The Burlington Manor Affair

Where are you?

He’d been all over the house. There was nowhere else.

He took one last glance outside, and when he looked along the building from the boot room he caught sight of the low glow of light given out by the night heaters in the conservatory. They were left on timers for the tropical plants in there.

Of course, the conservatory.

Carmen often used to go there to be on her own and read. She loved the greenery more than anyone else in the house. Apart from a brief wander through it on his initial return to the manor—when he’d familiarized himself with the whole house again—Rex hadn’t been back there.

Could she be in there now?

He made his way back through the house and, as he glanced into the reception rooms, he saw that Mrs. Amery and Leanne were already busy with the clear-up operation, even though a couple of the guests still lingered. Rex headed quickly down the corridor before they could waylay him.

The double casement glass doors were closed, and he peered into the gloom but couldn’t see anything. Quietly he opened the doors and went inside. The smell of earth and sap immediately filled his senses. He padded across the terra-cotta-tiled floor and down to the far end where he remembered she used to go. In the far corner of the space you could see right across the countryside beyond.

Sure enough she was there, perched on a work surface that was used for potting plants. Beneath the solid worktop were shelves lined with pots ready for seedlings. It was her favorite spot, and he berated himself for not thinking of it earlier.

It was also the place where they’d nearly made love, all those years ago. He’d found her there then, and they got stoned and she’d put her hand on his chest, looking up at him with an invitation in her eyes. They’d kissed—and a long-awaited kiss it was, too—and it tripped something in them both. Unbridled lust. She’d plucked at his clothing with her hands, and he lifted her and sat her onto that very work surface. He’d stood between her legs, his hands wrapped around her thighs. When he asked her what she needed, she told him how much she wanted him.

Just remembering the occasion gave Rex a semi.

Now they’d been apart one week and Rex wanted her badly. What had he been thinking of arranging for other people to be around? He’d put space between them. That had to be mended. These weekends were far too precious.

Nearby the place where she sat, a night heater glowed in the gloom, just enough to illuminate her outline in the corner. She’d abandoned her heels and sat with her stocking feet up on the work surface.

Rex put his hands in his pockets and walked closer, as casually as he could. As he closed in on her, she sat up properly, dangling her feet to the floor. Her face was still shrouded in darkness, but the light from the heater illuminated her legs, drawing his attention.

“I’m sorry I left you to it,” she said when he drew to a halt some four feet away. “You must think me very childish, bailing out like that.”

“Of course not, you’ve never been that.”

Even though he was aching to hold and comfort her, he knew he had to tread cautiously. One thing he’d quickly learned was that she was a proud woman now, and she protected that fiercely. The mature Carmen Shelby was independent and prickly. That she’d let him so close and submitted herself to him so thoroughly made him feel privileged, and yet he knew she could withdraw just as easily. He’d seen it happening already and he didn’t like the way it felt. The look he’d seen on her face the week before, when she said she couldn’t do this, made him fear that she would pull away. Yet she’d looked so sure, so happy, at that end of the first weekend, happy to be back in Burlington Manor, and taking pleasure from their intimacy.

The need to make amends was great. When he’d seen her hurt it had struck home how much she meant to him, but Carmen was a proud woman and it had to be handled right. He was afraid he’d take something away from her that was important. This was real now. When they were having sex it almost felt like role-play. Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn’t. He wasn’t sure, but Rex wanted to know.

“You went to so much trouble,” she said.

“I wanted life in the old place again. I wanted to see you happy. You used to love the parties.” He felt her scrutiny as she stared across at him.

“I know, and I appreciate your efforts.” She hopped down from her perch, and stepped closer to the heater.

Rex didn’t like the reserved, almost sad look he saw on her face when the soft glow lit her from below. “I’m sorry that I did the wrong thing.”

She gave a quick smile but he could tell it was forced. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

There was no way around it. He was going to have to ask. “What did Amanda say to you?”

Carmen broke eye contact and glanced away, shifting closer to the window as she wrapped her hands around her upper arms. Looking out into the moonlight she took some time before she answered. “She told me I was a sad, lonely spinster, and she said that you were one of the best lovers she’d ever had.”

“Bloody hell.” Rex hadn’t expected that last part. It never even occurred to him that Amanda would throw up a one-night stand from the past just to upset Carmen. Perhaps he should have thought of it, given that Amanda could be deliberately provocative when she’d had a few drinks, but he scarcely even remembered the event and assumed she’d be the same. “I’m really sorry she told you.”

Carmen laughed softly, and there was a wry tone to it. “Oh, don’t be. I already knew that you’d screwed her.”

Rex reeled. Carmen knew?

Her tone was so wary that he wondered if he’d be able to get through the barbed exterior she emanated. “I’m sorry. And I’m sorry if it was awkward, her being here tonight. It didn’t occur to me that she’d be like that.”

Women talked, he should have realized.