ROMANCE: CLEAN ROMANCE: Summer Splash! (Sweet Inspirational Contemporary Romance) (New Adult Clean Fantasy Short Stories) (124 page)

“I’m not a wordsmith. Nor am I poet.”

“Shame” Isabel mocked George with an overblown sigh. “I like the arts. Nothing woos me like a romantic poem.” She then heard another cough from the shadowing Miss Black. “Since when has the word, woo, had a place in Miss Black’s dictionary of forbidden words?”

“Since I deemed it forbidden.”

George glanced at Isabel who shyly avoided his eyes as they walked among the trees. “I do like the theatre and reading. I also write.”

“Yes. I have seen your name on father’s journals.”

“However, I mustn’t lead you on. As my journal articles are rewritten for me by my ghost-writer. My own sentences read like a badly composed shopping list.”

“I like to write when I have the time.” Isabel stopped walking and deliberately made eye contact with George. She thought his eyes were dark and piercing. “But since I’ve taken on more of an active role at the company... well, I just don’t have the time to dedicate myself.”

“Well, when we become engaged in matrimony...”

“When?”

“OK... if, we become man and wife. Then you can take a more relaxed role in the company.”

Isabel continued to walk down the snaking coral path. “I will sit at the helm of the company once my father steps down from his position. And I don’t want to be a ceremonial figurehead.”

“Don’t you want children?”

“Yes. Yes I do.”

“Good. So do I. We can start working on it as soon as you wish.”

Miss Black suddenly shouted in despair. “Jesus wept... Talking about procreation is strictly forbidden. You’ll both get me sacked!”

George ignored Miss Black and stared at a disgruntled Isabel. “But one day you will have to make a choice between work and children.”

“I thought this was supposed to be about romance? But it’s turned into something akin to the Spanish Inquisition.”

“Sorry. It’s just I really like you and wouldn’t want to have a false start.”

“I suppose you don’t have much time for false starts, considering your advanced years.”

George winced. “Your sharp wit cuts like a knife.”

“Don’t worry... I still think you’re a very handsome gentleman.”

“You do?”

Isabel felt glad that Miss Black had given up chaperoning, instead choosing to suck boiled sweets under the shade of a tree. “Most definitely.” It hadn’t escaped Isabel’s attention that George’s cheeks were flushed with colour after hearing her compliment. “I do believe the fearless Dr Coldstone is blushing.”

“I’ve never had a woman say that to me.”

“Whatever.”

George did his best to keep a straight face. “Honest.”

“I know of your reputation for wine, women and song. I bet you’ve laid with women in every corner in of the world.”

“OK. What I meant was, that I’ve not had a women say how handsome I am in English.”

Isabel felt her confidence leave her. “What languages have your women spoken?”

“Several.”

“I probably shouldn’t ask... but I’m intrigued to know how many of these exotic women you have known intimately.”

George had long accepted that truth was the best policy. “I can speak Arabic, French, Zulu, East African Click and Portuguese oh as well as Spanish of course.” However he could feel sweat building up on his brow and quickly wiped it dry with the back of his sleeve. “And I have met women who speak in each of those.”

“Well I speak English and Liverpudlian.”

“I hate that accent.”

“It’s a necessary evil with working in the city, I’m afraid.”

George felt his heart tighten while he dwelled on Isabel’s beauty. “Your father is worried that I will not make you a good husband. But believe me; I will be loyal as a pet dog.”

“I like obedient dogs.”

“And that beautiful necklace I see.”

Isabel reached to her neck to touch the gold necklace. “My father passed it down to me when I turned eighteen. It belonged to my mother.”

“I will decorate you in fine jewellery to match it.”

“May I ask..?”

“Of course. Fire away.”

“How come you have never married?”

“Well.” George chuckled nervously. “That was quite a broadside.”

“Sorry.”

“But I will let you into a secret... I married when I was seventeen.”

“What happened?”

George glanced down at his feet while he strolled at a leisurely pace. “She could not cope with me being away for long periods. She told me of her worries but I did not listen to them. As a young selfish man... I was having too much fun to worry about my wife.”

“What happened in the end?”

“She left me... and is now married to a vicar.” George bit his lip. “I understand she had every right too.”

“You were winning me over until the last few minutes.”

“But like I said. I was young. I have now, finally grown up with no wish for future exhibitions.” George could see the worry played out on Isabel’s face. He glanced over to see if Miss Black was still vigilant, but sighed with relief that she had disappeared. He then took hold of Isabel’s hand and peered into her hazel eyes. “Seeing you made me realise what I have been missing. If I kept abusing love... How would I ever truly be happy?”

“I’m glad that you see me in such I light. I really am.”

“Then, marry me.”

“George?”

“I don’t need an answer now. You can take your time. But as far as I’m concerned, you’re the woman for me.”

Isabel covered her mouth with her gloved hand. She then let out a giggle before glancing back towards the huge mansion. “I have to go back.”

“Call me a romantic fool. If I could write you a thousand letters and a million poems I would. But all I can say is that I love you.”

~

Isabel paced along the long corridor towards her father’s study. Her excitement almost made her pace break into a run. Pushing open the door with both hands she spotted Albert writing a letter. “Father, you never guessed what happened to me today?”

“I dare not think. Poor Miss Black has been going about her chores as if she has seen a ghost.”

“I have a wedding proposal.”

