Beauty and the Brit -Chapter 16: A Settled Start (Patreon)

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN: A SETTLED START

Once Paige had chosen a room, Derick had ensured that she had everything she needed—especially knowing where the toilet was and where she could get extra blankets and towels if she didn’t see a staff member right away. Also, he showed her how to get back to the foyer of the house where she was sure to find her way easily to the dining room, the kitchen, and so forth. Derick then made sure that the arrangements were made for her room to be made up for her and in the meantime Derick asked if Paige would like to have lunch with him —to which she agreed.

She then softly argued that she didn’t want much fuss to be made so they agreed to compromise with a hot meal of grilled cheese and soup since Derick had wanted something hot and fresh to be whipped up for her but Paige had countered she’d be fine with a sandwich.

Then the two sat together eating in a small room just off of his kitchen.

“So,” Derick began when they were mostly through with their meal and Paige had been laughing about some kerfuffle that had happened on the plane which had been quite comical, “is everything sort of settling in your mind or is this still all really surreal or—?”

Paige smiled and felt a slight bounce of nervousness in her stomach. She finished chewing her latest bite of grilled cheese and wiped her hands on the paper napkin before she spoke to respond, “Honestly it’s a bit of both. I think a piece of me can’t believe that I’m actually here and I'm just waiting for the moment where I wake up or I realize that someone set this all up! But then another piece of me has been so calmed by your constant presence and friendliness and reassurances and honestly there’s been few moments that I’ve really sort of taken a mental step back about all this. So, I appreciate that.”

Derick found his cheeks warming slightly with a bit of a blush. “N-nothing makes me more happy than to hear that, Paige. You’re very and incredibly welcome!”

She smiled back, feeling a bit embarrassed that she’d been so honest about her feelings but as per usual Derick didn’t seem to find it uncomfortable.

“Can I get you anything else?” he offered a few moments later.

She shook her head. “I’m actually quite full thank you very much. This was great!”

“I’m pleased that you liked it. I’d have a word with the cook if you didn’t.”

“Derick oh-my-God don’t say stuff like that, it actually makes me nervous!” she exhaled.

He held up his hands, palms towards her. “Noted. I apologize. I don’t wish to make you nervous.”

You do anyway she responded in her head, admiring the kindness of his smile for the upteenth time.

Following lunch, Derick asked if she’d like to take a walk within the property. “We’ve of course got a proper garden and trees and field if that’s more to your interest,” he chuckled and she laughed along.

“When you say garden you just mean like backyard right? I… Well I noticed back when you were visiting me you referred to our backyard as ‘the garden’ a couple times and then you explained.”

“Oh right yes! But in this case I mean in both contexts: the outdoor back of our property and also one of greeneries. We have a vegetable and fruit plot of land but it’s more by the staff quarters since it’s shared between staff use and use for my manor needs and…”

“I’m willing to see anything,” Paige assured.

“Then, I shall show you the food later perhaps when we are more hungry and I shall show you behind the place right now.” There was mirth in his eyes as though he knew something special she didn’t and though that fact was not surprising given that this was his home and she’d never visited, something about this look made Paige’s heart beat a bit faster and she took a breath to try and subside the giddy feeling bubbling up in her chest.

Paige was absolutely enamoured by what he showed her next.

"This is called a ‘Knot Garden’,” he explained as she beheld the hedges shaped in beautiful patterns before them. “And that,” he pointed to a similar-looking area, “is called a parterre!”

“They’re different things!?” she exclaimed with a blush.

“Yes. This ‘Knot Garden’ is typically filled with aromatic plants and as I’m told does not have to all sit at the same size whereas a ‘parterre’ consists of hedges taken to the same height.”

“W-well both of them are incredible!” she praised at seeing the geometric patterns in the square blocks of each garden that framed the paths through the area. “What’s that beyond there? Are those flowers?” She was grinning.

“Good eye. Yes! Flowers,” he agreed excitedly, “Come on through with me Paige I think you’ll really like the flower gardens.”

He was definitely not wrong. Derick had flowers of all colours and many shapes and sizes. It was quite a wonder and her eyes were overwhelmed with the sight of it all. It would take her a few more visits to this part of Derick’s home to fully take it all in and appreciate it. However, one thing that caught her attention was, “Roses!”

“Yes!”

She hurried ahead a little and gazed at the beautiful rose bushes that the gardener had arranged to grow up a brick divider wall. There were three colours: yellow, pink and a stunning maroon on the opposite side.

Derick grinned; this was clearly the part he’d been looking forward to.

“Derick this is incredible!” she proclaimed.

“I had a feeling you’d enjoy this bit,” he mused, “everything else is beautiful, yes, but these just have their own natural beauty. I think it’s because they’re growing in their own pattern; not tended the same as the others,” he surmised.

She nodded, in absolute agreement. As she gazed at the maroon buds on the opposite side of the wall, she was reminded suddenly of the red rose that Derick had given her back at ‘The Gala’ in her own hometown just over a week ago. Her cheeks flushed and she hoped that he wouldn’t notice and ask. She’d have to lie and she worried that she’d fumble over her words and make herself blush even more.

