Sarah Randall - Forever His Darling

“Ah, you’re welcome honey, it’s lovely to cook for people who enjoy their food.”

“Well I’ve never been one of those women who can survive on celery sticks.” She regretted the white lie immediately. “I love my food, just have to work extra hard in the gym.” Truth.

“Feel free to use the pool or gym whenever you like Ana.” Pip glanced over at her from where she was sprawled out in front of the fire, flicking through a magazine with a contented George snoozing with his strong head resting on her crossed legs.

“Thanks, I might just do that. I can make use of the spare time and the few clothing items I do have with me!”

“There’s also a library on the second floor if you get really bored. That’s where Matt spends most of his evenings, a real bookworm. Boring.”

She smiled as Pip made a huge fake yawn.

“Really, well, I love reading too so maybe I’ll have to, er, have a look later. Thanks.” Meaning, I’ll wait till he’s gone out .

Pip discarded the magazine at her side and promptly stood up, disturbing George briefly. “Right, I’m bored now. Fancy coming with me to the pub?” Pip seemed to have the attention span of an adorable puppy.

“Oh, erm…” She was so comfortable she wasn’t sure she could move, or be bothered by the fact that she’d rather stay right where she was, than go out for a night out?!

“Feel free to stay here if you like. Matt will be around somewhere and he’ll keep you company if you’d prefer.”

To be glared at by Mr Dark and Broody… in that case, there was no way she was staying here.

“No, that’s okay, I’d love to come with you and have a look around the village,” she said, prising herself out of the chair. “Just let me put on some warmer clothes and grab a coat and wellies and I’ll be right with you,” she said, edging backwards from the room until she slammed into something hard and unmoving…

She spun around to face Matt’s unimpressed hard stare.

She bobbed her head forward slightly. “Is that look on your face permanently?”

He didn’t bother to even acknowledge her and instead looked past her at Pip. “Where are you off too?”

“The pub. You want to come along?” Pip asked.

“No, I’m fine. Be careful in the snow, take a torch and make sure you have your phone fully charged.”

She rolled her eyes at her brother. “Yes Dad ,” she mocked. “Besides, James will be there and he’ll give us a lift home if we need it.”

Anastacia glanced back over her shoulder at Pip.

“He’s such a sweetie Ana, and he’s the Stud’s vet. Wait ’till you see him, and the other local farmers. Why women go to the city to look for hot, available guys is beyond me. I tell you , this is where they should be. Go and make yourself even more gorgeous and we’ll get going.”

***

Matt felt a spark of something strike him and stir his interest. Despite his earlier caustic remarks to her on the drive in, a world famous model in the village would cause a stir and possibly a scene, and as she was staying here… well, it was his responsibility to make sure nothing brought the Stud or his family name into disrepute. Never again. He ignored all possibility that it was the fact that other men would relish Miss Harper’s attention.

“Wait, on second thought, I’ll come along too. You need a chaperone and George could do with the exercise to work off that chicken.” His accusatory stare was ignored by Mrs Henderson who continued to tidy around the room. “I’ll get my coat. George, come on lad.” George pricked up his ears, stretched his front legs, and trotted after him.

Why the hell was he going? He’d planned on a quiet night in, catching up on some paperwork for the Stud and looking over some potential new bloodlines before trying to get some much needed sleep.

He was going to keep an eye on Pip and keep Miss Darling out of trouble. Yes, that was it. No way was he going to make sure Ana stayed away from the Waddington Single Farmers crowd. Nope. Not that, no Siree.

***

“So what’ll it be Matt?”

“Evening Bob, pint of the guest bitter for me and…” Matt glanced over at Ana and raised a brow in silent question.

“Hmm, I’ll have the same,” she replied confidently to Bob..

“Are you sure?” Matt said, raising his brow even higher.

She turned to face him and put a hand on her hip. “Yes. Why?”

Matt shrugged, “Just thought you’d prefer wine to beer, or at least something with a straw and cocktail umbrella in it.” He shared a knowing smile with the long serving bar owner..

“Is that so? It’s dangerous to make assumptions, Mr Darling. I should know, before I met you, I assumed all Yorkshire folk were salt of the earth types, friendly to all travelers,” she chastised, and Matt heard Bob try unsuccessfully to stifle his laugh as she continued, “Apparently us Southerners have been living under a misapprehension that all Yorkshire people are warm and welcoming, walk around sporting a flat cap with a friendly ferret in their coat pocket.” She held her hand up towards the bar. “No offence Bob. But then I met you.” She drilled Matt with an accusatorial stare.

Matt glanced back at the barman for support and took a deep breath. “Make that two pints Bob, and whatever Pip is drinking when she drags herself away from the games room.”

Bob was still struggling to keep a straight face. “Sure thing. You ’n your feisty southern lass go ’n grab a table and I’ll bring ’em on over.”

***

Matt ignored the barman’s comment as he turned to face her. “It seems Pip has abandoned you with me. Shall we?” Matt motioned for her to make her way over towards a quieter section of the bar and a table with two large red leather chesterfields in front of another roaring log fire. God she could get used to these, but there was no way she could have one fitted in her apartment in London. Not that it would ever get used, she was barely there… she caught herself and remembered that she’d be in New York soon and she doubted her apartment there, chosen by someone else, would have a real fire.

Once settled she took a closer look around the warm, friendly, and inviting pub. It had taken about thirty minutes to walk there, slowed down by the snow and slippery road. She and Pip had become instant friends and had linked arms and giggled like school girls as they slid around almost losing their balance several times while Matt muttered to himself as he walked behind them with George in tow. It had suddenly hit her how much she had missed close female companionship. She and her mother hadn’t been close. Ever. She’d never had a sister or female cousin and her closest friend had been Alix. She decided that she liked it and could very easily get used to it, and that scared her. Two days; that’s all you’re here for Ana, then back to reality.

The pub looked like an old coaching house with low hanging ceiling and exposed wooden beams: lots of brass trinkets scattered about and Toby Jugs hanging from those low ceilings. It was the sort of old style country pub that the big chains tried to replicate en mass, sometimes successfully. Both she and Matt had to duck their heads when they’d walked in and she’d smiled at the brass sign saying, “Duck or grouse”. She ducked.

It was made up of a number of smaller rooms and it was clear that each area was distinct. The room immediately to the right as they entered entertained the more senior patrons enjoying card games and dominos and she imagined that, before the smoking ban, the room would have featured a permanent smoky haze. She could hear more enthusiastic noise from the far end of the pub and Pip had told her that that was where the games room was before disappearing off in search of James, leaving her with Matt and making a vague promise that she’d be back shortly. She began to wonder if she had been played by Pip and whether there was an agenda she was missing…