***

Anna

The next morning Anna awoke with a kink in her neck. She’d fallen asleep in the armchair, book in her lap. Everything ached. Her body was stiff and sore from the way she had somehow managed to wrap herself around the arm of the chair. Stumbling to her feet, Anna headed back to the bathroom. Although it was only a few hours since her last shower, Anna knew the only way to work the aches and pains out of her tired body was to immerse herself in a scalding bath. Dipping a toe in, the relief was instant. Her heart was racing, her mind whirling, and her knees trembling as she recalled the way she had felt in James’s arms.

An hour later Anna was on the train heading to the pool. It gave her time to think. Anna thought about everything she’d wanted to say, about all she wished she’d done. If last night was any indication, Anna knew that the wedding couldn’t come soon enough. She just hoped that James was experiencing all the same symptoms she was. She prayed he had the strength to ignore all those thoughts and ideas, at least for the next few days.

The wedding she was planning at home in Australia was going to be one of the most important events in peoples’ social calendar, but Anna didn’t think she could wait. Anna had spent the morning on the phone scouting for the perfect little church, hidden in the English countryside where she and James could marry in secret before returning home and inviting the world to watch.

Chapter 12

Anna, Diana, and Michael checked into a quaint bed and breakfast on the outskirts of Manchester. The origins of the building were thought to be a farmhouse. Its history was reminiscent of a fairy tale. When the farmer died he left the estate to his wife and eight daughters, who unintentionally let the farm fall to ruins. When smallpox struck the family it claimed the lives of the wife and seven of the eight daughters. After years lost and alone, the sole survivor married into a wealthy family. He wasn’t the typical rich boy though, instead he was reluctantly wealthy who pretended to shun his fortune and focus on his true passion—art. When they married he moved into the farmhouse and was overcome by the potential. From that moment his sole purpose, his sole focus became restoring the overgrown and long forgotten farm to a place of beauty and solace, and that is how it had remained ever since. As the story goes that very same man who envisioned such beauty still haunts the gardens, ensuring that its splendour will survive for generations to admire.

In the early 1900s it became known as Chesterfield Castle. It was a gorgeous, old stone building with moss covered walls. It had a large, solid, oak door inviting you in. It was perched high on a five-hectare block, surrounded by gardens filled with colours, scents, and hidden treasures, that had been converted from fields which been once been overrun with chickens and goats. At night thousands of miniature fairy lights and candles illuminated the gardens. A worn cobblestone path wound through the garden to a small babbling brook. Old spruce trees lined the stream, its branches hanging heavy under the weight of the birds singing happily. On one of the large, grey boulders sat a huge slimy, green tree frog. It reminded Anna of something out of a fairy tale. Maybe it was.

The inside of Chesterfield Castle was even more romantic than the outside, if possible. It reflected the warmth, charm and magic of the people who had once called it home. The floors had aged, but character had been embedded into the worn timber. The central bar area had all the modern conveniences that had clearly been combined with the old world charm to make the place homey. Anna imagined living here with the artist and his wife a thousand lifetimes ago. She saw the beauty and majesty that would have consumed the property. Anna felt lost. There was a small niggling in the pit of her stomach, making her wish that she’d been around to see it through their eyes. Despite her reservations, Anna felt an overwhelming sense of delight. There was only one regret that pierced her soul. James. Anna couldn’t help but wish that James could be there to share it with her.

When Anna thought it couldn’t get any better she stumbled into the large country style kitchen. It was all done in oak with white marble bench tops. The windowsill and shelves were cluttered with an assortment of treasures. Old style irons, black and white cow figurines, banged up metal tins, and an old copper frying pan. As soon as she stepped through the door Anna could smell the inviting aroma of freshly baked scones. The smell was so enticing that Anna imagined she could taste the spoonfuls of strawberry jam and freshly whipped cream.

Her room was located on the second level of Chesterfield Castle in the right wing. Anna stood gazing out the window, at the gardens that she had fallen instantly in love with. As she stood admiring the beauty, she felt like a princess high up in her ivory tower, waiting patiently for her knight in shining armour to ride in and sweep her off her feet.

A knock at the door brought Anna back down to earth with a thud. Without waiting for an invitation, Diana walked in and propped herself up onto Anna’s four poster bed. The honey coloured canopy danced on the breeze. A mass of pillows had been scattered around at the head of the bed, the cream coloured quilt had tiny delicate flowers embroidered into it.

“How do you like your room?” Diana asked mischievously. Anna’s face did nothing to mask her pure delight.

“It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it. I could stay here forever.” Anna smiled dreamily at Diana.

“It really is something, isn’t it? Michael and I are going to head into town to take James for dinner before he starts competition tomorrow. Did you want to come? Or would you prefer to stay here wrapped in your fairy tale waiting for Prince Charming?” Diana smirked knowingly, but was amazed by the amount of strength it took for Anna to turn away from the window. She really did love it here.

“Give me ten?” she questioned. Diana just nodded her silent agreement. And with one final look out over the grounds, Anna spun on her heel and headed towards the bathroom.

Michael met them in the foyer. He wore his black dinner suit and shiny black shoes. Even he wasn’t as immune to the magic of the castle as he pretends to be, Anna thought, slightly amused.

He couldn’t contain the wide smile as his face lit up when he saw them descend down the spiral staircase. “Here come my ladies,” he joked.

He dropped a quick kiss on Diana’s cheek before extending his arm so she could take it. “You look incredible.” He smiled at Diana. Diana wore a very simple but extremely elegant two-piece plum suit. There was something about Chesterfield Castle that had forced them to dress up and play their role. Maybe it was the romance and magic that filled the air, or perhaps it was simply that the old world charms of the castle had infected them.

***

James

They arrived at the small, dimly lit restaurant a little after eight. James was already seated at a corner table. The waitress looking after that section was making no attempts to hide the fact that she was hitting on James. Her flirting was relentless. James saw his mother and father enter and immediately stood up and signalled them over.

When they reached the table, James showed off his impeccable manners by pulling Diana’s chair out for her. “Mum, you look wonderful.” He grinned proudly, kissing her cheek lightly. But he couldn’t hide his distraction. His eyes were darting about, scouring the restaurant for any sign of Anna.

“Is Anna coming?” he asked nervously. After what had happened or nearly happened last night James wasn’t certain. He had absolutely no idea what she was thinking or feeling at the moment. He only hoped that whatever it was, it would not keep her away.