Tommy laughed softy into her hair; another moment had been lost. He felt Barbara grip his jacket tightly as they waited for the women to leave. Oblivious to the importance of the impending kiss to Tommy and Barbara they hung around taking their photos and admiring the architecture and peacefulness of the space. He glanced anxiously at his watch. "We better go or we'll be late for the wedding."

He took her hand and they moved quickly through the last few twists and turns of the ice cave. Barbara was not impressed and muttered under her breath all the way back to the cable car. This time it was Tommy who could see the funny side of the interruption. He stopped and kissed her quickly. "It's okay," he said to reassure her, "we now have something to look forward to tonight."

"I prefer to live in the present," she replied as she entered the cable car. Their position near the window was taken so they stood near the rear and watched the mountain recede. Tommy was equally frustrated but he also knew that the electricity between them could have powered all of Zermatt. If he kissed her now they would spend the rest of the day in her room and miss the wedding. His mother would never forgive him.

Barbara was determined that they would spend the several minutes it took to go down the mountain in the gondola cars focused only on each other. She was furious when the crowds meant they had to share with a chatty Japanese couple. She sat stony-faced the entire trip while Tommy patiently named mountains and lakes for them. The only comfort was that he had not yet let go of her hand.

They were a little later than planned. His mother handed Tommy a box that had been delivered for him then bustled them off for showers and to get changed. Fifteen minutes later Tommy was standing beside a fumbling William helping him adjust his bow tie and straightening the lapels of his tuxedo. Barbara nervously emerged in a conservative dark green, short sleeved, cocktail dress with simple lines and a much tighter skirt than she had remembered. She had bought it last week after ringing Judith to find out what dress code was suitable. Tommy was paying all the other expenses so she thought it was only right to dress appropriately rather than her usual chain store trousers. She wanted to blend in but looking at his face she knew she was drawing too much attention.

Tommy saw her and thought his heart had exploded in his chest. He struggled to breathe and his legs were wobbly. Barbara looked stunning. He had no idea she had such a trim and sexy figure and that way she nervously bit her lip excited him in ways he should not admit. He had fantasised about her body and now those scenes flooded his mind. He tried to walk casually towards her but her magnificently dazzling emerald eyes had locked onto his and it felt more like a scene from a B-grade Wuthering Heights movie. He kissed her lightly on the cheek and was surprised that she smelled of flowers. It was a cheap imitation of an expensive perfume he recognised and he decided to buy her the real one very soon. "You look and smell exquisite," he whispered, "that can be our new word."

Barbara felt her face flame at the compliment. "Thank you," she said shyly. She looked around. "Where are Judith and your mother?"

"Already left. We'll meet them up there."

Tommy offered Barbara his arm. She caught William's eye and he winked at her. When Tommy went to start the electric buggy he could not help but tease her. "When I said show him a sign I had no idea you would take me so literally with your little green light."

Barbara blushed. "I never thought of it that way! Is it too much? I was trying to blend in."

"Blend in you won't but no, I think it is perfect. My soon to be brother-in-law could not take his eyes off you."

Tommy drove them through the town. She had expected to stop at the funicular but instead he drove to the heliport. "Oh no. We're not, are we?" she asked horrified. How am I going to get into that with this skirt!

"We have to arrive on time," William said.

Barbara glowered at Tommy. "You should have said."

He was mildly concerned. "You're not scared of helicopters are you?"

"No but I am not exactly dressed for it."

"I'll help you," he said politely but his intentions were not as honourable as he sounded.

Barbara was fascinated by the view for short ride up to Rothorn. The alps spread before her and in the late afternoon light the mountain tops sparkled like diamonds. The helicopter landed about two hundred metres from the restaurant and Barbara silently cursed her shoes. They were only an inch higher than her flats but if she had known she had to walk on the rocky path she might well have considered jeans and her runners. Tommy offered his arm and had a sly, beaming smile across his face. He looked far too pleased with himself but she had to admit she enjoyed knowing that she was the cause.

There was a large terrace on the cobblestones beside the restaurant and seats had been set up in two arcs for the service. Tommy escorted Barbara to her seat in the front row. She had no idea there would be anyone other than the family attending but it seemed as if half of Zermatt had turned up. When Tommy went to find his mother she felt scrutinised by the curious gazes of the guests. She knew her face was red. It was a painful reminder that she was not part of their circle. No one she knew, other than Tommy, would jet off overseas to a friend's wedding.

