Further English Adventures – In Days of Old………
A story continuing in the English Adventure series
By LoobyLoo
Disclaimer – I own nothing and nobody, this is just for fun
Rating will eventually be NC17
Chapter 1
Buffy poured milk onto Izzie’s cereal, and she smiled and listened to it as it
snapped, crackled and popped.
Spike poured more tea, and Buffy spread her one piece of thin toast with low fat
spread…
“Is that all your having? – Aren’t you going to have some of Sam’s yummy thick
pork sausages and smoked bacon?”
Spike asked frowning, before tucking into his grilled bacon and tomatoes,
sausages, and scrambled eggs with gusto.
“Well if Willow’s coming to stay – it’ll be cooked breakfasts, cream teas,
Cornish pasties, fish and chips…I thought I better cut down now!” Buffy said,
then she turned her head and called her son.
“Billy! Come on love, your boiled egg is getting cold – she turned to Spike and
said with a grin, I suppose he has his nose in a book, as usual!”
“Don’t knock it!” Spike said, grinning
“Coming mom!”
Billy came downstairs holding a book, which he placed on the table.
“No reading at the table Billy! – What are you reading now?………Blackmore Hall,
what is this a guide book?” Buffy picked it up and began leafing through it.
Billy ‘topped’ his egg and dipped a toast ‘soldier’ into the soft runny yolk.
When he’d finished eating his first bite, he said,
“It’s very interesting – did you know, that when people weren’t allowed to be
Roman Catholic anymore during the reign of Henry the VIII, they had to worship
in secret, and tiny secret passages were built into the houses, called ‘priest
holes’ for them to hide in?”
Buffy smiled and said,
“Did they really!”
“Yes! Hmm…who laid this egg mommy, was it Ginger?”
“Yes darling, it was from your favourite hen, Ginger – when you’ve finished you
can help me feed and clean them out”
“Okay…has the post come yet?” As if on cue, the letterbox flapped and Spike got
up to fetch the mail.
“Hmm, three for me…one for you darling…and one for you Billy!” Spike handed out
the letters.
“Great, it’s my free guide of stately homes from the Heritage Trust”
Spike smiled at his son and tore open one of his own letters
“Have I got one daddy?” Izzie piped up
“Yes darling, here you go, you can have this one, the contents of this letter
maybe worth £50,000 in prize money…” He gave his daughter the junk mail envelope
to open.
Buffy looked up and said,
“It’s from Willow, she said she’ll be coming to England on the 8th, but she’ll
be staying in Oxford for a few days first, then she’ll come to us on the 12th
for two weeks”
“Oh great, Auntie Willow is staying!”
“Well today is the 5th, I tell you what, when I get back from playing squash
with Sam this afternoon, I’ll shift my computer into our bedroom and that’ll
give you plenty of time to get the room ready for her, okay?”
“Thanks love………she says here she’ll phone me so we can give her instructions on
how to get here”
“I can always pick her up from the station” Spike finished the last of his tea.
“Nuh uh, not the 12th, you have that Creative Writing talk to give to the ladies
at the Women’s Institute” Buffy reminded him
“Oh god yes – I completely forgot about that!”
“Don’t worry, Sam can pick her up”
“Good, I wonder what we’d do without that guy sometimes!”
****************
Buffy was talking to Willow on the phone………
“………Honestly, there’s no need to write anything down, just get the train to
Fordington”
“But what if I forget and go passed the station!”
“Don’t be silly, you’d hit the buffers, it’s the end of the line!”
“Oh, right, then what?”
“Then, you come out of the tiny little station, and directly in front of you,
across the lane, you’ll see the village shop, go in, there’ll be a lovely big
very friendly lady called Peggy in there, she’s always smiling and happy, just
tell her who you are and she’ll get her nephew Sam to bring you up here”
“Really, I could just as easy get a taxi!”
“Will, he IS the taxi – he’s Spike’s best friend, and the shop assistant,
handyman, fisherman, delivery driver, and he keeps a few pigs for fattening up
and then he makes the best bacon and sausages you’ve ever tasted, he’ll bring
the groceries I’ve ordered too.”
“Right…”
“He’s even been known to come and give Spike a start on a cold morning!”
“I beg your pardon?!!!”
“When the car wouldn’t start! He’s got out the jump-leads!”
“I was going to say! – Anyway, any idea of the train times, I’m getting the
7.20am Oxford to Exeter train, then the 11.35am Exeter to Fordington?”
“There are only two trains a day Will, one is at 1.30pm, the next is 5.30, you
should get the 1.30pm one fine”
“Okay then, well, I’ve just got a little last minute packing to do…um, what size
chest did you say Izzie was?”
“Willow, you have them spoiled enough!”
“Oh shush – I have to spoil my god-children, it’s tradition!”
“Actually, I’m not sure, but an age 4-5 fits her fine”
“And Billy still loves reading, I take it!”
“Does he – not fiction though, Xander sent him Harry Potter for Christmas, and
I’m ashamed to say it’s been ME reading it – but he loves history, kings and
queens, what he doesn’t know about the Tudor’s isn’t worth knowing – he’s
genius! – He must get it from Spike!”
Willow laughed and they said their goodbyes until the following day.
*****************
Standing outside the tiny station at Fordington, Willow saw the village shop as
Buffy said.
She went over and inside, where a rather large lady greeted her with a smile and
said,
“Good afternoon my dear, now don’t tell me, you’re Willow, Buffy’s friend”
Willow smiled and said
“Yes! – Did she tell you?”
“She did my dear, and I’m Peggy, very pleased to meet you - now I’ve got the
groceries Buffy ordered, I just want to………there - just a couple of out of date
comics for the children, and some of my homemade rum-truffles for Spike, my
treat!” She winked at Willow and tucked them safely down the side of the bag.
“I’ll just go call - Oh, there you are Sam, I was just going to call you!”
“Heard the train arrive – so, you’re Willow then, I’m Sam, pleased to meet you –
well come through, I’ve put a clean blanket on the seat so not to mark your
jeans”
Willow saw a tall, very good looking thick-set guy with a mop of blond streaked
curls wearing jeans and a faded sweatshirt, he had piercing blue eyes and a
ready grin.
“Don’t forget the groceries Sam, and tell Buffy we can settle up next week – oh,
and don’t forget to get the eggs off her” Peggy said
“Will do!” Sam put Willow’s cases and Buffy’s groceries in the back of the van,
and made sure Willow was safely belted in the front seat.
“Right then…so Buffy tells me you’ve been in France at university”
“Um, oh yes!”
Ten minutes later they pulled up outside the cottage, and Willow got her first
look. The children ran out to greet her while Sam took the groceries into the
kitchen. He saw two-dozen eggs on a tray on the kitchen table
Buffy and Willow hugged and came inside grinning
“These are the eggs for Aunty Peg then?”
“Yes, how much do I owe her – I’ll get my purse”
“No need, she said you can settle up next week – how much do you want for the
eggs?”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll sort it with her on Tuesday then”
“Hello Sam!”
“Hello young Billy…what are reading?”
“About Blackmore Hall, it’s fascinating”
Izzie ran up to Sam, who scooped her up
“Sam!”
“Hello Bubbles, have you been a good girl for your mum, huh?” Izzie nodded
“Is that right mum, has she been a good girl?”
Buffy smiled and said,
“Oh, I think so”
“Okay then (he put her down and held out two fists to her) which hand is it in?”
Izzie smacked Sam’s left hand, and Sam opened it to reveal it was empty, but
then he pretended to pull a £1 coin from behind her ear with his right hand
“There you go, put it in your money box! – And you Billy” he handed Billy a £1
coin too.
“Thanks Sam!”
“Izzie, what do you say?” Buffy prompted
“Thankyou Sam”
“There’s a good girl!” he fondly ruffled her curls and both children went to put
the money away for safekeeping.
“Spike about?”
“No, he’s in Barnstaple giving a lecture to the WI”
“Oh yes, he did say, I forgot – tell him I’ll pick him up Sunday afternoon for
cricket practice – oh, and I’m going fishing and setting up the lobster pots
tomorrow, want any?”
