Chapter Text
It had been a whirlwind of a day, and it was only 2pm. Richard DeVere was flying his helicopter from London back to Grantleigh for a quick visit. He needed to talk face to face with Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, his neighbour and on-again-off-again friend and foe. He recalled their trip to London together the other day, he had agreed to give her lift. Richard had been surprised that she asked for one, her disdain for the machine had been made more than obvious, but he had been preoccupied with Cavendish and she had been quiet, vague now that he thought about it. No mention that her uncle was the Greville Hartley, no sharing about their lunch that would give him even the slightest hint what she was orchestrating on his behalf. He wasn’t sure if he even asked her how her day had been, such was his state.
Then, this morning, Greville swooped in and saved the day getting the financial backing Cavendish needed and in the process revealing to Richard that he was Audrey’s uncle and saying that he knew they were engaged. Richard was confused, bewildered. Could it be that Audrey would even consider him suitable? It was all so overwhelming, his position saved, his knowledge that Greville was Audrey’s uncle and the possibility that Audrey would even suggest such a thing had his mind in overdrive. He knew he had to see her and find out.
Brabinger announced him and he swept into the small drawing room. Audrey looked up at him from her paper. He strode with purpose and she could see triumph in him, it worked!
"Richard, I thought you'd be in London?" His visit was a surprise, but one she was happy to have.
"I've flown down specially, just to say thanks." He stood in front of her, enjoying the surprised look on her face. He was looking forward to the conversation they were about to have. Many times Audrey had ambushed him, and now it was his turn, albeit his ambush would be far more pleasant for him, potentially embarrassing for Audrey.
"For what?"
"For the fact that I'm still chairman of Cavendish Foods."
"I knew you’d win in the end!" Thank you Uncle Greville. Her smile was radiant as she folded her newspaper to give him her full attention. "Do sit down." She indicated to the lounge across from her, with unmistakable happiness that he had prevailed.
"Yes you did, didn’t you? You fixed things with your uncle." Why? I need to know why. He was going to enjoy this.
What do you know? "I might have just mentioned it to him." Audrey tried to brush the subject of her uncle aside, redirecting the conversation she asked. "Would you like a drink?" Make this as normal as possible. He’s here to stay now, that’s all that matters. You have all the time you need.
"No thank you... and that’s not all you told him apparently. He seems to think that we’re uh." Richard moved his hand in a gesture that indicated there was more to their relationship. Why? Could you feel something for me? He enjoyed watching her squirm. Had Greville got it wrong? Judging by Audrey's reaction, he didn’t think so.
"What on earth does he mean by that?" Uncle Greville what did you say? Audrey sat back. Feigning innocence would be her approach. Uncle Greville was old, a bit eccentric, she could pass anything he said as an assumption that he made.
"Well, I hoped that you can tell me." Tell me Audrey, tell me you want more from me.
"I haven't the faintest idea." She wasn't budging.
"Why did he keep waffling on about family and gossip columns and blood being thicker than water?" Come on Audrey, the game is up. You can tell me.
"Well it is, isn't it?" She smiled charmingly. Her heart was pounding. Would she need to admit what she said? Could she admit it without admitting her feelings for him?
"You told him that we were going to get married. That's why he bailed me out."
"Certainly not." She looked away. She was closed to him. He sighed. When would she let him in?
"Well, where did he get the idea from that I took you to London to choose a ring?"
Is that all he said? I can work with this. "Ah, well I might have given him the impression that I was going to buy a ring and you gave me a lift because-"
He could see that she wasn't going to let him in, and he needed to be clear. He hadn't built his business on favors or ties with people. To think Audrey had coerced her uncle into helping him, was as flattering as it was concerning. With their fragile relationship and her unwillingness to admit to having deeper feelings for him, he worried that she could try to undo the arrangements as quickly as she had had them arranged. "Look, Audrey, let's just get things straight shall we? I'm very grateful for your help, but to force your uncle into helping by kidding him there was some sort of, um, liaison between us -"
"Oh no, that's not the reason he decided to help you." Audrey was nervously fidgeting with her fingers, hoping that Richard wouldn't be offended or upset by her involvement.
