"It is definitely not a cottage." Audrey commented on the obvious, leaning forward so she could look at the gray stone house through the windshield.
It was too big to be considered anything remotely similar to a cottage. At least twice the size of Skeldale House, the gray stone house had huge white-framed windows and curtains hiding its interior.
The gravel path curved gently in front of the house, where they stood and the garden extended as far as the eye could see, where the green tops of the trees met the blue sky. If they went straight through the trees, they would reach the edge of the hill and see the sea perhaps two hundred meters away. Through the map she could see the sea and the strip of sand that stretched in both directions. A beach like that should be exclusive to the house.
"Are you absolutely sure that we are in the right place?" Why do men always doubt women's ability when map reading was involved, Audrey wondered and her expression translated the thought. "I'm just trying to understand what happened." Siegfried completed in a soothing tone, giving a small friendly smile.
"I'm sure we are in the right place, at least in the place indicated on the map."
She looked at the map again and mentally went over the path. Yes, she was sure they had done the right way, even Siegfried with his habit for fast driving and keeping his foot off the brakes.
"Could it be a hotel?" He theorized without much conviction.
"It seems too quiet to be a hotel." The sun was still high in the sky. If there were more people there would be movement, no doubt.
"When we get home I'm going to skin Tristan alive." Siegfried grunted between his teeth.
"There's no point in wanting to skin Tris alive, we let him take care of the honeymoon."
"James assured me that everything would be perfect."
"Since we're here, we should go and ask."
While the two were discussing the front door opened and a woman dressed in black came out, certainly a maid, perhaps a housekeeper and when they noticed her she was standing beside the rover. Had Tristan been wrong with the map? Perhaps they would be able to ask for information for the right path if that were the case. Audrey refused to believe that Tristan had done something wrong on purpose.
"Mr. And Mrs. Farnon, I presume. "
"Yes, that's us."
"Welcome, to the Hillside cottage. I'm Mrs. Wickham."
Audrey and Siegfried exchanged a surprised look and he parked the car in the place indicated by the woman. As they took their bags out of the car Siegfried murmured something to himself that was very reminiscent of 'betting on horse racing'.
"What did you say?" She asked immediately, suspicious.
"Hm? Oh... nothing, love. I-I was just… Just talking to myself." Siegfried stammered, trying to avoid the obvious.
Only when they returned would they find out that Tristan had in fact bet on horse racing with Maggie's help, thanks to a great tip that James received and shared for the good cause. With the financial help of both and Helen, Tristan made a considerable amount. Their savings had been recovered and the premium, which would have made them happy, served to rent that property. Mrs. Pumphrey had indicated it and knew the owner very well. He had been facing some financial difficulties and rented the beautiful property for the summer. With her help the house had been reserved for a week for Mr. And Mrs. Farnon.
They followed Mrs. Wickham into the house and found themselves in a lobby filled with flowers on the sideboards and lit by a crystal chandelier. The house was elegant, refined, and quite unlike any place Audrey had ever stayed. It just didn't compare to Mrs. Pumphrey's house, but other than that it was the most upscale place she'd visited.
The idea that this place would be their home for a week seemed almost a dream.
"Dinner will be served at eight thirty and breakfast at eight in the morning. Lunch is usually at noon and we have tea at four." She communicated as they went up the carpeted stairs. Audrey watched everything in detail with description and curiosity. "Should your breakfast be served in bed, Mrs. Farnon?"
"Yes." Siegfried stepped forward to answer. "In fact, we will both have breakfast in bed, Mrs. Wickham."
"Very well."
The rest of the way to the room was silent. The corridors boasted paintings after paintings and the paneling on the walls was well carved. That house had certainly seen imposing figures over the past century or so.
One of the doors had been opened and Mrs. Wickham left them with a nod.
"Breakfast in bed?" Audrey asked as soon as they found themselves alone.
"We are on our honeymoon." He replied with a mischievous smile.
Rolling her eyes, she returned her attention to the room and was surprised.
