttoning her dressing gown and her kissing became more intense and she snorted through her nose.
Jack couldn’t believe he was in Cousin Christina’s bedroom, kissing her while she was undressing herself, and enjoying it.
He thought his sister Karen would have laughed her socks off if she’d known he was snogging the “dried up old witch” and enjoying it.
But as he held her in his arms it didn’t feel to him like he was holding a witch, she was too warm, soft and tender, but he had to call a halt to proceedings before things went too far.
As soon as his lips left hers she sighed and said
“I thought this day would never come”
And then she kissed him again.
After a few minutes, and only due to his strength of character he stopped again, it would have been the easiest thing in the world to take advantage of her, but she wasn’t worldly and wouldn’t have been fare so he broke away.
“No don’t stop” she exclaimed
“I think we should” he said “before we go too far”
“But I want to go too far” she said
“I thought you liked me”
“I do that’s why we have to stop” he said
“That doesn’t make any sense” Christina said “you just don’t want me”
Christina got up and went into the bathroom and while he waited for her to come back he paused to gaze out of the bedroom window and the snow was still falling fast and then he sat on the edge of Christina’s bed until she trudged forlornly back towards him.
“Why are you still here?” she asked bluntly
“Because I want to make sure you’re alright” he replied and he stood up and held her and she gave a rather smug self-satisfied sigh as he cuddled her.
“Did you really not want to stop?” she asked
“I really didn’t want to,” he replied “and I enjoyed kissing you”
“When can we do it again then?” she asked with her head on his chest.
“Tomorrow” he replied “if you still want to”
“Why wouldn’t I still want to?” she asked
“You may feel differently in the cold light of day” he pointed out “Without any wine”
“I won’t” she assured him
“How can you be so sure?” he asked
“Because…”
“Because?” he queried
“Because I’ve always wanted you” she replied as she looked up at him
“In which case we can do it all day” he said and kissed her
“But we have to drive to Northchapel tomorrow” she pointed out
“It’s still snowing so we won’t be going anywhere tomorrow”
“What about the Family Christmas Tradition?” she asked
“I suppose we’re just going to start our own tradition” he said
Christina lifted her head from his chest and looked at him coyly and said
“Then I hope it snows until twelfth night”
That Christmas the roads to Roespring were impassable until the day after Boxing Day and by the time they finally reached Northchapel Jack and Christina were very much a couple and the rest of the clan had long since dispersed for another year so they got straight back in the car and returned to Christina’s house and they stayed there, just the two of them, until the New Year.
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