Written in the Stars (3 page)

They arranged a suitable time, and Steve said goodnight again. Then just as he was about to get out of the car he leant across and gently brushed his lips against her cheek. She smiled happily as she drove away. Yes, she thought, I’ve got every reason to smile.

When Suzi edged her car into the kerb the following morning, Steve jumped in beside her and looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes. ‘Suzi Lysle Spencer, you look more gorgeous every time we meet.’

‘Enough of your blarney,’ Suzi laughed, but the compliment delighted her. ‘You look most presentable yourself.’

‘I try to please.’ He grinned broadly. ‘So where are we going?’

‘The Wye Valley. It’s really picturesque at this time of the year; we’ll start there, have a look at Tintern Abbey and then head towards Trellech.’ Suzi groaned inwardly as she saw two tourist buses disgorging their passengers in front of the famous abbey ruins. Steve seemed unconcerned about the seething crowd of people ahead of him, but it was obvious he was not keenly interested in the ruins. He bought a few postcards to send to his family in Auckland and then they made their way back to the car. When they reached the top of the hill, he asked her to stop so that he could take a few photographs.

‘I’ll show you a better spot,’ she said, swinging the car down a narrow lane. She drove head on towards a closed gate and then backed up a narrower track to clearing next to a stile. The vista was breath-taking; a small herd of cattle grazed the undulating land, and in the distance a plume of smoke issued lazily from the chimney of a small cottage nestling in a green basin beneath a grove of trees. It was like a picture postcard.

‘I want a shot of this.’ Steve said, clicking the shutter several times. ‘What happens when you meet someone coming the other way?’

‘You stop, and search for a space to pass,’ Suzi said, offhandedly. ‘It’s easy when you know the roads. I grew up driving around these lanes, so it’s second nature to me. Minutes later she drew into the forecourt of the local pub.

‘What’s up there?’ Steve asked.

‘I’ll show you’ she said taking his hand as they walked along a pleasant tree-lined path leading to a well-kept cemetery of an ancient church. There, a raised stone dais topped by a large Celtic cross stood proud. Unable to enter the locked church, they made their way towards a stile set in the boundary fence. Beyond it lay the site of an early Norman fort.

Suzi pointed to a huge circular mound. ‘It’s all that remains of the fort. It was standard practice for William the Conquer to erect wooden structures. He placed them in key positions, intending to assert his authority over the rebellious local Celtic tribes.’

‘You certainly know your Welsh history,’ Steve said, as they strolled leisurely back to the little pub. ‘Shall we have a coffee inside?’ In a matter of minutes, he placed a coffee before her on the table, and smiled. ‘You’re a delight to be with. I’m really enjoying our time together.’

‘You said that last night.’

‘Did I? I must be paying you too many compliments.’ He laughed softly. ‘But seriously, I appreciate your kindness. I’d never have found these places on my own.’

‘My pleasure.’ Suzi murmured as she glanced at her watch and made a face. ‘I must get back to open up for lunch, so I’m afraid we have to go now.’ When they reached the restaurant Suzi introduced him to Mark. As the first guests arrived she sat Steve at a table looking out on the square, while she greeted the customers one by one. It wasn’t until after the last person had left that she brought two chicken salads to the table and sat down beside Steve. By the time they had finished the meal, Mark and the waitress had gone and they were alone.

‘We re-open later for the evening,’ she explained. ‘And now, I suppose I’d better take you back to the hotel.’ Suzi fiddled with her napkin, then laid a hand on his arm ‘I’m reluctant to let you spend the afternoon propping up a bar, so why don’t I drive you past a few Welsh castles? There won’t be enough time to go around them, but at least you’ll have seen them?’

‘That sounds great, if you can fit it in.’

When she finally dropped him off at the hotel later in the day, Suzi had barely enough time to change for the evening. As she combed her hair, she thought about their time together, and wondered what would have happened if he had decided to stay in Britain for the remainder of his visit; it would have been pleasant to have spent more time with him.

She smiled as she recalled how their chance meeting at Caxton Hall had seemed preordained. For her, the meeting had been an exciting interlude, and now she was wondering what might have happened if he didn’t have to return to New Zealand. She sighed softly at her wishful thinking.