“Ooh yeah, what ever you can spare, lobster or crab”
“Okay then, well, I better be off, I’m trying out a new recipe for my sausages,
I’m doing something a bit spicy for the barbecue”
“Willing guinea-pigs here!” Buffy said and waved him off.
“Right, I’ll put the kettle on, and we can catch up with the gossip!”
Chapter 2
It took Buffy half an hour and two cups of tea to tell Willow all about the
exorcism…
“………Goddess! – I must have been awful for you – those poor babies and that
woman!”
“That isn’t all – I mean, Giles was a god-send, bringing the that priest monk
and all, when it was all over I ran upstairs…Billy he…” Buffy’s eyes flooded
with tears at the memory, and Willow sat forward in her chair and reached for
her friend’s hand, Buffy composed herself and continued,
“I ran into the bedroom where Spike was with the children…in the corner we could
see this golden sparkling light…it…” She faltered up again and trying to smile
through her tears she said,
“It was mom…she came to take Tilly and the baby into the light, Billy said she
sent all her love and she watches over us” Willow’s eyes too flooded with tears
and she squeezed her friend’s hand
“Baby, I’m home!” the sound of the front door shutting and Spike strode into the
sitting room. Buffy quickly wiped her eyes and called out,
“In here babe!”
“Hey Willow – you made it then!” Spike put his folders and briefcase down on the
dining table and came over and gave Willow a hug.
“Look at you – the French air obviously agreed with you, you look fantastic!”
“So do you – and I can’t believe how much the children have grown!”
“Anyone for fresh tea?” Spike called out from heading towards the kitchen. He
saw the still packed groceries and after filling and putting the kettle on, he
began to unpack.
Buffy came into the kitchen to see Spike dreamily put one of the rum truffles
into his mouth.
“Hey – are those rum truffles – I didn’t order those! Honestly, Peggy spoils
you!”
Spike grinned as he chewed and said,
“I know…but she loves me, and god they are delicious!”
“Don’t spoil your dinner!”
“What are we having?”
“I don’t know – what are you going to cook?” Buffy asked taking two packets of
homemade scones out of the bag.
“I should have done this earlier, I forgot about the clotted cream” Buffy said
putting the carton into the fridge.
“Hmm, did I hear the words clotted and cream?” Willow asked grinning, bringing
the empty teacups into the kitchen.
“For tomorrow! The children want to have a picnic for their aunty Willow in the
garden, then I thought we could either go on the little steam train to
Cockington, or if it’s not too breezy we could go to Lymebay beach”
“Speaking of the children, where are they?” Spike asked
“Billy’s doing his lessons on the computer, and Izzie’s having a nap – and you
were just about to tell us what you’re cooking for dinner!”
Buffy said slipping a couple of pounds of Sam’s homemade pork sausages and
home-smoked bacon into the fridge.
“You cook as well huh – my goodness!” Willow looked suitably impressed
“Any like or dislikes – any no goes, I mean I know you were bought up Jewish”
“Hey – I love pork and shellfish don’t worry, although I think I’d draw the line
at whelks, cockles and oysters though!”
“Do you like pasta?”
“Love it!”
“Right, a lasagne al forno with a rich meaty sauce…followed by strawberry trifle
I think!”
“Wow – okay ‘Jamie Oliver’ – can’t wait!”
Just then, Billy’s voice could be heard from upstairs…
“Dad…can you help me with my math, I’m stuck”
Willow smiled and said,
“Tell you what, as you’re cooking, shall I see if I can help?”
Spike smiled and nodded
“Can I help Billy?” Willow asked going to the foot of the stairs
“Yes of course…can you do calculus and algebra”
“Calculus and algebra, well yes…wow, the kids not 7 yet, and he’s doing…” Willow
said incredulously.
“What can I tell you – the work books he’s on are for 13-14 year olds!” Spike
said proudly, and Willow went off to help.
Buffy turned from putting a new pot of Peggy’s raspberry jam in the cupboard to
find herself being cuddled up by Spike.
“Been talking about your mum pet?” Buffy nodded and snuggled into his strong
chest, and asked,
“How did you know?”
“Coz you look a little watery around the eyes pet, but it doesn’t need Einstein
to work it out that you and Will have been playing catch up. You okay kitten?”
Spike kissed her forehead and Buffy nodded…then he heard the rustling of
cellophane and quickly pushed Buffy away from him, but not before Buffy had
quickly pinched and popped one of his rum truffles into her mouth!
“Oi – cheeky those are mine!” He began to tickle her until a sleepy voice said
to them,
“Daddy, I want a drink!” He turned and scooped up his daughter, who was rubbing
her eyes.
“Do you princess – come on then…lets see what we’ve got shall we”
“I’ll take Will’s cases up, she can unpack after she’s finished helping Billy”
********************
“More trifle Will?”
“Oh goddess, I couldn’t eat another mouthful – it was absolutely delicious
though! I’ll have to be careful at this rate my skinny jeans won’t fit me by
next week!”
Spike grinned and stood, began to stack plates
“You sit, I’ll do the dishes…coffee anyone?” Buffy stood and went to get the
coffee pot
“Please…so, Billy what shall we do tomorrow, hmm?” Willow asked
“Well, mom said a picnic in the garden, then I vote the beach – rock-pools are
great fun…but I like the little train too”
“Well if it’s nice, go to the beach tomorrow, then on the train on Sunday, they
have that street market in Cockington on Sunday, and the collectors and antiques
fair in the Guild Hall – then we could all go to Sunday lunch at the Duke of
York, they do a fantastic roast beef and Yorkshire pudding” Spike suggested
Willow was grinning.
“Great, but don’t forget you’re playing cricket on Sunday, Sam said he’d pick
you up” Buffy said, pouring coffee for Spike and Willow.
“Yeah I know, but that’s not until 5.30pm, it’s only nets practice anyway –
what?”
Spike saw Willow’s face, he too grinned and again he said,
“What?”
“You! This – the cottage with roses around the door, cricket on the lawn, Sunday
lunches in the pub – how quintessentially English!”
“But I AM English!” Spike said laughing
Willow still grinning shook her head, she didn’t want to say too much in front
of Billy – she wanted to say, million miles away from the ‘Big Bad’ Spike, his
leather duster and his Desoto…it was a life-time ago.
“Can we go to Blackmore Hall one day next week – it’s open to the public” Billy
asked, looking at his dad.
“That’s a great idea – go get that guide book son, and I’ll have a look”
Billy got down from the table and scooted off upstairs to get the said book.
While Billy was gone, Willow asked,
“So…this Sam, have a girlfriend does he?” Both Spike and Buffy looked at Willow
and smiled
“Just asking, you know…he looks all kinds of salty goodness!” Buffy’s eyes went
round and she laughed out
“WILLOW!”
“What? – Just asking, no crime in that, is there?”
“No, but well…I thought your interests……… lay elsewhere”
“Hey, variety is the spice of life!” Everybody grinned!
“Well – won’t deny he’s popular with the local girls, what few there are”
“And you, I’ve seen them eyeing you up in the pub!” Buffy said grinning
“Ah, but they know I’m taken – and nobody can come close to my little blonde
goddess!” Spike slipped his arm around Buffy’s waist, and she kissed the top of
his head.
“Want me to invite him along on Sunday then?”
“Yeah – could have some fun!”
“Here you are dad, I’ve opened it at the opening times page for you” Billy
handed his father the book
There was a knock at the door and Buffy frowned
“Who could this be at this hour?”
Spike got up and answered it, and brought in a smiling Sam
“Aunty forgot to put the bread in your order – here you go, still warm, she
baked fresh for you” Sam handed over two huge crusty white loaves.
Buffy pulled out the chair she’d been sitting in next to Willow and said,
“We were just talking about you Sam, sit down, coffee – glass of wine?”
“Wine’ll do great – so what have I done now, huh?”
