Page 5 of Drink Up, Darling
Dariel went straight in for a sip of water as if it would calm his nerves. He wasn’tafraid,he was just not very good at meeting new people—still wasn’t, after all these years. Maybe it was a trust thing, that had to be something to do with it.
The fire spat again as Godwin began to speak. “So, Dariel, I thank you for coming again, it truly is an honour.”
“Oh, the pleasure is mine, honestly. You were extremely generous with your offer.”
Godwin chuckled slightly, his eyes smiling again. “Oh, honestly, I value your work, my friend. I worried it would insult!”
My friend. Very confident, this man, isn’t he?
Dariel sucked in his lips. “So, would you prefer to discuss your ideas now or after dinner? I’ve got some samples and notes in my bag if?—”
“After dinner.” Godwin cut him off. “If that’s okay,” he added, tone softening.
“Oh, of course.” Dariel sunk into himself again.
Godwin poured himself his first drink and Dariel took close note at how precise he was. A napkin to catch the drips and to dry the tip of the pot. No marks, no mess, all very clean.I like that,Dariel thought to himself, smiling inwardly as Godwin continued.
“I’d rather we learn more about each other before we get onto the work! I want you to feel comfortable with me before we begin. Then we can discuss the best way for payment, the visiting schedule and whatnot.”
There was something about the way he said it that made Dariel’s stomach flutter. He had an attractive voice—low and almost husky sounding, mildly posh but not overbearing. Darielhadnoticed this straight away, but only now did it sit with him. Godwin was a very… pleasant man.
Don’t start being inappropriate, Dariel. You know how you get when you grow too comfortable.
Dariel blushed, brushing away the thoughts as quickly as he could. “Yes, that would be nice. After all, I need to study your personality to really find you a wardrobe to match.”
Study your personality? Seriously, Dariel. Tone it down a bit.
It didn’t seem to faze Godwin though, in fact, it made him grin ever so slightly wider, brow raising. “Excellent!” He beamed. “Well then! No harm in a little introduction before we eat, I suppose. Tell me, what got you into fashion design?”
Dariel deflated at this, having been asked this too many times before, but he didn’t want to come across unprofessional—after all, this was the first time Godwin himself had asked this. It was just the ninetieth time Dariel had answered.
“Oh well, you know. I was never very academic.” That was a lie, but in the fabricated life of Dariel Hale, this was true. “I couldn’t focus at school and never found any joy in anything other than the arts. So, being the stubborn man I am—” (true for all four iterations) “—I only put effort into things that made me happy. And I never stopped.” Dariel made a ‘hmm’ sound, taking another sip of water for something to do. “Now, you must understand, a lot of it was luck. Being at the right place at the right time, but it worked out.”Luck, yeah, sure.
Godwin looked at him like he’d cured world hunger. “Fascinating, trulyfascinating.You simply persevered until you made it. Highly admirable, especially in this day and age.” He was being genuine as well.
“I suppose, again, I am very stubborn.” Dariel tried to dull down the adoration he had received. He wasn’t good at taking compliments. “What about you, what do you do for a living? Especially to own a home like this.”
“Oh, well. It’s a long story, actually.” Godwin shifted uncomfortably, his heart rate increasing slightly.
Dariel cocked his head.Why so secretive?“What about your staff, you can’t be alone in a house this size all the time, surely.” He decided to take a different approach, asking the only other burning question he’d had since he arrived. The house really did feelempty.
Thankfully, Godwindidhave a direct answer to this. “Oh, I sent them all home for a few days. They don’t work for me all the time, besides, I didn’t want to overwhelm my guests!”
Two things stood out as being odd to Dariel. It was an honest enough answer, but it only gave him more questions. Why did he send everyone home all at once? Surely he’d stagger it so he at least hadsomeonein the building with him. Not that he wouldn’t be capable of managing on his own, Dariel didn’t want to insult the man, but he must get exceedingly lonely. In a house this size, Dariel knew even he himself would find it overwhelming. So many things to keep on top of—even just dusting alone, there werehow many rooms?
The second thing, and perhaps the thing that confused Dariel the most, was this: He was under the impression he was to be the sole guest with Godwin this evening. He’d made no prior reference to anyone else joining them for dinner, so unless he was making a general statement about future visitors, Dariel was not the only person he’d invited this evening. And by the manner in which Godwin had said it, it very much seemed to be the latter.
Dariel frowned. Godwin did come across as a trustworthy man, and Dariel had spent his life being exceptionally good atreading people right from the moment he met them, but he couldn’t help but feel as though something was a bitoff.
He immediately wished he’d brought his case into the room with him, realising no one would have come to move it. His throat closed as he noted Godwin staring at him.
“Are you okay? You’re looking a little pale,” Godwin observed, but not obtusely.
“Quite well.” Dariel took a deep breath, palms sweating.
A bell sound suddenly rang through the house, breaking the tension Dariel believed he was single-handedly managing to create.
The front door.
