Beauty & the Brit —Chapter 20 **PATRONS ONLY! ** (Patreon)

CHAPTER TWENTY: TAKE IT EASY

Paige took the next day, Friday, after their West-End debut outing to take it easy. The excitement of being in England had sustained her, she was sure, but now the combination of high excitement and jet-lag was finally stirred up into a cocktail that resulted in her being what she came to find the English called “completely knackered”. An extremely understanding Derick had assured her the night before as they’d parted ways at the staircase of his foyer that she could and should sleep in. “I’ve no plans for tomorrow which means you and I can both take it easy. I think we’ve been running on both cylinders for the past two weeks and we need to slow down.”

A yawning Paige had agreed.

Derick had been overseas visiting her town and as a consequence of their meeting hanging out with her and Rae too the week before. And this week, well, they’d both been on the edges of their seats in her exploration of the possibilities of this London trip he’d so generously given her. They both needed a day to slow down. To pause. To reflect. To rest.

So she’d slept-in well past eleven the next day and after a hot shower enjoyed lunch delivered on a tray to her room, like room service. She’d felt shy about texting the kitchen after she’d woken up hungry but she recalled that Derick would be disappointed if she didn’t heed his assurances that he and other staff members did the same thing for the purposes of the kitchen never preparing anything more than what might be needed. It didn’t do well to prepare breakfast or lunch or dinner for five or ten or even one person if it would just need to be refrigerated later.

And getting to eat in some comfortable lounging clothes in front of a blazing fire without having to leave her room and be social was also a lovely perk for this lazy day “off” as it were.

Once she was full up and had enjoyed her share of hot tea to further her fuzzy feeling after being delightfully warmed by her shower and the fire of the hearth, she got up and decided to do a bit of exploring around Derick’s manor again.

It may not be a day of taking in the sights of London, per say, but she still felt she was making use of her time in exploring a historic English manor house. And, she could do so at a completely leisurely pace without worrying about other tourists or a time limit to take in what she was looking at.

So it was almost of little surprise to her when she heard a grandfather clock chime three in the afternoon within a large sitting room that also served as a study, of sorts. She smiled to herself and sat down in the large chair behind the desk and imagined herself a lord of a manor for a few minutes. Writing out requests, penning letters to businesses and connections in London, pouring over ledgers of the estate’s accounts… It was rather fun to imagine and rather easy too as she was certain not much in this room had changed since the late nineteenth century or even the early turn-of-the-century time; the twentieth century. How different and intriguing things seemed to her now, some hundred years later.

Paige decided to move on and her feet carried her to a nearby room which had formerly been a medieval solar —or drawing room as a more modern equivalent. To her sudden astonishment she found the figure of someone draped over the couch lying leisurely on their back, eyes closed. It was Derick. She covered her mouth so she wouldn’t make a sound of alarm and averted her gaze quickly to his relaxed and comfortable form feeling embarrassed having found him in this state. She turned to leave and heard his voice, “Oh Paige is that you?” She turned back the half-turn she’d already made in order to face him again and found one of his eyes opened looking at her. Within less than a second the other opened and he sat up.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to disturb you,” she stammered immediately.

“Gosh no not a’tall!” he disagreed, “I was just being lazy. I wasn’t sleeping. I am sorry to have startled you,” he went on knowingly, having figured that much out.

“No it’s okay,” she responded sheepishly.

It was here she realized that he was dressed so very casually in a t-shirt and what looked like pajama pants or sweatpants. Now she really wanted to look away. He was super casual and she wasn’t used to seeing him like this, not to mention he looked terribly attractive like this without a care for style or fashion, only comfort and ease around his own home. Even his hair which was slightly less kept than usual added much sexiness and appeal to this already enticing version of Derick that was making her try not to blush at her own thoughts and nervous feelings of disturbing him.

“Were you just wandering around and exploring?” he asked curiously.

“I was, yes,” she admitted, unable to meet his gaze and trying to calm herself down enough so he wouldn’t suspect anything.

“I’m glad. I’ll let you alone to explore here now unless you’re fine with me being a piece of the room,” he chuckled and she smiled back.

“You don’t have to go, Derick,” she assured, “I was just taking in some of your rooms with more attention. Wandering, as you say, leisurely just to occupy myself for a bit until I start thinking about dinner.”

“Ah nice!” he mused, “And, I take it you have not yet thought about dinner?”

She shook her head.

“Okay. Well if you can’t make up your mind about it then you’re welcome to join me for pizza in my rec room. Or, I should say, my uh… TV room? Theatre room? I don’t know what to name it,” he blushed, “I’ve got reclining chairs and a large projector. And behind that a games table. We could eat pizza and do a board game or a movie on the screen. Only though if you are up for company and an activity. Or if you wanted to eat in the dining room or your own bedroom, be my guest. Just throwing it out there,” he exclaimed gently. “I was going to just chill there tonight and since I’ve seen you now I thought why not invite you along if you want to join?”

“That’s very kind and sure yes that sounds nice.”

“I’ll have Chef prepare some popcorn later too.”

“Magic to my ears,” she grinned then cringed at her mixing two phrases together accidentally.

“Great. Well, carry on with your browsing. I’m sorry my laziness interrupted your tranquility.”

