It was dark in the club, dark and noisy, well, it was Friday night how else was it supposed to be? Jasper had almost changed his mind on the way over to the club. The only reason he had come was to have sex, get his rocks off and get Ellie out of his mind, and now even that had lost its allure.
He made small conversation with Tom on the way over here, though he hadn't apologised for losing his temper. Tom was weird like that; he was a typical Hooray-Henry. Tom was an Honorable. His father had been made a Lord for services to the community or some such thing. Tom had taken his Honorable title to heart, and he enjoyed people bowing and scraping before him. It just made Jasper feel uncomfortable, but he was born into it, so he didn't take much notice and unless people made a big deal out of calling him 'Your Grace' he never really bothered.
He got a couple of beers from the bar, and he knew it wouldn't be long before Tom would be ordering champagne, well let h
Ellie tossed and turned until midnight when she woke up and discovered that she was still dressed. Ellie staggered, still half asleep, to the bathroom, she pulled her suit off and made the usual comforting process of cleaning her face and brushing her teeth. Pulling her nightdress on, giving her hair a final brush Ellie got back into bed. The conversation she had heard, played over and over in her mind. She was painfully aware of the saying that eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves. Well, that wasn't entirely true, what they had said about her was all very good they thought she was gorgeous, it's what they wanted to do to her that made her feel sick. It was so embarrassing as well that Jasper had seen her, why hadn't he said anything? The thought made her blush, and she was so suddenl
"Goodnight mate," Jasper handed the taxi driver twenty pounds, he had always liked chatting to taxi drivers, they had an excellent communication system. They knew everything that was going on in town. In the back of the cab they had had a good chat about a couple of famous chefs, people tended to let the public facade slip when they were in the back of a cab, and Jasper had just discovered that one of them was having a torrid affair with a someone he knew. He ran up the front steps and let himself into the house.He'd left Tom at the club, he was having a good time with the Charlie, but he had made his excuses to Samantha and came home. He went down to the kitchen, should he have another beer or just a coffee? He put the kettle on and was getting a clean mug from the dishwasher. He needed to review his notes for this lunch meeting tomorrow. There were much better places to build a bypass. He was pouring the water into his mug when he heard a noise. He walked to th
Ellie gulped and slowly lifting her head, she raised her eyes to confirm that she was using her boss as a pillow. Shit! She'd even rubbed her nose on him, what if she'd left...snot on his shirt? She glanced at where her face had been, what if she'd drooled on him! Ellie let half her breath out everything looked clean thank goodness. She looked a bit further up this time, dreading the thought that she had woken him and that he was watching her. So it was with relief that she saw his eyes were still closed and his mouth a little open.Letting out the rest of her breath and trying to breathe in naturally Ellie couldn't help staring at him, his stubble had grown and oh God did it make him look, look... Oh for God's sake there was no two ways about it the man was just sex on legs. For heaven's sake, get a grip, Ellie! Screwing her eyes closed and taking a breath, she eventually opened them and tried to find a different perspective to him. It didn't take her long as she looke
Richie lost sight of Ellie and decided that he must call Jasper and see how she was getting on. He looked around again to see if he could see her and being disappointed he took the escalator down to the lower ground floor to the luxury accessories department. Violet loved handbags. They were her biggest weakness, she seemed to have a new bag each week, and he'd caught her and his office gatekeeper Amanda raving over some Mulberry bag in a magazine during their afternoon coffee break."Oh no not the handbag brigade again." He joked with them as he took his coffee mug back to the kitchen " you two don't have enough days
Jasper was in conversation with Mrs Troutridge, the name suited her, and her beauty therapist had gone overboard with the Botox. His mind wandered to a fantasy painting of Evadne Troutridge with a mermaids tail and her long blond extensions floating in the water and her humongous breasts bobbing up and down in the waves like a life jacket. She would be caught in a fishing net and struggling to get out to be with all her mini triplet Troutridges; Wayne, and Dwayne,"ooh I just had to call them after cowboys."She had told him breathlessly.
In the mythical and ancient manual of hangovers and how to deal with them, the law is, that once Hypnos has kicked you out of Erebos and you are dragged back into consciousness, you keep your eyes closed, that is Closed with a capital C. Breathing should be very slow, and for Christ's sake Do. Not. Move. Moving, meant throwing up, which is not something to be recommended, especially when you couldn't open your eyes and see where you are. Chucking up in your girlfriend's bed, or on your mother's sofa, that was something you would be paying for, no doubt, for the rest of your life. Gutters, a bathroom, or if you were fortunate a bucket that someone had very kindly put at the side of you. They were the only places to rid yourself of excess alcohol. Thank God, Jasper thought, that he'd grown out of
Jasper went to his study and slumped in the chair behind the desk. Christ, what the hell was he going to do? His fucking father! If he didn't hate him when he was alive, he damn well did now. How was she supposed to get married in six months, to a woman who was a virgin? That was ridiculous, and Henry had said that his father was sick and tired of Jasper cavorting around with these hussies, and what he should be doing was settling down with a nice tidy girl who would give him children and especially a boy to inherit the dukedom. Bloody hell did his father think he was living in the 1800s? Six months was not enough time for half of the girls he knew to put their makeup on, never mind organise a society wedding. God forbid, he was screwed. He leaned back in his chair and went over the meeting with
"Ellie? You think so?" Jasper asked, his brow raised. Well, he'd had that same thought when he woke up, but although their relationship had vastly improved after the nightmare, Jasper knew she was still wary of men. She behaved professionally when his clients came to see him, and when his friends came for dinner. He always invited Ellie to join them not just because she had arranged everything, but because she was beautiful and charming, and she had encouraged the clients he wanted to paint.She was the darling of the house staff, and his mother loved her."Jasper, Ellie is perfect, and she knows most of the job of being your wife," Richie said."She sounds amazing we're not sure what you are waiting for," Gabriel said. He looked at his watch, "Come on, Nick, we have to go and pick Jess up."I'll send you a message, arrange for dinner in the next couple of weeks," Jasper said, as he said goodbye to his friends.He clos
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
"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
Marjorie Fox was cross. Ellie should have been here to greet them, and It was bad form, she thought as Francis took their cases up. She ignored Bill and Francis chatting about cars. She wanted to have a word with her daughter before Gareth and Gracie arrived."Marjorie, Bill, how lovely to see you. Merry Christmas," Rosslyn touched cheeks with them both as they entered the drawing-room. "Come and sit down and get warm. It's suddenly turned freezing today. I'm sure Francis will send tea soon.""Where's Ellie and Jasper? I thought they would be there to greet us." Marjorie sniffed as she sat next to the fire. Although this house was lovely, it was so frigid in the corridors."Yes, I'm sorry they are not here as planned," Rosslyn would protect Ellie. She wouldn't tell them about the lover's tiff because she knew Marjorie wouldn't let it drop. "They just had to run down to the village. I think Mary forgot something. She's getting on a bit and rather forgetful
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
"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
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
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
"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. "
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.