Chapter 9

10th of April 1925

Outside London

The sun was reflecting on her hair that escaped underneath her helmet, scattering golden sparkles the moment the sweet spring breeze was passing through them. Candy could do nothing else but feel utterly happy and free as she was holding tight on Christian, speeding through country roads on his motorcycle on their way to Cambridge.

Sunday had dawned and it had proved to be an exceptionally warm day by the standards of British weather. Christian had showed up in front of her door bright and early with the intention of whisking her away for a treat, a day trip at the English countryside. With the weather as their ally and Christian as her guide, she jumped from excitement. Since their kiss at the Gallery, Candy couldn't take this man out of her mind, having a grin most of the time stamped on her lips.

Still, Christian had proved not to be very expressive. They were going out on dates as much as his work would allow, even though his exhibition date was pushed further away, well into June due to complications as he had explained to her. He now painted almost every day. Nevertheless, Candy looked forward with anticipation for every meeting between them despite the lack of close moments initiated from Christian's part. Taking cue from his actions, Candy was an outrageous flirt with him, the two of them sharing more of fleeting kisses than the ones that made her head spin, but she wouldn't overstep the line either.

Truth be told, she was a bit confused by his behaviour that was turning frustrating at times. He had clearly shown her that he liked her but he didn't push her, nor did he jump to the opportunity to take things to the next level. Compared with other potential companions though, Candy didn't mind getting closer to Christian. In fact she had fantasised of him making love to her, blushing wild at the images that were flashing in her mind. Dare to say, Christian was the only other man that created such a mixed response of strong emotions inside of her, apart from Terry. That was something she never had expected happening but it did and in its appearance Candy felt Terry fading away.

Most of the times, Terry's face showing through the haziness didn't bother her. Only when alone at night, once she poured a finger or two from her favourite brandy, relishing it while curling up on her big green armchair with only the reading light on and some smooth jazz music on the big gramophone, there in the semi darkness she would contemplate with nostalgia the lost chance she had with him. She would imagine what it would be like being a couple with him, would they fit together? What would they spend their time doing? Would he be surprised to see her changed?

In between sips of the strong liquor, endless corridors of million questions would open up in her mind and she would feel compelled to search every one of them until sleepiness would descent on her, making her eyelids feel heavy. She would go to bed sometimes with that longing in her heart that she didn't dare to feed with more thinking. Terry was thousand miles away in his own life and all those thoughts didn't help her to the least.

For now, Candy was enjoying taking in the spring fragrant air by drawing deep breaths, feeling the heat coming from Christian's lean body radiating on her chest. Sitting behind him, holding him tight around his waist pressing her cheek on his back felt like a dream. For a moment she closed her eyes sensing only him, under the roar of the motorcycle engine and the breeze that snaked below her hair caressing the nape of her neck.

"We're almost there !", he shouted over the noise of the engine.

Candy opened her eyes and lifted her head up. At short distance, the first houses of Cambridge appeared. In the two big leather motorcycle bags that were hanging on either side, he had packed a small canvas, paints and brushes in the one while some packed food and wine for lunch was stored in the other. It was going to be a fun day and Candy was looking forward to see Christian painting out in the open green fields, where he felt more at home than anywhere else.

They arrived in Cambridge. Candy was admiring the austere medieval stone buildings, the small picturesque cottages with the flower gardens up front. Spring was here for good and nature was welcoming the change with fresh leaves sprouting from the weathered trees and lilies blooming everywhere.

"We won't stop here", Christian said to her, "We've got plenty of time in the afternoon to explore Cambridge", he continued as they sped through the city, making a right turn when they reached the edge of a meadow, following a tarred path.

"Where are we heading?", Candy asked him.

"For now we are heading to the open countryside, Rose. Weather is just beautiful and I want to catch the morning light", he replied back to her, his hand squeezed hers that was resting on his belly.

Her heart skipped to his gesture. It was just a simple sweet gesture but it warmed her up inside, confirming to her that Christian was a great guy and she had done the right thing by spending time with him. She rested her cheek once more on his back, taking in the beauty of the green meadows that they were passing from. Everything was an adventure with him and she had come to the conclusion that she loved every minute of it.

They slowed down to a stop. They stepped off his bike, stretching their legs. In front of them there was an old "kissing" gate with the name "Paradise Nature reserve" carved on the wood.

"That's were we leave the bike", Christian said and started untying the leather bags that were hanging from it.

Candy looked around her and took a deep breath. She loved the outdoors. It was her link with her childhood, her cherished memories of Pony's place so she was always experiencing that uplifting feeling in her heart when she was surrounded by sparkling lush meadows and fields.

"You like what you see?", she heard Christian's soft voice behind her.