“Nothing! We were going to invite you out to Cockington on Sunday, go on the
train, have a rummage around the collectors fairs and the market, then lunch at
the Duke, you’d be back in time for nets”
Sam accepted the glass of wine and sipped, then put it on the table
“Actually Spike, I think nets are off”
“Oh, why?”
“Well Dave is organising his wheat harvest, Colin is out at his grand-daughter’s
Christening, Barry’s caught chicken pox off his nipper, and Mick’s doing as much
overtime as he can to pay for his very expensive wedding – and Eddie’s twisted
his knee doing his amateur dramatics – they’re doing ‘Grease’ he landed
awkwardly when he jumped off the hood of the car during ‘Greased Lightening’!”
Spike snorted a giggle and said,
“Silly sod! How old is he - so, whaddya say then mate, come with us?” Sam looked
straight at Willow as he sipped his wine and said,
“Sure, sounds like a very enjoyable way spend a Sunday, although I can’t leave
before 10.30am, I have to do the newspapers in the shop, Sunday is the only day
Aunty gets a lie-in”
“That’s fine, by the time we’ve got up and got the children ready, we’ll be
ready when you come”
“Shall we all go in my van, I can park it at the station?”
“Great – I’ll book us a table at the pub, it gets really busy and I’d hate for
us to be disappointed” Buffy said.
Everything was arranged and Sam left, not before Buffy and Spike noticed that
neither he nor Willow could hardly keep their eyes off each other………
Chapter 3
“Will you make the tea now mom, everything else is ready!” Billy asked
“Okay, kettle’s on, do you want to call her?”
Willow came downstairs and went straight out into the garden.
“I hope you like it – we’ve got egg and cress, ham or cheese sandwiches, aunty
Peggy’s scones with jam and clotted cream, and a pot of tea” Billy announced,
holding out a chair
“Sounds absolutely yummy! Willow said, taking a seat.
Having made the tea, Buffy bought it out on the tray and they all sat down in
the afternoon sun – it was quite warm for early June.
Willow was occupied with Billy, he showed her all the birds he’d seen in the
garden, via his note and garden bird book Giles had bought him, and little Izzie
wasn’t to be out-done, she chatted away about the dozen hens they kept and their
big brown speckled eggs, and wild ducks at the bottom of the garden in the
stream…
After eating their fill, Willow settled back in her chair comfortably.
“I love it here, it’s so peaceful. I mean, I thought Giles’ place was quiet, but
this is sublime!”
Buffy smiled and said,
“Yeah…got my dream come true!”
“Hello…hello-ooo!”
“In the garden Sam!” Buffy called out, and the back gate to the garden opened.
“Hi – what brings you here – not that you’re not welcome that is!” Buffy said,
looking from Sam to Willow…
“Thought I’d bring you these, there you go – four of the best Devonian lobsters
you’ll find – that’s twenty quid of anybody’s money in a fancy restaurant,
each!”
Buffy could see four big blue lobsters in a huge bucket, climbing over each
other.
“Great, hold on, SPIKE – SAM’S HERE!” Spike’s head appeared through an open
upstairs window, he grinned and came down.
“What we got then – ooh, four, well guess that’s one each, come to supper Sam?”
“What, tonight?”
“Yeah, I’ll do theses babies either ‘Thermidor’, with white wine and cheese, or
grilled with garlic butter” Spike said, looking into the bucket
“Hmm, slap on some parsley and garlic butter, and you’ve got yourself one more
for supper!”
“Good – how much do we owe you?”
“Ah, f’get it, I’ll bring a decent bottle too, about nine be okay?”
“Fine – the children will be in bed by then”
*****************
The conversation at dinner flowed as easily as the wine, but Buffy, Spike and
Willow had to limit their stories, obviously nothing could be said about their
pasts as a witch, the slayer and a vampire in front of Sam………
“………So, the scope of MY French was, ‘the cow can touch me from Tuesday!” Buffy
said
Everyone laughed, and Sam looked at his watch, it was gone midnight.
“Well, hate to be a kill-joy, but I better be making a move, I’ve got to be up
for the newspapers in the morning…I’ll be here about a quarter to eleven, will
that be okay?”
“Fine, the train leaves at midday, that’ll give us plenty of time to get there”
Buffy said
Sam stood, and Willow looked up at him and said,
“So, going to show me this star you navigate by then – when you’re out
night-fishing?”
“Sure, follow me!” Sam took hold of Willow’s hand and led her out into the front
garden…
Buffy casually glanced out at them as she ferried dirty crockery to the kitchen,
and at first she saw Sam pointing to the heavens and Willow dutifully looking
up…and by the time she took the condiments off the table, she could see the two
of them in a passionate clinch!
“Fast cat, poor Sam didn’t stand a chance!” Spike said grinning, as he folded
the tablecloth
Buffy grinned and said,
“Well, you know what they say, it’s the quiet ones you’ve got to watch!”
When Willow came back inside, Buffy nor Spike could keep the smiles off their
faces.
“Fast cat, hope you were gentle with him!” Spike teased, making Willow go red
and giggle.
“Stop! – He seems like a really nice guy, and that West Country accent of his
makes go all ‘ooh!’” Grinning she sort of shimmied and raised her brows.
Spike offered the bottle of wine to her, and plastering on a really thick accent
he said…
“Ooh-arr me dear, ‘ave another glarz o’ woine?!”
Willow playfully popped him one on the arm, and Buffy giggled
“Well, I shall retire to bed, if you don’t mind, I need my beauty sleep,
goodnight!”
“Yup, you must look your best for Sam in the morning, night Will!” Buffy teased,
Willow grinned and rolled her eyes and went upstairs.
“Yeah, night Will!” Spike clapped his hands together and rubbed them saying,
“Right then pet, I’ll wash, you dry” they went into the kitchen to tidy up.
“It’s not going to shift, I’ll have to leave this in soak overnight” Spike said,
throwing the scouring pad into the sink and filling the grill pan with water and
detergent and putting it on the drainer.
Buffy dried her hands, yawned, and stretched.
Spike slipped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck from behind.
“Willow’s a dark horse, isn’t she – full of surprises!”
Buffy grinned and said,
“When we were talking this afternoon, I asked about Marie-Claire, I was a bit
careful in case the break-up was painful, but she grinned and shrugged and said
she’d got sick of her smoking and the Gallic shrug and the moaning! That and the
fact that her brother wanted a threesome with them!”
“Well, she’ll definitely ruffle a few feathers if she’s seen with Sam in the
Smuggler’s Cove, that one barmaid really fancies him!”
“That tall Australian one? – She fancies anything in trousers that one – she
gives you the glad eye too!” Buffy turned in Spike’s embrace to face him.
“But I’m taken pet…nobody in the world for me but you babe, you know that”
Spike dipped his head and caught her mouth in a passionate kiss, until Buffy
stayed his shoulders and leaned out of the clinch…
“Hey, down boy, I want a bath first…although you can come and wash my back if
you want to!” Buffy kissed his nose, and Spike ‘pinched’ another kiss on the
lips then whispered to her,
“Only if I can wash all the interesting places too!” and giggling like a couple
of teenagers, they went upstairs………
*****************
After a light breakfast of tea and toast, Spike helped Buffy by washing up while
she got Izzie ready. Willow came downstairs wearing chocolate brown tailored
pants, a cream open-necked blouse and she’d tied the arms of a light little
peach coloured cardigan casually around her neck.
“Will I do?”
“Wow – French chic!” Buffy said, looking suitably impressed
“Would you mind Izzie while I nip upstairs and change – Izzie, come and show
Aunty Willow your counting book”
At five to eleven Sam turned up, apologising for being slightly late.
“The one back tyre looked a bit flat, so I took it to the garage to be pumped up
– and here’s that ‘What’s On’ guide you asked me to get – so everybody ready –
hop in then!” He gave Willow a wink and she blushed!
Buffy and Spike automatically climbed into the back with the children, leaving
Willow the front seat next to Sam.
