Block 8, Cell 18

Chapter 27. Unexpected questions.

"When you're at work. Me and the guys go for a beer, or chill.
Alex has been rebuilding a classic Mini Cooper. I've been giving him a hand here and there, not that I'm much use.
He wants to do some track days, eventually." Marcus revealed.

"Oh." She said, as the pieces clicked into place.
Cadence wondered why the flat occasionally smelled a little of engine oil, when she came home from work.
Marcus and his clothes had always been as clean as a whistle, so she presumed it had emanated from outside.

Cadence knew their shift patterns overlapped every now and then, but she didn't know why he felt this was the only time he could see his friends.
Although, if she was honest, she did the same with her friends while he was at work.

"You don't have to wait till I'm at work. If you want a guys night, I don't mind."  She offered.

"I enjoy spending our free time together. I've only been out six months. I've still got another eighteen months' worth of sexual tension to relieve." Marcus explained.
He was back to his naughty self again.

"Maybe next time, we'll go together. I haven't seen Jay or Alex in a while. And maybe you can come with me to see my friends?" Cadence asked hopefully.

Spending time with Alex and Jay seemed relatively normal, to her at least. They all shared the same disturbing past.
But between Marcus and her friends, there seemed to be an odd tension.
Her friends had followed the story on the news, and the long awaited trial.
They didn't quite understand how their bond had formed, but they seemed willing to accept it.
Cadence suspected that Marcus felt a little guilty and uneasy about how others may perceive him, like a predator with his prey.
He needn't worry though, after six months of seeing Cadence as happy as before the abduction, her friends held no grudges against him.

"You'll see Jay and Sarah when we get there. They helped me sort everything." Marcus glazed silkily over her request.
She felt a stab of annoyance, but she also noticed an air of tension in his voice. So she dropped the subject, for now.
It must be a double date with Jay and his girlfriend.

Marcus pulled his car into the driveway of an enormous Georgian country house. The crunching of the gravel under the tyres was the only sound to be heard over the gentle hum of the electric engine.

He pulled the car into an adjoining car park and settled in a space.

Cadence's eyes were held by the beautiful eighteenth century architecture, the windows perfectly spaced on its imposing facade.

As they got out of the car, her gaze was drawn to the perfectly laid gardens peaking out behind the mansion.

'I wish I'd brought my camera. This would have been great to add to my portfolio.' She thought, idly.

Cadence turned to Marcus, wanting to tell him about all the amazing aspects and angles that she could capture, but the look on his face stopped her in her tracks.

He looked positively on edge, like he was nervous about something.

"Are you okay?" Cadence asked him gently.

He covered himself somewhat, and smiled at her as he took her hand.

"Fine, just wondering if Jay and Sarah got here okay." Said Marcus, as he steered her around to the rear gardens.
Something was bothering him, but maybe he would relax in this glorious space.

It was beautiful.
Perfectly manicured lawns spread out in front of them, crisscrossed with paths running at right angles to each other.
Fountains stood tall and proud in the crossroads, while tree-lined avenues surrounded the perimeter. Flower beds sprang up out of the ground in colourful displays.
It really was breathtaking, like walking back in time to meet Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy.

Marcus led her arm in arm, as they admired the age old scenery.
Cadence tried to make conversation, but it didn't seem to ease his tension.

They headed towards a path, overcast by Yew trees. The trees stood so close, that it formed a magical wooded tunnel, just like in a fairytale. The light could barely filter through the densely woven branches.

The dim, shadowed walkway headed towards a place so bathed in light, Cadence couldn't quite make out what lay beyond.
As the pair edged closer, Cadence could make out a low curved structure.

As they emerged into the bright sunshine, Cadence realised it was a huge fountain.
Far larger than the others, the ornately carved stone centrepiece stood tall and proud by at least a meter above her head.
The sprouting water glistened in the warm summer sunshine. The gentle splatter broke up the sound of twittering birds.

Gardens like this were designed to entertain, long before TV and radio.
Cadence wondered why anyone would bother inventing them, if they had this in their back garden.

She was so taken in by the dancing light that Cadence barely noticed the picnic blanket lying to the left-hand side.

She averted her gaze from the sparkling water to the tartan cloth.
It was laden with strawberries, sandwiches, salad and mini pork pies.
A bottle of champagne stood on top of the basket with two glasses alongside.

"Oh! Marcus!" She breathed. "This is amazing!"
A picnic at Bradgate Park would have been fine, but she was so grateful that he had taken her somewhere new.
Next time, she would definitely bring her camera.

Cadence was amazed that Marcus had arranged all this. So unexpectedly out of the blue.

He had so many facets, like a diamond sparkling in the sun.
She loved them all, his strength, his control, his depth, his thoughtfulness, his authoritative nature, his playfulness. Too many to count.

Cadence started to make her way towards the sumptuous buffet, when she heard music begin to play softly from her right.
It sounded like Snow Patrol, one of the bands Marcus had given to her on the iPod.

Cadence turned around, trying to find the source of the music, but something else made her stop in her tracks.

Marcus was almost blinded as they reached the end of the tunnel, and he stopped in his tracks.
This was it. He took a deep steadying breath. Showtime!

Cadence walked a few steps ahead and stopped to take in the scene in front of her.

Marcus spied Jay over to his right. He gave Marcus a huge grin.
Marcus nodded in return as he sank down onto one knee.
Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol began to softly fill the air.

Marcus's heart was racing, pounding so hard like it was trying to break out of his chest.

He grabbed the ring box from out of his pocket.

'I've been in tough positions before, but this has to be the scariest thing I've ever done!' He thought, as his nerves grasped at his throat.
'I really hope she says yes.'