"Are you kidding Christian? I love it!", she said with enthusiasm that made her eyes look wider. "Thank you for bringing me here!", she sounded really grateful.

And it was true. She was content with the city life, given the young of her age but it had been a while since she had been in a place like that one and deep down she was craving for some quiet relaxing time away from the London noise.

"Nonsense my dear...I wouldn't think of coming here on my own", he said while he gave her the food bag, him carrying his painting gear as he opened the gates.

"I've been here quite a few times before, painting...and I would love nothing more than to share this place with you", he said, his voice sounding tender the moment he turned to look at her with his grey blue eyes looking all mellow.

Christian knew that it was unlike of him to play the gentleman for so long but he knew she was unlike the other girls he had bedded on those short relationships of his, some of those "relationships" being so short in fact that they wouldn't even qualify to be called as such.

He wasn't a womaniser by any account. Though he didn't take that long to move things on with a girl either. At points he did have to show great restraint that made him wanting to retreat away from her. The way she was flirting with him was tempting him like nothing else, her kisses even if short and sweet, burned him, but he had taken in earnest Edward's words and the knowledge that Rose must have suffered a painful break up in the States which only made him to change his ways, keeping his feelings in check wanting not to rush into anything that would cause hurt to her.

After all he also had the experience of a painful break up in the past. Girls may have swooned over him in the circles he frequented but he was now also bitterly aware of the shallowness they carried. So much so that in fact he was just playing their game, letting his heart to no one and just enjoying what they were keen to offer him. He was honest with them. Lust was just as good as love in his books. For the present however he had decided that he would let her make the first move even maybe with the help of little games of words that took place between them. For it was true, he felt different about this girl with the clear stare.

They walked for about a hundred metres along a riverside path into the lush countryside, Christian telling her the names of local flowers and trees that they met during their walk. Candy's face was beaming, listening with interest at Christian's descriptions. They shared laughter together and Christian was feeling over the moon with their trip too. Without thinking, he took her hand into hers while they walked and that made both their hearts to sigh. Life was good after all.

They were at the southern reaches of the city. The end of the path marked the city's edges. To their left, Skater's meadow was spreading, with a colourful riot of spring flowers while ahead of them, another tarred path was stretching. Christian prompted Candy to take that path, following the west bank of the river Cam. When they reached a nice spot next to the river they stopped. Christian looked around him.

Grantchester Meadows

They placed their things underneath the shade of a lone big tree that stood by the riverside. Sounds of birds chirping and the hypnotic buzz of bumble bees were the only things they could hear on the peaceful rolling meadows.

"It's amazing!", she exclaimed and sat down letting herself fall back on the soft grass with open arms.

She left a happy yell. Yes, definitely Rose was not like other girls, Christian thought as he laughed out loud with Candy's action.

"So this is my hiding place...", he said with pride as if it belonged to him, for indeed he felt those quiet green meadows a place of his own.

"I'm really glad you brought me here Christian", she said softly as she lay on the grass.

"The pleasure is all mine...", he said back to her and kneeled down next to her, staring at her face that was smiling back at him.

With her back to the grass, seeing Christian kneeling down next to her, staring at her, Candy thought that her heart had moved to her throat, wondering whether he'd kiss her. She gave him a wide smile to calm her nerves, which didn't really do anything the moment Christian lowered his head towards her face. He took her lips into a slow kiss that was getting deeper and more daring with his tongue exploring her mouth, creating responses in her that made her feel really hot low at her belly. As if he knew, he placed his hand on top of her belly with his thumb making small lazy circles above the fabric of her clothes.

But it didn't matter for her...even if this simple caress of his was above the layers of clothes she was wearing...she was melting inside regardless. She placed her hands on his chest and could feel his heart beating strong. A small sigh escaped her lips that made Christian put a stop to their kiss. He'd taken it a bit too far. He pulled his head up and looked at her with feverish eyes while he stroked her soft hair.

"I'm sorry...", he apologised to her.

"What for Christian?", she asked him at the same time she brought her hand up to her forehead to shade her eyes now that Christian had moved away letting the sun fall on her face.

"This is not the place nor the time for such a thing to happen...", he said to her as a matter of fact.

Candy pulled her body up, still sitting down on the grass, while looking at him with a confused look on her face.

"What thing?", she asked him again.

Christian looked at her with surprise. If he hadn't stopped, they would have ended up having sex right there and then but Candy seemed oblivious to this.

"Honestly Rose...I'll let you figure that one out for yourself", he said sounding impatient and got up, taking his painting gear out of the bag.