Spike was reading the guide Sam had given him
“Oh hey, listen to this, you know we said that we’d go to Blackmore Hall this
week, well, on Wednesday, they have demonstrations of the Knight’s of Old sealed
knot society, they do jousting, sword-fighting, there’s archery, birds of prey,
and there’s the blacksmith there, we can watch him shoe the horses, - there’s a
tree-top walk, a maze, the boating lake which takes you to a picnic area –
sounds a great day out, shall we go on Wednesday then?”
Spike could see how pumped Billy was and he smiled
“Sam, what about you, I know Wednesday is your day off, come with us?”
He expertly slid into a parking space at the little station, switched off the
engine and said,
“Well great, that’s if you’re sure you won’t be sick of me by then!” He was
smiling at Willow as he said this, and Billy piped up,
“It’ll be great, the best day out ever!”
“Come then, oh look, here comes the train”
Everyone got out of the van and went to the platform.
Sam gave Billy a £10 note and said,
“Here you are young Billy, you get the tickets with that” After a few protests,
Sam stood his ground, and Spike said that lunch was on them then.
They sat down in one of the open windowed carriages, and enjoyed the 8 miles of
beautiful coastal scenery as they chuffed along, the children loving it when
they went under the bridges and they were suddenly enveloped in steam for a few
seconds!
Chapter 4
Leaving the men to wander around the market, Buffy and Willow went into a shop
called ‘Heaven Scent’. It sold mostly candles, of every description, but it also
sold essential oils, joss sticks, oil burners, pot-pourri and other handmade
scented delights like soaps, lotions and all manner of nice things to put in the
bath.
After spending a small fortune in there, they came out and went to find the
others.
They soon spotted them, as Izzie was sitting on her daddy’s shoulders waving to
them.
“Look how big I am mommy!”
They wandered slowly round, stopping when something caught their eye.
“Can we go into Thompson’s now please?” Billy asked, racing to the door of his
favourite bookshop.
“Of course, come on” They all dutifully trooped in, Izzie immediately she’d been
lifted from her dad’s shoulders went and sat on the plastic frogs in the
‘kiddi-korner’ and played happily
Billy went to the counter, and waited patiently while the shop owner finished
serving a customer, then he smiled delightedly at the young lad over his
wire-rimmed specs. He knew this child had a thirst for knowledge and he liked to
encourage it.
“Well, hello young Billy – I was only thinking about you yesterday, I had
something special come in, an I’m sure you’d like it, so I put it to one side
for you!”
Billy said hello and grinned.
Mr Thompson bent down under the counter and came up with a book called ‘Knights
of Old’ it was a book specially for children perhaps older than Billy, but being
a very bright little boy the shop-keeper knew he’d have no problem with it. It
explained all about armour through the ages, from chain mail to full metal suits
that weighed a ton, the weapons they used and the times when they were used.
Billy’s eyes lit up and he carefully took the book and leafed through it.
“This is wonderful, can I have it daddy? – How much is it Mr Thompson?”
“Well, just so happens that it’s on offer at the moment, how much pocket money
do you get?”
“Well, I get £2 from daddy, but I always try to save at least half of it, and
uncle Sam gives me a pound sometimes too”
“But he’s such a good little boy, I’m going to buy it for him, and this please
for Izzie” Willow said, putting a ‘Fifi and the Flowertots’© book on the
counter.
Billy said thankyou and couldn’t wait to start reading it…
They came out of the shop, and Spike looked at his watch
“It’s ten to one, shall we make our way to the pub – our tables’ booked for one
o’clock”
Slowly wandering up the crooked little High Street they made their way to The
Duke of York.
***************
After a huge lunch of roast beef with all the trimmings, followed by apple pie
and clotted cream ice cream, they all decided that they definitely needed to
walk off some calories, so they spent another hour wandering around the market
stalls, before going into the Guild Hall and looked at the antiques and
collectors items.
Izzie was quite happy on her daddy’s shoulders, and Billy used to love looking
at the old stuff and having it explained to him.
“I’ve got to sit down and have a drink…come on, I know just the spot”
Everyone followed Buffy out of the back exit of the hall to the park, where she
bought cans of ice-cold sodas for everyone from a little shop. They lay or sat
on the grass and the sun beat down. Spike tipped his baseball cap over his eyes
to have a quick snooze. Izzie fell asleep too, and Billy started to read his new
book while Buffy, Willow and Sam chatted.
After an hour or so, they were ready to go and look at the rest of the
collectors fair, and while doing so, Billy found a second-hand bookstall, on it
was an old book with the picture of Blackmore Hall on the front, it was called
simply, Tales of Blackmore Hall. Inside Billy read it was a collection of true
stories about the various Blackmore-Collier’s, the Duke’s of Edmonton who owned
the hall through the ages.
“How much is this book, please?” Billy asked the elderly lady, sitting behind
the table.
“That one dear, now let me see………oh it’s an odd one, not part of a set, you can
have it for a pound”
Billy grinned and handed the lady a coin from his pocket. The lady wrapped it up
and after thanking her, Billy caught up with the rest of them.
“What have you been buying now – don’t tell me, a book!” Buffy smiled and
ruffled Billy’s hair.
“True stories of Blackmore Hall!” Billy enthused, and Buffy took it from him and
put it in her bag for safekeeping until they got home.
“Well come on then folks…s’about time we made our way to the station, the train
leaves in twenty minutes”
They made their way back up the High Street, stopping off at the fruit stall to
get fresh strawberries, peaches, a mango, a pineapple, some blueberries and
cherries to make a fresh fruit salad for after dinner the following day.
When they got home, Sam couldn’t hang around as he had to go and take some
grocery deliveries to people, but it was arranged that Peggy would come and
babysit while they all went to the pub for a couple of hours later.
**********************
The children had a light supper of boiled eggs, then a slice of cake as they’d
had a big lunch, and after bathing Izzie, Billy had a bath too, and he was quite
happy to go to bed and read his two new books.
Neither Buffy, Willow nor Spike were hungry, but come supper time for them she
knew they would be, so, she made a huge plateful of sandwiches with various
fillings, had a family sized bag of potato chips at the ready, and sliced
chocolate cake and put out some cherry slices for when they came back from the
pub, a few beers would give them an appetite!
Willow came into the kitchen to see if she could help.
“All done, only got to cover it in cling-wrap then I can go shower and put some
make-up on!” Buffy said
Willow said she’d do that and Buffy went up to get ready.
********************
They were all ready when Sam and his aunty turned up at 8.30. Peggy would never
accept payment for baby-sitting, she enjoyed it so much – she said it gave her a
couple of hours of peace where she could relax, do some knitting and catch up on
the soap-operas she missed so Buffy used to tape them for her.
“And here, I went into your favourite shop in Cockington today, and we’ve
treated you to a lavender candle and some lavender bath-bomb bubbles!” Buffy
said to Peggy.
“You are an angel, I just finished the last on Friday – anyway, run along,
scoot, don’t hurry back, I’m dying to know what’s happened to Dr White in the
Hope Memorial Hospital!” Peggy said grinning, waving the TV remote control in
her hand, and settling herself in the big easy chair.
They decided to walk down to the Smugglers, as it was a lovely evening.
Outside in the beer garden there were the first few holidaymakers who had
stopped for a drink, but they decided to sit inside.
Sam went in first, followed by Willow, Buffy, with Spike bringing up the rear.
He was greeted by a dazzling smile from Tracy, the Australian barmaid, until she
saw Willow and her face fell.
Buffy glanced and Spike and made a quite ‘oh dear’ face, then she grinned
A few people said good evening to them, and Sam said he’d get the first round
in.
Buffy and Willow opted for halves of lager and Spike and Sam both had pints of
best bitter. They found a cosy corner and sat down. It was duly noted that a few
of the ‘lads’ were having a good look at both Buffy and Willow, especially the
striking red-head as she was new………
One chap who knew them came over to speak to Sam. After getting the info he
wanted, he smiled and winked at Willow and said,
“You’re a dark horse Sam, where did you find this divine young maiden then?”