She had just finished breakfast the next morning when Steve rang. ‘I couldn’t resist the chance to thank you again for the past few days.’ His voice sounded a trifle husky. ‘I enjoyed your company more than I can say; you made my stay so enjoyable. I’d like to have spent more time with you, but…’

‘I’ve enjoyed it too, Steve,’ Suzi replied, with a catch in her throat. It was hard to think she wouldn’t see him again, but she resisted the temptation to ask for his address in Auckland. She breathed in deeply to control her emotions. ‘Take care, and have a pleasant trip home when the time comes’ she said, as brightly as she could manage, considering the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Chapter Three

It was only as he took his seat on the plane for Amsterdam that Steve realised that he might still have the opportunity to see Suzi again before he returned to New Zealand. Because of the incident at Caxton Manor, he had been unable to keep his appointment with the solicitor to discuss what had bought him to the country in the first place. He had phoned from the hospital to apologise and make another appointment, but the receptionist said that Mr Duncan was unwell and would be unavailable for the rest of the week.

Steve had then decided to continue on to Europe and return to see the man at a later date. It had been his intention to fly home from Frankfurt after visiting his friend in the Netherlands, but now he had return to Britain for another appointment with Duncan. As he thought about the situation, he wondered why Suzi had been interested in the house. It was obvious she had a love of ruins and other old buildings in the area, but in his opinion, there was nothing very special about Caxton Manor.

Although she had been very friendly and charming, she had not divulged much about her personal life, so he knew no more than what he had gleaned during their time together. He felt sure that if he decided to spend more time in the U.K. their relationship might deepen. But did he want that? Moreover, did she?

After all he had commitments at home to be considered, but even so, Suzi had made quite an impression on him and captured his thoughts rather more than was comfortable. As he quietly mused over the involvement, he admitted to being strongly attracted to her; he felt as if something was pulling him towards her against his better judgement. His thoughts were interrupted by the stewardess announcing they were about to land.

Steve searched the sea of faces in the main reception area and quickly spotted Pieter Boersma. The Dutchman clapped him on the back as they shook hands.

‘Hello, Steve, it’s good to see you again. Did you have a good trip?’

The two men had been friends for a number of years, but although Pieter had adjusted easily to the New Zealand way of life, he had always retained a love of his native country. When his father hinted he might retire and sell his thriving antique business in Holland, Pieter decided to return home and step into the breach. And now, two years later, he was convinced it had been the right decision.

‘I still miss some of the things about New Zealand,’ he confided to Steve, as they drove towards a suburb of Amsterdam. ‘But I’m pleased I came back home.’

‘And now you’re happily married?’

‘Oh, yes. Gina’s a wonderful wife. She has a good eye for a bargain, too.’ Pieter chuckled. ‘If I under-price an item, or pay too much for one, she soon lets me know.’ He paused before climbing out of the car and turned to Steve. ‘We’re going to an auction this afternoon to see what’s on offer; maybe you’d like to come along?’

Pieter introduced Steve to his wife, who immediately made their guest feel completely at home. As soon as their lunch was over, Gina insisted the two men should go together so that they could enjoy a man-to-man afternoon, but asked her husband to be conservative about his choice of purchases. As Pieter inspected a collection of fine bone chinaware, Steve wandered around and eventually found himself in the furniture section. An ornate four-poster bed caught his attention and reminded him of the burglary at Caxton Hall. The police had shown him a photocopy of the old sepia photo of the bed and now, as he looked closely at the headpiece, the ornate carving convinced him this was the one that had been stolen.

He hurried to search for his friend and found him conversing with another dealer, so when he realised their conversation could continue for some time, he interrupted them. ‘Pieter, please excuse me for butting in, but I think I’ve found something that was stolen from a property in Wales. Can you have a word with someone in authority here about it?’

‘You’d better show me first.’ Pieter excused himself and followed Steve into the furniture section.

‘I saw a photo of it,’ Steven said, pointing out the various identifying marks on the piece of furniture. ‘I’m positive this is the same bed.’