"Tristan was right, it's perfect." Siegfried said, visibly relieved
Audrey couldn't agree more. The bedroom, with its flowered wallpaper and a four-poster oak bed with all-white bedding, was romantic and full of light from the windows. There was a small table with two chairs and a huge flower arrangement by the window. When she approached, she saw the view and lost her breath.
"Unfortunately, you won't be able to skin him alive anymore, husband."
"This time I feel relieved that I can't." His answer seemed to come from afar. "I think you will like here even more."
Turning on her heels, she saw one of the doors open. Imagining that it led to a dressing room, Audrey was surprised to see a bathroom with the same beautiful view of the room and a bathtub strategically positioned for the view to be enjoyed.
She couldn't help it, just grinned at Siegfried.
Audrey's enchantment with the bathtub and the view from the bathroom did not diminish during their stay. Not even in comparison to the flower gardens or the climbing roses that lined the side wall of the house.
Day after day Siegfried found himself waking up beside her in a room lit by the golden morning light filtered through the curtains and in that warm light between the sheets they shared breakfast.
On the first day she hurriedly wrapped herself in the delicate silk robe and sat on the bed just watching as he received the two breakfast trays by the open door. For her, who always did everything for others, being served was an intriguing novelty.
"Will it continue to be that way when we get home?" She asked with a mocking tone when she received a plate full of eggs, crispy bacon and toast so hot it made the butter melt.
"For those who were surprised yesterday, you seem quite used to the idea of having breakfast in bed." He returned, with a smirk, comfortable on his own robe.
"Are you avoiding my question?" Her look said more than anything.
"Not at all, my darling wife. I promise I will surprise you whenever I get the chance."
As Audrey moved the silk slid over her skin, gradually revealing a pale shoulder framed by strands of hair that had grown over the months and forearms of delicate, soft skin that he loved to slide his fingertips over languidly. It was an almost mesmerizing image for him, to see her like that, so relaxed, peaceful and comfortable.
Despite having slept in the same bed more times than it would have been wise or appropriate to count in the past few months, mornings were hectic moments where she quietly sneaked down the stairs. There, however, the mornings were lazy and when they woke up with the first rays of sunlight, hours before breakfast, he pushed the sheets away, making her laugh and roll her eyes. Seeing each other so intimately in the morning light was quite different from doing it in the half light of a lamp and loving her with his body and eyes in the almost blinding light the sheets reflected was ecstating.
The rest of the day was divided into tours and meals. They went to the beach, where he simply loved to watch her walk slowly towards the sea and admire her slender legs, the curves of her hips and how she looked at him over her shoulder with a half smile because she knew he was looking. A woman totally different from the one who marched back and forth through Skeldale House, whom seemed to have infinitely long legs from where he looked sitting on the towel, with the first buttons of his shirt open, his sleeves folded up to his elbows and his hat tucked into his head.
Siegfried denied invitations to go into the water with her, not because he didn't want to go, but because he didn't want to admit that he didn't know how to swim, especially when she swam so well. And in any case, he preferred to share his time watching her or feeling the smell and taste that the sea left on her skin than venturing into the water.
Audrey gradually acquired a beautiful golden hue, while he roasted under the sun, gaining a deep red hue on the little exposed skin (something that made Audrey, Tristan and James laugh at him for several days).
Sometimes they went to the village, sometimes they strolled through the gardens of the property and all the walks were a reason for a delicious frugal snack. They strolled, ate, rested and loved each other. Life was perfect and in the late afternoon it was for the bathtub they came back and watched the sunset in complete and comfortable silence before dinner.
The days passed while they share their time exploring the village, enjoying the beach and gardens, and making love, again and again, in a cocoon of white sheets, with the warm breeze from the sea enveloping them.
Lost in each other's arms, Audrey loved those moments when his face was buried on her neck. His body heavy over hers as a warm and compelling blanket. Her legs intertwined with his as he trusted back and forward, burring himself deep inside of her. When he was lost in his pleasure she could run her fingers over his back, feeling his muscles working under his skin. In those moments she enjoyed that plain bright happiness of being loved by that man, feeling she was the happiest woman alive on Earth.
