Page 42 of You Only Live Once
‘Hello. You look comfy. How was your day?’
‘Good, thanks. Have you been out?’
‘I have!’ I said shucking my coat and walking out to the hall to hang it up in the cupboard before returning to the kitchen.
‘Great! Anywhere nice?’
‘Just further out into the countryside. I took myself off for a walk and got some proper fresh air and exercise.’
He rested the book down on his broad chest. ‘And how was that?’
‘What?’ I laughed. ‘You mean leaving the house again?’
Jack pulled a maybe yes, maybe no kind of expression.
‘It’s all right. I already had all that from my brother. And yes, I know it’s unusual but, in answer to your question, I think it did me good.’
‘Did you just walk?’
‘I stopped for breakfast and read my book then had a nice long, invigorating walk before finding somewhere to get a much-needed cup of tea, where I read some more of my book and then came home.’
‘Sounds like a perfect, not to mention, full day.’
‘Full enough for me.’
‘You look better for it,’ said Jack.
‘I’m not quite sure how to take that.’
‘Take it as a compliment, which is how it was meant. You looked fine before, just to clarify, but you have a… I don’t know… glow about you now.’ He waved his hand. ‘I don’t know. It’s just obviously done you good. That’s all I’m trying to say.’
‘Thanks. What did you do with yourself today?’
‘I went back to my parents’ and then also took a long walk, which was much needed after Part A of the day.’
‘Oh goodness. Did it not go well?’
‘About as well as can be expected,’ he said, laying the book aside and pushing himself up off the sofa, crossing to where I stood by the hob in a few easy long strides. ‘They still want me to take my place at the head of the family and marry the right woman with the right name and the right breeding. I thought being away for that long might give it time to sink in with them that’s not what I want or how it’s going to be,’ he said, taking the lid off the pan and stirring the dish that lay beneath it.
‘God, that smells good.’
‘Thanks. All that excitement today has probably built up your appetite. At least, I hope so, and I also hope you like it, because I made enough for several meals.’
‘You didn’t have to cook for me.’
‘I know. And you don’t have to cook for me either, but when we do it’s nice.’
I looked up at him. It was. I realised the more often I sat at dinner with Jack in the evening how much my soul had missed the simple art and enjoyment of conversation with another person. Yes, I had that with my family, but it was regularly interrupted by small children, as family meals often are. Conversation with Jack was easy, sometimes light and sometimes surprisingly deep.
‘So how did you leave things?’ I took a step back. ‘Sorry. This is none of my business, I really shouldn’t be asking. I told you I was too nosy for my own good.’
‘I prefer to see it as interested,’ he teased, the green eyes sparkling with amusement. ‘And I like you asking. I like talking to you. You don’t judge. You just listen. I didn’t realise how much I needed that.’ He gave me a brief smile, with the tiniest hint of embarrassment about it. I imagined it was quite hard for someone like Jack to admit that he needed anything, so I appreciated his words twice as much. ‘You take a seat at the table, and I’ll bring this over. There’s a bottle of white wine in the fridge if you want to grab it on your way past.’
I did so, picking up a couple of glasses as well. ‘Ooh, swanky stuff!’ I said, looking at the label as I walked to the table.
‘Well, we don’t want word getting around that the eldest son of an earl only brings cheap plonk for dinner.’
‘Oh, no. That would never do. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to let everyone know that you only ever provide top-drawer choices.’
