Read Online Merlyn's Magic by Carole Mortimer - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carole Mortimer
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if she just
stayed on overnight and left in the morning it would placate the other
woman.
'Maybe I will.' She didn't commit herself to the few days
Anne had mentioned, turning to stare out of the window, making a
determined effort to admire the spectacular countryside about her that
hadn't been visible yesterday through the fog and the rain. High
mountains dipped down into lush green valleys as far as the eye could
see, and in those valleys Merlyn knew the lakes would be nestled, trees
growing along their edge in abundance.
'Here we are,' Anne said with satisfaction as she turned
the Range Rover into a narrow driveway much like the ones Merlyn had
taken by accident the day before, the scent of pine from the towering
trees surrounding them coming in through the partly-opened window next
to Anne.
A long sprawling building much like a very large log cabin
stood gracefully beside a large lake, its mellowed pine structure
giving an air of warmth and beauty even before one entered.
'It's lovely!' Merlyn told her incredulously, seeing by
the pleased expression on the other woman's face that her impulsive
praise was appreciated.
'James designed and organised the building of it all
himself.' Anne's pride in her husband's undoubted accomplishment was
obvious. 'Come inside and see the rest of it,' she invited.
The inside was all pine too, warm and mellow, the main
building housing all the entertainment, from the two restaurants, the
club house, pool and sauna, to the health and beauty salon. And then at
the back, not visible from the entrance, were two additional buildings,
exact replicas of the main building, attached to it by two totally
glass and pine constructed corridors that gave unhindered views of the
surrounding mountains. These two outer buildings were the living
accommodation, and Anne showed Merlyn to her room herself. The
furnishing was more expensively comfortable than anything Merlyn had
ever seen, from the thick brown carpets to the soft beige leather suite.
'James says that if you're going to do something you
should always do it with style!' Anne laughed her enjoyment at Merlyn's
awe-struck expression.
'This is style with a capital S!' She sank down on to the
quilt-covered bed in the adjoining room to her lounge. 'I can't wait to
meet the man who master-minded all this.'
Anne's eyes glowed merrily. 'Give me a few minutes to
change out of these clothes and get back into my "hotel proprietor"
garb and then join James and me at the pool for coffee; we usually get
together there this time of day. And I know he's looking forward to meeting you, too.'
Thoughts of Rand were kept firmly at bay as Merlyn
unpacked her suitcase, changing into tailored red trousers with their
pleated waistline, tapering at the ankle, and a black silk blouse which
tucked in at the belted waistline. She looked coolly elegant, and more
confident of herself than she had felt since she left home yesterday
morning with such high hopes of this visit to the Lake District.
Yesterday morning? It seemed much longer ago than that,
she realised with a suppressed shudder.
She had no trouble finding her way back to the main
building, the whole place geared for simplicity, including finding your
way about. She was glad she had chosen to wear a blouse, instead of the
jumper the weather called for, as the heat from the pool enveloped her.
She seemed to have arrived before Anne, and—
'Looking for someone?' an amused male voice cut in on her
reverie.
She turned to face the man, feeling as if she could drown
in the liquid warmth of his deep brown eyes. Dark hair brushed away
from the face of one of the most handsome men Merlyn had ever seen, the
white shorts and open T-shirt he wore moulded to the lean fitness of
his body. The tennis-racket he carried was indicative of at least one
of the ways he maintained that fitness. At any other time she might
have felt interested enough to pursue the acquaintance, but not when
she was still raw from her encounter
stayed on overnight and left in the morning it would placate the other
woman.
'Maybe I will.' She didn't commit herself to the few days
Anne had mentioned, turning to stare out of the window, making a
determined effort to admire the spectacular countryside about her that
hadn't been visible yesterday through the fog and the rain. High
mountains dipped down into lush green valleys as far as the eye could
see, and in those valleys Merlyn knew the lakes would be nestled, trees
growing along their edge in abundance.
'Here we are,' Anne said with satisfaction as she turned
the Range Rover into a narrow driveway much like the ones Merlyn had
taken by accident the day before, the scent of pine from the towering
trees surrounding them coming in through the partly-opened window next
to Anne.
A long sprawling building much like a very large log cabin
stood gracefully beside a large lake, its mellowed pine structure
giving an air of warmth and beauty even before one entered.
'It's lovely!' Merlyn told her incredulously, seeing by
the pleased expression on the other woman's face that her impulsive
praise was appreciated.
'James designed and organised the building of it all
himself.' Anne's pride in her husband's undoubted accomplishment was
obvious. 'Come inside and see the rest of it,' she invited.
The inside was all pine too, warm and mellow, the main
building housing all the entertainment, from the two restaurants, the
club house, pool and sauna, to the health and beauty salon. And then at
the back, not visible from the entrance, were two additional buildings,
exact replicas of the main building, attached to it by two totally
glass and pine constructed corridors that gave unhindered views of the
surrounding mountains. These two outer buildings were the living
accommodation, and Anne showed Merlyn to her room herself. The
furnishing was more expensively comfortable than anything Merlyn had
ever seen, from the thick brown carpets to the soft beige leather suite.
'James says that if you're going to do something you
should always do it with style!' Anne laughed her enjoyment at Merlyn's
awe-struck expression.
'This is style with a capital S!' She sank down on to the
quilt-covered bed in the adjoining room to her lounge. 'I can't wait to
meet the man who master-minded all this.'
Anne's eyes glowed merrily. 'Give me a few minutes to
change out of these clothes and get back into my "hotel proprietor"
garb and then join James and me at the pool for coffee; we usually get
together there this time of day. And I know he's looking forward to meeting you, too.'
Thoughts of Rand were kept firmly at bay as Merlyn
unpacked her suitcase, changing into tailored red trousers with their
pleated waistline, tapering at the ankle, and a black silk blouse which
tucked in at the belted waistline. She looked coolly elegant, and more
confident of herself than she had felt since she left home yesterday
morning with such high hopes of this visit to the Lake District.
Yesterday morning? It seemed much longer ago than that,
she realised with a suppressed shudder.
She had no trouble finding her way back to the main
building, the whole place geared for simplicity, including finding your
way about. She was glad she had chosen to wear a blouse, instead of the
jumper the weather called for, as the heat from the pool enveloped her.
She seemed to have arrived before Anne, and—
'Looking for someone?' an amused male voice cut in on her
reverie.
She turned to face the man, feeling as if she could drown
in the liquid warmth of his deep brown eyes. Dark hair brushed away
from the face of one of the most handsome men Merlyn had ever seen, the
white shorts and open T-shirt he wore moulded to the lean fitness of
his body. The tennis-racket he carried was indicative of at least one
of the ways he maintained that fitness. At any other time she might
have felt interested enough to pursue the acquaintance, but not when
she was still raw from her encounter
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