“Bloody hell.” Albert dropped his pen, not noticing the spatter of ink on his letter. “Just wait until I see him.”

“Father, I thought you’d be happy.”

“But you’ve only met once since you were a child. What’s he bloody thinking about?”

Weighed down by confusion, Isabel leant against the closed door. “But you know him well? He’s not a stranger.”

“I know, I know. But still? I think the guy has been cursed by some shaman or something... He’s not acting normal.”

“I was really shocked too.” Isabel’s face then broke into a smile, which melted her father’s heart. “But pleasantly so. I found him very charming, and he’s lost none of his looks.”

“Just look at the smile... It would suggest one has made up her mind? Do you think it could work?”

Isabel stepped up to Albert then threaded her arms around his waist. “We’ll take our time... but I’ve not seen anything I don’t particularly like.” She rested her head on her father’s chest, smelling the rich cologne she has always known. “I mean, he has history... quite a lot of history.”

“True. But there is nothing you can do about that. A long as he’s not killed, then all you can do is judge him from today onwards.” Albert reached down and kissed his daughter’s crown. “Love you.”

Chapter
8

George shielded his face from the sun until he stepped into the shade offered by the gazebo. Inside he found Albert reading the business section of a broadsheet newspaper. “I can guess what you want to talk to me about, Old Boy.”

“Asking my daughter to marry you? On a first date?”

“I got a little carried away with such beauty. I’m sorry... I just wanted to express myself fully before I go back down to London tonight.”

Albert folded the paper and placed it on the table beside the breakfast tray. “You’re a mature adult... stop acting a fool. What’s got into you, Man?”

“I don’t know... but I’m serious.”

“I’m just shocked... so out of character of the rough and tumble action man I know.”

“I’m being true to myself. The last twenty years was me running away from it all.”

“Running away, maybe. But you found riches and fame in the process.”

George broke into smug snigger. “Yes.” But he quickly returned to giving his testimony. “But seeing Isabel’s face... it made me want to stop running.”

“You promise?”

“You have my word.”

“Well, it’s a good job that Isabel is onboard with the idea.” George then rose from his wicker chair. “To the smoking room for a celebratory whisky and cigar.”

“But it’s not even eleven.”

“You can drop the perfect son-in-law act now. I know George Coldstone, and I know he is a hard drinker. So let’s open that vintage.”

George chuckled with a hint of sarcasm. “I thought you had forgotten about the vintage.”

“Not a chance... George. Not a chance.” Albert walked up the lawn back towards the mansion. He couldn’t stop smiling as he thought of finally getting his daughter wed. “So, I’ll organise the formal engagement at the guild hall of the society. Make it official for you and Isabel. You’ll have to invite your parents.”

“My parents... yeah my parents.”

“What’s up?”

“Nothing... I’ll inform them when I can” George opened the door. “Nothing at all.”

“Why don’t you stay the night? Help me finish my bottle?”

“I can’t. I have a buyer for my apartment in Kensington, so already bought my ticket for London.”

“Darn... I’ll just have to finish it alone.”

George took a step back into the room. “Don’t worry, Old Boy. I’ll help you finish it before I go.”

~

Thick smog lay close to the ground turning people into shadow puppets while buildings appeared like mere silhouettes. George could still taste the whisky on his lips as he strolled along the crowded cobbled streets towards the city’s train station. Hands firmly inside the deep pockets of his frockcoat, he kept his eyes on the cobbles in order to avoid standing in droppings from the carthorses.

George’s bladder ached, causing him to dart into an alley where he decided to relieve himself against the brickwork.  He sighed with relief while he listened to the trickle.

“Penny for the blind”

“What? Can’t you see I’m having a piss?” George then realised his mistake. “Sorry, that was rather rude of me... but surely you could hear it?”

“Penny for the blind.”

George turned his head and saw a young boy holding a tin car. “I don’t believe in charity... But I’ll give you a toffee. How about that?”

“Come on, Sir. Please.”

“You obviously not that bad if you’re turning down toffee. Go on, sod off.”

The young boy shook his tin once more. “Aye. Come on... a man in such a fine coat can surely afford a measly penny.”

“I thought you were blind? How do you know about my coat?”

“Err... I could smell the fine cotton, Sir.”

George buckled his belt. “You’re a charlatan.”

“You’re so tight your boots squeak.”

“Hey, less of that you rascal I told you I’d give you a toffee.”

“You’re a tight bastard.”

“The language!” George ground his teeth. “In fact, come here. I’m taking you to the police station. Maybe they’ll teach you some respect.”

“No. Get off.”

“No it’s for your own good. Typical bloody Northerner.”

The young boy began to scream, kicking his legs while George picked him up. “Help!”

“Stop it.”

“Lads! I’m being kidnapped by a dirty pervert.”

“What did you just call me?”The alleyway suddenly became blocked at the end with young dirt covered children, brandishing stove pipes and broken bricks. George turned back and noticed the other end was also blocked by a second angry mob. “Oh... shit.”

“Not giving me a penny has cost you your wallet.”

“I’m not going to get bullied by a bunch of half-starved scallies...”

“Get him, lads!”

A stove pipe across the back of George’s legs brought him tumbling to the damp ground where he was then promptly jumped on by several boys. He tried to crawl out of the mass of bodies while being kicked and punched but eventually succumbed to the vicious assault.

Half naked and bloodied, George stumbled onto the high street into the arms of a surprised policeman.

Chapter
9