All That the Heart Desires (26 page)

The voyage over the Channel was calm. We were halfway over when the cliffs finally came into view. The sky over England was different tones of grey and the white of the cliffs was seen even more intensely. It was picture perfect. It was long time since I’d last seen those white cliffs, perhaps, too long.

When we approached the Port of Dover, I felt a little sad. The calmness that the sea had offered me was gone.

I started to ask myself if the path I had chosen was the right one to take. Impatience could cost me so much. I might be losing not just one, but two people I loved. But somehow I knew it was too late.

Driving behind Harry was dull. When had he become such a careful driver? I got my driving licence as soon as it was possible. Not long after, Harry took me to Germany for a BMW Safety training course. In the end, we spent two whole weeks there and took several different courses. He booked every area of training possible for me to learn how to be safe on the road and in different situations. I think this put Harry’s mind at ease around my driving. Our parents’ fatal accident left deep scars on him. I was prepared for every eventuality.

I really had gained so much confidence behind the wheel.

“Perhaps too much,” Harry had said. I enjoyed being behind the wheel enormously and especially on open roads.

It occurred to me that perhaps Harry was driving the way he did because he wanted to delay our arrival as much as possible, hoping I would change my mind.

According to the navigation we were getting close to our final destination. Big hedgerows hugged the open entrance gate. Harry drove up the gravel driveway and I followed. I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw the big iron gates start to close. We were expected.

The long driveway was lined with old oaks.

When we reached the house, I was speechless; it was my fairy-tale house, built from grey stone and clad in ivy.

We parked near some cars in front of the house. I recognised Lorcan’s immediately. The other cars were top of the range and I now understood Harry’s decision to buy a Jaguar.

I checked my appearance in the rearview mirror before I got out of the car. It was me again, but I was not sure for how long. Harry approached and watched me very carefully. Concern was written all over his face.

“I’m alright.” I tried to calm him down. Before he spoke, the front door opened and a man came outside.

“Oh. My. God. A butler?” I whispered. Harry gave me a serious look. He seemed afraid I would say something inappropriate.

“Good afternoon,” the man greeted us. “You must be Mr Dame and Miss Hart?” Harry nodded.

“Well, you are the last of the guests. Will you follow me?” He turned and went back to the entrance to the house. Harry and I looked at each other and, when he opened the trunk, I whispered again,

“Have we travelled back in time?” Harry gave me a warning look. After taking his suitcase out and handing me mine,, he closed the boot very loudly to cover his voice.

“Behave!” I had to turn around so that the man who was waiting for us at the front door would not see me laughing. We were both nervous and, although Harry looked calm, I knew inside he was a wreck. And although I looked happy, the reality was I was a wreck too.

The house was as beautiful inside as it was out. Everything was in its place. I turned around in a circle in the entrance hall to see what was there.

“We prefer a more modern style,” Harry said. I didn’t look at him as my eyes were locked on two big chandeliers, which stood on either side of the large staircase that led to the upper floor.

“Speak for yourself,” I murmured. Looking around I almost tripped on the first stair, and Harry took my arm. The butler turned and faced me as I was halfway up the stairs.

“If you ask Mr Crest, he will take you around the house. He is very proud of it.”

“He should be,” I answered and in return received a smile from him. I’d managed to win him over by admiring the house. Obviously the place meant a lot to him.

Coming down the hallway, Tom, as he introduced himself, opened the door to the first room and motioned for Harry to enter.

“Please, come with me, Miss. Your room is just down the hallway.”

Harry looked at me and said quietly, “‘Behave!”’ I understood him. I was in control. At least I thought I was.

The room Tom opened for me was big and bright, with high ceilings.

“I think you will like it. If there is anything…”

“I love it. Thank you,” I interrupted him. He nodded and left me alone, closing the door behind him.

I put my suitcase down and went straight to the window.

I opened the door of the balcony and stepped outside. Beneath the balcony was a terrace. Three steps, just as at the entrance, led down to the grass. On one side was a flower garden. To the left there was nothing else but green, green grass.

But something was not quite as it should be. There were no people. Not in the house, nor outside.

I decided to explore a little. The grounds looked very inviting.

Sneaking past Harry’s door I ran down the stairs. The floor we were on was not the top one. The stairs led down to the second floor, but I decided to check that one later.

Finding the big parlour was easy as it was immediately below the stairs, and I knew it led outside to the terrace. I went out through the open door.

Coming down the stairs, I removed my shoes because I wanted to feel the grass beneath my feet. It was cold but felt good.

I’d seen the flower garden from my room, so I chose to explore the left side of the garden a little more. Here, as in the front of the house, there were big old oaks and willows. The willows really looked as though they were weeping with their long branches descending to the ground.

