Country Pursuits (48 page)

‘Hope you've got a license to chill with that,' said Caro.

‘And I hope the champagne's not as bad as your jokes,' Benedict replied, smiling as he poured her a drink.

The car had been purring through the darkening countryside for twenty minutes or so, before it slowed and turned into a large entrance. Huge stone pillars stood on each side and the iron gates had been pulled open to let the car through.

‘Chowdry Castle, I played here a few times when I was younger!' exclaimed Caro. ‘A friend of mine lived about five minutes away.' She looked puzzled. ‘Isn't it derelict?'

Built in the mid-1800s, Chowdry Castle had once been a beautiful sprawling country house. Unfortunately it had fallen into the hands of a disreputable earl, who gambled away his fortune on horses and prostitutes. He had ended up bankrupt, destitute and syphilis-ridden in a mental asylum down on the south coast, and creditors had seized
Chowdry Castle. But nothing was done with it, and it was a great travesty that the once-elegant building had fallen into such a state of disrepair.

Benedict grinned as the car bumped down the overgrown drive, the chauffeur wincing. ‘It was until Felix, a friend of mine, took it over. He's restoring the whole thing, going to make it into a smart country hotel for the London set to escape to. I think he's marketing it as the next Babingdon House.' Caro could now see the huge dark outline of the house in front of them, its jagged, tumbledown silhouette framed against the night sky.

Benedict saw the look of alarm on her face. ‘I'm not taking you in there, don't worry,' he said in amusement. The car suddenly swung down a little track to the left. ‘Thanks, Tony, you can stop here.'

Benedict opened the door and helped Caro out. They were standing in a small clearing, surrounded by trees. ‘Now's the bit where you have to trust me,' he said and put his hands over her eyes. He guided her gently forwards and Caro felt the smooth grass change to more uneven ground underfoot. A minute later, after she had tripped and nearly sprained her ankle four times, Benedict pulled up.

‘Ready?' he whispered. ‘One, two,
three
!' He took his hands away.

Caro blinked and it took a few seconds before everything swam into focus. Her jaw dropped. ‘Oh Benedict,' she gasped. ‘It's beautiful!'

They were standing at the beginning of a long, narrow, tree-lined lawn. Hundreds of tea lights were dotted on the ground along either side, their flames flickering in the gentle night breeze. Above
their heads, Chinese lanterns in every colour of the rainbow swayed gently from branches. At the end of the lawn stood an elegant, wrought-iron gazebo. A table for two had been laid inside, and as she drew closer, she could see a pristine white tablecloth and ornate candelabra. A silver bucket was hooked to the side of the table and another bottle of champagne nestled in the ice.

She turned to Benedict, overwhelmed. ‘But, how, why . . .?' she said.

He smiled, putting his hand in the small of her back to guide her forward. His light touch made her shiver. ‘Gorgeous, isn't it? Apparently all of this was overgrown with weeds and God knows what else until they started clearing it. To everyone's surprise, they found the gazebo underneath. It's been here since Victorian times and was in pretty bad shape with rust and whatnot, but Felix had it lovingly restored, and here it is. It's going to be quite a selling point.' He paused. ‘And now we're the first to use it.'

They'd reached the gazebo now, and, as if by magic, an impeccably dressed waiter appeared. ‘Madam, sir,' he said solicitously, and pulled their chairs out. Benedict waited until Caro was seated before he walked round to his chair.

Caro was only just remembering how to speak. This was probably the most romantic setting she had ever known.

The waiter appeared again and handed them two thick white menus embossed with gold lettering. ‘Shall we?' asked Benedict. Caro realized she was absolutely starving.

The next three hours passed like a dream. Caro didn't know how or where it had been prepared, but a mouth-watering three-course meal was served to them. She ate sea-fresh prawns and exquisitely tender lamb and laughed until her sides hurt at a story Benedict told her about one of his eccentric clients. Benedict told her all about his design agency The Glass Ceiling. ‘It's been a hard slog setting it up these past few years, but it finally seems to be paying off,' he said, leaning across the table to refill her glass.

‘And you've got a place in London?' asked Caro. ‘Stephen and Klaus mentioned it . . .'