Candy felt a bit hurt by his last remark but she didn't show it. She would be grateful for once, if Christian acted open, speaking without riddles. But it wasn't the time to talk to him of that. She brushed off his last words and just left herself enjoy the warmth of the sun. She had plenty of time to decipher what he meant.

What she didn't know though was the sexual attraction she had on men. She may not have been a glamorous woman, neither a drop dead gorgeous one but she wore her heart to her sleeve and she was one of those rare people that were one hundred percent themselves. Be it with the best and closest friends or royalty, Candy treated everyone the same. With the same sincere smile, her honest sweet stare and open personality, it gave her an air of confidence like no other. In those blasé and pretentious party circles of the up and coming rich bourgeoisie crowds, Candy was a breath of fresh air, attracting the men like moths to the light.

Christian thought it was funny that she hadn't even noticed that, but he wasn't one to let her know. He took the vistas around him, letting the painter's eyes roam free in the nature, giving drive to his brush; he started painting without saying one more thing.

Candy stared at him. He was completely focused on his task. She could bet that he wasn't even there at the moment he started to reproduce on the small canvas the view that was spreading in front of him. Creating was a mystical experience in Candy's mind and she was mesmerised just by seeing him do that. Create images where there was nothing there before.

She got up and brushed the grass off her light blue mohair spring coat that was coming down to her knees. She gave a look at the big tree that they had camped under. She hadn't climbed on a tree for years and her hiking boots were pushing her to do that just then. With steady moves, she climbed up the tree, feeling satisfied that she could still do it. Found a sturdy big branch high up and rested there. The familiar feeling of freedom mellowed her heart the moment she looked deep down the horizon, letting her eyes rest to the openness in front of her.

She looked down at Christian. She noticed his steady hand drawing lines on the canvas, slowly the view in front of her taking shape. Her mind went blank while she kept staring at him, following his hand like hypnotised. She had lost track of the time she spent doing that.

"How is the view from up there Rose?", his voice loud came to her ears bringing her back.

He was still facing his painting being busy at his task.

"From where?", she shouted back.

"Up on the tree of course", he said back to her.

"Oh...", she chuckled, "It's great...", she said without taking her eyes of him.

Christian left his brush down and turned to her, meeting her bright green eyes.

"You're full of surprises... you know that?", he teased her.

"Yes I know...I've been told before...", Candy replied in a loud voice back to him.

"Is that so...?", he acted suspicious.

She pulled her tongue out, raising her shoulders in wonder.

"I don't know what you're talking about Christian...", she said and looked elsewhere playing dumb.

He laughed at her while he pulled his watch chain taking the watch out of his pocket. He flipped the top. It was almost twelve noon. He looked back up to Candy that had started smoking a cigarette, her eyes travelling up ahead into the horizon. He loved her image at that moment. He made a mental note in his mind to paint of her like that one day. He really wanted to ask Candy to pose for him but posing for a painting wasn't an easy task, especially between two people that have feelings for each other. And the most important thing for the model is to be relaxed and there was no way that he imagined a relaxed Candy posing in front of him while he painted.

"What do you say we have lunch?" he said to her.

"Is that the time already?", she asked him while she climbed down the tree under the bemused look in Christian's face.

She turned and faced him, walking towards him.

"No wonder, I feel so hungry!", she continued with a smile.

They took out the big blanket and shared the cold cuttings of roast chicken and the green salad they had brought with them. They talked of all things while they were dipping in a bowl of strawberries finishing the chilled white wine they had kept cool at the river bank.

The day was so fine, the sky felt like it sparkled without even a cloud to break the blueness that stretched above, beyond and behind them. For a moment they were quiet, both being relaxed, sitting on the woollen blanket, looking at the views, each to their own thoughts.

"I'm really happy we made it to here Christian", she said to him, still looking ahead of her.

"I knew you'd like the Grantchester Meadows...", he replied to her comment with a soft smile.

To the sound of that name, it was like a lightning had felt right in front of Candy. She couldn't believe it. It was amazing. Since she had met Christian, there were all those coincidences taking place, reminding her of Terry that had left Candy startled. Despite everything she did, it was still uncomfortable at times like the ones she was sharing with Christian to have Terry's memory brought up.

"The Grandchester Meadows you said...?", she asked without even thinking.

"No...it's Grantchester, with a t", he answered back.

A "t" or a "d" was still too close for comfort for Candy. He looked at her thoughtful expression.

"I don't know much about the origin of the name but it's an old one. Of what I know, it goes back to the Roman times...", he started telling her about this history of the meadows, "It was a Roman settlement. Grantchester means the "Camp beside the Granta", which is the old name for the river Cam that passes by the city of Cambridge"

"That's so interesting...never really thought of the history those places hide", Candy said back to him, trying to keep focused to his words.

