“Delia, as it’s such a lovely day Tina and I have decided to have tea down by the lake this afternoon. Would you mind if Lucy stayed a bit longer than usual and join us? We can drive her home later.”
“Yes. That’s absolutely fine … I’m sure she will love it,” Delia replied, thinking swiftly. She was riding Demon this afternoon as usual and if Philip wasn’t too busy, he might be persuaded to join her. It was also Mrs. Forest’s day off and the Dower House would be empty for a few hours. If Philip could be enticed to come to tea … without the presence of Lucy … her mind worked overtime.
She normally ate a light lunch with Lucy before dropping her off at the Hall and then driving over to Tangles for her ride on Demon but today, while Lucy tucked into a banana sandwich and strawberry yoghurt, Delia couldn’t eat a thing. Her mind was in a whirl and her stomach was doing somersaults at the very idea of enticing Philip back to the Dower House. After taking particularly careful pains with her makeup before they left for the drive to the Hall, covering up the ghastly scar with as much foundation as it could take under bright sunlight, she hoped that with her hair pulled forward, it wouldn’t put Philip off once he was closer to it … kissing her … loving her. Her heart missed a beat. She had always made sure that side of her face was away from him when they met but if her plans came to fruition this afternoon, however much she tried to prevent him seeing the full extent of the injury, if they were going to be intimate, it would be highly impossible.
“You look nice, Mummy,” chirped Lucy as they got into the Ferrari to go to the Hall. “And you’ve got lots of perfume on. You smell lovely.”
Delia grinned. “Thank you, darling. Now you have a good time this afternoon. I expect you will have a lovely tea down at the lake with everyone. No doubt Prudence will make you something really delicious.”
“Spect so … I hope there’s cream cakes and ice cream.”
“It’s ‘I expect so and I hope there are cream cakes and ice cream,’ corrected Delia. “Well, whatever it is, make sure you behave yourself and have a lovely time and I’ll see you when Ruth brings you home later.”
“Okay, Mummy. Have a nice ride,” sang Lucy as Hardy came down the front steps of the Hall with a welcoming smile on his face and opened the car door for her. Even though he was wary of Delia and had uneasy qualms about her returning to live on the estate, he adored her daughter. She was quick, impulsive but kind and with an easy manner. She would be a different kettle of fish to her mother when she grew up, that was for sure.
Delia smiled at them both and drove back down the drive towards Tangles, her nerves jangling badly and her heart hammering hard in her chest when she drove into the car park and saw Philip giving instructions to one of his stable girls. At the sight of his broad shoulders in a blue and white striped shirt with the cuffs turned up revealing strong, tanned arms, she nearly swooned, desperate to rush over, grab him, and drag him up to his bedroom. But she couldn’t. She had to restrain herself for an hour or two … that was if he would agree to go out with her. He might have others things to do but she prayed he wouldn’t. The Dower House was empty for a good few hours. It had to be today. It had to be. She just couldn’t wait any longer.
“Hi,” he said pleasantly as Delia walked towards him. “Demon is in his stable waiting for you.”
“Are you particularly busy this afternoon?” she asked, hardly daring to breathe.
“Well, as it happens, not really. I have two parties out with the stable hands but nothing booked for me until seven thirty this evening. I was going to make myself a cup of tea and do some paperwork.”
“Oh, not on such a glorious day … that’s sacrilege. You should be outside, breathing in our fantastic country air.”
“As if I don’t get enough of it,” he laughed.
“Come with me,” urged Delia. “Let’s have a crazy gallop. Have a race. Just as we used to. For old times’ sake.”
Philip laughed again, his lovely wide mouth showing splendid white teeth. “Whatever horses I may have in this stables, nothing will match Demon in speed. You know that. You will have won before we even start.”
“He may shock you. He may be slowing down a bit now he’s advancing in years.”
“Blimey, Deli, he’s still in his prime.”
Deli. He had used his old name for her. It made her want to cry for a moment. They had been so close all those years ago … and they would be again. She was determined on it and he was softening, just as she hoped he would.
“How about that new mare you have … what’s her name … Miri … Mandy …?”
“Miranda.”
“Yes, that’s it. She’s got Arab in her. She should set a cracking pace.”
“Um. You could be right. She’s pretty light on her feet. Okay,” he said, caving in Delia’s look of anticipation. “You win. I’ll join you for an hour. I’ll just go and saddle her up.”
They galloped furiously across the fields, scattering sheep in their wake; Miranda, as
