Lynne Pemberton - Eclipse

Instead they looked on in silence, each gazing at him expectantly.

‘I apologize for bursting in on you like this, but my car broke down.’

Serena thought he looked extremely uncomfortable as he glanced from face to face.

‘I could have been killed out there,’ he added as an afterthought.

‘Well, you almost killed me,’ Serena commented with a hint of amusement in her voice, glancing down at her ankle which was beginning to swell.

‘What happened, darling?’ asked Nicholas, stepping in front of the man to approach his wife. ‘Are you hurt?’

‘I’m fine,’ she said casually, not wanting any fuss. ‘It’s nothing much. I tripped and twisted my ankle, that’s all.’

Nicholas immediately spun round, confronting the stranger, his dark eyes clouded.

The man was smiling apologetically. ‘It was my fault entirely. Well, the real fault lies with the wind actually. I was literally lifted off my feet and thrown at the good lady. In my opinion the damage is only a slight sprain. Some ice on it, with a strapping, should do the trick.’

For some inexplicable reason Lord Nicholas Frazer-West found the man’s perfect diction disconcerting. ‘What on earth were you doing out in the storm, man! There was plenty of warning.’

His impatience showed in the tight line of his mouth, whilst he looked the intruder up and down with obvious distaste. Noticing several muddy footprints on the marble floor, he consoled himself with the thought that at least the culprit wasn’t standing on the Chinese washed rug in the drawing room.

‘I had my reasons, believe me,’ came the answer. ‘But I’ve experienced storms like this before. They are capable of uprooting trees, and I thought I should take shelter. You were the closest house.’

‘You’re soaked to the skin,’ said Nicholas matter of factly.

Serena raised her eyes, mildly irritated by the fact that her husband could always be relied upon to state the obvious, whatever the situation.

‘Of course he’s wet Nicholas! So would you be if you’d just been outside,’ she retorted. And without waiting for a reply she spoke briskly to the butler. ‘Take the gentleman into the guest room Joseph, find him some dry clothes, and later set an extra place for supper.’

The butler didn’t move. He inclined his head and waited, glancing in Lord Frazer-West’s direction.

Nicholas was too intent on observing his wife to notice. He was frowning as he recognized the all too familiar thrust of her chin. Her sapphire blue eyes were challenging him, and he swiftly decided it would be futile to argue.

‘Do as the mistress says, Joseph.’ Lord Frazer-West spoke with the voice of one who’d been accustomed to servants all his life. Joseph nodded, still not saying a word.

‘Cat got your tongue, Joseph?’ Serena teased.

‘Serena,’ snapped Nicholas.

The butler lowered his eyes and then mumbled, ‘No mistress, ain’t bin no cats around here today.’

She grinned in spite of herself, then turned her gaze to the stranger. She guessed he must be feeling increasingly ill at ease, caught up in domestic tensions that had nothing to do with him. And his next words proved her right.

‘Listen folks. I can shelter in the kitchen, out of your way, until the storm eases up. I really had no intention of disturbing anyone’s evening; I just didn’t feel like being injured out there.’

Serena came to his rescue. ‘You’re not disturbing anyone’s evening; is he Nicholas?’

Nicholas didn’t reply, but his belligerent body language said it all.

Serena continued unperturbed. ‘We were going to have an early supper; play cards and wait for the storm to pass. You might help to break the monotony. We would be delighted to have you join us.’

Nicholas, stony-faced, declined to confirm his wife’s insistent welcome and the refugee from the storm was still unsure.

‘I’ve been wet before and it didn’t kill me. I really don’t need fresh clothes.’

Rivulets of rainwater trickled down the back of his neck as he shook his head. Then, lifting his arm, he raked long fingers through his matted, curly hair and, as he did so, his shirt fell open to expose a muscular torso.

A sudden rush of heat filled Serena’s entire body as she watched him. Certain it would show on her face, she quickly lowered her head and stepped back into the shadows before replying. ‘Well, it might just kill you this time, and we’d hate to be responsible for that.’

She was unable to keep the teasing tone out of her voice; and, when the man looked at her, she flashed him a smile that was both mischievous and inviting, half woman and half child. It made her look like someone about to embark upon a reckless adventure.

‘I’m sure Nicholas has an old tee-shirt somewhere, and a pair of shorts.’ Serena looked enquiringly at her husband, who was studying the man’s enormous frame.

‘I doubt I’ve got anything to fit you, Mr … ’ Nicholas paused.

‘Fergusson. Royole Fergusson the second, at your service.’ Royole bent forward, mockingly sweeping one big arm in front of him in a parody of a bow. He was grinning from ear to ear.

There was an untamed air about him which Serena found irresistible. She stretched out her hand, bubbling with laughter, and responded in kind.

‘Lady Serena Frazer-West, at your service, sir.’

Nicholas stepped in front of Royole before he had an opportunity to take his wife’s hand. Looking up into the taller man’s face, he was as surprised as Serena had been by the intense green of the eyes; eyes which held his own so firmly.

‘Come along then, Mr Fergusson. Let’s see if we can at least get you rigged out in something dry.’

Nicholas then nodded to the butler, and Joseph led the way out of the small hallway into a fifty-foot square central courtyard, laid in pure white terrazzo. Serena had to be supported by her husband as she limped along.

The house had been designed around the courtyard and all the rooms led off it. It was dark. The windows were shuttered against the storm and an enormous antique brass lantern, hanging on a heavy chain, was unfit. Only a small amount of light, flickering from four carved wall-sconces, cast an eerie glow upon the pale stone.

Royole jumped as a frog croaked loudly, then plopped into the small ornamental pool in the centre of the courtyard, disappearing under a perfect, yellow lotus lily.

A pair of old, stone urns, inlaid with the Frazer-West crest, stood at the foot of a wide sweeping staircase. Serena, leaning against one of the urns, admired Royole Fergusson’s broad back as he ascended the stairs holding the curved mahogany handrail.

Only when he was out of sight did she limp barefoot into the drawing room, where the butler had lit several long candles, just in case the electricity failed. They flickered brightly under gleaming hurricane lamps, shadows dancing across the darkened walls.

Earlier in the day Joseph and the gardener had stacked all the terrace furniture into one corner of the room, which now resembled a warehouse. The air felt heavy, with a cloying dampness. It was oppressive and Serena longed to do what she did in the mornings; which was to throw open the tall windows leading on to the terrace, let in a fresh sea breeze and enjoy uninterrupted views of the coastline from every angle.

She noticed that the wind noise had changed. It was deeper now, more aggressive. She was momentarily startled as the large limb of a mahogany tree crashed down on to the roof of the house. But settling comfortably on the deep sofa, she popped a cushion behind her head and another under her ankle. She was thinking about Royole Fergusson, when Nicholas joined her, immediately destroying the moment.

‘Was it really necessary to invite a total stranger to join us for supper, Serena?’ he complained through clenched teeth as soon as he entered the room.