"Oh, oh." he was confused again, what could it be, "Well, what was the reason?" This will be good.
"He doesn't like people who wear ready made bow ties." They both laughed. Now her smile was triumphant.
"You're pulling my leg?" Cavendish saved based on that?
"Oh I wouldn't joke about a thing like that."
"Alright then, where's the ring?" He still wasn't convinced but he could see that they were not getting any closer to showing their true feeling and he surrendered to her story. He would still have a little more fun with her though.
"What ring?"
"The ring you were choosing in London."
Damn. "Oh, well, um, sadly I couldn't find one I liked."
He looked at her with disbelief, his head cocked to the side, his face amused.
She could barely look at him. "Well, um, I may have given Uncle Greville the impression that we, um, were" Richard helped her out with the hand gesture, "yes, but um I only intended to help. If I’ve upset you I’m sorry." I would do anything to keep you here, don't be mad at me for trying to help you, to stop you leaving. I told you that we need you here. I need you here.
Upset me? Delighted more like. You went in to fight for me. His heart pounded with her admission and there was so much more he wanted to talk about, but time was ticking and he had a 3pm meeting he had to be back for. He shook his head in disbelief. She had said it, she had saved him. "I, I don't know what to say." There's so much to say, so much I want to tell you. But there was no time. "Well, I better get back to London." He stood up. Audrey looked away, her actions laid bare and now he was leaving.
"Oh, I nearly forgot. I've got something for you, it's a sort of thank you present." He pulled an envelope out of his pocket.
"Richard you shouldn't! What is it?" She loved presents and her face lit up as she stood up to accept the envelope from him.
"It's a share in Cavendish Foods."
"Oh, thank you!"
"Only one I'm afraid as I knew you wouldn't accept any more. At least it will give you an interest in the company you helped saved." He wanted to Audrey to feel a part of Cavendish, it owed her a great deal. He owed her a great deal.
I already have an interest in Cavendish. "Yes it will. May I?" She took his newspaper from under his arm.
"What are you doing?"
"Look Richard, it's gone up already!" she exclaimed as she checked the current share price against the purchase price.
"Yes, thanks to you Audrey."
"I must say, it's rather fun being a shareholder again! Do I get any special privilege's?"
"Oh yes, we let our shareholders have a discount at all our stores."
"Oh good." I need all the savings I can get.
"But you do need a minimum of 100 shares." he said as he walked to the door on the way out.
"I'll start saving."
"Alright, bye."
He left and Audrey sat back down, still smiling. It worked! There was some minor damage, she had been exposed, but it was already water under the bridge. Richard wasn't angry or upset with her, he had bought her a gift, a token of thanks, although he did leave quite quickly after she admitted what she had done. It would be alright though. They still had time.
It hardly seemed enough. One share for saving his business. Well, his position as the head of his business. The business he had built from nothing, starting as a barrow boy in the markets. Now it was a multi-million pound international organization. They had tried to remove him, those chinless wonders he had employed in an effort to crack the class system. But he had prevailed. All thanks to Audrey, a savior he had never anticipated.
Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, his feelings for her were complicated, his attraction towards her strong. They were from completely different backgrounds and she had made it clear how much she resented his presence in the manor, her manor. Yet, there was something about her that intrigued him, pervading his thoughts when he knew that he was far from being desirable to her.
Truth be told they were more similar than they were different. Forthright, confident, determined, and loath to show vulnerability. He had spent decades perfecting his thick skin, not to show the tiniest crack or sign of weakness. Audrey had grown up entitled and having a stiff upper lip was part of her genetics. The only slivers of vulnerability he had ever seen from Audrey were in the seconds after she lost the auction for the manor and again the other day when he told that he might need to sell the manor.
