Through the headphones Libby heard the pilot announce their imminent arrival and saw Daniil staring out of the window, looking down to the vast expanse of land that held his home. His face was unreadable and her hand had been long forgotten. She glanced down and saw that he had clenched fists.
He was so closed off now that she might, Libby thought, just as well not be here.
Daniil couldn’t really process that she was with him—till now he had always taken this journey alone. Yes, his new parents had sat beside him in the car the first time that his new home had come into view but they had been strangers then.
They still were.
For family occasions, his cousin’s weddings included, he had never considered bringing a date. Through his teenage years and university not once had he thought of bringing somebody to the family home.
The sinking feeling he felt had nothing to do with the helicopter that was now hovering just before landing. He looked at the familiar red-brick mansion and the immaculate grounds that could all be his.
No, thank you.
He’d never once wanted to be here.
Daniil was almost tempted to ask the helicopter pilot to return them to London—in fact, he was seriously considering it—but just then he felt Libby’s hand close over the top of his fingers and as he had sensed her nervousness earlier and reassured her, now she did the same to him. Daniil turned to smiling blue eyes that told him she was there, and that in a few short hours it would all be over and duty would be done.
It was he who nodded his thanks now.
They disembarked and the grass was so thick and lush that Libby wished she’d had the foresight to wear flats. Instead, she sank into the green carpet with each and every step till she gave in and took her heels off.
‘Next time—’ she started, but Daniil offered a swift retort.
‘There won’t be a next time.’
She tried to tell herself he was referring to the fact that they wouldn’t come back to his parents’ home but his comment still jarred. Daniil could be so brusque with his words that she never quite knew how they applied to her, or even if they did.
He didn’t hold her hand as they walked up the stone steps, which she took as an affront, but Daniil was so tense he knew that if he did he might well crush her fingers. Everything about the place made him feel ill, from the growling stone lions to the fountain.
There was one familiar face that drew a pale smile from him—Marcus, the old butler who had been with the family since before his parents had married, opened the door. ‘It’s good to see you here, sir.’
‘It’s...’ Yes, Daniil’s response was initially sparse, he could hardly say that it was good to be here, but, determined to keep to his side of the deal, he pushed on. ‘It’s good to see you again, Marcus.’
‘I’ll have your luggage taken to your room,’ Marcus said, and Daniil felt his stomach clench.
‘I’d prefer—’
‘Naturally, I’ll leave it for you and your guest to unpack.’
Daniil gave a small nod of thanks, grateful that there was one person in this place who had, over the years, listened to his repeated requests that his belongings be left alone.
The entrance hall was as uninviting as it had been his first time here. At twelve he had been used to being surrounded by people and sparse furnishings. He would never forget first seeing this vast, imposing space, the walls lined with tapestries and portraits and the daunting Jacobean oak staircase. Most confusing of all had been that there were so few people.
‘Daniel!’
Libby turned when she heard the wrong name and saw a small, busy-looking woman, with wiry hair and cold blue eyes, approach. She was wearing a deep red dress, which did nothing for her flushed complexion.
‘Finally!’
Libby watched as she forced a smile, even though her lips seemed to disappear as she did so, and then a tall bearded man with a glass in his hand came and joined them.
‘This is Libby,’ Daniil said. ‘Libby, this is my mother, Katherine, and my father, Richard.’
‘It’s lovely to meet you.’ Libby beamed as they were introduced and no one, not even Daniil, could have guessed just how well she was acting right now, because from everything he had told her about them, there was no reason to smile.
Katherine ran her eyes over Libby, from head to toe and back again, and to Libby it felt as if she was being checked for lice. ‘Libby?’ Katherine frowned. ‘Short for...?’
‘Elizabeth.’ She beamed again and when they just stood and openly stared she attempted conversation. ‘We had a wonderful helicopter ride here. Your home is beautiful from the sky.’