The two men returned to the main section of the building and notified the auctioneer’s secretary, who phoned the police immediately. The detectives were reluctant to accept Steve’s word, because he had not actually seen the bed, but when Pieter invoked the name of a cousin who was in charge of the CID section in Leeuwarden they took notice. Eventually, a fax arrived from the Welsh constabulary confirming the break-in and a picture of the bed.

By the time they left the police station, Steve felt exhausted. He gestured to a nearby bar. ‘Come on I’ll buy you a drink.’ They were waiting to be served when Steve gave a deep sigh. ‘What a waste of an afternoon.’ Then he brightened up. ‘I must ring Suzi and tell her the bed’s been located.’

‘Who’s Suzi? Tell her what?’

‘Just someone I met in the U.K. She’s got something to do with…’ He stopped, and gazed at his friend almost absentmindedly. ‘Wait a minute, she never did tell me how she knew so much about Caxton Manor.’

‘Isn’t that the place you hope to inherit?’

‘Yes it is.’

‘So where does this Suzi woman fit into the picture?’

Over the next fifteen minutes Steve related the events preceding the assault and his consequent conversation with Suzi in hospital. He went on to tell his friend about their time together and how much he had enjoyed her company.

‘I never gave much thought as to how she knew about the bed, or how she obtained the photograph of it,’ he concluded. ‘She must have known where that photo was, but if she knew the previous owner of the place, that could explain it.’ He shrugged and gazed thoughtfully ahead.

‘This Suzi, she turned you on?’

Pieter’s remark jolted him. ‘Yes, she most certainly did.’ He gave a small laugh. ‘And I think she fancied me, but, you know the old saying, ships that pass…’ He left the sentence unfinished.

‘And how’s things with Kirsty?’ Pieter asked, deliberately changing the subject. ‘It’s obvious you haven’t tied the knot yet?’

‘No, we make plans, and then change our minds.’ He shrugged his shoulders. ‘I always manage to find an excuse at the last moment.’

‘Is there someone else?’

Steve shrugged. ‘No, not really.’ He laughed. ‘It’s just that it’s an obligation thing with Kirsty, if you know what I mean. I’m not seeing anyone else or playing around… it’s…’ He stopped again and sighed. ‘Well, it’s an odd arrangement, but I have to abide by it.’

‘But what if this Suzi woman lived in New Zealand?’

‘Well, that might be a different matter, but she doesn’t, so that’s that.’

‘And you’re not concerned if Kirsty finds out about it?’ Pieter asked, quietly.

‘I hope she doesn’t, but it doesn’t matter really, got nothing to hide; done nothing wrong.’

When they returned to the house, Pieter pointed to the phone. ‘Feel free to use it.’

After dinner that evening Steve phoned Suzi’s number, but all he got was an answering machine. Rather than try again later he left a message to say the police had taken possession of the stolen bed and would hold it until it could be returned to the U.K. He sat nursing the phone in one hand as he thought about the break-in at Caxton Manor. Strangely enough he had not been over concerned about it at the time and yet he should have been, because it was likely that he could soon inherit the place. It was now too late in the day to check with Duncan’s office about his rescheduled appointment.

When he returned to the sitting room, Pieter looked up. ‘Everything okay?’

Steve gave a little laugh. ‘She wasn’t there so I left a message.’

The next few days were taken up in sightseeing. The Boersmas went out of their way to show him all the famous buildings within a fifty-mile radius, and when he finally said goodbye he felt drained; it had been too much to assimilate in such a short time.

Steve booked a seat on an early morning flight to London and then rang Suzi’s number. He waited impatiently for her to pick up, but it continued to ring until the answer machine clicked in. Rather than leave a message he hung up. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea anyway because she had obviously not expected to see him again. The remark he made to Pieter about ships that pass in the night popped into his head and with that, he made up his mind to see the solicitor and then catch the first available plane back home.

By the time Steve landed at Heathrow Airport, he had decided to try Suzi’s number one more time. As he walked towards the phone, for some reason he reminded himself that he was still a free man, and a long way from Auckland. The coins dropped as the connection was made.

