A Stranger's Kiss (12 page)

“Is it alright if I sit in the library for a while sir?” I asked him

“I will join you if I may,” he said, “for I wish to find another novel to read,” So we walked together to the library. It was a small cosy room, the walls lined with books of all shapes and sizes; the wall which held the fireplace was decorated in red. When we walked in lamps were already lit on four tables which were scattered about the room along with comfortable brown leather armchairs which had been used lovingly. I sat in one of them, picking up a volume of poetry which lay on the table by my chair. I glanced through it while Richard perused the shelves silently for a suitable book. As I watched him, looking at his broad dependable shoulders, I then glanced down at the book I held in my hand and read the words, “It seems to me, to myself, that no man was ever before to any woman what you are to me.” The words had been written by Elizabeth Barrett to Robert Browning and how true it was, just like my feeling for Richard Roseby but he must never know, unless there came a time when he declared his love for me. But I was daydreaming again, and I knew in my heart that this would never be. He came and sat in a chair opposite mine and started reading the book which he opened, his hand strong on the cover. We sat in a companionable silence, me reading the love sonnets and every now and then glancing at Richard. Sometimes he would raise his head from the book he was reading and smile at me; and so we sat until I suddenly felt weary and bid him goodnight.

“Sleep well Charlotte,” he uttered, more absorbed in his book than me, but my heart sang for he had called me by my Christian name and I practically danced up the stairs, the sound of his voice uttering my name ringing in my ears and by the time I reached my room the sound of it became a caress. But my joy was to be short lived.

Before going to my own room I looked in on Lina, tapping gently at her door in case she was asleep. I opened the door quietly and peeped into the modest sized room, everything was pink and white with a red carpet covering the floor. Lina sat propped up in bed against the pillows, her golden-coloured wavy hair loose about her shoulders, cascading down her back. She looked so young and vulnerable in a white cotton nightdress stitched with lace at the round, high neckline.

“How I enjoyed our walk this evening Charlotte,” she said quietly. “I’d like the three of us to walk like that every evening after dinner. It was just like being a family.” I realised then how much she must have missed not having a mother.

“We will do it again soon Lina. Now settle down for it is eleven o’clock and tomorrow we will go and collect some wild flowers from the lane.”

“I’d like that.” I helped her arrange her snowy white pillows. By the time I crept from the room the young woman was already asleep.

Entering my room I could see the lamp had been lit, no doubt by Ruby the young maid who I had taken to and she to me. The light fell onto the mirror as I went to remove my string of pearls, and what I saw made me almost scream aloud, but I clapped my hand to my mouth not wishing any sound to escape my lips. Written on the mirror in large letters in rouge from my pot were the words, “Help me.”

Chapter Two

It couldn’t have been a ghostly hand that had written the words, so who had done it? One of the servants maybe, but why would they do it? To frighten me perhaps? Or was there someone else in the house at Middlepark who wished to alarm me? But who? Surely not Richard or Lina; this was a preposterous thought. But my next notion seemed quite feasible, Georgina? I rubbed hard on the mirror with my facecloth, erasing the two words completely. Leaving my white flannel red as with blood and I quickly dropped it in the wastepaper bin. Going over and pouring cold water from the jug into the washbasin I washed my hands thoroughly with the soap. Erasing all of the dreaded words completely. But were they dreaded or did someone need help? This thought hadn’t until now occurred to me and I lay awake for some time mulling it over in my mind. Before I fell into a restless slumber I concluded that whoever it was and for whatever reason that wouldn’t be an end of it; little did I know that I would be proved to be correct in this assumption.

The next morning Lina and I were sat partaking of our toast at breakfast when to my delight Richard Roseby walked into the dining room but it appeared he wasn’t to join us.

“We have a visitor arriving today Lina, so you may take the day off Miss Trent.” He directed his smile at me.

“Thank you Mr Roseby,” I uttered, all the while wondering who the illustrious visitor could be and why I wasn’t invited to be part of the day.

“Enjoy your day Miss Trent, and Lina, please hurry with your breakfast for I wish to speak with you in my study.” With these words he left the room and as I watched his tall figure disappear through the doorway I mused as to what exactly I would wish to do with myself, as it was the first time I had been left to my own devices since arriving at Middlepark.

I went to my room and donned my straw hat and gathered together a small sketch pad and pencils and a small rug for I had thought to walk alongside the river Otter and sketch whatever took my fancy; contemplating all the while what my employer and his daughter were doing.

