"You do own me." Colby murmured, and leaned in to kiss her parted lips. He deepened the kiss when she responded, his tongue slipping in to caress hers.
She moaned softly, then broke away in some embarrassment when Don groaned.
Colby laughed, "Sorry, dux femina facti."
"'The woman is in charge', I'm impressed," Eleanor was amused at Colby's use of Latin.
"Don't be," he said wryly, "That's one of very few Latin phrases I know."
She laughed, but noted with envy the picture of contentment that they made, nestled in each other's arms. "That's an unusual sentiment from a man, that you belong to her."
Smiling a little sadly, Colby settled Hannah more comfortably against his chest, "I only know how I felt when I thought I'd lost her."
"He was devastated. I'd never seen anyone quite so shattered," Don said, almost to himself.
"Gee, thanks, Don, I could have gone all my life without everyone knowing that."
They laughed, as Colby had meant them to, but Hannah hugged Colby tightly. She hadn't realized the full depth of his feelings, and her soft heart, already undeniably his, melted even further.
"Oh, look at that!" Hannah scrambled up from Colby's arms, awed as the spire of the Salisbury Cathedral rose majestically into view. "This, I know a little about! The spire is 404 feet, it's Britain's tallest spire. It's built in the English Gothic style, only taking 38 years to complete. It's the only cathedral built in a single architectural style. Oh, Colby, look at those arches!"
Barely able to contain her excitement, Hannah spilled out of the car clutching her sketchbook and pencils. Smiling at her excitement, Colby followed closely behind her. "Take lots of pictures, Colby, I'm going to sketch some of the features," she murmured, already engrossed in her sketching.
"What do you want me to take pictures of?" Colby asked.
"Everything," she said, vaguely, waving her hand around.
Colby looked incredulously at her, then left to do the best he could.
Don laughed as he and Eleanor went inside, "She's definitely in charge!"
Eleanor smiled at Don, "Hannah loves the art in the architecture. And this is a particularly beautiful style."
"Tell me."
"The dominant feature of the English Gothic style is the pointed arch, called a lancet. They're used almost universally, meaning in the doorways and windows and not just in arches of wide span like those of the nave arcade," Eleanor paused for Don to get a full effect of it.
Hannah and Colby caught up with them. Hannah picked up the explanation, "The pointed arch also looks more elegant and is far more efficient at distributing the weight of the stonework above it. It's possible to span higher, wider gaps using narrower columns. And these columns are composed of clusters of slender, detached shafts. These are a dark, polished Purbeck 'marble'. They surround a central pillar, or pier, attached by circular moulded shaft-rings. Oh, I can tell right now they're going to inspire an entire line of jewelry!"
Don looked at her in astonishment, "I don't know if anyone really wants to wear a cathedral around their necks, Hannah!"
She laughed, "No, not a whole cathedral! Just the design elements." Noticing the doubtful look on Don's face, she said gently, "You'll see."
Colby kissed her, "I'm going to look around. I'll come back for you."
She nodded absently, sketching furiously.
"Don't forget to look at England's oldest working clock," Eleanor reminded him, "And the copy of the Magna Carta housed here."
He grinned and waved, "We'll meet back here later."
Eleanor looked at Don and raised an eyebrow.
"The Magna Carta first, I think. Then a walk around the grounds. I need to stretch out."
She'd been there a number of times before, showing friends or family around. But she'd never seen anyone scrutinize the Magna Carta the way Don was doing now. He was truly interested in the significance of the Magna Carta. His sense of timing was also impeccable. It was as though he had allotted a certain amount of time for each item on his agenda, and when that time was up, he was done.
He flashed his heart stopping smile at her, "Shall we?" And reached for her hand. They strolled out onto the grounds hand in hand.
She identified each building to him as they passed them, but for the most part, they walked in companionable silence.
When they got to a quiet spot, he finally spoke, "Eleanor, you must know I'm very attracted to you." He paused to gauge her response. She smiled faintly but didn't answer. "I have a girlfriend in Los Angeles. Of sorts."
Eleanor laughed, "Of sorts? How does Robin feel about that?"
His eyebrow quirked.
"Hannah mentioned her in one of our emails back and forth," Eleanor was still smiling. "She was telling me about you."
Don smiled, "Of course." He pulled her close, and she leaned willingly against him. "Robin and I haven't spoken to each other in several weeks. She's upset at me for some reason I can't quite fathom right now. But I don't want to give up on the relationship."
"I'm not asking anything of you, Don," Eleanor said quietly. "I hardly think we're going to give up the lives we know for each other. And I'm sure Colby and Hannah would be discreet."
"You're very beautiful," Don murmured. He slipped his left arm around her and cupped her neck in his hand. With the fingers of his right hand, he gently tucked her hair behind her ear, then traced the line of her jaw down to her chin. Tilting her head back, his lips feathered against hers until they parted in response. He licked her lower lip, and her tongue met his. His tongue swirled around hers, then his lips slanted across hers, devouring her mouth.
Then suddenly, it was like she couldn't get enough. She hooked her arm around his neck, and kissed him back, pressing her body close to his.
Colby cleared his throat. As they sprang apart, he said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I wouldn't have interrupted but that policeman over there is striding over. Quite purposefully, in fact."
They watched as the policeman turned away. Colby was amused to note that Eleanor settled back into Don's arms, as they walked back to the Cathedral.
Hannah raised her eyebrows when she saw them, but Colby shook his head, cutting off any questions she was going to ask.
"They've apparently decided to get together," he murmured in her ear.
"I see." Part of her was worried, but another a part of her couldn't help being glad that Eleanor's eyes were shining with happiness.
The ride to Stonehenge was a quiet one. Hannah was nestled in Colby's arms, and Eleanor's hand rested in Don's whenever she could.
Colby was privately disappointed with Stonehenge when they finally got there.
"It's smaller than I thought," Hannah said, as she walked around it.
"No less a feat for it," Eleanor replied.
"I suppose," Hannah said doubtfully. "I guess I just don't understand it well enough to know. Maybe I just don't feel the magic of the place because you can't get into the inner circle of stones."
Eleanor smiled, "Perhaps. If I had been better prepared, I could have shown you the ley lines in the area. But I don't have any dowsing rods with me. Some other time."
They chatted and laughed as Eleanor drove them back to London, stopping at Brick Lane for Bangladeshi food. Wisely, they ordered their dishes mild, and they all enjoyed it.
"Come up for a cup of tea?" Don asked as they pulled up to the flats.
Laughing, Eleanor quipped, "I didn't think you knew how to brew a cup of tea."
He grinned, "I don't. But I'd let you."
She was still laughing, but said, "Not tonight, I'm sorry. I have an appointment early in the morning. Perhaps another day. Soon."
"Alright." Don kissed her goodnight, not caring that Colby and Hannah were standing there.
Hannah stared in fascination, but Colby only grinned.
"Eleanor. Just... be careful. I don't want you to get hurt," Hannah murmured as she hugged Eleanor goodbye.
"It'll be fine, Hannah. I know what I'm doing. I'll see you tomorrow around lunch."