“I’m not telling the likes of you Joe, else you’ll want one too!” Sam said
grinning
Willow blushed and sipped beer, while Sam grinned his head off and said,
“I Certainly do!”
Their first drinks slipped down pretty fast and Spike went up to the bar to get
the next round in.
“Who’s the red-head then?” Tracy asked as she pulled the pumps and poured the
foaming beer
“She’s a friend of Buffy’s over on holiday with us, she’s just finished uni in
France”
“She’s French?”
“No, American, she’s just been to the Sorbonne”
Tracy made a face and said,
“Clever as well as beautiful then…but she’s not his girlfriend, I mean, Sam’s
just to make up the numbers is he?”
“Tracy, you’ll have to ask him yourself, but they seem quite taken with each
other, and they were holding hands today around the Cockington markets” Spike
paid for the drinks and bought them over to the table.
“Getting the ‘third degree’ by Tracy I see, what’s the betting it’s all about
Will!” Buffy said, placing a drink in front of herself and Willow
“Yup, can you feel the waves of jealousy!!” Spike asked, he grinned and sat.
“Well I certainly can, from the lads, we have the two best looking ladies in the
town Spike, no, make that the county!” Sam said grinning
“Hey, flattery will get you nowhere, Willow and I are still going to thrash you
at darts, aren’t we Will!” Buffy said giggling
Sam sat up and grinned
“Oh hey, hear that Spike, that’s fighting talk where I come from…shall we take
up the challenge?”
“I should definitely say so!”
“Come on then…losers pay for the next round – this’ll be like taking candy from
a baby, Spike!” They all stood and went over by the dartboard, bringing their
drinks.
Chapter 5
“Right, 501, double start, and a double finish, nearest arrow to the bull
starts, did you get that, gorgeous?” Sam asked, winking at Willow, hoping he’d
totally baffled her!
“Oh yes I think so just let me check, we start with a score of 501 and we have
to get down to nothing, but we must hit the little outer part of the number to
start, that’s a double, and the same to finish, and the person who’s dart is
nearest to the dead centre of the board, the ‘bullseye’ starts, is that right?”
Willow said grinning
“Oh hey, you’ve played before – I thought this was going to be easy!” Sam said,
and then he offered her one of his darts and said,
“Ladies first”
“No, no! Age before beauty, I insist!” Willow said giggling
“You cheeky madam! Come here!” Sam grabbed her and landed a big smacker of a
kiss on Willow’s lips, and Tracy behind the bar dropped a tray of glasses behind
the bar in disappointment
Willow winked at Buffy when Sam’s dart landed about two inches away from the
centre, then Spike’s landed about an inch away. Poor old Buffy’s dart hit the
wire number and bounced out onto the floor so it didn’t count, and Willow stood
at the end of the rubber mat behind the ‘oche’ line and threw her dart dead
centre into the bullseye. She grinned as she went to the board to retrieve the
darts and she gloated
“My dart I think! Right – Buffy and I against you and Spike, 501 – gentlemen the
bet is on!” She took the three darts and threw them accurately, scoring 100! She
chalked 401 on the scoreboard, crossing out 501
“Oh Sam, this looks like it could be expensive!” Spike said laughing.
When Sam was taking his turn, Spike whispered playfully to Willow,
“And no witchy stuff you!”
Willow just grinned and whispered back,
“As if!”
A few of the regulars were watching the game, and while Sam and Spike still had
scores of over two hundred to get down, (and Buffy over three hundred) Willow’s
accurate throwing meant she only needed to get 132, it was her turn, she got the
treble twenty first, then she got the double twenty, all she needed was to get
the double 16 to finish!
The regular lads were cheering her on, and when she threw and the dart landed
squarely in the double 16, she jumped up and down waving her arms in the air,
all the regulars were cheering
“We’ll have you on our team miss, come and play for us this Thursday night,
we’ve got a grudge match against Darrington!” One of the old guys said
“Your round I think!” Willow said with a grin, and then added
“Only thing to do in the Halls of Residence, was to play darts, the TV was
rubbish!”
“NOW she tells me!” Sam grinned and went up to the bar.
*****************
Back home, ten to midnight………
“Oh goddess, PLEASE tell me that was non-fattening double chocolate caramel
fudge cake!” Willow said, sucking her finger and thumb and licking her lips
Buffy giggled and said,
“Yup, that’s the stuff Will, isn’t that right Peggy, that was zero-calorie,
double chocolate caramel fudge cake with extra whipped cream! I’m going to
patent the special recipe formula for it and make a fortune – just think, I’d be
rich!”
“Well, we’d better be going, SOME of us have to work for a living!”
Sam stood up grinning.
“Hey, I work too! I’ve got to start research for my new book I’ve been
commissioned to write!” Spike said
Sam rolled his eyes laughing and said,
“Hard days slog over a hot computer”
“Well my dears, I’ll say goodnight and wait in the car for you dear” Peggy said
“Thanks for babysitting Peggy” Spike gave her a kiss on the cheek and Peggy
grinned and squeezed Spike’s hand.
“Have you got everything, your glasses, knitting – here, don’t forget your
candle and bath stuff” Buffy also gave Peggy a kiss on the cheek saying thanks
and goodnight.
Willow lazily held her arms up and Sam pulled her up off the sofa
Buffy and Spike diplomatically started to take the supper things into the
kitchen so Sam and Willow could say ‘goodnight’.
“It was a great night…great day all round actually, I really enjoyed myself, did
you?”
“I sure did – not a good day for Tracy though!” Spike said, covering the last of
the cake in cling-wrap and putting it in the fridge.
Spike glanced into the lounge to see if they could go and fetch the rest of the
crockery, but Will and Sam were still engaged in a pretty large kiss!!
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Spike asked
“Well, if you will mind the children in the morning, I thought Will and I could
go do some shopping in Barnstaple, then I thought we could take the children to
the cinema, ‘Madagascar’ is on at the Gaumont, Izzie’s dying to see it, there’s
a showing that starts at 5.30pm, then I thought it was an ideal opportunity for
Willow to have proper English fish and chips, out of the paper – we can sit
overlooking the estuary while we eat them”
“Great idea, I’ll leave the leg of pork fillet I was going cook for another time
then”
Sam leant around the kitchen door and said,
“Goodnight then Buffy, Spike – I’ll see you later maybe”
“Yeah okay, night Sam, drive carefully”
“I will…night Princess!” Sam winked at Willow and she smiled
After waving off their friends Spike locked up.
“Want some help clearing up?”
“No Will, you can both go on up, I’ll do it in the morning when you are out
shopping”
“So, we’re shopping in the morning then?” Willow asked making for the stairs
“Uh huh, there’s this lovely little boutique just off the High street, she does
some great stuff, reasonable too”
“Great, okay, night then Spike”
“Night Red”
“You coming up?” Buffy asked
“Won’t be a sec, I just want to put this telephone number and email address Sam
gave me in my diary so I don’t loose it, this guy could be useful to my research
for my next book”
“Okay babe, I’ll leave the lamp on for you”
******************
“BILLY, DO YOU WANT BREAKFAST, BECAUSE THIS IS THE LAST TIME I’M CALLING YOU!”
“Coming mom!”
“Aunty Willow…”
“Yes darling?”
“What does that word say?”
“Which word poppet?”
“That one?”
“Um…Flowertots, see there’s Fifi…and there are the flowertots. Do you like the
book?”
“Oh yes, I think it’s pretty!”
Willow laughed and cupped the little blonde moppet’s cheek.
Billy came down, still in his pyjamas, Buffy shook her head and sighed, although
she couldn’t help but smile
“Don’t tell me, you were reading!”
Billy gave his mom a sheepish grin, and said
“But it’s ever so interesting! I’m reading about wicked Sir Jasper Blackmore, he
was trying to do his poor younger step-brother William out of his inheritance!”
“I see, well it nearly did you out of your breakfast, what do you want love?”
“Just some toast please”
“No cereal?”
“No thankyou, it’s the chocolaty one, and I don’t like it!”
Buffy smiled and said to Willow, nodding towards Billy
“Ever met a child that doesn’t like chocolate – coz you have now!”
