Part 9 (1/2)
Chapter 16.
Twelve oclock came and went, and I could feel a few b.u.t.terflies in my stomach with each pa.s.sing minute. I drank the dregs of my tea, fidgeted, walked around, sat down, walked around again and generally irritated everybody. As each car pa.s.sed outside, I kept expecting it to be him. The wait seemed interminable. After what seemed like forever, a car pulled up and a handsome man in jeans and a black pullover got out of the car and looked around. He was clearly looking at the house numbers to check which doorbell to press. I looked at my watch and could not believe that it was only 12:06.
I unlatched the door and opened it.
”Hi there!” he said without a moments hesitation.
”Would you like to come in for a sec?” I asked.
”Sure. I can meet that sister of yours. The one with the s.e.xy voice.”
”And her partner....” I quipped nodding my head in Chriss direction.
He put his hand over his mouth.
”Oopps!” he said self-consciously.
”Dont apologise,” chirped Chris. ”She has got a s.e.xy voice.”
Chris was standing behind Carole and wrapping her in his arms. She lent back and gave him a kiss on his neck to thank him for the compliment.
John had a cup of coffee and made small talk with Carole and Chris while I gathered up my things. Id dressed casually, just jeans and a rugby s.h.i.+rt (with a cut especially for women). Id removed my make-up, and just put on a small amount of transparent lippy to give them a moist look.
”Im set to go!” I finally said.
John got up, said his 'farewells and 'nice to meet yous.
”Your carriage awaits you, Madam,” he joked as he escorted me to his car.
It was quite a swish car, I thought. I was no expert, but from work I had more knowledge of motors than the average gal. Hed chosen a mid-range Ford in black, with a 2-litre engine, in-car stereo/CD player, full security system, sunroof and alloy wheels. It fitted his character. He had no need for a flashy sports car, or gas-guzzler, but he liked a few luxuries, and the colour and style had a hint of s.e.xiness about it.
Inside the car, he had a selection of CDs, compilations of cla.s.sical music by French cla.s.sical composers and American jazz artists. His tastes were broad and selective; the music of a person did not care about fas.h.i.+on or his own image, just the sensuous experience of listening.
He saw my eyes casting over his collection.
”Any preferences?”
”I particularly like Carly Simon, Norah Jones and Eva Casidy but it doesnt look like you have any.”
To my surprise he opened another hidden compartment with a further dozen CDs. In there was music by Casiopeia, Carly Simon, Queen, the Yellowjackets and Mozart. He took out the 'Very Best of Carly Simon” CD and away we drove to the rich tones of 'Youre So Vain.
”Any particular destination youd like?” he asked gently.
I thought for a moment. I had no wish to go a long way, but was keen to walk somewhere quiet.
”How about Warwick castle? We could walk around the grounds,” I suggested.
He nodded. I was about to give him directions but he made a left turn. I realised that he must already know the area.
”You know the way?” I queried.
”Yes, a bit. I have friends in Warwick.”
”Of course, you told me.”
I did not feel talkative because I was not sure how to start. Id called him when I was distressed and he was bound to think I wanted to talk about what happened. Now he was here, I was not sure what to say. I could hardly tell him the truth.
”Do you want to eat before or after the walk?” he asked.
I still had a bit of a hangover so food was not high on my agenda yet.
”Lets walk first,” I suggested.
I recalled the voice in the background during our phone conversation.
”Was your wife okay about your coming here today?”
”Not really. Sh.e.l.l get over it. She knows that no man particularly me can totally resist being a knight in s.h.i.+ning armour. She was forgiving.”
”Is that what you are?” I asked.
”I dont mind being a stand-in until you find someone who can do it for you full time.”
It didnt fit somehow with the conversations wed previously had about equality between the s.e.xes, but at this particular moment I was happy to borrow someone elses knight for the day.
”But there is one condition,” he added.
”Whats that?”
”No hanky panky!” he said with a smile.
”The thought never crossed my mind,” I snapped back with a grin.
He may have been driving, but he caught my message and smiled back at me briefly.
”Just so long as we both understand the boundaries,” he confirmed.
”I do,” I said, with some irony. This small phrase, normally the preserve of people tying the knot, seemed appropriate for the contract that we were making between us.
After this, I felt myself relax and the prospect of the day ahead filled me with pleasure. The trauma of the previous night receded as I filled my senses with thoughts of what we would do with our day. We turned a corner that brought the castle into view then drove around the perimeter to the visitor car park.
”Okay, Madam,” he said with mock politeness. ”I am now in your hands.”
”In my dreams”, I thought to myself. My sumptuous naughty side had not been destroyed by the humiliation Id been through; I was grateful for that. Even though it sometimes got me into trouble, the kitten in me was still there.
He continue playing the game of 'protector by opening the car door for me and indicating the direction of the grounds with a slight nod and wave of his right hand.
”Thank you, my man,” I said with a haughty look that I imagined women of cla.s.s would give to a chauffeur, or footman. Then I blew it by whispering to him 'do I give you a tip?