Ravens Deep (one) (32 page)

             
The garden was mainly overgrown, but there was an extensive rose garden.  The roses were all of old fashioned type and I bent to admire their fragrant perfume.  Over the years they had grown large and ungainly, tangling themselves around their nearest neighbour, it was in the garden that I spent most of the afternoon. 

             
The house although fascinating, was covered in decades of dust and grime, and without any running water I could not even begin to try and clean anything. Maybe a future project, I thought to myself, but for now I could do nothing and unlike Darius’s other properties, there were no books to read.

             
As the sun began to disappear I began to think about Darius. I was certain that the cellar led directly off the kitchen, as earlier I had opened a door and discovered a narrow staircase leading down into the depths of the earth. I hadn’t wanted to disturb him if he was down there, also fearing the unknown, I had quietly closed the door again.

             
I walked back into the main saloon and focused on the piano sitting in the corner.  I sat upon the wide wooden stool and lifted the heavy lid that concealed the keys.  One by one I depressed them, it sounded in tune, but what did I know -- I couldn’t’t play anyway.  However, I spent the next hour playing with the keys as I tried to string together the various notes to make a recognizable tune. The time passed quickly before I had a sudden sensation of not being alone.  I looked up.  Darius was sitting on one of the chairs watching me.  I let my hands fall from the keys in surprise.

             
“How long have you been there?”

             
“A few minutes,” he replied. It really unnerved me that he was able to enter a room or be within my presence, and initially I was totally unaware of the event. 

             
“I wish you wouldn’t’t do that,” I said, feeling exasperated. He laughed as he rose from the chair and came to sit beside me, but his closeness chased away any displeasure I might have felt before.

             
“Can you play?”

             
“Of course,” he said confidently, and the instant his fingers touched the keyboard, some classical piece that I was vaguely familiar with resonated from the piano. “Bach,” he said casually, “or I can play Mozart,” and to prove his point the music changed dramatically.

             
Darius I soon learned, was an accomplished piano player and I sat entranced at his skill as his fingers seemed to glide effortlessly over the keys. He finally stopped playing and turned to look at me.

             
“Are you ready to go home?” he asked.

             
“Yes,” I replied happily.

             
We locked up the house and I realized that I hadn’t seen the car all day. I asked him what he had done with it.

             
“In the stable,” he said.  The stable was large and he opened the double doors to show that at one time, it would have accommodated a sizable carriage.  Now, the Wraith stood there in all its splendour. The various stalls were complete with original fittings and housing items of saddlery, but also in these stalls were mechanical pieces, they looked like car parts, and at the far end which would have originally housed a second carriage, there was another car almost identical to Darius’s -- another Wraith. Darius smiled, enjoying my obvious surprise as he explained its presence here.

             
“Over the years I have used it as a spare parts car; I don’t even think it is capable of driving anymore, but it’s useful to keep a replica in case I have need.”

             
I was astonished at his revelation, Darius thought of everything, but then again I supposed he had to.

             
“So you’re a mechanic as well?”  I asked, making my amusement apparent.  

             
“I do what I have to, but I admit I would prefer not to.” He paused. “It is a matter of necessity for someone
like me
to have to do this.”  I looked at him bemused.

             
“Yes I can see that.  You are by far too refined and educated to ever have been a

mechanic
and it must play havoc with your nails.” I remarked trying to keep the tone even in my voice.  Darius lowered his head and looked at me with slightly narrowed eyes. 

             
“If you have finished amusing yourself at my expense we should leave,” he said dryly and he opened the car door for me.

 
              We left Chantille behind and headed for Exmoor, a few more hours and we would be home.  Once again I could feel the moors calling, but this time the calling was to both of us.  It was beckoning us, reminding us that we belonged there together.

Chapter Twenty Six - An Evil Interlude--Part 1

Our return to Ravens Deep really did feel like coming home, and we settled down once again into the routine of our life.  It seemed that the peace and tranquil ambiance of Exmoor was calming to Darius, whilst in London he had appeared more tense, more on edge, but perhaps it was my presence there that had made him so.

              Several weeks passed, he no longer left me alone and I accompanied him whenever he went to the city, and I was content that once again, I had some connection with the outside world. Darius rarely left my side in his waking hours, even then it was only to venture out into the middle of the night and then to return to me as if he had merely taken a midnight stroll.  I tried not to let my thoughts get the better of me, if I didn’t’t think about what he was doing, I could almost believe that side of his life didn’t exist -- almost.

             
I sat in the library on this warm afternoon, my attention was on bank paperwork that I had recently picked up from my flat in London.  I still owned the flat and thought that I should probably sell it, after all, I doubted that I would ever return to live there again.  It seemed pointless just letting it sit empty, to mention nothing of the chore of collecting any mail and ensuring that the monthly standing orders were paid. It was apparent that Darius did not like me visiting there, it was a reminder of my former life, he never openly said the words, but I knew he disapproved, but he understood that I did have an obligation to ensure the affairs were kept in order. Darius had never suggested that I sell it, and I supposed that it was a good investment, as property values had been climbing steadily. 

