TEN

A s Barnaby drove up to the Manor, he suddenly looked at me quite solemnly.

Was he having second thoughts about this attempt at a relationship between the two of us? Was he going to put an end to our relationship before it even began?

No. No, don’t do that, I silently pleaded. I want more of this. I want you. I want us. I want it all.

He parked the car and quickly set his hand over mine as it lay on my lap. “This evening has been magical, Ayra. I want you to know that.”

Oh, I know. Believe me, I know.

“But there’s something I need to ask of you.”

“Okay. What is it?”

“Considering the situation here at the manor, you know, with us filming this and my supposed relationship with Rhonda as she plays her role of Lizzy, my love interest... well, I think it would be best if we kept our relationship quiet... you know, keep it to ourselves.”

“Your relationship with Rhonda? You mean with Elizabeth, don’t you? Rhonda is simply the actress playing the part.”

“Yes, but you know how the promotion of these things work,” he said.

He licked his lips, and I wanted desperately to lick them for him. How could a man have such luscious and kissable lips.

“You know how fans can be,” he went on. “The fans of movies like this just love to see the leading actors falling in love in real life.”

“I guess,” I conceded, although I wasn’t sure I agreed with him.

“It would throw everything off if fans were to learn that I was actually in a relationship with one of the movie’s producers. It might raise questions of favoritism or stuff like that.”

“I see.”

“It would only be until the movie came out. Once it’s a hit and has made millions, we can show our faces... together.”

Post-production could take months, then a promotional tour to sell the movie. It could be a full year before we could show our faces together , as he said.

“I know it would be a great sacrifice,” he gently added. “But none of this means that we still can’t see each other. We just have to be careful about how we go about it.”

“I know you’re right,” I finally said. “Everything you’re saying makes perfect sense.” I just hated the idea of constantly being in hiding.

“And that means Keely, too. You can’t let her know about this. I mean, it might be enough for her to want to fire me over this.”

I chuckled. “Yeah. I seriously doubt she would be happy to hear that I’m dating you. Okay. I promise. Mum’s the word. I won’t let anyone know about us.”

“And no one in the cast... least of all Rhonda.”

“Absolutely no one, Barn. This is our little secret.”

The idea of sharing a secret with him suddenly became quite thrilling. Only he and I would be in on it. It would be just one of the hundreds of things we would share.

I suddenly understood why he’d parked his car so far from the main house.

“So, let’s say goodnight for now,” he said as he leaned in to kiss me. Though not quite as passionate as the first, it was still a deep kiss that I wanted to lose myself in.

“I hate to do this,” he said, pulling away. “But I’m going to have to ask you to get out of the car here and walk the remainder of the way to the house. I want to be sure no one sees us.”

“I understand. And where are you off to for the rest of the evening?” I tried to make the question sound casual, but somehow it felt like I was checking up on him.

“I have lines to rehearse with Rhonda,” he said without an ounce of guilt or shame, just a matter-of-fact response to a professional question from his producer. “We have a big scene first thing tomorrow morning.”

I pressed a tight smile despite the lurch in my gut at the thought of him with Rhonda. “Well then, I’ll let you get to work.”

I stepped out of the car and watched him drive closer to the manor. Tormented, I slowly walked up the stone path that led to the side entrance of the manor. I was thrilled at this turn of events... dating Mr. Darcy... but... Argh.

I already ached.

*****

I AWOKE EARLIER THAN usual the following morning. Throughout the night, my dreams had been taken over by Barnaby, as himself, as Mr. Darcy... with me... with Elizabeth... with Rhonda. The conflicting emotions left me restless and unable to get a good sound sleep.

Nonetheless, I got ready for the day and headed downstairs with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The moment I walked into the ballroom; I spotted Barnaby by the far wall; as handsome as ever in his Mr. Darcy garb. In close and quiet conversation with Rhonda, he didn’t notice me entering... Ouch.

But Keely did spot me. “Oh, good,” she said as she rushed up to me. “I’m glad you came down early.”

“You know I’ve been looking forward to watching this scene.”

“Oh, I know, and that makes my request all the more difficult to ask you.”

My heart sank, but I smiled. “I take it I won’t be able to watch this scene play out.”

“Sorry, but I need you at the lake.”

Surprised, I looked at her. “The lake? Which lake?”

“That’s the problem exactly. Moon Manor has two lakes: a small one and a larger one. The thing is I have issues with both of them. They each have their pros and cons and I’m having a hell of a time making up my mind. I need you to go out to take a good look at both. You have such a great eye for this sort of thing.”