I stepped out of the house and walked down the short driveway, observing as I did so the glorious colours of the roses which adorned the whole of the front garden. The wrought iron gates were open as usual and I stepped out onto the path we had walked on yesterday evening to the beach and I thought with some pleasure of my walk with Richard and Lina, and Richard using my Christian name in the library. At these pleasant thoughts I practically skipped along looking at the blue sky, across which small, fluffy white clouds scudded. There will be a change in the weather soon I thought to myself as I turned to the left and walked along by the river. It was quiet and still with no one else in sight, which surprised me on such a glorious day but I was thankful that it was quiet for I was glad of the solitude. I marvelled at the way some boughs of the trees lent towards the still grey water, their tips almost touching the river, the path was clear but overgrown with grass on one side and my royal blue skirt swished against it as I walked. To my delight I spotted a kingfisher sat on the branch of a tree on the opposite bank, his dagger-like beak straight and majestic. As quietly as I could I spread the small rug on the riverbank and as decorously as I could settled down with my skirts surrounding me. Picking up my pencil and sketchbook I set to capturing on paper the beautifully coloured kingfisher with his bright blue-coloured back and orange breast; he looked dressed for a ball. I sat for some time sketching and praying the beautiful bird would not fly or dip towards the water in search of a fish, but he was still and I thought how fortunate I was to be sat on this lovely bank surrounded by nature with the blue sky above me and the sun warm on my back. So engrossed was I with my drawing that I failed to hear the step of a stranger on the path.

“You look enrapt in your sketching Miss Trent.” The voice startled me, as well as the kingfisher who flew towards the sky. Turning around I could see it was Jonathon Moor, I made to scramble to my feet for I was in a most inappropriate position to talk to him. His hand reached out to me and willingly I took it as Jonathon helped me to my feet.

“Good day Mr Moor, forgive me I did not hear you approach,” I apologised. I had not seen Jonathon many times before but realised in this moment that while I’d seen him I’d not really taken notice of him. The eyes which looked down on me from a tanned face were a sparkling deep blue, his fair hair curled appealingly on his wine-coloured frock coat which covered his broad shoulders, and I had not realised before how tall he was, somewhat taller than Richard I concluded.

“I didn’t mean to startle you Miss Trent, and my wish was not to disturb you either but I felt I must speak to you for I never see you alone and I thought how pleasant it would be to talk to you.”

“Indeed,” I agreed, suddenly feeling very vulnerable and alone with this young man who was barely a stranger and yet at the same time I trusted him. “Would you do me the honour of walking with me Miss Trent?” he asked courteously.

“Why yes, I would deem it an honour.” I told him graciously.

“May I suggest that we walk the way I have just come from?” Jonathon enquired.

“Yes that would be agreeable,” I said, starting to close my sketchbook but Jonathon’s hand fell over mine.

“Let me see,” he said quietly taking the book from me and looking at the kingfisher I had almost completed drawing.

“I have not quite finished it,” I explained stupidly for he could very obviously see that this was the case.

“It would appear I startled your subject as much as you,” He said smiling down at me. What a beautiful smile he has I thought and then gathered myself together.

“You did indeed,” I agreed, laughing quietly, “but I can finish it later and then colour it.” Jonathon handed me back my sketchbook and we proceeded to walk together along the path. Every now and then a strong hand steadied me as we reached a twig or a broken bough which lay across the path in front of us. We walked for some time in a companionable silence. Every now and then I looked up at the man at my side and he smiled as he looked down at me, for he was a lot taller than I.

“Do you live far from here?” I asked of him, more as an opening for conversation than a desire to know, except that I suddenly remembered that Lina and I were to call for tea at Redcliffe Manor on the morrow. The thought sent my mind back for an instant to Middlepark and I wondered briefly how things were fairing there and whether the mysterious visitor had yet arrived.

“We are not far from my home now if you would like to accompany me there, it is but a stones throw away.” I heard Jonathon’s voice and came back to the present.

“I would very much like to see the Manor for we are to dine there for tea tomorrow afternoon,” I answered.

“Very well, we will need to follow this path to the right.” I followed him down a short path which came out onto a track in the open once more, away from the shelter of the overhanging trees and I felt the hot sun on my face. To the right of me I could hear the sea lapping on the shore and I stopped to listen lest I was mistaken.

“It is the sea isn’t it?” I asked Jonathon.

“Yes it most certainly is,” he told me, “it is but the other side of the meadow.”

“So Redcliffe Manor is close to the sea?” I questioned.

“Indeed it is, my ancestors built on the land in the seventeenth century, although many parts of the manor have been added at a later date.” He told me with passion and pride in his voice; and I was soon to understand why. We walked for a few more yards along the track, the sun beating down on us. We then reached tall gates set into a high wall which were open as if in greeting and walked together up a long path which was sheltered from the sun by poplar trees which lined each side of the driveway. Suddenly without warning we stepped into the open once more and I was dazzled by the scene which lay before me. A lake of green water decorated with pink and white water lilies lay to our right and ahead of me was the most magnificent building I had ever or had ever hoped to see. The house was vast and hauntingly beautiful, its cream-coloured walls were basking in the sunlight, the building looked so still and peaceful, slumbering almost in the warmth of the sun. I could not begin to count the windows as there were so many, the sunlight playing on each and every one. I turned to Jonathon for we had been silent while I took in the view before me.

