Author's note: all usual disclaimers apply.
For Sparklebright, who had an encounter with a mythical creature...
"But it's for the children," Stuart Lafferty said, "you can't say no to helping children."
"I'll donate money or support in some other way," Barbara replied sharply as she took a large swig from her beer.
"It could be fun," her boss, Tommy Lynley, chimed in.
"For you maybe. You'll get to be the hero. I'll be the back-end of a horse or something."
Winston Nkata laughed. "Just as long as I'm not the front end. I don't want you poking around back there."
"I'll be the back end and you can be front," Stuart suggested to Barbara. Tommy glared at him. "Or Lynley can be the horse's arse."
"There'll be no horse!" Tommy thought the joke had gone far enough. "The Nanrunnel New Year Pantomime is something we put on every year. I thought it might be nice for us all to spend a few days at Howenstowe to relax and do the show. It's only show after all. Then we can welcome in the New Year together. Winston you could bring that constable from Traffic that you seem so smitten with and Stuart can bring his wife."
"Can I bring someone?" Barbara asked. Three heads spun to look at her.
"Yes, of course," Tommy said coolly.
"Hmm, pity I have no one then." Winston and Stuart laughed but Tommy breathed a heavy sigh then coughed to cover it.
"Come on Barbara, it'll be fun," Stuart urged.
"Do I have any choice?"
"No!" Three men spoke in unison.
"For the children. Otherwise I'd say no. And I am not being any sort of animal."
"Agreed," Tommy said unable to hide his enthusiasm. "I have just the part for you."
Tommy had wanted to drive Barbara down to Cornwall early. He had argued that it was to practice their lines and help the locals set up the stage but his motives had been more selfish. In recent months he had realised that he was happiest when she was with him and after years of tortured misery in varied forms he liked feeling happy. He also wanted her to have time to adjust to her role. Stuart scuttled his plans by suggesting they all go the day before the performance because his wife was going to her family and Winston's friend had not wanted to spend New Year away from London.
The inanity of the conversation coming from the back seat of his car annoyed him. Even Barbara, sitting in her usual seat, joined in and laughed at Lafferty's jokes. He knew he was sulking but it was his car, his plan and his pantomime. "We should practice our lines," he suggested, "while we're all together." He could feel their eyes rolling.
By the time they reached Cornwall five hours later they had learnt their lines to the half hour show. Much of the time was filled with visual gags and trying to get the audience involved and Tommy insisted ad libbing, as long as it was innuendo that would sound innocent to children, was encouraged.
Tommy had instructed his mother to put Barbara in Peter's old room in the family wing with Stuart and Winston in the guest wing. It was a subtle message that probably only his mother would understand but if, and he doubted he would, he managed to tell Barbara about his feelings for her, he wanted her close to him where no one would notice if they shared his room. Of course he knew it was only wishful thinking. He had had plenty of opportunities lately to tell her. He had taken her to dinner often enough. They had even been to the cinema a few times and to a West End show she had wanted to watch. An outside observer would probably think he was courting her, and in a way he was, but Barbara seemed oblivious. She was so used to his arm over her shoulder that she did not seem to notice that it now stayed much longer. Nor did she seem to think it strange that his arm was around her for the entire movie. He just wished he had to courage to perhaps kiss her. The act would be easy. It was the consequences that worried him. He needed to be sure it would not endanger what they had.
His attentions had not gone unnoticed nor were they unwelcome. In fact Barbara had enjoyed their evenings and his touch far more than she wanted to admit, even to herself. For those few hours she could pretend she was like any other woman, with an attentive, loving man beside her who made her feel as if she were well, a countess. She smiled at his grumpiness as they drove. She could tell he hated having Winston and Stuart with them but she assumed it was because of Stuart's unpredictability and desire to irritate.
Lady Asherton had greeted them warmly. She liked having company. The estate was becoming an increasingly lonely place and she often wished Tommy would settle down with a loving woman and return. Sadly her son showed no intention of remarrying or even dating anyone. She had intended to talk to him about while he was here but she had noticed straight away there was something very different about her son and the way he looked at his partner. She had assumed his request to have her in the family wing was for probity reasons but the way they looked at each other when the other was not looking gave her hope that romance was blossoming. Perhaps they were already lovers by the way Tommy was embarrassed. She hoped so. Barbara would be good for her self-absorbed son. She would be a very unconventional countess but she would never fail Tommy.
Barbara had expected to sleep in the guest wing and was amused that Tommy had protectively tucked her in the room next to his own. He was always suspicious of Stuart but she could look after herself, not that Stuart would try anything anyway. What disturbed her was that his mother had been almost smirking when Tommy had suggested he show her his room. It had been a simple slip of the tongue and he quickly corrected it. "Your room, I meant your room of course. How silly of me."
"Of course dear," his mother had replied. Did she wink at me? Surely she can't think we...no!
After dinner Tommy gave his guests a guided tour of the house. Barbara had stayed before but this time she seemed more comfortable with its size and, as she had phrased it, 'creaking grandeur'.
"Just like the host," Stuart had commented.
"Not so much of the creaking thank you," Dorothy said from behind him.
Stuart jumped and looked sheepish. "Not you Lady A. I meant the lord here."
"If he creaks and I'm his mother...ergo..."
Winston, Tommy and Barbara all wore wide grins and had no intention of helping him from his hole. Stuart shrugged his shoulders. "A fool doth think himself wise but a wise man knows himself to be a fool. And I think this fool might retire and rest for my starring role entertaining the fair maidens of Nanrunnel."
Fearing he would be alone with the Lynleys, Nkata quickly followed. "Me too. Thanks for dinner Lady A. See you tomorrow."
"Oh Mother," Tommy admonished gently, "you've intimidated our guests."
"Barbara's still here," Dorothy retorted.
"I'm used to their games," Barbara assured her.
"Well goodnight. I'll see you at breakfast." Dorothy smiled as she hastened to her room. She wanted them to have time alone.
"It's barely nine and everyone's deserted us. Would you care for a stroll down to the bay?"
"Sure."
Tommy led the way down well-worn steps to a small lookout above the bay. Below them his old, timber boat creaked against the waves. The metal fixings tinkled in the light breeze making the rigging squeak. Only a few streaky clouds obscured the star-laden sky. "Beautiful night," Barbara said, "so peaceful."
"It is," Tommy sighed as he stretched his arm over her shoulder, "I could stay here forever."
"Do you ever think about moving back?"
"Yes, often, especially with Mother getting older. I'd like to come back but my work and my life are in London."
"You could join the force here. Take that promotion. Less murders probably."
Tommy tightened his grip on her shoulder. "I'd miss you too much."
"You'd get another partner. Probably smarter, less mouthy, a lot less argumentative."
"How boring!"
They both laughed. "I'll remind you of that next time."
"I don't want another partner...ever." Now was a perfect time. Tommy turned to Barbara. She was smiling up at him. He bent his head to kiss her. She was staring at him wide-eyed but made no attempt to back away. "Barbara..." His phone began to buzz.
The moment was lost. Tommy checked his message. "Mrs Beaton about the hall. It'll be opened for us to rehearse from nine."
"Right. Well goodnight Sir. I think I'll turn in." Barbara had for a fleeting moment believed he had intended to kiss her. Her face flushed and her skin had tingled. She had wanted to feel his lips against hers.
Tommy walked her back to her room. He had been tempted to take her hand as they walked or kiss her at her door. Instead he had wished her sweet dreams and slunk into his room.