Greville Hartley parked his car and walked up to the lodge door, he knew this was a risky strategy he was employing but he felt it worth it to ensure his nieces happiness.
Even though DeVere hadn't said a word to contradict Audrey's assertion that they were engaged to be married, Greville knew that wasn't the case.
He'd seen the shocked look in DeVere's eyes when he'd told him what Audrey had said. The fact that Richard hadn't landed her in it with him made him like the man even more. He was a vast improvement on Marton fForbes Hamilton and much more suited to Audrey.
So he decided to move the pair of them in the right direction, the first step was getting Audrey to admit her feelings for DeVere.
Taking a deep breath he knocked on the door. It was swiftly opened by a smiling Audrey.
"Uncle Greville! This is a surprise, what are you doing here?" Audrey ushered him inside and showed him into the sitting room.
"Well I was in the area, so I thought I'd come and see how the wedding planning was coming along," Greville said taking a seat on the settee.
The smile fell from Audrey's face at that. Oh how she wished she was planning her wedding to Richard but that seemed incredibly unlikely to happen, "How lovely." She murmured.
The sadness that came over his nieces face made Greville's heart clench. "Audrey I know you and DeVere are not engaged, I'm not easily deceived you know,"
Audrey dropped into the chair opposite Greville, "I'm sorry uncle Greville, I know I shouldn't have misled you but I wanted to help Richard," she said tearfully.
"I understand my dear and there's no harm done. DeVere is a good chap, I quite like him but I think you like him more," Greville said trying to get her to open up to him.
Audrey nodded, seeing no point in deceiving her uncle once more and it would be nice to talk to someone about Richard, someone other than Marjory.
Outside Richard and his mother were walking past the lodge when Richard heard voices coming from inside. It sounded like a mans voice and Richard tried to dampen down the wave of jealousy that rose in him at the thought of another man with Audrey.
Mrs Poo sensed her son's unease and pulled him towards the lodges open patio doors.
"Mother what are you doing!" He whispered.
"I'm making sure Audrey is alright, now be quiet and listen," she said putting her finger to her lips as they reached the doors.
They were hidden from view by the curtain but could hear quite clearly. The jealousy Richard felt vanished when he recognised the voice of Greville Hartley coming from inside.
He was about to tell his mother they should go when he heard his name mentioned and intrigued, he stayed to listen.
Gravel leaned forward, "May I ask what your feelings are towards DeVere?"
Audrey shrugged her shoulders, "It doesn't matter how I feel about him, marriage is not an option for us, not in my position. I have no money of my own and he would always believe I'd only married him to get Grantleigh back."
"But don't you want it back?"
She shook her head, "Of course I do but not at the expense of Richard's heart, I couldn't bare it,"
Greville noticed movement by the patio door, looking at the reflection in the glass he saw it was DeVere. He hadn't planned on this but it was a stroke of luck he was there, now he just had to get Audrey to say it out loud.
He smiled at his niece, "You love him don't you?"
She nodded, "He is the sweetest, kindest man I've ever known. Yes I love him,"
Greville grinned knowing DeVere had heard, he just had to give the boy the opening he needed to make his presence noticed.
"Does Richard know how you feel about him?" He asked
Before she could answer Richard walked through the open patio doors, "He does now," Richard said standing right behind her chair,
Audrey jumped up from the chair and turned to find Richard standing there, "Richard! How long have you been here?" She asked anxiously.
"Long enough," he said approaching her.
Richard didn't give her a chance to say anything else as he took her face in his hands and crushed his lips to hers.
Shocked, Audrey took a moment to respond to his kiss but she soon came to her senses and kissed him back hungrily.
When he was sure she wasn't going to pull away, Richard moved his hands from her face to her waist bringing her flush against him.
Audrey wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss completely forgetting they weren't alone.
Greville smiled at the couple and then noticed an elderly woman standing by the patio doors, a huge smile on her face.
"You must be Mr Polouvicka," Greville said moving around the still embracing couple to Richard's mother. Holding his hand out he introduced himself, "I'm Greville Hartley, Audrey's Uncle,"
Mrs Poo took his hand and shook it warmly, "It's so nice to meet you Mr Hartley, I must thank you for helping Bedrich, he was so grateful to you,"
Greville waved his hand in the air, "Oh it was a pleasure, you son is a fine young man and please call me Greville,"
"And you must call me Maria," Mrs Poo nodded to Richard and Audrey who were still locked in a passionate embrace, "Shall we leave these two alone, I know Bedrich has a very nice Brandy back at the manor I think you'd like,"
"An offer no gentleman can refuse, lead on dear lady,"