Luckily, Derick either did not notice or at any rate did not say anything as they carried on to look at other flowers manicured in delightful arrangements throughout the garden.

Paige’s choice of room was at last available shortly before dinner and she took some time to unpack before joining Derick and some of his staff for the meal.

The door to enter her bedroom was on the far left of the room and looked in on a bookshelf (which Paige of course loved), an upholstered chair to the right of the shelves, a wardrobe to the left-hand side of the room against the perpendicular wall and a lovely expanse of carpeted space in deep, rich colours. Once entered, the bed could be found several feet to the right which was flanked by two bedside tables carrying small, elegant lamps. The walls of the room were panelled in richly coloured wood of chestnut brown, though the actual composition of them was unknown to Paige’s mind.

Across from the bed (which sat on the wall that the door shared) were thick curtains over good-sized double casement windows with floating mullions dividing the panes of glass into squares. To the right of those was a gorgeous escritoire in a cherry coloured wood and beside that tucked into the far right corner of the room was a fireplace that had comfortable chairs and a table along the semi-circle of the hearth.

Finally, another wardrobe and also a chest of drawers bordered the wall directly across from the writing desk, lying between one of the bedside tables and the door to the bathroom which was on the far right wall perpendicular to the entry door to the room.

The room felt twice the size of her own back at Redford Manor though it wasn’t quite double the square footage. She supposed the additions of having a desk and a number of chairs around the place made it seem larger in her mind.

Dinner passed by with not much of note. Paige got to know a couple of the staff members a little bit and saw how at ease they were with her and especially with Derick. She could see that though they worked for him, there was a certain level of friendship and familiarity and it was comforting. It put her more at ease to know that she didn’t need to feel intimidated to ask them for something. It felt somewhat like a family, even, she would come to find in the following days.

After they’d all chat away an hour after their food was finished being eaten, they offered to make Paige tea or coffee if she wanted.

She settled on tea which somehow tasted even better here than it did earlier (maybe it wasn’t just the ‘British’ way of making the tea but the warm company) and after another half hour of talking and laughing with Derick and his staff, she began to feel herself growing a bit tired. The excitement of all of this was catching up to her and Derick could even spot it.

“Time to let you retire for the night I think,” he mused gently once she’d finally yawned.

“Oh I’m all right!”

“Paige, please,” he exhaled with a smile using a gentle tone, “we’ve both had a long day. A long two days really. Let’s get you up to your room. You don’t have to sleep but perhaps you ought to just take some time for yourself? I’m not forcing you or anything,” he blushed, “but I don’t want to overwhelm you. You deserve private moments to yourself and some rest and relaxation.”

“Thanks, Derick,” she gave in to suggestion and let him walk her to the stairwell where she knew she could find her way from there.

“Feel free to sleep in, or get up early. Ehm...did you want to have breakfast on your own?” he asked slowly.

“Oh! Uh well what time do you normally eat?”

“Honestly different depending on the day… But if you want to eat together we can decide a time now or just both meet up in the dining room or the library or the kitchen even and go from there.”

She thought about it. “Sure let’s have breakfast together,” she agreed. “How about...nine? Is that too late?”

“Not at all. Dining room?”

She nodded in agreement.

“Swell. Okay well goodnight and I hope everything is comfortable and comforting tonight. If you need anything or you can’t sleep, text me okay?”

She blushed a little and nodded. “Thanks.”

“Well, ehm…” He struggled to end this.

She took the reins instead, “Goodnight Derick. Sleep well and… thank you for absolutely everything. This is...how do you say it ‘brilliant’?”

That made him grin; his eyes seeming to sparkle. “I’m so glad. Goodnight. Sweet dreams.”

“Back at you!” She turned and went up the staircase then and Derick watched her with a fond expression before he disappeared to his wing of the house.

Paige decided to get comfortable and took a hot, foaming bath with the aromatherapy that Derick’s staff had provided her. The warmth and the smells relaxed her muscles and her mind and by the time she got out and changed into her pajamas, she was well and ready to go to sleep. She quickly sent off a text to Rae of reassurement before making sure the blinds were closed and the door was secure. She felt better knowing this was her own little space without any looming hallway looking in, at least for tonight...

Paige crawled into the large bed and let out a sigh. It was so comfortable and soft; the light violet coloured European beechwood sheets that felt almost like satin beneath the thick midnight blue and gold damask print duvet almost velvety to the touch. People say it’s like being in a cloud well now I know what they mean! she thought happily to herself as she pulled the duvet and covers over her in a contented bliss. “Sweet Lord…” A gentle inhale and exhale revealed to her senses the fresh smell of a delicate, pleasant detergent and the soft but strong scent of lavender. “Okay God I can wake up now!” she mused softly into the quiet air of her room, “This is like too perfect! There’s no way I can be in a place so hospitable! I'm going to fall asleep in seconds here!” she yawned.

The excitement of coming over here and seeing so much already combined with the slight jet lag and flawlessly comfortable bed that was lulling her to sleep with wafts of lavender came together perfectly now in this moment to send Paige off to sleep.

‘If I wake up tomorrow and I'm not here I just want to thank you for the good dreams Paige thought as she finally moments later nodded off.