Tommy found his mother in the restaurant attending to Judith who looked stunning in a cream suit. "There you are Tommy!" Daze said when she spotted him.

"Mother."

"Barbara looks beautiful."

"Yes, she does," Tommy said clearly not focussed on his mother.

"Does she know how you feel?"

The question took him by surprise but he answered honestly. "I think so."

"I think so doesn't convince me Tommy. William said he interrupted you the other day. You've been together constantly so you must know how she reacted when you finally acted."

"The moment hasn't been right. I haven't 'acted' as you put it."

"Oh son. You spend your life looking for the perfect moment and you miss all the ones that come along. Carpe diem Tommy! Make you own perfect moments or you'll continue to wander around being miserable. Stop torturing yourself by trying to be the perfect Lord Asherton all the time and just be true to what your feel. No go out there and decide what you want in life."

Tommy returned to his seat and sat beside Barbara. He was quite shaken by his mother's words and looked at Barbara unsure what to do or say. She smiled at him. He saw her discomfort being here and stretched his arm around her shoulders. He was sending a signal to both her and the spectators. He leant towards her to say something reassuring when alpenhorns sounded. They both looked across to see Matthias, Jens and Dirk. Barbara smirked and Tommy grimaced. "I can't get away from them!"

She did not want this to create tension so she nervously turned towards him and reached out to take his hand. His fingers closed around hers quickly and he looked at her in a way that made her want to hold him and never let him go.

With his hand holding hers and his other arm around her she was in the perfect position for him to kiss her. Tommy understood that Barbara was uncomfortable in these surroundings and knew how hard it was for her to show affection so publicly. He thought about how it would look. It was hardly appropriate, not here, not now. It should be private; just between them. Then he remembered her comment about living in the moment and his mother's words. He stopped thinking and acted. It was a memorable kiss; nothing passionate but gentle and full of love. In other circumstances it would have been just the start of many such kisses. "Hold that thought," he whispered as he released her hand and removed his arm.

Barbara's head was spinning. They had been playing on the edges with affectionate pecks and she had anticipated that their kiss in the cave would have been fiery and passionate. Somehow this was better; it had spoken of respect, and understanding and the tenderness in both their hearts. If she did not think of all the people behind them that had witnessed it, it was the perfect kiss. My God, Dorothy! Barbara turned around slowly to look but his mother was not in sight. She sighed, relieved that she did not have to explain that to her.

The ceremony started and Dorothy joined them. Barbara could not look at her. Dorothy had seen the kiss from where she stood with Judith just inside the restaurant. About time! She was delighted. Judith was happy and it seemed Tommy might finally find peace and love as well.

During the reception inside the traditional Swiss restaurant Barbara concentrated on her manners. She did not want to embarrass Tommy. She limited her toasts to sips, not letting down her guard. She had admired the untroubled way he had given his speech and the smooth way he had danced with his mother and sister. William had danced with her and had discreetly issued orders so she did not trip them up. When it was her time to dance with Tommy she was afraid. He would probably forget she was completely out of her depth. Whether planned or not the song was a slow one and their dance was deliciously intimate. Barbara was pulled firmly to him and his hand stroked her back in a loving, comforting way. Their feet barely moved. He leant down and she thought he might kiss her again. This time it seemed more natural and she did not care who saw them. Instead he simply said, "at the end of this song let's go outside."

The terrace was cool. The last light was fading and the mountains were silhouetted against the darkening sky. Barbara shivered and Tommy whipped off his coat and placed it carefully around her shoulders. He took her hand and led her towards the wall that bordered the terrace and the mountainside. "Alone at last."

Barbara knew that this time their kiss would not be restrained. They had been thwarted too often. She waited for him to kiss her. Years of repressed feelings were about to be channelled into this kiss. She was surprisingly calm.

"If Matthias even thinks of coming near us he is going over the edge," he declared. Tommy was nervous. The build-up had been too long and now he had a mild case of performance anxiety. He wanted this to be perfect but his mother's words haunted him. It was more important that she understood he loved her like he had never loved anyone else. He started slowly; first he kissed her cheek then kissed his way towards her mouth. He took a deep breath before he kissed her; slowly, passionately and with a tenderness that ripped open his heart.

