A Different Class - 18

Chapter 18

Packing a large handbag with a change of underwear, clean top and some toiletries Bec headed to Heathrow, seven hundred pounds lighter! It seemed that the cheap last minute rule applied to holidays and NOT to chartered flights. It was the most impulsive thing she’d ever done, and after just scraping through before the gate closed, she didn’t relax til she was sat on the plane and taking a sip of her red wine.

She almost never managed to sleep on a flight, so she dug out her book, a thriller and started to read.

They eventually landed, and as she had no luggage she was almost first in the queue at passport control. It was almost eight thirty when she left the airport, and she took the luxury of a taxi where she would normally have jumped on public transport.

The cab pulled up outside the New York Palace on Madison Avenue and paid the fare. The lobby was huge and ornate. Tucked away in the corner she spotted a reception desk. 

“I need to see Mr Groves, I believe he’s booked in here,” she asked politely.

The woman behind the counter tapped into a computer, “I’ll try his room.” After a few moments she shook her head, “I’m sorry there’s no answer. You're welcome to wait.”

Despite several attempts, he didn’t answer his phone, so she was at a loss as to know what to do.

“Would you like to leave a message? I can make sure he gets it as soon as he arrives?”

She nodded, “can you just ask him to call me?” She handed over her mobile number, then disappointed she made for the lounge, he could be out for the evening, she had no idea. Suddenly this didn't seem such a great idea, ordering a drink and a sandwich, she pulled out her book and got drawn back into the plot.

More than an hour passed before her phone flashed. Hitting the answer phone button, she silenced it, downed her bourbon, and then rushed to the reception. There head bowed, and exhausted was Nat talking to her answer phone, she almost ran across the room, to slide her arms around his waist.

Shocked he turned around and his jaw dropped. “Bec! What the hell...” Giving up the sentence he pulled her into his arms, and overwhelmed her with a kiss. “I don’t care who, how or why, I’m just so pleased to see you!” He held her at arm’s length, “where are your bags?”

She showed him the bag thrown over her shoulder, and laughing he led her to the lifts.

The suite was huge, a lounge with a flat screen TV, bar and desk, and through an archway the biggest bed she’d ever seen, far bigger than his bed, and that was huge.

“Wow! This room is awesome!”

He laughed, “Higher end hotels are all much of a much. But I did think how great that bed would be if you were here!”

She dropped her bag and slipped out of her jacket, “I travelled for comfort.” She looked down at the jeans and tunic top, “but in the bar downstairs I looked so out of place!”

“You look beautiful!” he kissed her nose. “So how did this come about?”

She shrugged, “I missed you, work finished up early today, so I blew a load on my credit card and here I am! My impulsive gesture.”

“I am so glad! And have I told you how I LOVE impulsive?” He murmured as he lifted the hem of the tunic over her head. He sighed as he took in the satin basque she was wearing, “comfort?”

She winked, “well sort of! I set off the alarms as there's metal in this! So I've already been frisked by a masculine security lady at Heathrow!”

Chuckling, he ran a finger from her chin down to her neck and collar bone. “this is the nicest thing that has happened all week!”

She laughed as he started to unhitch her belt, “I’m glad, I didn’t know if this was too much.”

Shaking his head he pushed the denim off her hips, revealing matching pale blue satin pants, “you are a sight for very sore eyes!”

She reached up and pulled the clip out of her hair, he groaned as the curls tumbled down around her shoulders. Freed of her jeans, she walked to the window, and looked out, laughing he came and stood behind her, “when did you become the exhibitionist?”

She laughed back, “I’m just admiring the view!”

“And a lot of the view will start admiring you back!”

He reached around her to shut the blinds, as he did he kissed the back or her neck, her shoulders, “You are the sexiest woman I have ever met!”

She glanced back over her shoulder, “in that case, do something about it!”

Much later she lay slumped across him, exhausted, bodies slick with sweat.

“Do you need food?” he asked tucking the loose hair from her eyes behind her ears.

She shrugged, “I ate a sandwich downstairs earlier, but my body clock is all over the shop. This sounded like such a great idea, but now I feel shattered! Sometimes the best laid plans don't work out. Are you working tomorrow?”

He nodded, “yes, a breakfast meeting, should only be an hour or two, hopefully that'll be it and I'll be back here. And you've got until then to get over your jetlag!”

When she woke in the morning, there was a note on the pillow along with a single white rose.

“Rose for a rose. I should only be an hour or two. Order anything you need, I’ll take you out this afternoon, as soon as I can. It’s so special to have you here, Nate x”

She was in a deep scented bath, MTV2 blasting rock music into the suite when she heard the door open.

“Nate?”

“Hi! Where are you?” She could hear him kicking off his shoes.

“Bathroom! You’re early!”

He stood in the doorway and stared, “we managed to tie things up quickly.” He had his suit jacket slung over his shoulder. “My mind was here all morning though, and you are doing it to me again!”

