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Misunderstandings
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Jasper sat in his studio, and he could see Ellie sitting in the sun and chatting with her mum and dad. He hoped she would be pleased with the decision he had just made for them. She had three weeks. Hopefully, her face would be much better by then, and he was surprised at how much better she was looking. He knew she had been applying ice packs to her face a few times a day, which had helped the swelling. She had three weeks before they were due at the chapel in Shettleham where the village vicar would marry them. He had already sent out emails to the people he wanted to invite. There weren't many he wanted at his wedding. He would have to get her mum by herself and find out who Ellie would like there. He wondered when Richie would be let out of the hospital, and he would ask him to be his best man. He'd already phoned Nick and Gabriel, who would be ushers.
He grinned when he thought about the time th
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After Ellie had taken the sandwiches up to her mum, she made her excuses."My ribs are aching. I'm going to rest for a while," Ellie said to no one in particular."Are you alright?" Jasper asked quickly.Ellie nodded, "Yes, I'm fine." She mumbled, turning her head, not wanting him to see the tears filling her eyes. Once the door had closed, she could hear them all chatting away, her mother laughing. Her dad was cracking his silly jokes, probably at her expense. She knew it was meant with love, but sometimes she just wanted love without the jokes. Without her mother pushing her to do the next thing on her list. No one ever seemed to look at her list and the things she wanted to do. She had never told them about Greg about why she had left the hotel, her mother would have raised the roof, and all she wanted to do was forget. She didn't want to be reminded of that. Her mum would have just gone on and on about it.She went to get her painkillers, which were still in
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Jasper legged it up to the studio. He slammed the door behind him and threw himself onto the red velvet couch. It was old and falling to bits, but it was where he thought things through, and right now, he had a great deal to think about.The past week had been a nightmare; it certainly wasn't how he had expected things to go with Ellie. Now she had this mad idea that he didn't love her and thought he was playing with her. Well, it wasn't right. He loved so many things about her; the way she looked and how she dressed; she would never wear dresses like Georgie; thank God, Ellie was far more conservative, and she left a lot more to the imagination.He loved her innocence not just in the bedroom but in other ways. He loved the way she always looked for the best in people; even after her first run-in with Tom months ago, she had said that it was just the w
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Veronica Fox, Roni, was never satisfied with what she had. She had a lovely home. She had a loving, although very busy, husband, and she had a beautiful, good-natured daughter. They had enough money to go on lovely holidays, buy nice clothes and generally enjoy life, but Veronica wanted more. Her eyes were almost out on stalks as she stood on the private terrace in the most beautiful hotel in Paris, where her sister-in-law was having her surprise engagement dinner. Standing almost within touching distance were four of the most handsome and richest men, she could hope to come across.She knew that Ellie had already taken one of them, but even so, she knew her sister in law would have a job keeping Jasper satisfied. Maybe he would appreciate a more experienced woman now and again. She cast her 'professional' eye over the rest of the men. Two of them were quite possibly the most famous people in the world at the moment. Both Nick Henderson and Gabriel Swann were panty-throwing han
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Jasper knew he had to get this over with. It was quite clear this awful woman wasn't going to go quietly. He looked at the mug of tea in his hand; Ellie's mug, her unique mug she always used for her tea. She said tea always tasted better out of bone china. He loved her little quips and foibles; she made him laugh with the silly things she said sometimes. It was all part of her innocence and why he loved her. He looked up again at the woman in front of him; her perfect figure was dressed in Chanel. Her face immaculately made up, elegant cheekbones and soft pink shimmering pouting lips. He shuddered inside."Let me take this, and I'll be back," he said, not waiting to answer as he went up the stairs. He stood outside the study door, taking breaths, trying to slow his heartbeat down. He gulped and opened the door."Here you go, love." He said to Ellie, "You might get something worthwhile out of her when she has had her tea." he told Molly."Oh, you are an angel." Ellie s
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Ellie picked the phone up; she was a bit nervous about calling Veronica. Jasper hadn't said anything other than that; she suddenly received a call and had to dash off. Ellie hoped everything was ok, and that Gracie was fine. Knowing Veronica, though, she must have come for a reason, that woman didn't do anything by halves.Ellie pressed Veronica's name and waited for her to answer. "Yes, Ellie?" Veronica's voice sounded sharp as if Ellie had done something wrong."Roni, are you ok? Jasper said, you had a call and had to dash off. I hope everything is alright? Is Gracie ok?"There was a few seconds of silence while Veronica registered that Jasper had kept his mouth shut about her demands. Did she wonder why? Indeed if she was him, the first thing he would have told Ellie was that her sister in law was a demanding bitch."I'm fine, er… yeah sorry I had to go, it was nothing important, and Gracie is fine.""Oh, that's good," Ellie said, feeling rel
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The police were quick to respond to Jasper's call, and they arrived at the house before Jasper got back. They were waiting for them in the sitting room. Rosslyn and Kylie were holding the fort, serving coffee and comforting Ellie's mum. Veronica was talking to Gracie, and they were looking after Suki.Kylie heard the front door slam and feet pounding up the stairs. She was so glad that Richie was back. She had held it together so far, but she had this awful feeling that some of this was her fault. She had been Grant'sgirlfriend, and if she hadn't left him for Richie, maybe this might not havehappened. She wanted to be held and comforted, wanted to pour outall her misgivings seek consolation.
