Castle In The Clouds, Chapters 5 & 6 (standard:drama, 3366 words) [3/21] show all parts
Author: Brian Cross	Added: May 05 2009	Views/Reads: 2431/1695	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
It is early twentieth century, a wealthy banker has purchased a castle and thinks he has met the woman of his dreams. Serialisation of a completed drama.

CHAPTER FIVE 

Waves rippled gently below, reflecting on the gallery's lime coloured
walls as Veronica Day played, the setting sun inflaming her red hair 
and shimmering on the bow she stroked so finely. 

Sitting on a long oak bench with Dorothea at his side Llewellyn watched,
enthralled, as Veronica recited Vivaldi, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky in 
what she explained was a romantic interpretation of violin solos. 
Llewellyn wasn't an expert in the world of music but he loved the 
fluency that caused her bow to glide over the strings and the resonance 
she created in the gallery's high interior was electrifying. 

With Veronica playing to his right, and directly opposite through the
windows, the sun a large mellow pumpkin sinking into the horizon, the 
castle he'd so recently purchased took on an atmosphere altogether 
different from anything he'd experienced. It was as if the castle and 
Veronica had combined to create a special magic. 

'Absolutely beautiful,' Llewellyn exclaimed when she'd finished; this
was followed by a noticeably reserved 'most impressive'  from his 
sister. But Llewellyn hadn't been aware of any comment from Dorothea; 
in fact, only the arrival of Hambleton announcing dinner forced his 
eyes from the radiant Veronica. 

'I must say Miss Day, your playing both astounded and moved me,'
Llewellyn enthused over a salad dinner prepared by Mrs. Simms. 

'Why thank you Mr. Llewellyn.' Veronica placed her fork down and took a
sip of wine. 'You know your choice of violin was perfect, how on earth 
did you know which to get?' 

Llewellyn lowered his knife and fork, ran a napkin over his lips, 'A man
in my position has many useful contacts Miss Day, need I say more?' 

'No indeed, it is enough for me to know you bought it, and once again I
thank you.' 

'Indeed you should Miss Day.' The heavily – jewelled Dorothea held a
wine glass to her lips, downed the contents in one gulp. 'My brother is 
not always so charitable.' 

Llewellyn coughed and glanced out at the garden, smarting, but unwilling
to rise to her bait. 'Come, come, Dorothea, none of your mischief – 
ah,' he said, looking down at the gardens for a change of subject. 
'Nine o'clock and our gardener is still working. Good chap that.' 

'Pardon?' Veronica followed Llewellyn's eye, coming to rest on a slim,
dark curly-haired figure busily watering the flower beds. She rose to 
her feet, the speed of her movement surprising Llewellyn. 'I do hope 
you'll excuse me but that young man down there is the one who pulled me 
from the sea. I really must go and thank him; I may not get another 
chance to do so.' 

Llewellyn flapped a hand across his face, 'No, no, don't trouble
yourself to do that, I'll have the butler fetch him up.' 

Veronica smiled but shook her head. 'I think that would be
inappropriate. His bravery demands that I should attend him. I cannot 
do him justice by having him come to me.' 

Dorothea raised her eyebrows, glanced at Llewellyn who sighed. 'If you
feel you ought to do so then please allow me to accompany you down the 
slope, it is rather hazardous. I need to erect some kind of stair-rail 
forthwith.' 

But Veronica waved away his offer. 'No please, do not trouble yourself.
I assure you I am quite agile for a woman; it will present no 
problems.' 

Llewellyn nodded reluctantly. 'Then hurry back, your company is much
appreciated here.' 

His heart-rate increased as she left the room and he knew it wasn't
caused by the digestion of food. He'd seen by the ease that she'd coped 


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