Jasper walked with forced purpose on the mossy ground, snapping twigs and branches, eager to get a closer look. Then, when only yards away from it, he saw a bikini-clad woman gently ease herself into the stream. Jasper gulped and froze. She had long, blonde hair that hung in tendrils down her back. His gaze homed in on her svelte, toned body, glistening with droplets of water. She looked like Aphrodite, beautifully elegant in the shimmering pool as she splashed water onto her face. And what a pretty face it was, dotted with freckles from the sun. Jasper drank in the sight before him, he was transfixed.
Then, realising how this must look and not wanting to be accused of being a Peeping Tom, he very quietly retreated back through the woods. There only appeared to be one person, a young woman travelling on her own. Hardly a threat, but even so, she was on private land and needed to be told. Perhaps it would be better coming from Fletcher? No, that seemed so lame, sending an old man over to approach her. It should be him. He’d go back in an hour or two, once she’d finished her swim and was dressed.
‘There’s someone parked on the back field,’ he told Fletcher as he entered the drawing room. It was getting dusk now and Fletcher was settling down with a whisky.
‘Who?’
‘A woman in a camper van. She’s set up camp by the stream.’
‘Why didn’t you tell her to push off?’
‘Err… I thought I’d speak to you first.’ He avoided Fletcher’s scrutiny.
‘Oh well, I’ll tell her in the morning.’ He was tired and didn’t want bothering. ‘Leave the lass be until tomorrow, she’s not doing any harm.’
Jasper wasn’t sure he agreed. Part of him wanted to go back to the field and see what she was up to. Then he resisted. What if she’d noticed him through the woods and knew he’d seen her bathing?
Fletcher was right, what harm could such a young woman do? Apart from assault his senses that was.
Chapter 8
Fletcher woke early morning as the sun through his curtains. Feeling rather revitalised after a good night’s sleep, he decided to rise and make the most of the day. The house was in silence. Jasper obviously wasn’t yet up and Lilly wouldn’t be arriving until later.
After finishing his breakfast, he remembered what Jasper had told him the night before. He put on his boots and made his way to the field where the trespasser was. He was surprised at Jasper not confronting the woman when he’d seen her yesterday evening.
Striding through the dewy grass towards the blue camper van he saw a figure with long, blonde hair sitting in a deckchair. As he approached her, she looked up startled.
‘Good morning, miss,’ he nodded his head.
‘Hello…’ Still she looked apprehensive.
‘You do realise that you’re on my land?’ He looked directly at her. This made her fluster even more.
‘No! Sorry, I didn’t.’ She seemed genuinely shocked and moved to get up.
Fletcher felt a tinge sorry for his abruptness. He waved her to sit back down. ‘It’s all right, lass, sit down.’
‘I’m really sorry, I’d no idea… The gate was wide open and… I just—’
‘The gate’s broken. I’ve propped it against the post.’
‘Oh, I see.’ Her face fell.
Not wanting to make her feel any more embarrassed, Fletcher rubbed his hands together and smiled. ‘Lovely morning, isn’t it?’
Sensing the old man wanted to talk, rather than send her away immediately, Adira asked if he wanted a chair to sit on.
‘Aye, lass.’ He nodded again. ‘And how about a cup of tea?’
Adira smiled. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’
Soon they were sat opposite each other in the glorious morning sunshine exchanging pleasantries. Adira had told Fletcher of her plans to travel to Scotland in the newly bought camper van and he had explained how he owned the surrounding land and lived in The Laurels. The two chatted amicably for a few minutes when suddenly Adira leant forward towards him.
‘That’s some bump you have on your forehead.’
‘Now don’t you start,’ he gently warned, taking a sip of his tea.
‘Seriously, it needs attention.’