             
Despite all of Darius’s wealth, he was shrewd when it came to business matters and he probably had calculated that it was a valuable piece of real estate. But for me, it felt like it was becoming an inconvenience, and I made up my mind that I would talk to Darius about selling it later.  I was so engrossed in these thoughts that it was a complete surprise when I was suddenly jolted back to the present moment.  A shrill ringing sounded from the mound of paper in front of me. I jumped, it seemed such a strange noise and so out of place at Ravens Deep.

             
I was a little shocked to hear a phone ring after so many months, even though I always kept the phone charged in case of emergencies, and it was reassuring to know that I wasn’t entirely cut off from civilization. But this afternoon I had used it to call my bank in London, and I had not immediately switched it off in my usual style. The thought also ran through my mind that I did not want to disturb Darius.  Even though he was far away in another part of the house, the sound of such an unfamiliar noise might wake him. I was never quite sure how good his hearing was, but like all his other senses, I imagined it was much sharper than my own.  I hurried to lift up various papers to find the phone’s hiding place and answered quickly, expecting it to be a wrong number.  I listened to the voice at the other end, and could have not been more mistaken.

             
“Madeline?  Is that you?” The voice was familiar to me.

             
“Yes,” I answered cautiously, and wracked my brain to think who this person was and how they could possibly have this number.

             
“Madeline, it’s Charlie.”

             
Of course I recognised the voice, but the feeling of relief quickly turned to shock, I didn’t know what to say for a long moment, and as the reality sunk in my thoughts blurred.

             
What was Charlie doing calling me?  More to the point, why was Charlie calling me now, as I hadn’t seen or spoken to him in months.

             
“Hello Charlie,” I made my voice as light as possible, but could not smother my surprise, especially as his voice sounded disturbingly clear and close to me.  

             
“Where are you? You sound very close,” I asked, holding my breath in anticipation.

             
“If you are still on Exmoor then I am close, I am in Beaconmayes.”  My heart sunk, I could hear the frivolity in his voice.  I, however, found no humour in his words, the implication hit me like a bolt of lightning -- I had to think fast.

             
“Why are you here Charlie?” I hoped beyond hope that he didn’t’t want to see me, but at the same time sensing a foreboding premonition that he would.

             
“Madeline are you alright? . . .  you sound a bit strange.”

             
“Yes, I’m fine. Why are you calling me?”  I sounded dismissive, but it was for his own good, I told myself. Charlie hesitated before replying.

             
“I have been trying to reach you for days,” he began, “and in the end I thought I would just drive down and see if I could find you.” At that point, I think my heart stopped must have stopped for a few seconds, if I hadn’t already been sitting, the shock would have buckled my knees.  This was not good, my heart was racing and I was starting to feel sick. My thoughts were jumbled, how on Earth did I get rid of him.

             
“Madeline can you still hear me?”

             
“Yes,” I whispered, as Charlie continued in a cordial tone.

             
“I have great news.  Your book, the novel that you left at my flat, I submitted it for publication on your behalf, and it's been accepted.  Isn’t’t it great?”  I was stunned at his words, but forced myself to respond.

             
“Really?” 

             
I had forgotten all about my novel. When Charlie and I had broken up, my heart was not in that book anymore and the memories of where I had written it was too painful for me. I had left the manuscript with Charlie half expecting him to throw it away, especially after the anguish I had put him through, but he obviously had not.  My mind was swimming with the revelation going through my head.

             
My novel, was actually going to be published.  

             
Charlie’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

             
“Is that all you have to say?”  I could hear disbelief in his voice.

             
“I’m sorry . . . I am just in shock, that’s all,” I said truthfully, although the novel wasn’t the only cause for my shock right now.

             
“Yes I know it must be a surprise,” he continued, “I guess hearing from me too . . 

seeing
as I am here now . . .” he hesitated again.  “Can I come and see you?”

             
“No,” I replied a little too quickly and regretted my tone instantly. “What I mean is . . . it’s difficult.”  I made up my mind quickly. “I will come and meet you. There is a park on the outskirts of the village with a duck pond and a couple of benches. I’ll meet you there in an hour,” I said looking at the clock. It was only two o’clock, I had time to meet him.

             
“OK,” he said cheerfully. “See you in an hour.”  I switched my phone off and sat thinking.

             
My book was going into print-- to be published. That is amazing. 

             
I had a feeling of gratitude for Charlie, and that he had not thrown it in the bin after all. Although Charlie being here in such close proximity to me wasn’t good, but I reasoned that if I had refused to see him, it could have made him all the more curious. But if I was being totally honest, deep down the thought of seeing someone that I knew well actually was exciting.  I had a niggling doubt, as I would have to be careful how I handled this situation.

             
I can’t let him know anything, the details of where I live or especially who with.
             

             
Then there was Darius, what was I going to tell him? I shook my head, I would worry about Darius later. My mind was in a whirl, trying to determine the best course of action, Charlie had not driven all this way for a quick five minutes in the park, he would want more. I had to think this through very, very carefully.