“Not at all Derick. And it’s your house. I should apologi—”

“No need!” he dismissed quickly, “We both startled each other. There,” he grinned, setting the matter.

Paige agreed internally she’d move on. “Okay well I’ll meet you in the room at what? Four-thirty? Five?”

“Sure. At your leisure.”

“Great. I’ll follow the smell of pizza,” she teased which made him laugh and give a nod.

She felt her stomach leap knowing she’d been the cause of his laughter and happy expression. She tried to push down the feeling and stop crushing on her host so much. It wasn’t working but she had to try.

“I’ll leave a trail of slices for you to follow just in case,” he teased back. The two chuckled at the mental image.

“By the way, what film do you want to watch?”

“Oh! Uh...I… I dunno,” she shrugged, quite unsure of an answer to his question, “Surprise me. Nothing that’s a sob-fest though.”

“Agh that is most unfortunate as it leaves out the majority of my collection. Will you be content with a simple documentary on… linens?” he reached.

She withheld her laugh, “Oh well unfortunately that’s really actually one that will definitely bring a tear to my eye. Knowing the work that goes into making the fabrics, I just…” she trailed off in an emotional tone that cracked as she brought the back of her hand to her mouth and faked tears.

“Oh quite so!” he agreed apologetically. “I will be sure to hide the DVD. In that case, ehm…” He paused to think and then laughed softly, “I cannot think of anything to joke about!” he mused.

Paige grinned, “That’s okay. Honestly I trust your judgement. I’m fine with anything,” she reassured him.

“The pressure is on. The challenge is on. Okay, Paige Wilkinson, I take you on!” he proclaimed with a look of determination then a smile. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go and get an early start on choosing something. I fear it may take me a while!”

She laughed softly but waved him on and watching his retreating back she gave a large breath in then a sigh. The man was too adorable for his own good and she couldn’t help her crush on him.

She hoped she’d survive the “casual” night with him.

“Paige,” Derick began when they were both two slices into the pizza and enjoying some TV instead of a movie, “this may be the wrong time to ask this seeing as we’re taking it easy but I have another dinner tomorrow evening to go to so if you’d like to come with, you’re welcome to and if not then just to let you know I’ll be away tomorrow night.”

“Oh!” she exclaimed with some interest and excitement, “Sure I’d be down to join you. Is it a fancy dinner again?”

“Yes. It will be formal,” he confirmed.

“Great! I can wear another of those pretty dresses. Are you sure though? I mean…”

“If it was a bad idea for you to come I promise I wouldn’t have brought it up.” He held his hand up in solemn vow. “I’m allowed a plus-one at most of these things and I never bring anyone really. It’s fun for me too to get to have a friend and companion come with me and roll our eyes at how long the speeches are when all we want is to ask for more of those delicious hot bread rolls with butter—” he referenced their last outing and his own behaviour which brought a smile to her face and put her at ease.

“Okay. Then yeah I’d love to come. Is it short notice to get help with hair and makeup again?”

“Nope. I asked in advance. You’re covered if you want it. I just did everything but ask you if you wished to join!” he mused with a bit of a shy blush and a nervous laugh.

Paige had to smile at his endearing expression. “Sure. I’d love to go to dinner with you tomorrow night—” she stated then realized the sound of that and hurried to amend it, “go to the dinner with you tomorrow night. I’m in.”

“Then it’s settled. Another night out tomorrow for both of us! I’m excited. I think you’ll like the venue but do you mind if I keep it a surprise so that you can stare in wonder because you couldn’t Google in advance? Is that cruel of me?”

Paige shook her head, some hair coming loose in front of her eyes which she swept back into place with a practiced motion, “I like the idea of a surprise. Except...if it’s Buckingham Palace just tell me now because I need to emotionally prepare!”

He let out a soft sound of amusement, “No it is not Buckingham Palace. If it were any place like that I’d let you know beforehand. It’s… That is pretty monumental,” he agreed with understanding, “Trust me even I would need some preparation time!”

That made her feel more at ease but also a little surprised. Ok so he’s a bit intimidated by the idea of going to someplace like that where The Queen lives and works. That’s good I guess. He’s not desensitized to royalty. That’s really good…

“Thank you for trusting me,” he murmured and it caused her to look at him with a little more seriousness.

“Thank you for being trustworthy,” she responded though she felt the weight of the statement in her heart and mind. Derick had been nothing but completely respectful and forthcoming; a gentleman and a wonderful host. She felt so comfortable and at ease being here thousands of miles away from all she knew. She had taken a leap into an unknown chasm. And Derick had caught her and she was floating serenely over everything.

Paige suddenly got imagery in her head from the film Howl's Moving Castle where the titular character flies the heroine Sophie over her town and they walk mid-air in an enjoyable moment together; Howl’s hands embracing both of Sophie’s. It was magical for Sophie just as Paige’s experience with Derick was. She couldn’t help but suddenly picture her host as the enigmatic wizard, earring and all.

She chuckled.

“Wot?”

“Nothing,” she blushed, “just something I remember Rae saying. I’ll tell you later, when the inside joke is easier understood.”

Howl—no, Derick— smiled warmly and let her keep her secret.

A gentleman.