On the fourth day a storm broke out, bringing heavy gray clouds and the air became charged with electricity. When the rain started they were a few meters from the house, but found themselves running across the grass hand in hand to the nearest cover, the greenhouse.
Siegfried closed the door behind him and pulled her by the hand. They had visited the greenhouse before. Crammed with small trees and flowers, there was a tea table and a chaise with fluffy cushions in the center. A blanket had been left there. Audrey suspected that on purpose by an extremely attentive housekeeper.
Despite the glass walls, the rain was so heavy that formed a thick curtain, making it impossible to see anything outside, so she was not reluctant when Siegfried pulled her to him, pushed the strands of wet hair away from her face and kissed her mouth.
Buttons were opened while they kissed. The need for skin to find skin was intense and their clothes got tangle on the floor around them as they wrapped themselves around each other. The urge to love and be loved was inexhaustible. They wanted each other and needed each other with infinite patience.
Sighs, touches and kisses. Lips exploring skin, teeth nibbling alternated with soft licks and new kisses. With her left hand Audrey stroked his chest, which she used as a pillow so many nights.
Siegfried usually took the lead in their intimacy and she gave in without a second thought to his touches, but there were times when he let her take the initiative and lead. He kissed and kissed her again and again, until he left them both breathless as he held her close to him, running his fingers along her spine, up and down in a languid movement.
She liked those occasions when she saw his fragility in the face of the physical pleasure she evoked in him. Siegfried was again an anxious, inexperienced and thirsty climax for a brief moment. Nothing compared to the physical despair she had seen in him two days ago when, after sharing a bottle of wine and losing her inhibition, she had disappeared under the sheets to explore his body with her mouth.
This was something she had never particularly enjoyed, until then. Just remembering made her face burn with embarrassment.
But on that rainy afternoon, she didn't want to take the initiative, she wanted to melt in his arms and she did. He loved her on the chaise, at a provocatively slow pace as he devoured her shoulders and nape with nibbles and wet kisses, caressed her right breast with his left hand and with his right one touched her between her legs.
Audrey moaned softly and leaned against his chest. Raising an arm she found his face and her hand slid down to find the nape of his neck. Drops of sweat ran between her breasts and ran down her belly, until they disappeared in his hand. The heat enveloped them and the feeling of pleasure slowly grew.
When the climax came, Audrey had to rest her hands on the chaise seat to keep from falling forward. Seemingly endless waves of pleasure radiated from her center and ran through her entire body. The time they were lonely seemed increasingly remote.
Siegfried did not stop. Resting his chest against her back, he continued to move at the same slow pace as his hand followed the rhythm. Cheeky, he said naught things in her ear when he wasn't moaning, making Audrey excited for more.
Time was lost while they gave themselves to each other. And after all, was there a better way to spend a rainy afternoon?
May 8, 1938
"Are you ready to go home?"
Siegfried was just closing the buttons on his vest, and he could see in the mirror Audrey looking around the room, checking that they had left nothing behind.
"Yes, the bags are ready, just give me a moment."
She disappeared at the bathroom door, where they had seen the sun come up earlier and enjoyed that last moment of tranquility before returning to Skeldale House and the almost total absence of privacy.
The idea of them locking themselves in the bathroom to spend a quiet half hour soaking in the bathtub seemed impossible at home, where Tristan and James came and went, the phone kept ringing and people rang the bell at any time of the day and night.
"Audrey, can I come down with the luggage?" He asked loud enough for her to hear.
"Leave mine, I remembered that I need to get something in my suitcase." The answer came slowly. "I'll meet you in the car."
"Alright."
Audrey paid attention and didn't leave the bathroom until she heard him close the door. She sighed as she opened the suitcase and among the profusion of colors of the new clothes she looked for a clean brief and a rag. Good thing she had put the rags in the bottom of the suitcase. After two weeks of delay her montly finally came. A month was a short time, she was fully aware of it and that is why she was not beaten. However, it was impossible not to feel a hint of disappointment when seeing one less chance.
Four more chapters to go.
