Castle In The Clouds, Chapters Eleven and Twelve (standard:drama, 3146 words) [6/21] show all parts
Author: Brian Cross	Added: Aug 15 2009	Views/Reads: 2378/1580	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Continuing a serialisation of my completed story, Castle In The Clouds

Chapter Eleven 

Dawn revealed a grey morning with a few yellow streaks on the horizon as
the rising sun struggled to show. Llewellyn looked down from his room 
towards the harbour where the fishermen were preparing their nets, but 
his thoughts were concentrated on the evening that lay ahead. He hoped 
that nothing would arise to mar Veronica's recital; Dorothea's absence 
in the light of her recent behaviour would turn out to be a blessing 
and now the weather appeared the only factor that could adversely 
affect it. Over that matter he had no control. Over his sister 
disturbingly, he had increasingly little. It was an issue which needed 
to be addressed sooner rather than later, particularly in view of his 
plans for Veronica. 

Veronica would be offered a permanent room at the castle, doubtless she
would accept. He hadn't had the opportunity to expound to her the 
previous evening due to her curious preoccupation with Gibbings, but 
nonetheless he would do so first opportunity that morning. He yearned 
to enter into a permanent relationship with her. Never before had he 
experienced such heightened feelings for a woman, but he knew that time 
and familiarity must combine to enable it to happen. 

He sat at his writing desk, spending some time on business
correspondence he'd brought from London, finding it unusually difficult 
to concentrate, before ringing for Hambleton, eager to convey news of 
his decision. 

'Ah Hambleton, come in, take a seat.' He gestured to a high-backed
Queen-Anne chair across the room, then noticing his butler's air of 
surprise, 'I shall dispense with formality on this occasion, you have 
long been a confidant of mine. I wish to advise you of a decision I 
have made.' 

'Decision sir?' 

'I have decided to bestow upon Miss Day the offer of having her own room
at the castle.' 

'A permanent room, sir?' 

'Why yes.' Llewellyn frowned at the incredulity in Hambleton's tone. 'Is
there something which disturbs you about that?' 

Hambleton drew a finger across his lips, an insignificant gesture
perhaps, but long association with his butler told Llewellyn that the 
movement portrayed concern. 

'Feel free to deliver your opinion, Hambleton,' Llewellyn prodded
patiently. 

'Sir, there could be considerable friction in such a move, there appears
bad chemistry in certain quarters -' 

'By which you are referring to my sister,' Llewellyn interrupted
touchily. 'She will learn to desist with her unruly behaviour or pay 
the price.' 

Hambleton shook his head, gave Llewellyn a sombre look. 'By chemistry
sir, I am suggesting that more than one party is at play.' 

Llewellyn twisted his lips, just what was Hambleton trying to say? 'And
that suggestion is surely not that Miss Day is a contributing factor in 
this “bad chemistry”?' 

Hambleton swallowed, pinching his chin between thumb and forefinger.
'Not wilfully, perhaps sir, but they are such contrasting personalities 
that I do feel conflict will arise, and as I have said, Gibbings is 
somehow at the -' 

'Ah, Gibbings, yes,' Llewellyn glanced down at the pen he'd been rolling
between his fingers, recalling Veronica's curiosity of the previous 
evening, and of Hambleton's account of Dorothea's strange behaviour 
towards him. But somehow it seemed too insignificant a matter to be 
wasting time on – the real culprit was Dorothea. Llewellyn waved his 
hand dismissively. 'Gibbings is of no serious account. It is my sister 


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