The Last Letter from Juliet - Melanie Hudson Page 0,13

called me beautiful.

‘Listen,’ I interrupted, eventually, ‘we seem to have got off on the wrong foot.’ I turned towards the cows again who were quite a way away now. ‘You’re absolutely right in everything you say. Perhaps we could shake hands on the matter and start again – shall we?’

I removed my right flying glove and held out my hand. He hesitated, as if some kind of trickery might be involved, but then my hand was in his, being held for what seemed to be a couple of seconds ever so slightly longer than necessary, despite the chiding.

He pulled away.

Silence again, except for the whistle of the wind across the cliff tops. The void needed to be filled.

‘And hey! As a thank you, how about I take you flying this week sometime?’

He tilted his head to one side. He was suppressing a smile, I was sure of it.

‘A thank you? A thank you for what?’

I glanced towards the barn.

‘Well – and I know it’s ever so cheeky – but for allowing me to store my aircraft in your barn for the week.’

He turned to look at the barn.

‘The thing is, I can’t leave the old girl out here all week. I’m a guest at Lanyon for Christmas, you see, and I’m sure they would vouch for my good character – although it seems you’ve made a decision about that already.’ I added, with a side-eye towards the dog, who looked unconvinced. ‘I’ll pay for the inconvenience, obviously, although you’ll probably simply accuse me of throwing money at the problem …’

He braced his back against the breeze. His expression was unreadable. Was that a smile, though?

‘Which one?’ he asked, finally.

‘Which one, what?’

‘Which Lanyon are you the guest of?’

‘Er …’

Now, I know I should have said, Charles, I’m his fiancée, but the angel sitting on my right shoulder went into all-out battle with the devil on my left and the devil won. I should also have added, ‘We’re getting married this week, on Christmas Eve in fact. Do you know him?’

But I didn’t. Instead I went with …

‘Oh, I went to school with the daughter of the house. Lottie Lanyon?’

He nodded a kind of understanding.

‘The cove was the most perfect navigational landmark, what with the mounts …’ I touched my hair far too often as I spoke. ‘But the lawn at Lanyon – where I was expecting to land – was not at all suitable – trees, you see – and then there was the most terrible downdraft from the cliffs. So, it was either put down in your field or bust the old girl up in a hedge. And as I said. I didn’t notice the cows. I’m so very sorry.’

Just how many times would I need to apologise to the man?

He sniffed, considering. I wasn’t sure quite just what he was considering, exactly. We glanced in unison at the cows again, who were slowly being funnelled through a gateway into the next field.

‘Are they very upset by it all, do you think?’ I asked. ‘Is that what the problem is? Should I go and, I don’t know, pat them all and apologise or something.’

Finally, he laughed. Even his dog glanced up at him with an amused eye roll.

‘I shouldn’t think an apology is necessary.’ He patted the aircraft, visibly relaxing. ‘They would have eyed this machine of yours as an excellent scratching post. They’re most likely annoyed to have missed a good look-see. Cows are inquisitive beasts. Don’t you think so, Miss?’

‘Caron,’ I answered brightly. ‘Miss Caron.’

What the hell was I doing? The man was a rude and sanctimonious ass. And, oh, yes – I was getting married.

‘Caron,’ he repeated, softly. ‘Is that a French name?’

‘Yes. My mother was the Caron. She was French. She insisted that Papa took her name. Papa was English through and through, though.’

‘How very …’

‘Modern?’ I offered.

‘I was going to say, “good of him”. They sound like a progressive family.’

Gaining just a little of the sense I was born with, and not wishing to talk about my parents, I took control.

‘But back to the barn,’ I said. ‘I know it’s such an imposition, Mr …’ I paused and waited for him to finish my sentence.

‘Nancarrow – Edward, Nancarrow.’

A Cornish name? But the American accent? Intriguing.

‘… Nancarrow, but as I said, do you think I could put my aircraft in your barn overnight. Only, the wind’s getting up and an aircraft like this isn’t very sturdy – it’s not much more than a few planks of