“Where’s dad?”
“Well, he’s on the computer – starting research for his new book”
“What are we doing today?”
“Well, you’re staying with dad until your aunty and I come back from shopping,
then it’s a surprise” Billy smiled at his mom as she mouthed
“Going to see ‘Madagascar’” Putting her finger to her lips and pointing to Izzie
so Billy wouldn’t say anything
“Is it swimming day mommy?”
“No baby, that’s tomorrow”
“Swimming huh – that sounds like a jolly good idea, can I come do you think?”
Willow asked Izzie, who gave a big nod and smiled, she said
“Tell the lady, and she gives you band to put round your ankle and then you can
come in and swim with me…I can do a whole length! Well nearly!”
Willow giggled
“Can you – golly, you’re very clever – do you like swimming Billy?”
“Yes, but I couldn’t go the last two times, I had an ear infection, will I be
able to go tomorrow mom?”
“I should think so, you’ve finished all the eardrops and it doesn’t hurt now
does it – here’s your toast”
“No, it doesn’t hurt anymore”
“Morning!”
“Morning Spike!”
“Dad, mom says I can go swimming with you tomorrow”
“Really – great! Oh”
Everyone looked at Spike
“I forgot about swimming, I’ve just arranged via an email to see this chap Sam
told me about last night, he’s got all this Edwardian stuff that will help me
put my new book together with photos and that”
“Well never mind, you go see him, and Willow and I’ll take them, make a change
for me AND I could do with the exercise!”
“Dad, we ARE still going to Blackmore Hall on Wednesday, aren’t we?”
“Of course son, I haven’t forgotten about that, don’t worry!”
“Oh dear Izzie…I think you’re going to have to come shopping with your aunty
Willow and me”
“What’s up?”
“Look”
Buffy showed Spike Izzie’s split sneakers.
“Actually, now I come to think of it, she could do with a new swimming costume
too, she’s getting taller” Spike said
“Do you want to come too Billy, or do you want to stay here with your dad and
read?”
Silly question! Billy didn’t really like traipsing around the shops when his mom
was looking for clothes at the best of times, even if there was something in it
for him! Give him a good book and he’d be quiet for hours reading.
Half an hour later Billy and Spike waved the ladies off and went back indoors
“Okay son, I’m going to wash-up, then I’ll be on the computer, what are you
going to do?”
“I’m going to get dressed and then I’m going to read my book about Blackmore
Hall, Sir Jasper is trying to do his younger step-brother out of his
inheritance, it’s ever so good!” Spike chuckled and ruffled his son’s hair
“You and your books! Well you know where I am if you want me – did mom tell you
about the surprise this afternoon?”
“Yes, but she didn’t want me to say anything in front of Izzie, coz else she’ll
keep going on about it”
“Oh well! Right, you go off and read, and I’ll tidy up the kitchen”
********************
“Hmm, these smell so good, we missed lunch”
They all sat on one of the benches overlooking the estuary; Buffy helped Izzie
open her box with mini fish and chips, everybody else had theirs wrapped in
paper.
“HHHMMMMMMMM! Oh goddess that’s just SO good!” Willow savoured her first
mouthful
“It’s a good job I don’t live down here permanently, I’d get so fat – what with
the cream teas, and the beer and the Cornish Pasties, fish and chips and the big
cooked breakfasts!”
“Well, that’s what I said when I first moved down here, but well everything in
moderation, and I find what I lack doing in proper exercise, I make up running
round after Izzie and the chickens and doing the garden”
“That nice baby – did you like the film?” Izzie nodded and said
“Oh yes!”
“Good girl!”
“Oh, that’s me…hey, Hi Sam, what can I do for you?……………………well right this
moment, were sitting overlooking the estuary in Barnstaple eating fish and chips
– we took Izzie and Billy to the cinema…………………hold on – Will, Sam wants a word”
Spike passed her his cell phone
“Oh, um…” Quickly wiping her fingers she took the phone
“Hi Sam………hmm, yeah, they’re absolutely delicious…………when tonight, um, hold
on………Guys, what time will we get home?”
Spike looked at his watch and said,
“Bout nine”
“About nine Spike says…really? Okay, great, I’ll see you then, bye!” She ended
the call and gave the phone back to Spike.
“He’s going to pick me up and take me to see his piglets, then were going for a
drink!”
“Piglets huh…that’s a new one!” Buffy teased, and Willow went red.
Billy grinned and sing-songed,
“Aunty Willow’s got a boyfriend!”
Causing Buffy to snort a laugh while she was drinking her soda and it went
everywhere, making them all giggle.
They got home and Sam (eager beaver he was!) was waiting in the car for her.
Willow dashed in, had a quick wash and got changed, then she put on some mascara
and lipgloss, and went downstairs
“Will I do?”
“You look beautiful – come on then, let me take you to see Lady Bettina of
Cheltenham – she’s a Gloucester Old Spot pig, Betty for short, and she’s just
farrowed 12 little piggies! – I thought the nippers might like to see them
sometime this week too Buffy”
“Great – perhaps Thursday when I bring my order in” Buffy said
“Well come on then beautiful, let’s be off” Sam took Willow by the hand and they
left.
“Mommy…are uncle Sam and aunty Willow getting married – can I be a bridesmaid
and look like a fairy princess like in my storybook?” Izzie asked, suddenly all
bright eyed again – gone was the sleepiness while she was in the car.
Spike grinned at Buffy and Buffy was at a loss at what to say!
“They’ve only just met darling – they’re just friends”
“But they were holding hands!” Izzie insisted
“I’ll ask her tomorrow” Izzie said, then added,
“Daddy, come and read me a story…I want Princess Twinkle-toes gets married”
“Thought you might, come on then, beddy-byes for you poppet - upstairs, hands
and face wash and clean your teeth”
“Can I read for a while mom, I’m not tired”
“Yes baby, you go and get ready for bed, and I’ll come up and turn the light off
in half an hour, night-night” Buffy kissed her son goodnight and went into the
kitchen to make some tea.
Spike came downstairs smiling five minutes later, just as Buffy took the tea
tray into the lounge.
“She was asleep after a couple of lines, I left Billy’s light on, he said you
said he could have half an hour”
“Yes I did…hey, do you think we should warn Willow?” Buffy said, and started
giggling
“Oh god I don’t know! – She went very red when Billy teased her – can you
imagine her face!”
“Well, she will have this man phoning her up, asking her if she wants to look at
twelve pink wrinkly things!” They both sat there giggling like a couple of kids!
Chapter 6
“Have you got a door key?” Sam asked, tightening his arms around Willow
“No, no I haven’t – golly look at the time! I really should be getting back, one
of them will be sitting up for me”
“Hmm, I’ve got an early start in the morning too…come on then princess, lets get
you home – kiss first though?
Willow homed in and gave him a kiss, and Sam reached for her hand and they
walked to the car.
“So, how did you meet Buffy then – what was it first day at kindergarten was
it?”
Willow clipped herself into the seatbelt and Sam started up the van.
“No, much later than that, I didn’t meet Buffy until she moved from LA, when her
parents divorced, and she came to Sunnydale High, we were almost 16”
This surprised Sam, and he suddenly stopped the van in the middle of the country
lane.
In the bright glare of the headlights, Willow saw a bird casually crossing the
road, like it had all the time in the world, and she started to laugh!
“What on earth?”
“That my dear, is a grouse, it’s a game bird probably from Blackmore Estate,
they keep all manner of game birds for shooting come the glorious 12th as it’s
known, and unfortunately they have no road sense whatsoever!.”
“Do you shoot?”
“Practically de-rigeur in the country pet – so you’re swimming in the morning
then?”
“Yup – boy do I need the exercise!”
“Get away, you’ve got a gorgeous figure!”
“Huh, and how long would it last with all the beer and fish and chips, pasties
and cream teas!”
