Chapter 26: The Honeymoon and The Damper.
Saturday evening.
"So Bert, where are you taking us?" Louisa inquired.
"You two lovebirds just sit back and enjoy the ride. This is your day."
"Just tell us where we're going Bert," Martin insisted.
"I don't want to ruin the surprise Doc. Let's just say it's the most romantic spot in the whole of Cornwall. It comes with a Bert Large stamp of approval."
"That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence."
"I had my honeymoon in this lodge Doc. That's how deep the personal guarantee goes."
"Oh right," Louisa said. "So we're staying in a lodge."
"Oh great, that's the surprise ruined," Bert said. "Well I hope you're happy with yourselves."
Louisa watched the rural scenery go by. "I don't think I've ever been out this way before."
"That's the beauty of it. Isolated. Romantic. No one around to disturb you. I spent my entire honeymoon naked."
Martin was disgusted. "Oh Bert!"
The portly chauffeur continued, undeterred. "'Twas the wife's idea. She said 'Bert we're married now. The nearest house is a mile away. What do we need clothes for?' Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we were." He chuckled as Martin closed the window separating them from him.
Oblivious, Bert kept talking, his voice now muffled. "Of course I kept my socks on. It was a bit chilly, right."
They drove deep into the inland countryside, past a signpost for Treswigga and Deacons, tiny hamlets Louisa, Cornish native that she was, had never heard of. The Bentley sped across the moors, passing shaggy grazing ponies, ramshackle farmhouses, and the occasional haggard yokel who stared blankly as they went by.
"Here, not much farther," Bert said. "You'll see. Hidden gem, it is."
Still they kept going. At last, they arrived at a little grey, ivy-covered bungalow. "There we are," he announced.
Louisa was charmed. "Oh, this is perfect. Bert, thank you so much."
"It certainly looks all right from the outside," Martin grudgingly admitted.
Bert brought out a wicker hamper: "Champagne and vittles. Just to keep you ticking over."
"Oh, how romantic!" Louisa exclaimed. Martin thanked him.
"We'll sort out the money later Doc."
"I thought you said this was a gift," Martin said. "Alex told me he and my father had it covered."
"Well yes, of course. But that didn't include the hiring of this fine vehicle and the services of the chauffeur, yours truly."
"So you're no doubt lining your own pockets at the same time," Martin snarled.
Bert ignored him. "Now, I'll be back in the morning to pick you both up."
"How much?"
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"How much is this going to cost us?"
"Cheers and gone." Bert drove away, obviously eager to avoid answering that question.
"Bert! Stop! Bert! Stop!" Louisa tried to calm Martin down, but he was too worked up, yelling "Bert! Idiot!"
"I'm sure it won't be that much," she said.
"He's driven off with our luggage," Martin said, thoroughly disgusted. "We've got no clothes to change into or even toothbrushes."
"It's only for a night. I'm sure we can rough it. Come on, let's have a look inside." She was already on the porch, unlocking the front door. "Oh look, it's so beautiful Martin. Look. So kind of them."
Martin followed her, carrying the wicker hamper. He stepped in something foul on the grass and stopped to scrape the sole of his highly polished shoe, muttering "Oh God. Oh God." He stepped over the threshold into a quaint and cosy room furnished in deep rich red tones and dark wood. A large ornate four-poster bed dominated the space.
"Oh isn't it lovely Martin."
"It's a pleasant surprise," he replied, moving about to explore the place.
Louisa put down her bag and tried her mobile. "Oh, no signal. No telephone either, by the looks of things."
"Even better," he said.
"Listen."
"What?"
"Nothing," she said. "Nothing at all. No noise. No traffic. No moaning patients. No crying babies. Just you and me."
Martin went over to the bed and pulled down the red velvet coverlet a bit to examine the bedding.
"What are you doing?" she asked, wondering if he was obsessing about bedbugs as he usually did when staying in a strange place.
"Nothing. I was just… Nothing." He put the covers back.
"Good. Well hello. Husband." She tried out the word as if were the first time she ever said it. It felt good.
Martin moved toward her and responded softly. "Hello. Mrs. Ellingham."
He kissed her, more deeply and passionately than he had when the crowd was watching at the church. He pulled back to look at her and suggested he light a fire.
"And I'll open that bottle of champagne. Whatever you say," she gently teased.
"I didn't say anything."
"I know." Louisa watched as he crouched at the fireplace and got to work. She kicked off her shoes, sat on the sheepskin rug by the hearth, and poured two glasses while he blew on the flame.
"Why do men always want to build a fire?" she mused. "Maybe it's just a caveman thing."
"Actually it's lucky there was so much kindling," he said, sitting beside her. "Important thing is to get it as hot as possible as soon as possible to warm up the flue. Get it drawing. Counteract the air sink."
Out of nowhere, a thought popped into her mind. "Did you open the damper?"
"What damper?"
"It's like a kind of flap with a handle."
"I know what a damper is," he replied, evidently impatient for having been caught in a mistake. He moved over to the fireplace and shifted the handle.
Louisa was amused. "Lucky one of us remembered. Maybe caveman wasn't the right choice of word."
He returned to her side and she handed him a champagne flute. "Cheers."
"Yes."
They clinked glasses and he put his to one side as she sipped the bubbly.
"Do you remember the first day we met?" she said.
"I do. Acute glaucoma." She knew he always remembered events and people best when he associated them with medical symptoms.
"You made me wear an eye patch and I felt like a pirate."
"Mm," he replied. "Of course, the uh… alternative treatment is to apply a parrot to your shoulder."
Louisa was amused and pleased. "That was a joke Martin."
"Yes."
"Very good."
They drew closer and he kissed her again. She marvelled at how much more confident he had become in initiating intimacy since his declaration of love and devotion at Pentire Castle months ago. As the fire warmed the room, she shed her veil and he took off his jacket and tie and hung them up properly. Soon he removed his cufflinks, rolled up his sleeves, and undid his top button.
"My prince of Lyonesse," she murmured.
"Hm?"
"Oh nothing." She moved her hand inside his shirt, caressing the scar on his upper right arm.
"Um, Louisa?"
"Yes?" She could hear he was being serious again and wondered if he was about to revert to one of the blundering diagnostic comments that so often scuttled romantic moments as their relationship had haltingly progressed.
"These last few months … erm, getting to know Alex and all, and seeing your interaction with your brother. Actually also... um, hearing Ruth reminisce about Joan and even about my father, that is, mine and Alex's… well, I've been considering that perhaps I've overlooked the value of sibling relationships and overstated the fertility issues and health risks of pregnancy associated with our… advanced ages."
"Oh?" Louisa was surprised, and pleased, to hear him say this but wondered where he was going with it.
"I was just curious if you were still interested in providing James Henry with a younger brother or sister."
"Yes, Martin. Very much so. Are... you interested?"
"Yes, yes I am. As I said I'm… starting to see the value of it." He picked up his champagne flute and to her amazement actually took a swig from it. Then he moved close again and gently stroked her hair, his pale blue-grey eyes shining in the firelight.
"Right, then," he murmured in the velvet tone she loved. "Let's make a baby."
The End.
Thanks to all of you for sticking with my story to the end, and especially to everyone who left a comment – very much appreciated. Even though I had the story written out in advance I couldn't stop from tinkering with each chapter before I posted it, so it kept me very busy during a month when I was extra busy already. Still, I managed to finish on schedule and now I have time to catch up on all the other delightful DM stories. I've got another one in the works but it'll likely be months before it's ready.
Stella D.
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!