Читать книгу What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? - Katie Oliver - Страница 19

Chapter 9

The minute she and her sisters finished lunch, Charli asked to be excused and hurried into her room to change. It was time to get ready for her meeting – because it wasn’t a date, exactly – with Ciaran Duncan.

They’d agreed, via several texts, to meet in Longbourne at the Carefree Cruises marina, where Ciaran said he had a surprise in store for her.

I love a mystery! Charli texted. What shld I wear?

Whatevr u like… but heels NOT recommended.

No heels? she thought in dismay as she rummaged through her closet for a pair of sandals. She didn’t own a pair of shoes that weren’t platforms or wedges or teetering semi-stilettos (changed into once out of Daddy’s sight). She hoped Ciaran wasn’t one of those blokes who liked to hike, or ride bicycles, or something equally sporty and tiresome.

Eventually she unearthed a pair of gladiator sandals she’d bought with her babysitting money and laced them up. The leather ties went half the way up her calves and looked very on trend with her bright yellow sundress.

And Charli loved to be on trend.

Next, she sat at her dressing table and applied pink lip gloss, feathered on a trace of blush and a flick of mascara, and sat back to survey the result.

She looked, she decided, sort of like Brigitte Bardot, and practised a sexy pout. Perfect. Ciaran would be bowled over by her sexy, girl-next-door outfit and her innocent, schoolgirl look.

Although she still actually was a schoolgirl, she thrust that thought firmly aside.

Charli felt a thrill of anticipation. Today would be brilliant, absolutely brilliant, because she’d be spending the afternoon with Ciaran Duncan, and she couldn’t wait.

She rubbed plenty of factor fifty sun cream onto her shoulders and chest, and dabbed a bit on her face for good measure – no pink lobster look for her, thank you very much – and stood up to go. Next on was a floppy-brimmed hat that looked very seventies boho and made her feel like a film star going incognito.

Finally, she chucked her mobile, a tube of sun cream, lip gloss, and sunglasses into a straw tote, and left for her first-ever almost-date with a major international film star.

***

When luncheon ended, Lord and Lady Darcy took their glasses of wine and went to sit outside and enjoy the sun. ‘Will you and Holly join us?’ Sarah Darcy asked Hugh as she paused beside the French doors that led to the terrace.

‘Thanks, but I think we’ll go into town and do a bit of sightseeing.’ He turned to her now. ‘How does that sound, darling?’

‘Perfect,’ she agreed, relieved at the thought of escaping Cleremont – and Hugh’s polite but frankly intimidating parents – at least for an afternoon. She took his arm. ‘It’s such a nice day, it’d be a shame to waste this gorgeous weather.’

‘Perhaps I should go along,’ Lady Sarah mused. ‘I know the village like the back of my hand. I could show you round.’

Holly felt her smile slip. Oh, dear God, no…

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ her husband said shortly. ‘Leave the two young lovebirds to it, Sarah. Nothing worse than a third bloody wheel. Besides, you know the sun gives you brown spots.’

She glared at him and, glass in hand, turned and stalked out through the French doors.

‘That was a close call,’ Hugh said, his voice low but amused as they crossed the hall to the front door. ‘Mum’s idea of sightseeing is visiting historical churches – unfortunately, they’re a dime a dozen round here – and reading the inscriptions on tombstones.’

‘Not exactly my idea of a rousing good time,’ Holly agreed with a grimace. ‘Where shall we go? Any ideas?’

‘I took the liberty of asking the cook to pack us a hamper with some wine and cheese – and chocolate – for later. I thought we might drive down to Longbourne and see the sights, perhaps have a picnic on the beach.’

‘Oh, you perfect, wonderful man!’ she cried, pleased. ‘You remembered – I do love my chocolate. Did you get the salted kind?’

‘I did.’

Holly rose up on her toes to kiss him. ‘That’s sweet… and incredibly romantic. I’ll just go upstairs and get my handbag.’

‘Be sure to bring plenty of sun cream,’ he pointed out as she hurried up the stairs. ‘And perhaps a hat.’

‘I will,’ she promised. ‘You be sure and bring that picnic hamper.’

How typically Hugh, Holly reflected, smiling as she turned away – always thinking of the practicalities.

***

‘Ah, Miss Bennet, you’re here. You look lovely.’

Charli looked up to see Ciaran standing before her on the dock, and any response she might have made froze in her throat.

From the top of his dark, windblown hair to the tip of his deck shoes, Ciaran Duncan was so gorgeous as to make her all but incapable of speech. He wore white jeans with a blue polo shirt, open at the neck and displaying his lightly tanned throat and defined abs to advantage. In his hand was a leather weekend bag.

Hermès, she couldn’t help but notice.

‘What’s that?’ she asked, eyeing the bag with a frown. ‘I can’t – erm, that is, I… have school tomorrow.’ Which was a total lie, but there was no way she could actually spend the night with Ciaran Duncan – no matter how much she might want just such an outcome.

Besides, her father would kill her.

He glanced down at the bag. ‘This? Filming resumes at Cleremont tomorrow. I have a change of clothing in here. I plan to stash it on that…’ – he indicated a yacht moored at the pier behind them, all gleaming brass and furled sails and polished teak decks – ‘until Saturday, when I’m taking part in the local Challenge Cup regatta. I intend to place… and win.’

‘Oh.’ Charli flushed with embarrassment at her unintended faux pas. ‘The regatta races, of course! I thought… that is, I saw your bag, and I just assumed…’

‘You thought I intended to behave like the cad you’ve no doubt heard I am,’ he finished, ‘and wine and dine you, and tempt you to stay the night with me, so I could have my wicked way with you.’ He regarded her without expression. ‘Am I right?’

Her blush deepened. ‘Y-yes,’ she confessed, thrilled and alarmed in equal measure by his words. ‘I suppose that’s exactly what I thought.’

‘Well, we will be boarding my yacht,’ he told her, and took her by the elbow to guide her around the cleats and uneven boards of the dock, ‘but I promise I’ll be on my very best behaviour. I merely thought to take you for an afternoon sail.’ He paused. ‘But if you have the slightest of doubts or hesitations…’

‘Oh, no, none at all,’ she assured him, hastily. ‘I’m really looking forward to it. Although I don’t know the first thing about sailing.’

‘Nor do I.’ He tucked her arm through his as they proceeded towards the gangplank that led to his yacht. ‘That’s why I’ve hired a very able-bodied and capable crew to handle the Meryton for me.’

‘How clever. Then all you have to do is sit back and enjoy yourself.’

‘Precisely,’ he said, and paused once again to bring her hand up to his lips, his eyes never leaving hers. ‘And I plan to enjoy myself very much this afternoon.’

As she allowed him to assist her up onto the gangplank, Charli smiled, and felt a thrill of excitement at his words.

What a pity that she couldn’t actually spend the night…