“This is for the dive in the pond scene?”

“Exactly.”

“And what are your issues with both lakes?”

“I don’t want to tell you so as not to influence your judgment. Go out there, examine them closely and come back to tell me what you think.”

I nodded solemnly, the vision of Colin Firth diving into that pond fresh in my memory.

“And if you think you were looking forward to watching this scene between Mr. Darcy and Lizzy, imagine the day we film the lake scene. Barnaby with his shirt off... and maybe more. What a sight that’s going to be.”

I pointed an accusing finger at her. “You better make sure I’m there for that shoot.”

“I promise,” she said with a laugh. “I know it’s your favorite scene and I wouldn’t have you miss it for the world.”

Laughing, I headed back up to my room to get changed for my stroll around the lake. Once there I exchanged my jeans for some khaki shorts and paired it with a short-sleeved pale yellow cotton blouse.

As I headed down the stairs, I looked around for someone who could accompany me to these two lakes - someone who knew the property well.

“Where you heading off to?” Jai said as if summoned to assist me. Wearing a jaunty cap and a dark green quilted jacket, he looked every bit the part of the country gentleman that he actually was.

“I’m going to go scout for the best location for the ‘dive in the pond’ scene. Keely wants me to check out the lakes of Moon Manor.”

“What a coincidence. She asked me to head out there myself. Want me to take you out there? My jeep is out front and ready to go.”

“I’d appreciate it. You sure are looking spiffy for a ride out to the lake.”

“Warm clothes are a must for the ride out.” He looked down at my attire. “I suggest you throw on a jacket or something. The wind can get quite chilly.”

I looked down at my thin blouse and khakis. “Okay. Give me just a minute and I’ll be right down.”

“I’ll be waiting out front.”

I ran back to my room, exchanged my shorts for the same blue jeans I originally had on and threw a thick cotton jacket over my blouse. On my way out, I grabbed my faded red wool beanie and pulled it over my head.

As promised, Jai was right there in front of the main door. I quickly realized why he insisted on being so warmly dressed. His jeep was entirely open to the elements, no roof, no doors, no windshield.

“Hop in,” he shouted over the sound of his loud engine.

I’d barely buckled in that we were off.

“The back road out here can get a little rough,” he shouted. “You’d best hang on.”

Hang onto what? I wondered as we bumped and jumped our way down the dirt road.

“This is the worst of it,” he said as he slowed down to maneuver the jeep around some deep ruts. “When the rain hits, the puddles are knee deep in places... then it dries out and this is what I’m left with. I’ll fix it... someday... but for now, this is the best way to the lake.”

I thought of Keely and the crew driving out this way. Would they be able to make it?

But after only a few more hundred yards or so, the road smoothed out.

“It’s easy riding for the rest of the way,” Jai said. “Almost,” he added with a grin.

“This is such beautiful country,” I said with admiration. Now that I didn’t have to hang on for dear life, I could take a better look at my surroundings.

The dirt road ran along a ridge, giving us a splendid view of the farms and country homes far and deep into the valley.

“I suggested Keely follow Mr. Darcy out here as he heads to the lake. The views up here are like nothing else.”

“Did she like your suggestion?”

“I think she did. She just didn’t seem sure Barnaby would appreciate having to walk out here.”

Of course, Barnaby would go along with the idea, I wanted to argue. He’d do anything to make this the greatest movie ever.

“We’re almost there,” Jai said as we arrived at a gazebo set beneath the shade of a huge tree.

Moments later, the lake opened up in front of us. It was glorious. The rays of the early morning sun sparkled across the top of the water.

“Is this the bigger one of the smaller one?” I asked.

“This is the larger one.” Jai stopped the jeep, killed the engine and hopped out. “Come on. We can walk around this section of it.”

I followed him as he took a pebbled path to the edge of the water.

“The water is so clear,” I remarked. “That’s a good thing.”

“The advantage of this lake is the view on the other side,” Jai said. “That stand alone tree by the gazebo is the perfect touch of greenery, but you have a view of the distant valley.”

“Those flowers on the other side are pretty, too. I like the touch of color.”

He nodded in agreement. “Depending on the time-of-day you guys shoot the scene, you’ll have the sun setting behind that tree, or, if it’s shot in the morning, that same tree will be brilliantly lit by the rising sun, just as it is now.”

“Magical,” I whispered.

“I like to think so.”

