Of Night and Dark Obscurity

“That’s fine then. I’m due at the college. Your grandmother is due to arrive shortly?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll leave you in the Inspector’s capable hands,” he kissed her cheek and was gone.

Chapter 21

Val fell into step beside her as they admired the various different furnishings for the dining room, kitchen and parlor. When her grandmother failed to arrive, she was not surprised. She was suspicious that her grandmother had only agreed to Val’s suggestion intending not to show up, leaving the couple alone.

“I’m sorry my Grandmother seems to have forgotten our appointment.” Caroline said.

“I’m sorry she could not make it, but we both know I wanted to spend this time with you. She was gracious enough to play along and accept.”

They walked through the large department store filled with every sort of item that could be imagined and then some. They came across several marble and wooden figures for the garden.

“What do you think of this?” He asked as they rounded a rather large ceramic figurine of two large toads nestled together on a lily pad.

“I think no.”

“We could place it in the garden outside the sun room?” He prompted.

She shook her head.

“We could nickname them Caroline and Valentine.”

Caroline smiled widely. “Still no.”

“Hmmm. What of this?” He said of an equally odd statue of a mermaid kissing the top of a fish’s head.

She shook her head smiling. “No.”

“You are difficult to please,” he said.

She looked up at him. “I’m not.”

“No,” he said suddenly very serious. “You’re not.”

They came upon the furniture for the bedroom and the large four poster beds were imposing. One was made of dark walnut while another was mahogany with a high shine to it. Caroline ran her hand along the smooth wood.

“Any of these would do for you,” she said admiring the mahogany.

“That’s true. They would do very nicely. But the question is, which one do you like?” He moved toward her. “After a long day meeting with your tenants and having tea with your friends, which bed would you like to fall into?”

Caroline smiled slightly. “You’re unseemly.”

“Which?”

“The mahogany. It seems very rich and luxurious.”

“I agree.” He said.

“But honestly? What does it really matter what I like, Val? It’s your home. It’s your money.”

Val turned and grinned pulling her into his arms. “I like my name on your lips.”

“Stop!” She said smiling. “You can’t kiss me here!?”

“Who said I was going to kiss you?”