If she would let her walls down, he certainly would, but neither would knock on that door first. He had seen glimpses of desire, like his, in her eyes and the chemistry between them was at times too strong to be denied. If he was certain that she would let him in, he would take the chance and do what he dreamed of. Despite the propositions that he received from woman in London, his mind always went to Audrey. She wasn’t flashy or flirtatious. She didn’t dress in revealing clothes or try to seduce him. In fact, her clothing was conservative, she resisted his efforts to be charming and she was loath to ask anything from him for her personal benefit. Still, he couldn’t stop thinking about her bright blue eyes, the way her nose crinkled when she laughed or what it would be like to slowly undo the buttons of her conservative blouses and press his lips to her creamy skin.
For now though he needed to thank her with more than one share for her role in saving him. From his office in London he called the Old Lodge and his heart skipped a beat when he heard her voice.
“Audrey, it’s Richard”
“Oh hello Richard, I didn’t expect to hear from you again today. Is everything alright?” The concern in her voice touched him. Her protectiveness surprised and delighted him.
Thanks to you Audrey, everything is perfect. Almost. “Yes, well no.” He couldn’t help but want to tease her a little.
“What is it?” she asked, ready to go into battle for him again. Surely Uncle Greville wouldn’t let anything fall through. He smiled, hearing her tone, her concern for him.
“Well, I have been thinking. One share in Cavendish is not enough to show my appreciation. I wondered if you would be free for dinner tonight? It will be a little later because I’m still in London.” Richard needed to celebrate his win and he knew he wanted to celebrate it with Audrey.
“That would be lovely. Thank you.” Audrey smiled, her relief that Richard was safe and would remain at the manor was enough for her, dinner with him was an added bonus. And his quick departure after her admission had not been him running away from her.
“Look, it’s not exactly what I had in mind and I promise I will take you out for dinner to thank you properly but tonight I need to celebrate and I thought I would get us dinner from Annabelle’s. They will do me a special take away package and we can eat it at your place if you like?” Richard knew he was being audacious, suggesting a takeaway dinner to Audrey to eat in her own home, but at the manor they would surrounded by people and gossip would spread, at the Old Lodge there was only Brabinger and he was discreet beyond measure.
“Oh, but it’s Brabinger’s night off.” Audrey stammered.
“That’s okay, I can prepare the food - and I’ll do the dishes!” Richard offered.
Audrey’s brow furrowed. This was most unusual but she couldn’t deny that a dinner alone with Richard was something that she had thought about and wanted. A lot.
“Okay.” She agreed reluctantly. “It could be fun, you waiting on me.” Audrey laughed and she heard Richard join in.
“It’s a date!” he declared, “See you about seven thirty?”
“Looking forward to it. Bye.” Audrey hung up and her eyes looked out her drawing room windows and over at the manor. Richard DeVere, what a man. Tall, dark and handsome. His background made him an entirely unsuitable match. In addition she felt humiliated that in a few short years he had managed to do so much at the manor that she would never have accomplished in a lifetime. He was arrogant, manipulative and annoyingly charming. Audrey sighed, even with these factors going against him, she had spent too much time dreaming about an alternate universe where they could be together. When his background and her financial situation would not be barriers because Audrey knew in her heart that Richard DeVere was the perfect man for her.
Although, what he would see in her she was not sure. He could have any woman he wanted. Not only had she been rude and cruel, deep down she thought herself quite plain. She couldn’t compete with the ladies he would come across in London. Her crisis of confidence was very private, to her best friend Marjory she had bragged that Richard was infatuated with her and even Marjory had scoffed in disbelief knowing how Audrey had treated him. Could there be a chance though? The way he held her when they danced on the terrace, the way his eyes looked at her gave her a thrill and those times she made him laugh and the way that he smiled at her, like they were in their own private world, kept the dream alive that, perhaps, he could feel the same way about her. She was not one for emotional outbursts, for declarations of love or loss but there was something about Richard that made her believe that should he feel the same way, he could be the one person she could confide her feelings, hopes and fears to.