Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 95

"I know..." Aunt Mary swallowed audibly, leaning a shoulder on the door frame. She bit her lip. "I know this isn't Bali or California, but I hope you grow to love your second hometown. You can surf here too; the beaches are rather lovely."

My face softened at the sight of her. I actually felt a twinge of guilt for complaining at the airport, when I was with my family. I walked forward to give her a hug. "Thank you," I whispered.

"Well!" She clapped her hands, looking below the stairs. "Are you coming up with Livvy's baggage, my love?"

"Coming!" Uncle Eddie bellowed, lugging my stuff up the stairs with a grunt.

I went over to the window and checked outside the sunny scene before me. It seemed like a nice day to go out on a little walk, and I wasn't even that tired. I felt restless. I could call my friends and family later on.

Placing my hand on the glass, I asked, "Is it okay if I walk outside?"

"Doesn't sound terrible," Uncle Eddie agreed, placing my luggage in one corner of the room. "A nice walk will do you good, if I do say so myself. Fantastic exercise!"

Aunt Mary giggled. "Always the athlete, you are," she teased. She then turned to me. "Just don't go beyond the giant oak tree, pet. That begins the property of a rather wealthy neighbour in the district. He's got quite the estate."

I turned fully around and leaned my back on the wall beside the window, crossing my arms. "Really?"

They nodded.

"An English lord," my aunt stage-whispered.

"They still have those aside from the royal family?"

"Quite. That makes him royal, too, or at least very noble. A blue-blooded aristocrat."

That was something new. Nodding my head in agreement, I promised them I'd be back by lunchtime. When they left my room to give me time to settle in, I knelt down on the floor to unzip my luggage, finding a nice pink sweater top with light material that was perfect for the sunny, yet slightly windy, weather, and printed cream shorts that reached mid-thigh. I paired that off with the white Converse sneakers I was already wearing. I also clasped my Hello Kitty necklace, with her cute face held by a gold chain, around my neck.

Sue me.

I went to the vanity table, checking myself in the mirror to undo the messy bun on my hair and shook it out to form beach waves, then scrubbing my makeup free face with the baby wipes I found in my backpack. I also took a small pack of Mallo Cups from it.

As soon as Cole grunted his go-signal to his ageing butler, his ancient aunt entered the room, with clacking practical heels and a thudding cane onto the hardwood floor.

"What a pleasant surprise, Aunt Marge," he called out without looking up, as he signed a contract he'd gone over the night before. "Will you be staying for tea? I could ring someone to fetch you one."

Lady Margaret Cutting, the dowager Duchess of Rossington, sat elegantly onto a priceless wingback chair with velvet cushions that faced the floor-to-ceiling window just right. With her back ramrod straight, and her prim fingers settling on top of her ivory cane, she crossed her ankles and said, rather casually, "You know I didn't come here for tea, but that would be lovely, my dear."

Cole pressed a button on the intercom and ordered someone to arrange for tea service.

"Care to sit with your favourite grand-auntie?"

He had no choice. He could easily dismiss the notion but, deep inside, he had a soft spot for the woman. So he fixed his papers on the desk, buzzed his secretary to come by at round ten-thirty to go through some correspondence with him, and went around his giant desk to sit with his aunt.

He was still in a black mood though, do not ever get him wrong.

"What is it this time?" he asked brusquely, sitting on another chair similar to the one the dowager was occupying.