Benedict smiled at her teasingly. ‘Oh, you've been checking up on me? Yes, I've got a place in Chelsea: Montague Mews. Stephen and Klaus live a few doors down. They've been very generous to me.'

Caro hesitated. ‘Now the agency is doing so well, will you move back to London permanently?'

Benedict's eyes scanned her face. ‘I don't know,' he said softly. ‘I've become rather attached to Churchminster.'

Caro wanted to whoop with joy.

As coffee was served, she looked across the table at Benedict, reflecting. For the first time in her life, Caro felt she could be herself with a man; that she wasn't going to be sneered at or put down. He was actually interested in everything she had to say. Benedict made her feel bright and alive, even laughing at her stupid jokes, which Sebastian had always dismissed as childish and puerile. She gazed at him, noticing how his handsome, carved features were accentuated by the shadows of
flickering candlelight. ‘Can I ask you something?' she said.

Benedict's strong fingers caressed the bottom of his wine stem. ‘Fire away.' The corners of his mouth turned up. ‘Are you going to press me for my deepest, darkest secrets?'

It was Caro's turn to smile. ‘Of course not. Not unless you try to press me about mine. Not that I've got any.' She got a bit flustered. ‘I mean, I suppose I
have
but they're not that bad. I mean . . .'

Benedict's right eyebrow rose in amusement, and Caro quickly composed herself, taking a deep breath. ‘That night at the ball,' she continued, ‘you never did tell me why you seemed to hate me for so long.' Caro lifted her hand and gestured around. ‘All this is just wonderful. The time we spend together is wonderful, but it feels like two different lifetimes.' She leaned forward hesitantly. ‘Why the change, Benedict? I mean, what really explains that?'

A bleak look came over Benedict's face, and he stared over her shoulder into the distance, as if remembering something he didn't want to.

‘Caro, I . . . When I met you, all the joy had gone out of my life. What with the divorce and Harry.' His voice cracked. ‘I was an empty shell. I didn't think I deserved any happiness and was quite determined to lead a solitary life where I could never hurt anyone or be hurt myself.' His face softened as he looked at her. ‘Then I met you, and you were everything I was trying to avoid, everything I'd told myself to hate and stay away from.' He laughed derisively. ‘What a fool I was.'

Spellbound, Caro sat perfectly still.

‘The moment I met you outside your house, it
was like all the lights in the world had switched on again. I felt something I'd never felt before, and I tried to fight it all the way. I didn't want anyone in my life again, so I tried to push you out.' He smiled wryly. ‘Unfortunately that just translated into me being the rudest bastard imaginable.'

‘You were, rather,' Caro teased.

Benedict held his hands up. ‘Guilty as charged,' he said. His face turned solemn again. ‘But after the ball, what Sebastian did to you . . .' Caro's face fell at the memory and Benedict trailed off, not trusting himself to speak for a second. ‘Caro, you had every right to kick me into touch after the way I've behaved. You
still
have the right. My only defence is that I was a proud idiot and, thank God, I realized I can't live my life like that. I've changed.' His strong, warm hand reached for hers across the table. ‘
You've
made me change,' he whispered. He squeezed her hand. ‘Caro, will you forgive me?'

Apart from Milo's birth, Caro couldn't remember a single moment when she had felt happier. ‘I've never been very good at holding grudges,' she whispered back, and squeezed his hand in return.

By midnight they were back in the Bentley, gliding towards Churchminster. At dinner, the conversation had flowed easily, but suddenly the atmosphere changed and they sat in silence, like strangers forced to share a small space together. Caro wondered if Benedict could feel the sexual tension radiating off her, but when she glanced across at him, his elegant profile stared thoughtfully ahead into the darkness.

They continued in silence until they reached the
outskirts of the village, by which time Caro was beginning to despair at how it had all gone so suddenly wrong, when Benedict finally spoke.

‘Are you over him, Caro?'

Caro was momentarily thrown off-balance by the question. She turned to Benedict and their eyes met. She smiled. ‘Yes, I really think I am,' she said softly.

The car pulled up outside Mill House, and after tipping the driver generously, Benedict walked Caro to her front door. She fumbled round in her bag for her door keys. ‘I don't know where to start thanking you, I've had the most wonderful time,' she told him. Suddenly flustered, she quickly thrust the key into the lock.