Suddenly I came to a high hedge and followed it away from the house. I wanted to see how big the garden actually was. But when I came to the end of it, I saw that what looked like the edge of the garden only appeared to be the end. The seven foot tall wall of what looked like evergreen cypress trees turned into hedgerow that continued for at least another two hundred feet perpendicular to it.

I was following the hedge and, reaching the next corner, I realised I was walking round a labyrinth and, from what I had already seen, not a small one. I wanted to find the entrance to it.

On the third wall, away from the house, was an entrance. I looked around to see if there was anyone watching me, then I looked inside and saw a path that led two ways.

I was just about to go in, when I heard children’s laughter and voices. I looked around but could see no one. I wasn’t entirely sure I’d actually heard children’s voices and was just about to give up, when I saw a blonde head watching me from behind a big willow tree. He was standing behind branches that were almost touching the ground. No wonder I hadn’t seen him before.

The eyes reminded me of … And I felt a cold breeze on my skin.
This cannot be…
I heard my heart pounding hard and loud. I was afraid that the boy might hear it. I knew I must have been as pale as the Dover cliffs.

Before I could move, someone gently shook the sleeve of my light cardigan. I almost lost my balance as I turned around. Another blonde boy stood behind me, smiling. I watched the one by my side and the other approaching us. Both blonde, both the same age, yet not quite the same.

Twins!
Went through my mind.
We were mistaken! Everything was for nothing!
I was on the verge of crying.

“Hi,” the boy next to me said. I swallowed hard. Just before the second one came up to us, I managed to squeeze out a “Hello” to both of them.

“You’re new,” he said. I was still looking from one to the other.

“Yes, I am. I’ve just arrived.”

The boys were watching each other.

“What’s your name?” the same boy asked. Before I could answer him, the second boy spoke.

“That’s not polite.”

He turned to me, gave me his little hand and introduced himself.

“I’m Daniel and this is Andrew.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Andrew was sticking his tongue out at Daniel. As soon as I turned around to shake Andrew’s hand, Daniel did the same thing.

“What’s your name?” Andrew asked again.

“Desiree,” I answered. “It’s very nice to meet you both.”

My heart was still pounding, but I felt it calming down. The boys were not identical twins; Andrew’s hair, though blonde, was a bit longer than Daniel’s. Their identical clothing helped to make them look similar. I needed to sit down, but there was nothing to sit on.

“Are you alright?” I was surprised by Andrew’s question. I wasn’t and, although I tried to hide it, the boy somehow saw through me.

“Yes I am.”

“Lorcan invited you, didn’t he?” Daniel asked directly. I started to wonder how much the boys knew. Usually adults forget about their presence, yet children learnt so much by just being there.

“Yes, he did,” I replied and Daniel nodded.

“We thought so. Are you a model?” At the last question I just had to laugh. When I answered no, Andrew laughed, but Daniel insisted.

“Well you should be.”

I looked from one to the other and saw sincerity in their faces.

“Do you know the way through the labyrinth?” I asked them, trying to turn the conversation away from me. Both of them nodded.

“It’s not a labyrinth, it’s a maze,” Daniel said. “Grandpa will explain the difference to you later. We’re not allowed to go in alone. In the middle…”

“Daniel! Andrew!” suddenly we heard a woman’s voice coming across the garden. The boys looked at each other and they turned to me.

“Nana,” Andrew explained. “She’s looking for us.”

I nodded.

“We need to go,” Daniel said and they’d already turned to run away when I managed to get my composure back.

“I’ll come with you.”

They stopped running and Daniel took me by my hand. Andrew was not far behind him. Hand in hand we walked around the maze back to the house.

An elderly woman was standing on the steps. She had short grey hair and a kind face. There was something about her features that was familiar, but I didn’t think that I knew her from anywhere.

“So, there you are,” she said. “Get yourselves indoors and prepare for dinner.”

Both boys nodded, waved their goodbyes and ran through the terrace into the house.

“Stop running!” she yelled after them, but she was too late. They were already gone. She shook her head and then turned to me. Her eyes were grey and complimented her grey hair so that she looked like a nanny straight out of a storybook.

“I hope they didn’t bother you,” she said apologetically. Her eyes were searching and I looked away.

“No,” I swallowed the tears. “I met them at the entrance…”

“Oh my God. They weren’t in the maze again?” She sounded a little bit angry. I smiled.

“No. Actually they convinced me not to go in. I thought it was a labyrinth but was told that it’s a maze. Although I don’t know the difference…” I went slowly up the stairs to join her on the terrace. She smiled and stepped closer.

“I’m sorry. I’m being impolite. My name is Rosalind Shore. I’m the boys’…” She stopped talking when she saw the surprised look on my face. She smiled at me.