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Daniil watched as his mother fought not to step back from the warmth of Libby as she carried on with her observations. She dazzled and smiled when he was unable to and she filled the strained silence that usually ensued whenever he and his parents were together.
‘Mind you, I should have worn flat shoes,’ Libby continued. ‘I’ll be able to find my way in the dark—just follow the holes in the lawn—’
‘Yes, well, guests are already arriving,’ Katherine interrupted. ‘Daniel, why don’t you take Elizabeth to freshen up, but don’t take too long. You’ve kept us waiting for quite long enough already.’ A bell rang and Katherine looked around. ‘Where the hell is Marcus?’
‘He’s taking our luggage up,’ Daniil replied.
‘Well, that’s him gone for a week,’ Katherine huffed, as she realised she might have to greet guests herself for a few moments. ‘Why I offered to keep him on after retirement is beyond me. Go on, you two, get ready.’
Oh, she was completely awful, Libby thought as they went up the stairs. Her father only ever called her Elizabeth when he was telling her off.
They walked up the imposing staircase just as Marcus limped down, and Libby stiffened on the turn as a huge photograph came into sight. There, standing with the family, was a young Daniil, and it just about broke her heart to look at it. He was wearing a private school uniform and his eyes were hostile and it looked as if the effort of smiling for the camera might just be killing him.
Daniil refused to give it a glance.
‘Daniel...’ They both turned and there was Katherine, who, Libby thought, looked a little like a fox terrier with her clipped hair and solid body. ‘Charlotte just arrived.’
‘And?’
‘I’m just letting you know.’
He said nothing, just turned and carried on walking, but Katherine didn’t leave things there. ‘You’ll be delivering a speech.’
‘Of course.’
‘It might be better if I skim through it...’
‘No need,’ he responded.
She had the tenacity of a terrier, too, Libby thought, as his mother followed them up the stairs.
‘There’s every need,’ Katherine said. ‘Daniel, our guests tonight, well, they’re important...’
‘Then, you’d better get back to them,’ Daniil said, and taking Libby’s arm he guided her down a corridor. Finally Katherine gave up and slunk back down the stairs.
‘Tupa shmara,’ Daniil cursed, as the bedroom door closed.
‘I’m going to assume that you just said something terribly rude,’ Libby said.
‘Just the truth,’ he responded, and looked around. Their cases sat closed, waiting to be unpacked, and he was grateful to Marcus for that.
To most the space would be inviting. The room was light and airy, the panelled walls were cream and offset by the dark wooden floor and door. The bay windows offered magnificent views of the estate and the furnishings, though antique, were peppered with modern touches. Daniil could well recall lying on the vast bed, watching television and not understanding more than a few words.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Libby said, looking up at the plasterwork on the ceiling.
‘If you like museums.’ Daniil shrugged. She looked at the photos on the mantelpiece over a fireplace of Daniil holding a tennis racket and another of him sitting, scowling, on a horse. ‘I was a poor replica of Daniel.’
‘He’d have been a poor replica of you,’ Libby said. ‘I’m sure the guests would be terribly disappointed if I stepped into my sister’s restaurant tonight and took over the kitchen. It would be like asking her to be my understudy—unthinkable! And we’ve got the same genes.’
She went over and wrapped her arms behind his neck as he looked around the bedroom he hated so much.
‘Did you bring a lot of girls home?’ Libby asked.
‘I’ve never brought anyone here.’
‘Till now,’ Libby said, and she watched his eyes shutter, but she refused to be closed out and she stretched to reach his mouth, but he pulled back.
‘Libby...’ She could almost see the keep-out signs he held up.
‘No.’ She would not. She would enter at her own risk because that was where her heart led.
His jaw was like marble, his lips like ice, and one hand came up and went to unwrap her from his neck but she simply ignored him, pressing into those lips that she craved.
He was tense and reluctant yet she refused to be perturbed but then, just then, it was like cracking a safe, because she felt him give in to her mouth and he was pulling her closer, letting her in to a deep kiss.
