if I could be of any use to you?” Brandon asked. And bingo, thought Sophia. It may seem a little cynical of her but having been a widow for six years she had seen several attempts from the opposite sex to turn up here and bat their eyelids at her, after all she is sitting on a very sizeable chunk of England. When the lawyers had read her late husbands Will which spelled out to her the total amount of monetary value attached to the late Lord Archibald Birmingham and all the Estate assets, Sophia had a comically un-ladylike moment as the floor of the lawyers office came up to greet her. It took her a few moments to realize that she had slid off the chair and landed on the lovely plush pile carpet with what seemed like the entire legal staff standing over her fanning her face. It was beautiful quality carpet but one shouldn’t be seen sitting on it.
Sophia came back to the present moment. This Brandon De Lecour was a surprise though, most men were introduced to her via neighbors, associates or members of the numerous committees Sophia was on. Sophia had to hand it to him, he was cold selling. Perhaps he thought that his good looks were enough of a distraction that she would be falling all over him.
“And what expertise would you be offering? From the garden landscaping angle, that is. You‘re American, are you not? And we are putting together a 1400th century English garden.” Sophia asked, this time with her hands on her hips. It would have been much more effective if she hadn’t had to look up so high. Why was he so tall?
Well I’m off to a flying start, thought Brandon, now she has her hands on her hips and staring at me like I’m after something. Well I am, in a way he thought ruefully, I’m applying for a job I don’t actually need. He knew at that moment that this was exactly what he was looking for. Back to basics. “Yes I am American but I’ve had a bit of experience in the landscaping industry, on most continents. I will admit that it was a while ago that I did any hands on work but I do know a thing or two about plants, particularly older species” He smiled at this statement. Plants and seeds keep him from wanting anything in the world. In fact it had made him a millionaire by the time he had reached his early twenties. He knew his face was a very marketable asset and it had helped him, particularly with the females of the human species! “I have taken two weeks off work and would be happy to help you, for free. I just needed to get out of London for a time, get back to doing what I used to love the most in life.” he added. Why did he say all that? It was true he had no need for a weekly wage but this had him looking desperate.
Oh he is smooth, very smooth. The smile thrown in with just the right amount of subtle confidence in his own ability, yes, very smooth indeed. Sophia was certain that he was not as big an expert as he hoped to portray. She looked at him critically for a moment. Narrowed her eyes and thought what to do with this latest dubious Beau. Then it occurred to her, put him to work. If he was a fake he wouldn’t last until lunch time. Morning tea, if she was lucky. Then she wouldn’t have to keep telling her wayward eyes to stop looking at the pretty boy face with those beautifully sexy brown eyes.
“All right if you’re keen, you can start tomorrow, at 8am. Tomorrow we are moving soil into the very top garden. It’s done by hand shovel and wheelbarrow as we can’t get machinery up there.” This was said with as sweet a smile as physically possible on a face that knew what he was up to.
“8am it is. I will see you than and look forward to perhaps meeting your husband then?” Brandon said and started to walk back done the path. What made him say that? He thought. She really did have very beautiful eyes and was rather nicely put together. But she really wasn’t his type and being a Lady to boot! He knew he had lost his way in his life but checking out a married