Barbara responded instantly taking Tommy a little by surprise with her eagerness. He was not sure why he had expected her to be hesitant but as passions quickly soared he soon wished they were back at the chalet and not on a mountain top. He broke the kiss in order to slow things down. At this rate they would be searching for a quite spot somewhere here for some type of fast and furious encounter and that was not how he wanted tonight to end. He had planned this since he had seen her bedroom and he intended to make this fantasy real.

At that moment, had he asked, Barbara would have voted for fast and furious. These few days had been unexpected and lovely but she was not deluded enough to think this would translate back to London. She had no idea how they could go back to their old relationship but right now all she wanted was for Tommy to kiss her and make her feel special. She wanted him to make love to her and could tell from his physical reactions he wanted that too. That's why she was so disappointed when he stopped.

"Sorry," she said when he pulled away. She suspected she had been too keen and he had remembered who he was actually kissing.

"Why? I could do this for the rest of my life but I'm a man Barbara, I have...weaknesses."

He sounded almost pathetic and Barbara almost laughed. She decided to turn their sudden awkwardness into a joke. "So you didn't bring me to Switzerland to seduce me on a mountain top then, I'm disappointed."

"Are you? I brought you here because I could not imagine five days without you."

Barbara was not sure how to answer that but it sounded so sweet she wanted to kiss him again. Tommy started to fumble around her waist and it was only when he pulled out a small cloth bag that she realised he had been feeling for the inside pocket of his jacket.

"I bought you a gift and before you say no hear me out please. Barbara, I know this sounds sudden given our history but I can't imagine not spending every day of my life with you. I didn't bring you here to seduce you on a mountain although at the moment that has enormous appeal. I brought you here, away from work, to see if what I feel and what I suspect you feel was more than just a deepening friendship. Somewhere along the line, a long time ago I think, I fell in love with you. I wanted us to relax and get in touch with who we are underneath all the titles and ranks. I wanted you to love me, Tommy, not just DI Lynley or Lord Asherton."

She stared at him unwilling to believe her ears. The answer was obvious but she had not expected to tell him; ever, let alone now. She swallowed hard. "I like and respect DI Lynley and Lord Asherton has grown on me but it's always been Tommy who has been my friend. It is Tommy I fell in love with years ago and it's Tommy that I'll love for the rest of my life."

They stared at each other and it was hard to tell who was more shocked by her statement. Tommy took something from the bag and fastened it around her wrist before he pulled her into an embrace. It might have seemed like the moment to kiss her but instead Tommy wanted to feel the intense emotional connection he had felt that day in Suffolk when he had held her as she wept. It had been then he had first known that she was the one person in the world he could not live without.

For Barbara. holding him close and being enveloped in his arms had an almost mystical quality. Energy and love seemed to flow freely between them in a way that calmed her mind and her doubts. She caressed his back as she buried her face into his chest. He smelt wonderfully earthy. She bumped his belt with her wrist and remembered his gift.

Curiosity made her look and she gasped when she saw the watch she had admired the other day. It went against all her prejudices to accept it but she knew he meant it as a gesture of love and not a show of wealth and power. "When did you buy this?" she asked knowing he had barely been out of her sight.

"I paid over the phone and they delivered it today. I bought it for you because I thought if I asked you to marry me tonight you would run right off this mountain but now I wish it was a ring."

Barbara almost fell off the mountain. "Was that a proposal?"

"Not exactly," he said testing the waters to see how she would react. "Think of it as advanced notice that one is coming so that you can have your answer ready."

"You already know my answer."

Tommy was shocked. He had expected her to argue about the watch and about marrying him and the whole Acton versus Eton disparity. Another enigma key perhaps; simply show her you love her and it will overcome all the doubts and fears. He chuckled inwardly wondering what the fifth key would be. Somehow he thought tonight he would find out.

Tommy defied his age and future spinal damage and picked her up and spun her around. He lowered her to the ground and kissed her ravenously, just the way he had intended in the ice cave.

Ten minutes later they were landing in Zermatt. It had cost him a handsome sum of Swiss francs but the helicopter pilot had been happy to fly them back. At the chalet he quickly grabbed his bathrobe and the box that had been delivered earlier before they went to her room. Tommy locked the door and kissed her lovingly. "Now I do intend to seduce you...Your Ladyship."


Author's note: Here ends the T-rated story.