*

It continually surprised Suzi how often Steve’s name popped into her mind. She still felt peeved she had been out when he phoned to say he had located the stolen bed. She wished he had phoned again; better still, she wished he’d turn up on her doorstep again just one more time. She dropped into her favourite chair, her thoughts dwelling heavily on him. It annoyed her; it wasn’t like her to go gaga so quickly over a stranger, however handsome. Besides, she reminded herself, what if he has a wife tucked away in Auckland? But maybe… maybe what? She jumped out of the chair, determined to push all thoughts of him out of her mind. She had taken a few hours off from work, so as a distraction to her current thoughts, she gave the house a good clean, then hurried off to open up the restaurant for lunch. She stepped inside just in time to grab the shrilling phone.

‘Suzi Lysle Spencer?’

‘Steve? Oh - Steve Pardoe,’ she cried, unable to conceal her excitement. ‘It’s great to hear your voice again. Where are you?’

‘Heathrow Airport.’

‘Enroute to New Zealand?’

‘Not yet, I’m just back from Holland. I have to see to unfinished business here before I go back.’ He hesitated momentarily. ‘I was kind of hoping we might touch base again before I fly home.’

‘That would be lovely. I’ll look forward to seeing you.

‘Okay, I’ll book a room where I stayed last time.’

Suzi hesitated and then blurted out. ‘No need for that; stay with me. There’s plenty of room here and you’re most welcome.’ She giggled. ‘And, as the Irish say, oceans of hot water.’

‘Okay, thanks, I’ll take you up on that offer.’

‘Come to the restaurant and I’ll give you a house key.’

It was only as she replaced the receiver that Suzi realised the implications of her invitation, but it was too late now, the man was on his way. Then she recalled Charlize’s words: ‘What if there’s a wife tucked away in New Zealand?’ ‘Don’t care,’ she muttered. ‘It’s all innocent, and I’ll probably never see him again, so I’ll enjoy our time together while I can.’ She escorted the last guest to the door just as Steve drew up to the kerb outside.

‘Hi there,’ she breathed, huskily. As he kissed her cheek, she sensed he was resisting an impulse to take her in his arms, so in an effort to defuse an almost electric situation, she pulled him into the restaurant and led him to a seat by the window.

‘What would you like to drink?’

‘Coffee will be fine. Will you join me?’

‘I’ll be with you in a few minutes.’ The young waitress who brought his coffee to the table gave him a long look before moving away to continue resetting the tables. Suzi bustled over a few minutes later and sat down beside him. ‘Now tell me about your trip. I suppose you did all the touristy things, canal trips, cycling, and so on?’

‘All that, and more.’ Steve said, relating some of his experiences.

‘Hey, I forgot to thank you for finding the bed and phoning to tell me. That was a stroke of luck. Sorry I wasn’t here to take your call.’

At her insistence Steve filled her in on all the details and was about to ask her where she had found the photo of the four-poster, and how she knew so much about Caxton Manor, when the telephone rang. Suzi answered it, and by the time she put the phone down, the waitress had finished setting up the tables for the evening and left.

Suzi joined Steve again. ‘I’ve a few jobs to do before going home, so rather than sit and wait for me here, take my front door key, let yourself into my house and make yourself comfortable; it’s barely a mile from here.’ She drew a sketch to help him find it, and promised to join him as soon as she could.

An hour later, she knocked on the door. Steve opened it and immediately gathered her into his arms. Their lips met and held as she pressed herself into his firm body. Then he suddenly but gently eased out of the embrace. She felt unwilling to end this intimacy, but sensed there was something holding him back. Her eyes searched his face in an endeavour to understand his actions. ‘What is it Steve?’

‘Nothing. No, that’s not true.’ He sighed. ‘I’d be the first to admit I want make love to you, but…’

‘But?’

‘But only when the time is right… for us both.’

Suzi felt a thrill of delight. She had not expected Steve to be so attuned to her thoughts and feelings, but this meant something, moreover, she was pleased he was sensitive about it. Rather than reveal the emotions she had battled with from the moment she had walked into the house, she nodded, and silently led him by the hand to the kitchen. ‘A coffee will perk us up.’

As they drank, Suzi explained how busy she was going to be over the next few days. ‘I’m sorry that means I won’t be able to spend as much time with you as I’d like.’