Passionate Harvest

Published by E-scape Press Ltd, England.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organisations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. 

Passionate Harvest. Copyright  ©2012 Nell Dixon. 

All rights reserved.

The moral right of Nell Dixon to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

ISBN: 978-1-908629-04-3

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“I see although you missed Nick’s funeral service, a hint that there might be money in his will got you here now.”

Lucy flinched at the scorn contained in the words hissed into her ear as she entered the hotel lounge where her godfather’s funeral tea was drawing to a close. She turned her head to see who could be addressing her with such controlled but undisguised anger. A pair of masculine ice blue eyes stared into hers.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe we’ve met.” Thankfully the calmness of her voice didn’t betray her alarm at being addressed so aggressively by a complete stranger. Albeit a tall good-looking stranger with a soft American accent. His chiselled face radiated dislike.  

His lips curved slightly upwards at her response, but not in a welcoming fashion. “My apologies, you are Lucy Morgan, Nick’s god-daughter, aren’t you?”

She nodded her head stiffly in reply. Something about him seemed familiar but she couldn’t place where she might have met him before. A fleeting thought surfaced at the back of her mind that if their meeting had been under other circumstances she might even have considered him attractive.

“Dominic LeFevre.”

Angry heat swiftly replaced the cold fear which had coursed through her veins when he’d first accosted her.

“Uncle Nick mentioned you. You’re the wine man.” She returned his stare.

When her godfather had first told her about his retirement foray into the world of winemaking he’d talked about Dominic, his knowledge, his genius and how fortunate he’d been to secure him as his business partner. She might even have seen a very old picture of him together with Nick when they had first entered into partnership, Maybe that was why he appeared familiar. What Nick hadn’t told her was how unpleasant he was.

“Lucy, my dear, and Dominic.” A small elderly man in a regulation black morning suit coughed politely as he addressed them both.

“Mr Fullwood,” Lucy smiled warmly, pleased to see her uncle’s solicitor. “I’m so sorry I missed the service, my flight was delayed.” She resisted the temptation to peek at Dominic to see his expression. Insufferable jerk, it would serve him right for jumping to insane conclusions about her.

“Perhaps in a short while we can convene to one of the side rooms where I can speak with you both once the other guests have gone?”

“Of course, I need to find Aunt Maggie and see a few of Uncle Nick’s friends before they go.” Lucy’s throat thickened as she glanced around the room. She knew many of the people there, yet it had been such a long time since she’d last been home. They all seemed suddenly to have aged overnight. She should have come back sooner, but Uncle Nick had given her no indications that he had been as ill as he was. Somehow, he’d always been so full of life; she’d thought he’d be around forever. Now it was too late. She was too late and she hadn’t even had chance to say a proper goodbye.

She turned away quickly before either Mr Fullwood, or the hateful Dominic LeFevre could see the tears in her eyes.

“Lucy, I didn’t think you were going to make it.” Maggie, her late uncle’s sister swept her into a hug.

“My flight was delayed and then I couldn’t get a cab.” Tears spilled involuntarily down Lucy’s cheeks. She’d spent a restless night pacing the floor of the departure lounge waiting for her plane to be called. Then, her luggage was last to appear on the carousel by which time all the cabs had gone from the rank. She’d arrived too late for the actual funeral service. Instead she’d dashed into the hotel where the funeral tea was being held without having a chance to tidy herself up. She’d even had to leave her small case behind the check-in desk in the lobby. 

“Oh, my dear, come and get some coffee and have a sandwich.” Her kindly Aunt Maggie led her towards the buffet table chatting away to her as they walked.

“I should have been here for you.” Guilt mixed with grief as she walked with her aunt.

“You’re here now and that’s all that matters.”

Lucy wanted to ask if her aunt if she knew much about Dominic but before she could frame a question she was surrounded by people who remembered her from when she’d been small. By the time she’d swapped memories, cried, laughed and condoled with her fellow mourners the crowd had thinned. Yet all the time she’d been moving around the room she’d been conscious of Dominic LeFevre’s icy gaze boring into her between her shoulder blades.

“Everyone is leaving now dear, Mr Fullwood asked if you’d go and meet him in the ante room off the lobby. I think he has some legal things to sort out with you and Dominic.” Her aunt touched her arm to attract her attention. “Remember you’re coming back home to me after, no nonsense about staying here in the hotel.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you later; I’ll come back after I’ve seen Mr Fullwood.”

Lucy sucked in a long, deep breath before making her way to the ante room. She was grateful for her aunt’s invitation to stay at her late uncle’s house. It had been her childhood home, a refuge from the horror of boarding school and her absentee parents. At the same time she dreaded thinking about going back there knowing Nick would never walk through the door again to make her laugh at one of his awful puns.

Mr Fullwood and Dominic were seated on dark brown leather armchairs in the bay window of the small room. Both men stood as she entered and waited for her to take a seat. Lucy folded her hands in her lap and tried to compose herself even though her heart rate had speeded and her palms were clammy with sweat.