Sam chuckled and said,
“Well, I never go to the gym, no need, I’m always on the go – the shop, fishing,
the pigs, delivering – take tomorrow, I’ve got to go to the cash and carry
warehouse, then look after the shop from 12-2 while aunty does her baking, then
I’ve got to mend two of my lobster pots, then give this old girl a service – she
needs an oil change and I’ve got to fix the heater, then I’ve got to thin out
the onions in the vegetable garden, so that’ll mean an hours worth of digging!”
Sam pulled up outside Honeysuckle cottage, there was a pale orange glow through
the curtains where the lamp was on in the lounge.
“Well thanks for a lovely evening Sam”
“Thankyou – and you’re welcome pet” He leaned over and gave her a passionate
kiss – which could have lead to other things, but Willow opened the van door and
the little light came on in the car
“I better go… see you Wednesday?”
“If not sooner – night babe” he winked at her.
Willow smiled and closed the van door quietly, she walked down the path, and
lightly tapped on the window
She waved Sam off and went inside.
“Sorry I’m late – we got talking and forgot the time!”
Buffy smiled, yawned and stretched
“It’s okay, I fell asleep half-way through the late film – so did you have a
good night?”
“Yeah – great…although that barmaid Tracy keeps giving me the evil eye…Spike
gone to bed has he?”
“Bout ten minutes ago – want some tea, something to eat?”
“Oh goddess, no and no thanks! Don’t think tea on top of wine would go down very
well”
“Are you seeing him tomorrow – sorry, I mean today?” Buffy asked as she saw it
was now 12.10am
“Well, I said see you Wednesday, and he said ‘if not before’ – but nothing
definite. I really like him Buffy – he’s, well he’s different”
“Well, MUCH – if you’re comparing him with a 21 year old French girl!” Buffy
looked at Willow smiling, and Willow continued,
“I mean I know my last relationship was with somebody French and 21, and not
forgetting female of course, but there’s a confidence in him I like – he’s a
real man, not a kid, he knows what he wants…”
Buffy stood and smiled
“Well the kids already have you two married off – well Izzie has – ‘you were
holding hands’ Buffy said mimicking her daughter, grinning now.
“What – oh my goddess!” Willow clamped her hand over her mouth and giggled.
“And Izzie also wants to be a bridesmaid, like in her storybook – so you have
been warned! At least she’s not in competition with you – she had a crush on him
when he first started to come here – Sam this and Sam that – Spike got quite
jealous at first………”
“I can imagine!”
Buffy yawned and said,
“Well, that’s me off to bed, I’ll just lock up now you’re home”
***************
By 11 o’clock the following morning, Buffy, Willow and the children were off to
Barnstaple leisure centre to go swimming.
Spike had got his notes together, and had taken himself off to see this chap Sam
had suggested to him who might be of use towards the new book Spike had been
commissioned to write, about the Edwardians – his books on Victorian England
being such a success.
By five o’clock, everybody was back home. Buffy had hung their swimming stuff up
to dry, and Willow went and sat in the garden and watched Izzie playing. Billy
sat reading.
“I can’t wait until tomorrow – it’s going to be SO exciting!” Billy enthused,
looking up from his book.
“I’m sure it’ll be great fun!” Willow agreed
“Coo-eee, anybody hoo-o-mme?”
“Uncle Sam!” Izzie cried out
Sam came through the back gate carrying a large brown paper sack, the type that
usually held 56lbs of potatoes; it was about a 1/3 full.
“What have you got there?” Billy asked smiling
“Come and have a look – I promised these to your mum”
“Seashells!” Izzie beamed
Buffy came out of the backdoor of the cottage grinning
“You smelt the teakettle on the boil did you?”
Sam grinned and said,
“I did pet, milk and two sugars in mine…got you those shells you wanted for your
rockery garden”
“And it was SO important that it couldn’t have waited until the morning!” Buffy
said with a grin, pouring him out a mug of tea, knowing the REAL reason he’d
come.
Sam gave her a bashful smile and took the tea but said nothing
Izzie and Billy had tipped out the shells onto the lawn, and Willow was helping
them sort them into type and size
“Actually, I’m on the grocery delivery rounds, I wondered if Willow would like
to come with me, I was going to show her my boat”
Buffy said seriously,
“You really like her don’t you?” Sam just nodded and took another gulp of tea.
Buffy didn’t say anything as it was none of her business, but she worried that
he was going to get hurt as Willow had only planned to stay a fortnight………
Finishing his tea, Sam strode over to Willow and bent over and whispered to her.
Buffy watched as Willow shielded her eyes from the sun, smiled and nodded, said
something to Izzie and Billy and stood up.
Spike came down from upstairs and looked out into the garden
“I thought I heard his voice! He’s becoming quite a fixture here, isn’t he!”
Willow came in and said,
“Sam’s going to show me his boat, I’ll be back by seven”
“Okay Will, were having cold meats and salads, so nothing will spoil – you go
enjoy yourself” Buffy said
*****************
They were just in Middle Netherbourne, when Sam’s mobile rang.
He pulled in to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Sam, are you in love or something?” His aunts dulcet tones rang out loudly,
Willow couldn’t have failed to hear
“Wha-what – I-I-I, um w-what do you mean?” the colour flooded his face and Sam
was glowing a hot, beet red
“You’ve left old Mrs Brown, widow, lives on her own 4 dozen eggs, and June
Gillespie, who’s got to do the tea for 50 of the Women’s Fellowship meeting half
a dozen – she can’t get her sponge cakes, éclairs and egg mayonnaise done on
half a dozen-“
“Yes, yes, alright, I get the picture, sorry, it’s easily put right, I got a bit
muddled, that’s all, no need to make a drama out of it!” Sam snapped, and then
he moderated his tone,
“I’m in Middle Nether now, I can easily go back up to Higher Nether when I drop
Willow back home”
“Yes, but you’ll have to go to Hangman’s Lane to pick up the four dozen first,
actually, I told her to take her half dozen and to leave the others on the back
step”
“Okay aunty, I’ll sort it don’t you worry”
“So, you’ve got Willow &**(*^&^%$%£ - !”
“Sorry aunty, signal’s bad, I’m in a dip, you’re breaking up”
“I said, *&^)(£$%~@~@**&^^& - and tomorrow as well, )(*~@$%%^”
“Sorry aunty, can’t hear you, bye!” Sam swiftly ended the call and glanced at
Willow
“Sorry about that, I don’t know…I make ONE mistake!” Willow just smiled and they
drove on.
*****************
They walked hand in hand down the jetty and onto the soft sand. The tide was due
in, and Sam led her passed several large moored boats.
“Have you ever been on a boat before?”
“Only on a rowing boat…Xander scared me half to death, rocking the boat, teasing
me the lake was bottomless…fact was I think it was about six foot at the deepest
point!”
“Xander eh, that was yours and Buffy’s friend in Sunnydale, right?”
“Uh huh”
“Well, here she is!”
Willow looked up at a large navy blue and white painted boat; it had a mast and
sail, and a small cabin at the front. The name ‘Carole-Anne’ proudly painted on
the top edge of the prow.
“Carole-Anne – who was she then?”
Sam shrugged
“No idea pet, that’s what she was called when I bought her three months ago, I
was going to re-name her – it’s just getting round to it, although I HAVE had
one or two ideas”
Sam helped her up on board, and they went into the cabin. It was warm, certainly
less windy in there than outside in the harbour.
“It’s cosy” Willow said, standing at the wheel and looking out over the harbour
“I take it this is the satellite navigational thingy” She pointed to a small
monitor
“It is pet, and that’s the radio underneath – but I don’t go far, farthest I’ve
been is Lundy Island, that’s about 28 miles away”
“I’ve heard of that”
“It’s an animal sanctuary and weather station…nobody lives there, well, not
permanently, few little stone houses, one pub called the Marisco Tavern that
sells everything – and some cows, and that’s it – gets a lot of studenty types
and people studying the wild-life and weather and that…I’ll take you next week
if you want”
He came and stood behind her, and couldn’t resist putting his hands over hers on
the wheel. He dropped a soft kiss on her neck, and Willow half turned, offering
her mouth. Sam wasn’t slow on the up-take, and kissed her with mounting passion.
