|
Chapter 31
As soon as they entered Amelia-Rose 's cottage, she knew something was wrong as a gale was blowing through the lounge. She raced through the house with Terence closely behind her and found the devastated conservatory. Every pane of glass had been smashed. There was glass amongst the flowers and plants and glass all over the shawls on the chairs.
"I just can't understand why anybody would want to do this," sobbed Amelia-Rose. "What have I done to deserve this?"
Terence checked the garden to see if there was anybody still around but came back with nothing to report.
"It looks as if someone has got it in for you," he said. "Your ex-husband is not still mad at you, is he"?
"Nothing like that," sobbed Amelia-Rose, trying to pull herself together. She turned to Terence, with her voice showing concern
"You won't change your mind about sending people here as a result of this, will you?"
"I don't see why it should change anything," reassured Terence. "Why don't you give me a guided tour of the rest of the house, it doesn't look as if it has been touched."
Amelia-Rose nodded gratefully. "Follow me around while I check the rest of the cottage."
Terence was right. The ground floor apart from the conservatory was completely intact - nothing been touched. Upstairs, they toured the spare bedrooms and the bathroom but found no more damage.
"This is my bedroom," said Amelia-Rose, ushering him in.
"You have a lovely view to the front and the back," Terence said quietly.
"Yes, there is the river at the front and the hills ..." She suddenly understood - and laughed, nervously. "That is, if you were talking about the view from the room not the view in the room."
"Perhaps I was talking about both," said Terence lightly. He was standing casually with his hands in his pockets and his back to the window at the end of the house.
Amelia-Rose strode up to him and gently punched him under his chin.
"You are too young to be saying that sort of thing to a lady of my age," she remonstrated.
"Why? If it's true?"
He walked past her to the dressing table by the window, turned and drew a wad of notes from his pocket.
"I've seen enough to know that things are going to work out between us," he said, confidently.
He dropped the notes on the dressing table.
There's about £1,000," he said. "It should be enough to get your conservatory fixed so you can get ready for visitors. Take it as a payment in advance."
He smiled at the look of astonishment on Amelia-Rose 's face.
She joined him by the window.
"I just cannot believe that you would walk into my life and solve all my problems in one stroke - and you're so young. Excuse me - I've just got to hug you."
Before he could reply she had wrapped her arms around him and had given him a big squeeze of thanks. Somehow, the hug became a kiss on his cheek and then a kiss on his lips, which were fresh and responsive.
Afterwards, Amelia-Rose wasn't really sure who made the first move onto the bed. If earlier in the day, she'd been afraid he might force himself on her, she now found it was her who was taking the initiative.
He was a gentle but passive lover, happy to lie back and let her lead the way, which was a new experience for Amelia-Rose. He was also extremely demanding and adventurous in ways that were completely new to her.
In the end, never before had Amelia-Rose been possessed so completely by a man. Every part of her received his attentions - again and again. Where John had excited her desire, Terence built on this passion and enveloped her in waves of sensuality that she hardly believed could exist and which left her completely drained.
It was early evening before he lifted himself on an elbow and sleepily told her that it was time for him to go.
They showered luxuriously together and Amelia-Rose went to find somewhere to put the money to keep it safe until morning and to fix him a quick snack while he got dressed.
They kissed one final time at the front door. Amelia-Rose gazed affectionately at his young freckled face.
"I can't ever imagine us being in love," she said. "But I do know we've had a really great time."
Terence smiled. "I've left my card on your dressing table. Get the conservatory fixed up really quickly so I can start sending you people."
Amelia-Rose nodded her thanks and watched him as he disappeared down the path.
She climbed the stairs back to her bedroom and replaced the loose caftan gown she'd slipped on with some sensible slacks for doing the cleaning up in the conservatory to make it ready for the builders. She selected some comfortable shoes that wouldn't be ruined by walking on glass.
As he'd promised, Terence had left his business card and she gazed down at the Internet URL and name of the company. The name of the Web site was highly appropriate and the description was clear in its promise
'to provide a wife for a weekend that any man would remember.'
|