Page 20 of My Lord
She gave me a smile in return. “Now, can we eat? I’m famished. You know, Alex, I heard a phrase a friend said: ‘I could eat a scabby monkey’s arse.’ It sounds perfectly awful but is that a saying?”
I guffawed loudly. “Not from my neck of the woods, it isn’t!” I replied, appalled at the thought.
We chose our meals and talk returned to Trymast. We had all gone through the lists of employees and Mackenzie was amused with an elderly lady called Mary. She had apparently told him that she wasn’t leaving, and she was to be his PA. She was due to retire and would continue to work until then. She left no room for argument, according to Mackenzie. I couldn’t wait to meet her.
“Well, I think I’ll leave you two alone, I have a hot date myself,” Mackenzie said, removing his napkin from his lap and placing it on the table.
“Anyone we know?” Gabriella asked.
“Nope, I hope not.” He gave her a wink and a laugh. He patted my shoulder as he passed and left.
“Ugh, I hate it when he does that,” she said.
“You’re protective of him, aren’t you?” I said.
“I am. He needed me when he was young, my momma took care of him, we all did. He’ll tell you his story, Alex, but it wasn’t pretty for a while.” She let out a sad sigh. “I wish he’d find someone and settle down again.”
“Again?”
“Oh, he was married to the bitch from hell. Awful woman, Alex…I don’t want to talk about it now, it will turn my delicious dinner sour,” she said with a dramatic shudder.
“She sounds delightful,” I added.
She rested her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands. “Mmm. Tell me again about this club.”
A very small part of me wanted to swipe her elbows from the table, such as had been done to me many times as a child. I chuckled at the thought.
“You seem very interested, Gabriella,” I replied.
“I am. The thought excites me. I haven’t been as…experimental as I think you have. I’d like to be, though.”
“Are you trusting enough to allow me to teach you?” I asked and I wanted to hold my breath as she thought about it.
She fixed me with a sincere gaze. “Yes, I do trust you.”
“Trust is a major factor, a big deal. If there’s no trust, it can’t happen.” She nodded slowly, so I said, “Then I would like to take you somewhere.”
I signalled for the waiter only to be told the bill had been paid. I cursed Mackenzie as I took Gabriella’s hand and we walked from the restaurant. I hailed a taxi and gave an address.
“Where are we going?” she asked, nervously.
“I just want you to see some things, that’s all.”
We slid across the black seats and were silent for the journey.
“Sure this is it?” the taxi driver asked. Gabriella looked down a cobblestoned alley, following his gaze.
“Yes, thank you.” I left some cash in the tray in the divider and we climbed out. I took her hand and walked, slowly so her heels didn’t catch, to a large wooden door with metal studs.
“Oh, it’s looks rather Dickensian,” she said with a nervous giggle.
“I imagine this building is that old,” I pressed the intercom and was greeted with,“code.”I gave it and waited.
Eventually the door was opened and I was asked for my membership card. In the time it had taken for the bolts to be released, I’d retrieved it from my wallet. It was a black card with just a small logo in the corner and my name printed across the front. A small silver chip at one end allowed the doorman to scan and verify my details.
“Welcome, Lord Duchovney, it’s good to have you back,” he said, stepping aside. “Would you like the cloakroom?” he asked Gabriella.
She turned to me. “Erm, do I?”