One of her feet rested on the rim of the deep round bath, the rest of her peeped out from below deep frothy water, as she moved, a nipple peeked through the water, a glimpse of thigh. “Join me?”

He didn’t need asking twice, throwing off his clothes, she pulled herself forward and he lowered himself into the water behind her. Slumping back against the cool enamel, he pulled her back against him.

“So tell me about your week.” He asked as he played gently with her breasts. She laid her hands on his thighs and relaxed into him.

“Well I told you about out takeaway night...where everyone sucked up about what a great man you are! Um, the rest of the week I was in Rochester, helping launch a new tourism campaign.”

“How was the flat? Were you comfortable there?”

His hands were now massaging the top of her thighs and it was distracting, but that was welcome, how did you tell such a great man that she was too scared to open the door or answer the phone when she was in his home as she didn't want confrontation with his family. This whole thing stank, and the longer it went on, the worse it seemed to become.

“It was really strange you not being there, I’m worried that I’ve left it in a mess! You are such a  perfectionist!” That wasn't a lie, the home was more immaculate than hers had ever been!

He kissed her neck, “I don’t care about that! I want you to treat it like your own home. If it's tidy it's because my cleaning lady sorts it.”

She sighed as his hands started to wander further, and all conversation was suspended again.

Later they were wrapped in fluffy hotel robes picking at the fruit bowl trying to feed their growing hunger. 

“When are you booked to fly back?” he popped a grape into his mouth.

She looked at him coyly, “I only booked one way, I didn’t know when you’d be flying back.”

He shrugged, “my ticket is flexible. Do you want to stay another night?”

Smiling Bec looked up at him, “I’ve never been here before....it would be nice!”

“Ok,” he picked up the hotel phone. “Can I book another night please?....” he waited on the reply, “no the room is on account, do you need the authorisation code?........523445. Thank you!” He turned to her, “that’s the room, now we need to sort out flights!”

He picked up his mobile and dialled the airline, “Hi this is Nathaniel Groves, I’ve got an open business class ticket to London, can I get on the afternoon flight tomorrow? I can, great is there another seat?...Excellent.”He proceeded to give his credit card details, then hung up.

“Right we’ve got til one pm tomorrow to get home! And as you’ve never been here before, we have some sights to see!” It was that easy! Just when Rebecca thought she fitted in, something happened to make her realise how far removed from his world she really was.

Firstly he dragged her onto an open top bus, and they toured Manhattan, him pointing out all the places of interest they passed. After a few hours they were well educated, but shattered and hungry!

Pulling her along the pavement in Midtown, he smiled, “I know the perfect place!” He took her to a restaurant near the Empire State Building, where they ordered steak and fries. The waiter informed her that Manhattan’s were their speciality, so a la Sex in the City, she had a few cocktails.

When she looked up Nate was looking at her with hooded eyes. “What?” she asked self consciously.

He shrugged, “nothing, just thinking how lady like you are sat there sipping your cocktail!”

“In jeans? Yeah right!” she fought the compliment whilst secretly blushing inside. 

  “You forget I know exactly how elegant you look under those jeans!” Heat flushed her whole body as his eyes seemed to see through to her clothes to the sexy lingerie he’d seen earlier. “Ha! You’re even blushing like a lady! God my father would be so proud!”

She tutted, “hardly proud, maybe a tad more tolerant? Nah, I’d have to be reincarnated as Princess Di for that to happen!”

He laughed, “he didn’t like her either!”

“Great! What chance do I really have??”

After the meal they cruised a few bars drinking cocktails or beer, before rolling back to the hotel in the early hours. It had been a great whistle stop trip, and it was with great regret that they boarded the plane later that afternoon back to the rat race. And despite how pleasant the trip had been, Bec came home with a real sense of reservation, for the first time she understood all that Sir Ed had expressed. 

After the trip they settled into some form of routine. It was a longer trip for her to work each day, but she enjoyed spending her nights with Nate. He worked late most evenings, meaning she could still see her friends and colleagues after work, but be home in time for dinner with her lover. He assured her that he didn’t miss spending time with the Eton set. He still saw his work colleagues, and they invited Patrick around for dinner every now and again, and he'd started to join Sunday lunches with the gang. Their lives were merging successfully. There had been no further contact from his father, that she was aware of, and so Rebecca started to regain her confidence and self assurance.

A month or so after the trip, they were invited to a wedding, Sebastian his cousin, was marrying Emily. At the ball they had been the only people to be genuinely understanding to them, to include her in the conversations. So biting back the apprehension, Bec agreed to go.

The wedding was in the village church where all the Groves had been married, christened and buried. The reception was planned to be in a marquee in the grounds on Nate’s uncle’s farm.

At Nate’s request they went shopping together, he was insistent that he bought her wedding outfit, she hated him buying things for her, but realistically she knew that a High Society wedding needed high Society clothing, and her salary didn't stretch to that.

