I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Twelve

'Men like the chase.' She paused, then added, 'Women do, too, you know.'

I sighed, 'That's so much work, though. I'd rather be with someone I was comfortable with. Forget that chasing nonsense.'

'Even if you thought the two of you would be great together?'

'I wouldn't presume to know another person well enough to tell them we should be together if they didn't want to be with me. Also, with my luck, I'd be certain someone was exactly right for me and spend all sorts of time and effort getting them to like me and then find out they were a serial killer or a Tory or something.' She only chuckled and shook her head.

* * *

We spent a fortnight in a companionable rhythm: breakfast mid-morning in the kitchen, reading in the sitting room until lunch, which we took in the kitchen, me typing away in the study whilst she went to the studio to paint and then supper sometimes with a film, sometimes not, then played a game before bed. We even fell into a rhythm in regard to chores. It was as though we'd been living together for years. It was the best two weeks of my life. The only occasional interruption was the phone, when her brother rang to discuss their shop.

The drive to Essex was lovely, spring had arrived and the countryside was awash with colour, it was like being in a Monet painting, except less blurry. After we arrived in Wickham she turned onto a small winding path, which led up to a massive, grey stone house. It was four storeys high in some places, maybe five including the attic. It looked more like a small castle than a house. We pulled up the circle drive, stopping parallel to the wide stone steps that led up to enormous double doors. I got out of the car and took in the fountain in the centre of the front lawn sending water several metres into the sky. It was the biggest house I'd ever seen. 'So, this is your holiday residence?'

'Yes, Tillington Place.'

'This is where you grew up?'

'This is it.' She opened the back door and Cate and Clem jumped out and began investigating the grass either side the gravel drive.

As we were bringing my bags from the boot, Anthony came down the steps. He greeted his sister and said, 'Hello,' stiffly to me before picking up a bag and leading the way back to the house. I inhaled deeply and Alex gave me a look that I took to mean to take heart. Walking up the stone steps Anthony said over his shoulder, 'Catherine, we thought we'd put you on the second floor, overlooking the back garden.'

'Ok. I mean, "All right". I mean, Thanks.' I cast about for something appropriate to say. 'Your house is really...impressive.'

Once inside, two women in maids' uniforms met us and took the luggage Alex and I were carrying. When they set my things down in my massive room I thanked them. After they left Anthony said, 'I'll leave you to get settled,' gave Alex a significant look and strode out of the room.

I turned to Alex, 'Did I do something wrong?'

'You're not supposed to notice the house is large and you don't have to thank the maids.'

'They carried my stuff up two flights of stairs.'

Her voice was gentle, 'It's their job.'

'Pardon me for being gauche, but this is a new experience for me.'

She sighed, 'My brother doesn't have much patience with people who don't inherently know how to handle the help.'

'I don't like that. Calling them "the help". I don't like someone doing things for me like that. Can I tell them not to help me? To be you and your brother's help and not mine?'