“It is beautiful,” I said quietly and felt how a woman must feel when she instantly falls in love with a man.

“I’m more than pleased you like it so much for I can see that you are captivated by it,” he said. “Would you like to come and see Georgina for she is at home today?” At the mention of his sister’s name a cloud momentarily passed over the sun and I realised that she overshadowed her handsome brother with her domineering presence.

“If you don’t mind sir, I’d rather not today,” I told him gently.

“Then let us walk by the lake together,” He seemed almost pleased that I decided not to see his sister and I could understand why. So we walked together by the lake where I could see beautifully coloured dragonflies skimming across the water above the lilies. This place is a paradise I thought to myself and wondered why Georgina spent so much time at Middlepark when she had such a stately home of her own. But then I mused, the lure of Middlepark was Richard Roseby without a doubt. With each step we took I could see the beautiful building.

“You must have many servants to keep such a vast place going,” I observed by way of conversation for I had come to realise that Jonathon Moor was a man of few words.

“No, we have but a cook and two housemaids.” His answer surprised me, little did I know then that tomorrow all would be made clear to me. We nearly traversed the lake and I could hear the sea ever closer.

“We must be near the sea now,” I commented to my companion.

“It is indeed just a short distance,” Jonathon told me. “If we continue walking you will see how the manor got its name.” We left the lake a short way behind us and walked across the grass which was starting to turn brown no doubt due to all the hot weather we had experienced in the past weeks. Suddenly without warning I could see the sea before me, the sun shining on it like crystal droplets on a necklace. As I looked back behind me I could see the grass we had walked across was on a steep incline although it had not seemed so as we walked and we were now on a cliff path.

“See,” said my companion, taking my elbow and turning me to the right, “there is Budleigh Salterton.” And I realised that I could see the promenade in the distance with its row of hotels like dolls houses from where we stood.

“Why,” I exclaimed, “so it is.”

“And now if you look to your left at the curve in the cliff you will see why our manor is called such.” Jonathon was once more passionate of manner and as I looked where he directed I could see the cliffs in question were a deep red in colour so all was revealed. “And if you look back behind you Miss Trent you will see the manor nestling near the curve of the cliff.” Doing as I was bid I could see that he was right, the scene was such a beautiful one I was aware of my sketchpad in my hand and wished to sit and capture the beauty of it all with my pencil but to have done so would have been unseemly and once more I thought of Middlepark and wondered again what was happening there.

Looking at my fob watch that was pinned to the bodice of my day dress I could see that it was already three o’clock.

“My goodness,” I exclaimed to Jonathon. “I must start to retrace my steps.”

“Then I shall walk with you,” he offered and I was pleased to accept as I was sure I would not find my way. Before heading back to Middlepark I glanced once more at Redcliffe Manor, savouring the moment and holding the magical scene in my mind.

“You are very lucky to reside here Mr Moor,” I said more to myself than to him. “Very lucky indeed.”

It didn’t seem to take us so long to walk back, our steps were swifter and in no time at all we were walking back along by the river. We walked in silence, what Jonathon’s thoughts were I had little idea, but mine were very mixed, the river, my sketch of the kingfisher, Redcliffe Manor and the occupants of Middlepark. These thoughts were all jumbled in my head but given time they would all be unravelled and I would be able to make some sense of my mixed emotions. One thing that I have to concede this instance was that Jonathon was a very attractive young man and from now on I would see him for himself as a person and would never let Georgina overshadow him.

When we reached the gates of Middlepark, Jonathon took my hand and kissed the back of it with the gentlest of kisses as if a butterfly had brushed over it and my heart skipped a beat.

“I shall look forward to seeing you on the morrow Miss Trent,” he said, “for I have very much enjoyed your company today.”

“And I yours,” I told him truthfully for it had certainly been an eventful day and I watched his tall figure walk back along the lane before entering the house.

As I stepped into the hallway and removed my straw hat I could hear laughter coming from the slightly open door of the drawing room. It was a woman’s soft laughter and I stopped wondering if it were indeed the visitor when the door suddenly opened and Lina started to run across the hallway towards me.

“Walk, don’t run,” I admonished her gently and she did as she was bid.

“Charlotte, please come and see what Miss Verity has brought me back from Paris!” She excitedly took hold of my arm pulling me toward the drawing room. As I stepped into the lovely green decorated room of modest proportions I could see Richard Roseby standing by the fireplace and seated on the settle was a lovely woman with chestnut-coloured hair, swept up at the back with soft ringlets adorning her brow. I had little time to study her or to think straight as Lina led me over to a small polished table beneath the long window which was draped with soft green velvet curtains.