She was amazed how tolerant he was of shopping, they traipsed for hours. Eventually he convinced her that a mid thigh length turquoise dress and jacket were perfect. She had been undecided, but the glow in his eyes as he saw her meant she had no choice but to get it. Once she had shoes, a bag and various accessories, he’d spent almost two thousand pounds. Unflinching he handed over his card for the payment to be swiped, Rebecca looked away, ignoring the sick feeling that seemed to swamp her .

That night he took her to the Italian they’d been to on their first proper date.

“I’ve loved the last few months, you, the company. I don’t think you realise that. I’m just praying that my family don’t try and ostracise you further next week.”

Nate liked Sebastian a lot, and in the short time they’d been in each other’s company at the ball, Bec had felt the same way. The night before the wedding they drove down, Nate admitted that he’d phoned Seb to assure him that they wouldn’t cause a scene with the family. Nate hadn’t told Bec that Seb didn’t care whether or not it upset his uncle Sir Edward, but his own father had been rather insistent that she not be invited. Sebastian had put his foot down though and insisted that his closest cousin and the partner of his choice had more right at the wedding than most of the other guests. Nate had been eternally grateful for the support from his normally submissive cousin. Despite that he hid his apprehension from her, his father was unpredictable and disrespectful. He'd not think of holding his tongue to avoid spoiling the day for Seb and Emily. 

Sullivan had prepared the coach house for them again, and Bec was glad of the familiarity of the surroundings. She was also met by a smiling and welcoming face.

“Nice to see you again Miss Taylor, I hope you find things to your liking?”

She smiled, “thanks Sullivan, you are one of the nicer sights here! And will you please call me Rebecca?”

He chuckled before turning to Nate, “Will you be riding this morning?”

Nate looked at her, worried at how tired and drawn she looked, “we’ve got a long day ahead. I think we’ll just have some brunch and get ready. Are all the family here?”

When he nodded, Nate laughed, “all crawled out of the now empty woodwork!” 

The older man whispered smiling, “you are so much better off down here.”

Nate shook his hand then headed into the lodge.

They ate the pastries and coffee Sullivan had brought. 

“Are you ok?” he finally asked taking her hands in his. “You look tired and pale, are you really worried?”

She shrugged, “I’ve felt better, but I’m thinking of Sunday when we’re driving back to the City!”

He put an arm around her, “It can’t be any worse than last time, despite what you think my father doesn’t like public scenes, well not when there's a chance of him coming off the worst.” He didn't truly believe that, but he needed to inspire her. He'd deal with his father, and keep her safe. “I am with you, one hundred percent. You know that?”

She nodded, “I know, or at least I’m getting there. I’m just tired of all this arguing.” She leaned back in his arms, “it was so nice, you know, the other night? You, me and the guys, all getting on..." They'd joined her friends for a few drinks earlier in the week and it had been a lovely day. "I just don’t know if I have enough energy to deal with more animosity.”

“I promise it’ll only get easier. If not it's last chance saloon. I promise.”

She smiled uneasily. The last thing she wanted was to hear him talking like this. It had to work out.

They looked the perfect couple, her in the well cut dress and long jacket, him in a grey suit, blue shirt and grey and blue tie.

“Well I think we look quite the dashing couple!” he announced as she straightened his tie. 

She nodded as they headed to his SAAB. Chivalrous as ever he opened the door for her.

The church was full, and other than a few select glances, they slid into the aisle uneventfully. The service was long, and very formal, but the bride looked beautiful in an ivory dress, fashionable and well cut, the groom in a formal morning suit. 

It was only after the registers had been signed and the bridal party headed up the aisle that anyone noticed them tucked away to the back of the church. Seb nodded a hello as he led Emily out in to the sunshine. He was closely followed by an array of increasingly shocked relatives, until they both met the furious glance of Sir Edward.

Though he said nothing his look filled her with dread, and she was immobilised, it was Nate’s squeeze of her hand that actually brought her round.

There was a barrage of photographs and confetti throwing which Nate and Bec avoided, slipping away at the first opportunity. It was a very short drive to the farm, the gate posts were adorned with ribbon, and the drive way lined with pots of flowers. He parked outside the house on a gravel car park and tucked her arm into his as they headed across to the huge gazebo that had been erected in the grounds of the huge farm house.

“I’m not going to leave you alone all afternoon, ok?”

She laughed, “are you more worried about what I’ll do or what they’ll do?”

“Whilst you are unpredictable, I know that you are rational. There’s a big difference!”

Several other guests had made an early retreat so they mingled at the reception area, sipping on the copious amounts of champagne being offered by a whole array of staff, as well as canapés, the likes she’d only ever heard of. Nate chuckled as he pointed out different types of caviar, foie gras as well as truffles. 

But suddenly the mood changed, the room seemed tense, and knowing that a confrontation was about to happen, Nate took her hand again.