“Thank you both for remaining behind. I realise this is a trifle unconventional, but Nick was not a conventional man.” Mr Fullwood gave a small smile.

Lucy smiled in response. That was certainly true, Nick Bell had spent most of his life flouting convention. He’d built his fortune that way, taking gambles on things other people wouldn’t have considered.

“In accordance with Nick’s instructions his estate has been divided between the various causes he supported.”

“And Aunt Maggie? He always said he’d look after Maggie.” Lucy interrupted.

“Yes of course, Maggie has inherited your uncle’s home and a generous annuity.”

Lucy relaxed a little in her seat. Maggie had looked after her Uncle Nick for over twenty years. He’d always promised that his spinster sister would have a home for life.

“The reason I thought it better to speak to you both together concerns Nick’s business interests - namely his fifty per cent share of Oakdale Vineyard.”

Lucy felt, rather than saw Dominic stiffen.

“Mr LeFevre, I understand that you own the other fifty per cent of the business?” Mr Fullwood continued.

She ventured a peek at Dominic. It was impossible to read his expression. She twisted her hands in her lap and wondered where this was leading. Her uncle had always joked that he’d leave her a drop of wine in his will. She hoped that this talk about the shares wasn’t leading to anything more than that.

“Lucy, Nick has left you a few personal items of furniture and art which he particularly wanted you to receive. Maggie has those at the house.”

She nodded her head, relief stealing over her. 

“Nick also wanted you to have his half share of the vineyard.”

Mr Fullwood proceeded to name a valuation sum for her inheritance which took her breath away.

“Of course, Miss Morgan, I will be more than happy to buy you out, at full market price for your shares of course.” Dominic leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Lucy’s face.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible for at least twelve months.” Mr Fullwood gave a dry, apologetic cough. “Nick stipulated that in order for Lucy to receive her bequest that she is to work in the business for twelve months and is not able to dispose of her shares until after that time.”

Lucy stared at the solicitor. “Work in the business? What? I don’t know anything about wine except how to drink it.”

The firm set of Dominic’s mouth indicated that he wasn’t thrilled by the announcement either. “And what if she fails to comply and doesn’t stick out twelve months working at the vineyard?”

“Then the shares would immediately be placed for sale on the open market and the proceeds from the sale given to charity.” Mr Fullwood gave another of his polite coughs. He continued to explain the fine print whilst Lucy sat, dazed trying to take it all in. Dominic stayed silent but she sensed he was busy memorising the details.

 “There is a lot to think about and no doubt you will both wish to discuss the bequest. I will of course confirm everything in writing and I am quite happy to see either of you at anytime if you have further questions about the bequest.” He offered his hand to Dominic before stooping to kiss Lucy goodbye. “I take it you’ll be staying with your Aunt Maggie for a while? I’ll direct your correspondence there.”

After the elderly solicitor had gone Lucy sat for a moment in stunned silence.

“I think we need to talk,” Dominic said.

“Um, yes I suppose we do.” Lucy scrambled to her feet, her legs shaking. She collected her handbag from the side of her seat.

He got to his feet. “Can I give you a lift to Nick’s?”

Lucy tilted her chin upwards to meet his gaze. “You aren’t afraid I might only accept a ride from you because of the money?”

A dull flush lit his cheeks at her tart response. “I’m sorry, I owe you an apology. I was extremely rude to you when we first met. Nick was my friend as well as my partner and my emotions were running a little high.”

She was tempted to snap ‘you think?’ but instead she resisted. “Funerals have a way of doing that. I would have given anything to have been at the service.”

“Did you come straight here from the airport?” He led the way back into the lobby.

“Yes, my flight was delayed and then I missed the train connection, there were no cabs and it was awful.” She tried to swallow the lump that formed in her throat when she thought about her day, Nick, and now this strange bequest.

“Mr Fullwood didn’t say where you were flying in from?” 

They halted next to the reception desk.

“I was in Tenerife.” She collected her suitcase and thanked the receptionist.

“My car is parked over there.” Dominic intercepted her case before she could protest and indicated the large car park outside the front of the hotel. “What were you doing in Tenerife?”

They stepped outside into the soft dull grey wetness of a late spring evening. Lucy pulled her black jacket around her more closely and kept her head down against the drizzle as they walked to the car.

Dominic opened the passenger door of a large black 4X4 which bore the green and gold logo ‘Oakdale Vineyard’. She scrambled inside while he stowed her case in the boot.

She waited for him to take his place in the passenger seat before she answered his question. “I work for a travel company. I’m a children’s rep. That’s why it was so hard to get away and to get a seat on a flight. The schools are off this week so it’s a busy time.”

He started the ignition as she fastened her seatbelt.

“Nick didn’t say where you lived. I knew it was some distance away but I had assumed you were in the UK.”