As she turned it, Benedict's hand enveloped hers. ‘You're worth it,' he said gently. She felt a jolt of electricity that made her stomach flip upside down. At that point, Caro knew there was no going back.

‘Would you like to come in?' she asked.

He trailed a finger slowly down her cheek. ‘Are you sure?'

‘More than I've ever been,' she said, and pulled him inside.

The door shut behind them, and they stood in the darkness like a pair of awkward teenagers. Moonlight streamed in from the window above the door, illuminating Benedict's perfect features. Stepping towards her, he cupped her face in his hands. ‘Oh my darling, I have waited for this moment for so long,' he said shakily, and lowered his head to kiss her.

His full lips were tender and practised, and he tasted vaguely of mint as his soft, probing tongue
found its way into her mouth. Caro felt her body melt. Running her hands over his lean, muscular back, she felt her nipples harden and the long-forgotten pulse start between her legs.

Benedict nuzzled her neck and moaned slightly. Through the fabric of his trousers, she could feel his rock-hard erection straining to get out. Benedict ran his hands up her bare thighs to her buttocks, pulling up her dress. He lifted her up into his strong arms and she wrapped her legs round his waist. Still kissing passionately, he began to walk down the hall, carrying her as if she was as light as a feather. Up the stairs they went, kissing, licking, and unbuttoning each other until they reached the top. Kicking the bedroom door open with his foot, Benedict carried Caro in and put her down gently.

She pulled his shirt off. His body was better than she had ever imagined. Strong sculpted arms, broad shoulders and a six-pack stomach that tapered into a narrow waist. Caro's fingers traced the V-shape leading to his groin, and he groaned again. ‘I want to see you first,' he said, voice thick with desire, and Caro felt her halter neck being undone. He pulled her dress down over her body and she stepped out of it, kicking it away. Underneath, she was wearing just the skimpy black Agent Provocateur G-string she'd bought months ago but never had the guts to wear. His eyes ran over her hungrily, and he caressed her full, firm breasts before slipping his fingers down beneath the lacy triangle.

Caro couldn't wait any longer. She pulled his trousers and Abercrombie & Fitch boxer shorts down over his powerful thighs. Her fingers found
his cock, gloriously long, wide and hard. Benedict groaned louder. He picked her up again and pushed her against the wall, splaying her legs apart. Caro gasped in pleasure as he slid inside her. They moved rhythmically together, slowly at first, and then harder and faster, building up to a crescendo.

‘Oh my God, oh my God,' gasped Caro as she arched her back against the wall, wrapping her legs around him tightly to drive him in deeper.

‘Oh Christ,' he moaned. ‘Oh my beautiful Caro . . .'

They both cried out as their orgasms exploded together, hearts hammering and bodies bathed in sweat.

‘I love you so much. Will you marry me?' gasped Benedict.

Caro held on to him tightly, feeling every nerve in her body tingle. ‘Yes, my darling,' she sobbed happily. ‘
Yes, yes, yes!
'

THREE DAYS LATER
Caro was sitting at the breakfast bar, laughing as she watched Benedict trying to feed Milo. The little boy was in his highchair, clearly not impressed at the organic yoghurt and fruit purée on offer. At this stage most of it was in Benedict's hair.

‘He obviously gets his table manners from his mother,' Benedict said, wiping a bit of strawberry off his ear.

‘Watch it, you,' said Caro smiling. She was handing him a piece of kitchen roll when the phone on the wall rang. Reaching across, she picked it up. ‘Hello? Oh, it's you. What do you want? No, I didn't mean it like that. I just wasn't expecting to hear from you.'

She listened for a moment, a frown crossing her face. ‘I don't know if that's a good idea.' She listened again and sighed. ‘OK, but I can't meet you for long. No, don't come here. I'll see you in the Jolly Boot at one.'

She hung up and turned to Benedict. ‘That was Sebastian. He wants to meet me at the pub at lunchtime.'

Benedict studied her, holding Milo's little wrists to keep the sticky grasping hands away from him. ‘Will you be OK? I can always come as well.'

Caro giggled. ‘Can you imagine the look on his face? “Sebastian, I'd like you to meet my fiancé.” I don't think his ego would be able to stand it.' As Caro wasn't officially divorced yet, they had only broken the news to their immediate families. Naturally everyone had been delighted.