Just as she was settling down to her toast and tea, her phone rang. She didn't even have to look at it to know it was Jasper, and she carried on buttering her toast. She would ignore him for now.What the hell was a matter with her? Why wasn't Ellie answering her phone? Jasper pushed his hand through his hair. He would have to be careful how he handled this and managed to get back into his wife's good books. He would text her.'Hey, darling, where are you?'Jasper poured his coffee from the silver pot on the sideboard and took it back to the table. He'd just sat down when his mother came in. He stood up to greet her."Good morning darling," she said, "Did you sleep well?""Morning, yes, I sl
Marjorie Fox was cross. Ellie should have been here to greet them, and It was bad form, she thought as Francis took their cases up. She ignored Bill and Francis chatting about cars. She wanted to have a word with her daughter before Gareth and Gracie arrived."Marjorie, Bill, how lovely to see you. Merry Christmas," Rosslyn touched cheeks with them both as they entered the drawing-room. "Come and sit down and get warm. It's suddenly turned freezing today. I'm sure Francis will send tea soon.""Where's Ellie and Jasper? I thought they would be there to greet us." Marjorie sniffed as she sat next to the fire. Although this house was lovely, it was so frigid in the corridors."Yes, I'm sorry they are not here as planned," Rosslyn would protect Ellie. She wouldn't tell them about the lover's tiff because she knew Marjorie wouldn't let it drop. "They just had to run down to the village. I think Mary forgot something. She's getting on a bit and rather forgetful
"Oh Ellie, you would get a migraine now," Marjorie groaned, "always gets them when she's stressed out,"Ellie began to breathe more easily once she was out of the dining room. "I'm sorry for spoiling lunch," she murmured into Jasper's shoulder."Shh, it's ok, why don't you go and rest? I can handle the children's party. I'll take your mother with me, and she can stand in for you," he half chuckled. He wanted to have a chat with Marjorie. He was getting a bit fed up with her always getting on at Ellie. His darling wife was doing her best, and this Christmas had been a shambles from start to finish, especially today. Ellie had put up with a lot today.Ellie clung to him, and she so wanted to tell him about the baby. She was desperate to see his face when he realised, and she sighed with frustration. They would exchange one gift this evening, something silly, she could tell him then, and then tomorrow they could say to the rest of them. It wasn't something
Charlotte ran hell for leather to her car. She threw open the door and threw her overnight bag, and dived into her vehicle after it. She clutched the steering wheel, her hands shaking, tears rolling down her face. What was she thinking? How could she even think of doing something like that? Was she out of her mind? The tears turned to laughter at how stupid she was, at how ridiculous that she could walk into Ellie's bedroom and somehow get her out of the room so she could do her harm. What a dreadful thing to even think of doing! Next time she would plan ahead, there would be no second chances for Ellie Neyve next time.Ellie looked at the clock, almost four-thirty. It was black outside. Jasper would be home in a few minutes, and she really couldn't be bothered to go and find Charlotte. Whatever it was could wait. If it was that important, she could go and find Francis and tell him. She put another log on the fire. It was so lovely to watch the fire, especia
Disreputable Adjective: Not respectable in character or appearance. "This is BBC Radio 4 and here is the news read by Chris Aldridge.""The artist son of The Duke of Shettleham, Jasper Neyve, who is the Marquis Prybourn was photographed by the press early this morning rescuing a runaway horse at the gates of Hyde Park. It seemed that the rescue happened on the spur of the moment as Marquis Prybourn was naked except for a
AudacityNoun: Rude or disrespectful behaviour.
Inside, the whitewashed church of St James was cold, and the glare of the sun against the walls was excruciating for Jasper, who had forgotten to bring dark glasses. As funerals go, it was going well enough. Jasper slumped in the family pew of the village church, breathing slowly and trying to keep nausea at bay. He spent most of the service with his eyes closed until his mother elbowed him in the ribs to tell him that it was his turn to do the reading.Jasper stood up and sightly staggering because the sun shining through the stained glass window hit right in his eye, or so he told himself. He walked towards the ancient and straightforward pulpit. He was so tired his eyes were half-closed, which is why he half tripped up the steps to the pulpit. The silence was broken by coughs which spread across the church and muffled giggles at the back of the church.In the pulpit, Jasper's eyes narrowed sharply, and he glared towards the sound of the giggl
Jasper watched the girl as she looked around his studio. He was furious that she was late but relieved that she had turned up. He stared at her, what the fuck was she wearing? The cheap and poorly fitting navy business suit seemed odd for her to wear. His life models came dressed in more bohemian and usually very sexy clothing, depending on their age.He stood quietly, waiting for her to notice him. She'd not heard him come through the door from the roof garden, probably due to Mick Jagger belting out 'Start Me Up' which must have covered the sound of his footsteps.He studied her again she might look as if she had dressed in a skip, but she was beautiful, classically beautiful. Jasper was Grace Kelly but with rich conker coloured hair, which unfortunately was scraped back into a precise bun. He wanted her hair down the curls cascading over her shoulders. Jasper couldn't see much of her figure; it was lost in that awful suit. She was slim though, and of average h