‘I don’t mind. It’s just not how I envisaged your first visit here,’ Henry explained.
Ava couldn’t help but smile at the thought that Henry had considered her visiting Dapplebury House.
Leading the way to the grand staircase, Henry turned to Granger and told him to go to his bed. Granger trotted off, and Ava wondered if he actually had any intention of obeying.
As they ascended the stairs, Ava looked at the well-trodden carpet that ran down the centre of the highly-polished staircase. She couldn’t help but wonder at all those who had trodden upon it before her. The building, like many of the items in it, had seen significant changes over the years. The generations of Bramlingtons and their visitors — perhaps even royalty, had made their mark. Ava was sure every fibre of the house must have a story to tell. With her mind wandering, she thought ofher mother visiting the house. She and Lady Bramlington had been friends; it was highly plausible to think she would have. Seeing portraits of the late Lord Bramlington and Lady Jayne, Ava looked at Henry.
‘Are there portraits of you?’
Henry laughed. ‘God awful ones of me as a boy.’
Ava giggled. ‘Can I see them?’
‘No!’
‘I bet they’re amazing.’
As they reached the top of the stairs, Henry turned to her. ‘Amazingly awful and not at all a reflection of my childhood. If I mention a suit and bow tie, a sailor suit and, oh, let’s not forget the five-year-old holding a brace of pheasants, you’ll get the idea.’
‘Oh, dear! I knew you as a boy. They all sound perfectly apt to me,’ Ava teased.
‘I don’t know what my parents were thinking.’ Henry shook his head as he led Ava along the east corridor. Here they passed several closed doors before Henry stopped.
‘And this is my room.’
He opened the door and gestured for Ava to go in.
She took a breath. ‘Wow! I’m running out of adjectives. It’s stunning.’
‘Hmm, it’s feeling more like home than it did when I first came back. I’ve made a few alterations.’
Ava looked at the space; she was pretty sure the entire contents of her mum’s cottage would fit in this room alone.
‘I’ve had it painted and removed anything of historical value so I could take down the awful curtains.’
Ava looked at Henry quizzically.
‘I live in a museum. Light is the enemy as far as the family heirlooms and my mother are concerned. Don’t get me wrong, Iknow I have to respect the history of the place, but I have to be able to breathe too. Do you get what I mean?’
‘Yes, yes, I do.’ Ava looked at the open view, afforded by the large windows that flooded the room with light. She walked across the polished wooden floorboards to get a closer look.
Henry joined her, and the two of them stood, content to look across the grounds until Henry broke the silence. ‘I should get sorted. Make yourself comfortable.’ As he said the words, realisation seemed to dawn. ‘Ava, I’m sorry, I completely forgot to ask about your ankle. Is it OK? Did you walk here? I just made you walk up the stairs.’ Henry looked at her, his brow furrowed.
‘It’s fine, really it is. I can still feel it, and I’ll need to rest this afternoon, but it’s OK. Thank you, though. It’s much better than it was.’
‘OK. But here, be sure to sit down.’ Henry pulled over a large leather chair and encouraged Ava to sit by the window. Once he was sure she was comfortable, he gathered some clothes from the wardrobe and headed to what Ava assumed must be the en suite.
She heard the shower start and breathed. The fact she was in Dapplebury House, in Henry’s bedroom, was a lot to take in. She couldn’t let her mind spiral into thinking about what she wanted to say to him, or her conversation with Lady Bramlington. She knew she had to focus on what he had to say about the charity first.One step at a time.
Hearing a noise at the door she looked towards it, frozen to the spot. Her heart beat rapidly at the thought that it might be Lady Bramlington. Ava knew being discovered in her son’s bedroom was not going to aid her cause when it came to gaining information. Lady Bramlington’s reaction at discovering them together at the lake had been extreme; Ava could only imagine how she might react to finding her sitting in his bedroom while he took a shower. The strange noise stopped, and Ava releaseda breath. Her eyes scanned Henry’s room, for what?A place to hide.She mocked herself for the thought. What would she do? Get under the large double bed? Hide under the duvet? Slip into the wardrobe, or duck down behind the gym equipment? But as the door began to open, she leapt awkwardly to her feet, ready to make her move.
Chapter Thirty
Having showered, Henry got dry and put on his jeans and a shirt, leaving it open at the collar. His mind was whirring. When he’d returned home the previous evening, he had been confused. He’d been convinced Ava felt the same for him as he did for her, but hearing Mary’s words and Ava’s confession that she loved Gino, hurt. Ensuring All Critters Great and Small was safe had always been a priority. She didn’t need to pretend to have feelings for him to secure its future. He hoped she knew him better than that, and he certainly thought he knew her better than that. How it felt when they’d kissed along with her words “I love Gino” had caused juxtaposing thoughts to echo through his mind for much of the night. And now . . . now, she was in his bedroom.
Seeing her at Dapplebury House was a surprise that had taken him off guard. In truth, he wasn’t sure how to react. He looked at himself in the mirror.Focus on the charity. That’s why she’s here.He hated the thought of her with Gino. But he hated the thought of his life in Dapplebury without her in it even more. He had to play it carefully and not overthink the fact that she had come to Dapplebury House. He also had to try not to wonder why she needed to see his mother; he sincerely hoped she’d not heard anything about the affairs of the estate, and his father’s poor financial state.
Steeling himself, he opened the door.