“Oh gods, Willow, I –“ She fixed him with a look, and they stared at each other
for a few seconds, there was a definite connection between them, the atmosphere
was electric around them…
Willow put her fingers to his lips, and walked him backwards into the cabin,
where they half sat, half lay on the bunk bed/come bench seat.
Taking the lead, Willow quickly divested herself of her cardigan, and then she
began to tug at Sam’s tee-shirt. He swiftly pulled it off, and undid the buttons
on her blouse. Willow threw it on the floor, Sam pushed her to a sitting
position, and he stood
“Stand up a sec pet”
Willow stood and Sam put his hand under the seat and pulled. It suddenly
transformed into a proper pull out bed, and while she was standing, Willow undid
the buckle on her belt to her jeans, Sam was ahead of her and stood in his boxer
shorts.
“Are you sure about this Willow?”
She didn’t answer; just nodded and pulled him down to the bed, kissing him
again. Fumbling at her back, Sam tried to locate the hooks of her bra with no
luck, she giggled and showed him the little rose clasp between the cups, pressed
and the bra parted to reveal her luscious curves to him, which he began to
nuzzle and kiss, making her gasp.
Suddenly, Sam stopped and sat upright and said,
“We can’t – oh god, I haven’t got any, you know – condoms – I didn’t plan this,
I swear, else I’d have…”
“Shush, it’s okay – don’t worry, I’m covered, not that I’m in the habit of doing
this sort of thing! I take a mini-pill to regulate my monthlies, it covers me,
okay?”
Sam closed his eyes and mumbled something about ‘if she was sure’…
They made love slowly at first, speeding their movements at the end that
culminated into an earth-moving orgasm for both of them – literally – the tide
had come in and the boat suddenly bobbed on the swell of waves!
“Oh god, the tide – I forgot!” Sam lay back and giggled
“Will it get very deep?”
“No, couple of feet at the most, don’t worry” Sam turned on his side and stroked
her hair
“Love your Titian hair…it’s so silky and soft, and it- hmm, smells lovely”
Willow smiled and cupped his cheek and gave him a light kiss
“You’re sweet, but we’d better be making a move, don’t you think?” Sam looked at
his watch
“Oh goodness yes, else I‘ll have this June Gillespie after me!”
They got dressed and went outside
“It’s only a foot deep…right come on, don’t worry, I’ve got you!”
Willow giggled as Sam carried her through the water and up to the dry sand on
the beach. There were a few guys that Sam knew grinning broadly at him.
“And where did you catch that delightful creature!” One guy asked and Sam
beamed, Willow went pink cheeked with embarrassment
“Not telling you!” Sam held onto her hand and they walked up the jetty to the
van.
Chapter 7
Billy was up bright and early on the Wednesday morning; he put out boxes of
cereals, filled the kettle, topped up the milk jug and laid the table for
breakfast. He even went outside to the chickens, opened the roost and threw them
a couple of handfuls of corn. They swooped out of the roost in the early morning
sunshine and clucked, pecking busily at the snack he’d thrown them.
Billy dusted off his hands, and turned to go back inside the cottage, to see his
dad standing in the doorway, smiling at him.
“You’re eager this morning, son!”
“I can’t wait to get there!” Billy grinned.
Buffy came downstairs with Izzie, and could see what Billy had done.
She smiled and said,
“You are a good boy Billy!” Billy grinned at his mother and asked if there was
anything else he could do.
“You can put Izzie some cereal and do the milk for her because that jugs too
heavy for her when it’s full”
Billy did just that, by which time his toast was cooked
“Are we taking a picnic?”
“We are, and don’t worry, it’s already in the fridge, I’ve only got to pack it
into the cool-box, we’ve got cold chicken and ham, hard-boiled eggs, buttered
rolls, tomatoes, potato-chips, sausage rolls and fruit. There’s juice to drink,
and Sam said aunty Peggy will pack something up too”
“Goody!”
*****************
By 9.30 Sam had arrived, and they packed up in the van and started off.
There were already a few cars in the visitor’s car-park, and a coach when they
pulled up at nearly five to ten.
“We’ve got plenty of time, I thought we can go take look at the map of the place
in the information centre and gift shop and plan our day, as we’ve got the
10.30am tour round the house with the guide” Spike suggested, so this is what
they did.
**
“Right then, that’s settled, we have the tour, that’ll take an hour, then we can
have a wander around ourselves, going back to things we were particularly
interested in, that’ll take us ‘til lunchtime – so then we take the raft-bridge
over to the picnic area, go look at the butterflies and the wild flowers, and
then after lunch, back here, get a few souvenirs, watch the jousting
demonstration, and then we can go take the children to the petting zoo, then
watch the falconry display – I bet after all that we’ll be ready for a cuppa in
the Tea Room, okay?” Spike said
Everybody nodded happily, and Billy piped up,
“Come on, it’s nearly twenty-five past, we don’t want to miss our place, do we!”
He strode on ahead towards the main entrance, making all the adults smile with
his eagerness!
**************
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, my name is Deborah Carling, and I’ve been
in the employ of the Blackmore family for 15 years, I’m going to take you on a
tour of the house, tell you about some it’s history and it’s more ‘colourful’
occupants. Please try and keep together in a group, and I’ll be happy to answer
any questions you may have, although anything requiring a detailed answer will
have to wait until after the tour, right, are we all ready?” Everybody in the
group, which consisted Spike’s family, plus Willow and Sam, four American, four
Canadian, and six Japanese tourists, and two little old ladies from Scotland
nodded and the tour began...
“The Hall as you see it today isn’t the house that was originally built, over
the years, bits have been added on, bits have fallen down or been destroyed by
fire. The original and oldest part of the hall is this room, the Great Hall. The
building of Blackmore Hall began in 1415, and was a gift for Thomas Edward
Blackmore, from King Henry the Fifth, as a thankyou for helping him win the
battle of Agincourt. The house was completed in 1421, a year before the king’s
premature death…”
The guide went on to point out things of interest, the original table, fireplace
and chimney, and wall ovens, before moving on to the next room. Everybody found
it fascinating, even Izzie was quiet! Billy positively hung on her every
word………………………………
“…………This is the Long Gallery, so called obviously because of it’s length, which
incidentally runs the whole length of the Hall, where the ladies of the house
could walk for exercise if the weather was wet……………On the left is a picture of
Sir Charles Blackmore, he was the fourth Earl of Netherbourne, he had a great
fondness for all things equestrian, and added the stables here………………………………………On
the right is a painting of Sir Charles’ first wife, Lady Caroline de Mornay, who
became the fourth Lady Blackmore, but unfortunately she died in childbirth at
the age of 21, and as the child didn’t survive either, Sir Charles had to find
himself a new wife to give him an heir. Two years later he married who was
considered a great socialite, Rebecca Hampton-Gaines, and they wasted no time,
and within ten years, they had no fewer than 7 children, Charles, Edward, Henry,
Egbert, Stephen, and two girls, Rebecca and Josephine – unusually for the time,
they all survived……………
……………………Here on the right, we have the first of out three priest holes, and if I
just move this tapestry to one side, can you see this wooden panel? – It
measures 16 inches wide, I just turn the Tudor rose carving………like so, and hey
pesto, it spins on a pivot in the middle, to reveal a tiny space so the priests
could hide in relative safety from Queen Elizabeth’s men, as people were
forbidden to be Roman Catholic………………”
Billy smiled up at his mom, and they all moved on, except Billy. He lingered at
the panel, tracing the Tudor rose carving with his finger, next thing he knew,
the panel had flipped up, and he was inside the space, except he seemed to be
falling…he landed with a small bump, his back against something solid. He
shifted round best he could, pressed the panel in front of him, it flipped up,
and he found himself back in the Long Gallery, only he got a great shock when he
looked down…gone were his tee shirt, shorts, and sneakers, instead he found
himself in doublet and hose, a lacy jabot hanging down in front of a tight
waistcoat, and he had on black button boots………