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Charlotte ran hell for leather to her car. She threw open the door and threw her overnight bag, and dived into her vehicle after it. She clutched the steering wheel, her hands shaking, tears rolling down her face. What was she thinking? How could she even think of doing something like that? Was she out of her mind? The tears turned to laughter at how stupid she was, at how ridiculous that she could walk into Ellie's bedroom and somehow get her out of the room so she could do her harm. What a dreadful thing to even think of doing! Next time she would plan ahead, there would be no second chances for Ellie Neyve next time.Ellie looked at the clock, almost four-thirty. It was black outside. Jasper would be home in a few minutes, and she really couldn't be bothered to go and find Charlotte. Whatever it was could wait. If it was that important, she could go and find Francis and tell him. She put another log on the fire. It was so lovely to watch the fire, especia
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"Oh Ellie, you would get a migraine now," Marjorie groaned, "always gets them when she's stressed out,"Ellie began to breathe more easily once she was out of the dining room. "I'm sorry for spoiling lunch," she murmured into Jasper's shoulder."Shh, it's ok, why don't you go and rest? I can handle the children's party. I'll take your mother with me, and she can stand in for you," he half chuckled. He wanted to have a chat with Marjorie. He was getting a bit fed up with her always getting on at Ellie. His darling wife was doing her best, and this Christmas had been a shambles from start to finish, especially today. Ellie had put up with a lot today.Ellie clung to him, and she so wanted to tell him about the baby. She was desperate to see his face when he realised, and she sighed with frustration. They would exchange one gift this evening, something silly, she could tell him then, and then tomorrow they could say to the rest of them. It wasn't something
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Just as she was settling down to her toast and tea, her phone rang. She didn't even have to look at it to know it was Jasper, and she carried on buttering her toast. She would ignore him for now.What the hell was a matter with her? Why wasn't Ellie answering her phone? Jasper pushed his hand through his hair. He would have to be careful how he handled this and managed to get back into his wife's good books. He would text her.'Hey, darling, where are you?'Jasper poured his coffee from the silver pot on the sideboard and took it back to the table. He'd just sat down when his mother came in. He stood up to greet her."Good morning darling," she said, "Did you sleep well?""Morning, yes, I sl
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"Ellie, for God's sake, Ellie, let me in!" Jasper banged on the bathroom door. "Come on, Ellie, it's not what you think!" Jasper waited for her reply, and he put his ear against the door listening for her response."I shouldn't have to think anything because you should be in bed in our bedroom and not with that slapper in her room!" Ellie yelled back."Please let me explain, Ellie." Jasper rested his forehead against the door. This was all he needed today, especially as they had just made friends again. If only he hadn't been desperate for a pee, this would never have happened. Charlotte had come out of her room at the same time in floods of tears. What the hell was he supposed to do? He couldn't just ignore her, could he? For Christ's sake, maybe he should have if this was the result!"Ellie sat on the loo, tearing tissue into tiny pieces. How could he, just how could he? She wanted to shout and scream at him, but she knew it wouldn't make any differenc
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Before Jasper could reply, Francis jumped in. "Maybe you should introduce your new wife and duchess to your committee's. I think only the mayor was invited to the wedding, so making a special point of taking Ellie, it would be a treat for them, get them on your side too, I dare say." Francis smiled, "I'm sure even Mrs Troutbridge would get the idea that you are very happy newly-weds if you turned up together.""Oh, what a good idea, kill two birds with one stone." Rosslyn said meaningfully, "Now who wants pudding?"Ellie watched Lotte purse her lips together in annoyance. She would thank Francis later for his timely intervention."I'll help Mary with the clearing up," Ellie said as the rest of them went back up to the drawing-room with their coffee.Lottie looked cheerful at having Jasper to herself for a while, "Where are all the staff? I remember when there were lots of staff here.""We still have lots of staff, but they are allowed time off, espec
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Charlotte Ganderton looked around. The family had modernised the kitchen since she had last been here when she was a child. Mary was stirring a casserole, Good God, why hadn't they pensioned her off? She must be getting on for eighty! Lottie remembered Mary from when she was a child. She remembered that nothing got past that woman. It seemed she had eyes in the back of her head.She had adored Jasper when she was a child, and he'd been her hero. They had raced their ponies through the grounds jumping over fallen tree trunks, and they had sat by the river in a bower of Queen Anne's Lace, pulling the flower heads off and throwing them in the river to race them and eating chocolate and planning their lives. She dreamed of marrying him and being his duchess. They would have two children, a boy and a girl, and they would live happily at the Manor, which was a far more impressive house than the Rectory whe
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"Ellie, come and get warm," Rosslyn said, getting up to greet her. She put her arms around her daughter in law and gave her a hug, "Goodness, you're frozen. Come and sit here next to the fire. Jasper, be love and make some more tea. I think Mary has gone for her afternoon nap, and Francis is sorting something out for me."Jasper glanced at Ellie. He knew she'd been crying. Why the hell did she think he didn't want her? She was the one who had disappeared from their bed, not him. He went down to the kitchen to make the tea and was determined to get this sorted out before bedtime.Jasper could hear the landline phone ringing just as he got to the drawing-room door with the tray of tea, and as he opened the door, he listened to his mother talking sympathetically."Of course you must come. You certainly can't stay in a frozen and darkened house over Christmas. No, of course, he won't mind. I'm sure he would love to see you." Rosslyn listened for a few moments. "
The Disreputable Duke An Unexpected Guest.
It was the day before Christmas Eve, and the past two weeks had been the worst of Ellie's life. She and Jasper had said only about a dozen words to each other since their friends had been to see them on that fateful afternoon. The only good thing about this dreadful performance was that Jasper was sleeping in his dressing room, which meant that she could at least get up and be sick if she felt like it without hiding it from him. However, Ellie was sure he would be more impressed if she were pregnant with a herd of elephants rather than with his child. He was furious that she had gone behind his back and sent that text to Ronnie, but this was her family, and she cared a great deal about Gareth.They had not shared a bed for almost two weeks, and this so hurt Ellie. It had only come about by accident, and now neither of them would give in to the other. They were just as stubborn as each other.
