Castle In The Clouds, Chapters Seven and Eight (standard:drama, 3361 words) [4/21] show all parts
Author: Brian Cross	Added: Jun 10 2009	Views/Reads: 2359/1722	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Continuation of completed story about a City banker who purchases a castle and finds his life changed forever

CHAPTER SEVEN 

Llewellyn longed to see Veronica Day again. Even though but a few weeks
had passed since he'd watched her brought ashore on the island, the 
thought she might return was ever on his mind. 

She'd smitten him like never before; never before had he experienced the
longing, the desire he felt now. He'd been a hardcore business man 
until her appearance; he'd had one or two relationships in his thirty 
plus years, but none that had endured. And Veronica Day, despite her 
beauty had no ties, he'd been informed thus by people who knew about 
such things. 

Her effect on him had been such that his nights in London had filled
with thoughts of her, playing the violin solely for him in candlelight 
on the castle's roof garden, her red hair fanning behind like a rich 
burgundy banner. And then afterwards he'd welcome her into his arms, 
curl them around her and draw her down, but that was where desire had 
turned to torment – torment caused by the longing to see her again – 
not knowing when that might be. 

Llewellyn had spent the evening at a Berkeley Street private members
club he was apt to visit on occasions, sitting in a plush, red leather 
chair, fingering through the pages of his newspaper routinely when he'd 
reached the arts and music section. There, beside a photo of Veronica 
was an account of her recent performances in Edinburgh. The newspaper 
reported that she had played to five packed houses in Edinburgh during 
a series of concerts and had received a standing ovation at each one. 
He read on to learn that from the Scottish Capital she was travelling 
south to York for more concerts. 

He assumed she would travel by rail and thus pass close to the island,
at a time when he was planning a few days return. Was it too soon to 
invite her back? If reason said yes, then his heart said no – and it 
was his heart, for the first time in his thirty plus years, that held 
sway. 

It drummed at the thought of speaking with her, a sense of anticipation
and yes, nervous apprehension. 

But first he would need considerable good fortune, because Veronica had
not left a forwarding address, promising instead to contact him when 
able to return. 

He could only surmise that she had not yet left Edinburgh, and that she
remained in one of the main hotels there. 

Llewellyn got to his feet and made for the club foyer, engaging in a
brief conversation with an official and tapping restlessly on the oak 
desk until a few moments later, the official returned with a list of 
hotel contact numbers. He made several calls without success, his hopes 
falling like a severed parachute as he approached the bottom of the 
list, whereupon he heard a gravelly voice say, 'Miss Veronica Day sir? 
She is indeed residing at the Arthur's Rock Hotel.' 

Taking Llewellyn's name and number the porter promised to convey a
message to the effect that she call him as soon as possible. Llewellyn 
hadn't wanted to alarm her but he did want to deliver his message 
personally, and thus thanking the porter he spent an anxious hour in 
the members lounge, eyes travelling uneasily between his paper and the 
ornate mantelpiece clock. 

Eventually a blue-uniformed official came hustling in. 'Mr. Llewellyn,
sir, a telephone call for you in reception – a Miss Day is on the line 
-' 

Grabbing hold of the stem, 'Good evening Veronica,' Llewellyn called
through the mouthpiece. 'I do hope I am not inconveniencing you -' 

'Not at all Mr. Llewellyn – I do trust there is nothing wrong,'she broke
in, sounding perplexed. 

' No, no, nothing, I assure you – and call me Thomas please,' Llewellyn
hastened, tweaking his moustache. 'Forgive me for the intrusion but I 
have been reading an account of your fine performances in my newspaper, 


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