At the same time she was wondering what was the meaning of all those Terry coincidences...the "Girl on the theatre" painting, the "Grantchester meadows"...It was as if Christian was somehow connected with Terry...could it be her fate to meet Christian? A guy that actually was coming that close to the one she loved so completely in her past? She took a sip from her wine and lit a cigarette, keeping her stare fixed up ahead.

"You're right! This place is so untouched that there are still marks and bumps from the time when medieval farmers were here", he continued.

"Amazing!", Candy exclaimed.

Christian looked at her. She seemed that she was listening to him but at the same time she didn't seem to be there all together. But he carried on, nevertheless.

"For me, those meadows are a treasure of images, each a magnificent painting", he said back to her, lowering his voice, thinking of the beauty of the nature around them.

By now Candy was desperate to change the subject. It was uncanny how every time she was with him, somehow something would remind her of the other. A daring thought formed in her mind and she jumped to the opportunity to use it, drawing that way both her and Christian off the subject of the Grantchester Meadows. The way she saw it, she was with Christian, she already had a crush on him, she wanted to get closer to him...and it was now or never to say what she had on her mind.

"Wouldn't mind posing for you...", she said to him suddenly.

It was Christian's time to feel startled by her unexpected proposition. He did detect the hint of hesitance in her voice but he could feel that she was daring him too. He would pretend if he said that he didn't want them to be a proper couple...he wanted to be able to know Rose inside and out...her silences and absent minded stares where someone would have thought that the light had gone off from those huge emerald eyes of hers intrigued him to say the least.

Rose White may had seemed like a girl that knew how to party and mingle with the "in" London crowds, however he thought that she carried such a past that she had to stop once in a while to check whether she was OK. Was it so terrible then?

To paint of her in his flat...it would be something nerve racking...he truly didn't know where this would lead for both of them but it was a proposition that right now felt irresistible and yes, it could bring them closer than where they were now. After all he had agreed with himself to let her show him that she was ready to bond more with him.

"You want to pose for me?!", he questioned her, lifting his eyebrows in surprise.

She left only a teasing chuckle, saying nothing more.

"You're impossible...", he said with a resignation sigh and smiled.

"Well?", she asked him again, her eyes falling playfully on his face.

For her, the way those little word teasers unfolded was just the best distraction she needed at the moment. She closed the thoughts that were pulling her away and focused solely on Christian. She had started having fun with his reaction to her proposal.

"I would love to draw you one day...Would you pose for me? Really?", he pressed her more, feeling his stomach squeeze with excitement.

"That's what I said, you big oaf!", she said and left a clear happy laughter, letting herself fall on her back on the blanket they were sitting on.

She turned sideways and looked at him, letting her eyes dive into his, relishing the fact that she had caught him sincerely off guard.

"Yes...Christian", she confirmed what she had said to him once more.

Right or wrong, Christian didn't care at that moment.

"OK then...", he said and smiled a half smile, keeping his eyes firmly on hers.

Candy turned on her belly, pulling her calves up, letting them dangle playfully in mid air while chewing at a long straw she had picked up from in front of her. She turned to face him again, her eyes sparkling under the bright sun.

"When?", she asked him.

"When?!", he asked again without believing what he was hearing from her.

It was one thing to hear her asking him to pose for him but damn it...she was keen...He turned on his belly too, pulling his arms under his chest, holding his torso up and looked at her seemingly busy chewing the piece of straw. Blonde curls were framing her face where there were more freckles than before. He was staring at the outline of her profile...most definitely would like to paint of her. Right now, the way she had positioned herself inspired him to no end...but he decided to wait for the privacy of his flat.

"The day after tomorrow...", he finally said to her.

"OK then", she said and squeezed her eyes shut as she gave him her widest smile.

A curl had fallen on her face. He moved closer and picked it, pushing it back behind her ear while she kept looking at him.

"You have no idea what you do when you're playing like that, do you?", he asked her with a hoarse voice.

She remembered his words that had annoyed her beforehand but decided not to go there for the moment.

"I have no idea what you're talking about Christian", she said and pulled her eyes away.

"Either that...or you are a very skilled woman indeed my dear...", he said and laughed out loud.

She blushed to the roots of her hair. She couldn't let this one lie. She picked up her glass with the little left over wine.

"Christian...shut up!", she said and threw the wine to the face of an inexpectant Christian.

His eyes widened and looked at her with an "acting as if threatening" her stare.

"You little minx!", he shouted and attacked her, both of them laughing and tumbling on the grassland of the Grantchester meadows before stopping, kissing her once more, a kiss tasting of wine under the sunlight that was diffusing in its gloriousness all around them.