The Last Letter from Juliet - Melanie Hudson Page 0,15

Fox?’ He turned to me, smiling. ‘That’s never you?’

I shrugged. ‘Once upon a time, yes.’

‘You’ve got to be kidding? But you’re too young, surely.’

He was genuinely shocked. My heckles started to twitch.

‘Kidding? Not at all. I’d take you up, take you through my routine, but I doubt you’ve got the stomach for it. Few do.’

My ‘I dare you’ expression set off a further glimmer of amusement in his eyes. He took the bait and ran with it.

‘Oh, I’ve got the stomach for it, but only if you truly know what you’re doing. I’ve no wish to die young.’

‘Ah, I see.’ I turned away and knelt to duck under the aircraft to remove the chocks while talking. ‘You’re one of those men.’ He followed me.

‘Those, men?’

‘Yes, the type who can’t believe – or cope with – a woman doing anything outside of the ordinary drudge they’re usually stuck with. I grew up with a thoroughly modern and fair father – progressive, as you said – and I’m simply not used to being around men like you.’ I glanced up at him.

He raised his brows into a question mark.

‘Dinosaurs,’ I said.

I expected a smirk. But he smiled. A soft smile. He stepped towards me.

‘I was joking. Truly. I’m not at all one of those men.’

It was my turn to take a deep breath. I’d been overly nice to this man long for enough. I put on my helmet, goggles and gloves with sharp snatches.

‘So, will you help? Because I can manage on my own if not.’

‘I’ll help,’ he said.

‘And you’ve started a propeller before, you say?’

He nodded. ‘A few times, yes.’

‘I’ll jump in and leave you to it, then.’ I paused. ‘But only you’re sure you know what you’re doing?’

‘Of course, I do.’

‘Good.’

‘Good.’

I climbed into the back seat and prepared the Moth for taxi. He turned the propeller and then …

‘Contact?’

‘Contact!’

And off the little Tiger Moth went.

Chapter 5

Juliet

Lanyon

I grabbed my bag and ran away from the field, sharpish, arriving at Lanyon half an hour later to find a concerned Charles on the drive pacing outside the grand front door.

‘Oh, hello, darling,’ I said, blundering my way into the hallway ahead of him. ‘Sorry I’m late. I had to put down in a field and ended up having a bit of commotion with some cows, but it’s all sorted now.’ I pecked him on the cheek. ‘Where’s Lottie,’ I asked, taking off my flying helmet while glancing in the hall mirror. God! Had I really looked like that in front of Edward? I quickly tidied my hair and tried to rub a smudge of oil away with the back of my hand. ‘Only I’m desperate to catch up.’

Charles didn’t answer but took my hands.

‘But … Darling,’ he paused. ‘Before you see Lottie, I really do think we need to talk about, you know, the arrangement … only, Pa wants to iron a few things out. Details, you know.’

I shook him off with a peck on the lips.

‘Yes, I suppose we do. But not now though.’ I smiled my brightest smile and patted him on the arm. ‘I’m desperate to get in front of the fire and warm up, it was absolutely freezing up there today. Oh, and I’m afraid I rather upset those cows when I landed. Do you think you could send a thank you to your man … Jessops, is it? Perhaps some cider or something? He was ever so helpful, moving the cows to another field. And I’ve left the Moth in a barn.’

Charles laughed.

‘Poor Jessops. Yes, of course I can. I’m visiting him tomorrow. I’ll take something to him then.’

I kissed Charles again, with a little more enthusiasm this time, before striding across the hallway and placing my hand on the sitting room door handle. ‘Is Lottie in here?’

Charles nodded. Smiling, I slipped off my muddy flying boots and turned the brass knob on the large panelled door.

Lottie was dozing on a large sofa by the bay window. A King Charles Spaniel lay by her feet. An embroidered shawl, the most perfect shade of russet red, was wrapped around her shoulders.

‘Juliet!’

Lottie, stirring at the sound of the door, threw her legs off the sofa and crossed the room to hug me. ‘I’ve been waiting for you all afternoon. We saw you fly past ages ago. Charles imagined you dead in a ditch somewhere, although why a ditch always has to be involved whenever anyone goes missing is beyond me.’ She took a step backwards to look me up and