I smiled at him. “You’re really developing an eye for all this, aren’t you. Look at you talking about lighting and points of view.”

With a chuckle, he shrugged. “I guess you guys are rubbing off on me.”

I looked once again at the lake. It certainly had potential, especially at this end where the lake narrowed somewhat.

“Okay,” I finally said. “I think I’ve seen enough. Let’s go see the smaller one.”

“As you wish.”

We returned to the jeep and headed off. For a few moments, we rode along the edge of the lake that went on to be far longer than I’d originally thought.

“The lake seems to go on forever,” I said.

“It is pretty long and narrow.”

We then drove through a field of wildflowers wistfully dancing in the breeze.

“Wow. This is really pretty. I think we should have Mr. Darcy walking through here once he emerges from the water. The strength of his wet torso coupled with the delicate movement of those swaying flowers would be spectacular.”

He nodded but said nothing.

We came to a large sand pit strewn with pebbles, baseball size rocks and large boulders.

“What happened here?” I asked at the unexpected sight.

“This is where I come to get dirt, pebbles, rocks, whatever I might need for filler around the house and stuff... like that rutted road back there.”

“Your own private quarry, as it were.”

“Something like that.”

After a few more moments, we emerged from a sparse stand of tall pines and the small lake came into view.

“There’s a bridge,” I let out with glee at the sight of the decorative wooden structure that had long ago been painted white. “That is adorable.”

Jai parked the jeep, and we headed out.

“It’s been there for quite some time,” he warned as we neared the bridge. “I’m not sure it’s sturdy, and as you can see, it’s in desperate need of a new coat of paint.”

“Do you think we can step on it?” I asked as we reached the first boards.

“We can try. Worse that can happen is that we fall through and get wet.”

I laughed as I set my foot on the first board, then shifted my weight onto it. “A little squeaky, but it seems to hold.”

Growing bolder, we both stepped onto the bridge and walked to the center.

“I think the water here is even clearer than the larger lake,” I said as I looked deep into the crystalline water. “Mr. Darcy could come to this bridge...” I grabbed a hold of the guardrail and shook it. It held tight. “He could climb up on this and dive into the water. It would be fantastic.”

“There’s an old rowboat tucked away in the tall grass over there,” Jai said as he pointed to a spot just beyond the other end of the bridge. “You could get a camera operator straight out into the lake to get a shot of Mr. Darcy as he dives in.”

I nodded. “Yes,” I whispered, seeing the scene play out in my head. “He’ll take off his shirt, drape it over the side here. We’ve discussed having him take off his shoes and trousers as well.”

Jai looked at me with a funny grin but said nothing.

“Yes,” I went on with my vision of the scene. “A camera operator in the boat like you said, and one here on the bridge capturing the dive from behind.” I waved my hand over the water to indicate the movements I sought. “The water glistening under the sun.” I turned to look around. The morning sun was already high. “Where is the sun going to set?”

“That way,” Jai said aiming his hand just to the left of where the bridge met the far shore.

“Perfect. I really do think this could be perfect.” I grimaced somewhat.

“What is it?” Jai said.

“It’s just a shame there are no flowers here. A few specks of yellow and pink would really make it perfect.”

“No problem,” he said. “I could bring a few of the wildflowers from the field and plant there wherever you’d like.”

“You’d do that?”

“Anything to make this movie as perfect as can be.”

“You’re so sweet.”

“Come on,” he said with a gentle touch to my elbow. He led me farther down the bridge to where it rose slightly higher. “Look at that.”

I looked out over the water. Still just as lovely as where we’d stood just moments earlier.

“No,” he directed. “Look over there.”

I looked in the direction he pointed to and finally saw what he was referring to. In the distance, only slightly obscured by a few bushes, Moon Manor stood on a knoll, regal and distinguished.

“Well, that does it,” I said. “I’m sold. This is the spot. Mr. Darcy will jump off the bridge just down there.” I pointed to where we’d been. “And he’ll swim down this way, emerge from the water on that shore with Moon Manor right down there waiting for his return.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

I looked out onto the lake. Jane Austen surely could not have imagined a more perfect setting for Mr. Darcy’s plunge. Over and over again, the vision of Mr. Darcy jumping into this lake played in my mind.

“This is Pride and Prejudice ,” I said to myself, for a moment forgetting Jai at my side until he inched closer.

“I’m glad you like it,” he said softly, as if reluctant to break into my revery.

“I love it.”

“You know, this particular view of Moon Manor was what sold me. As I stood here, looking over the lake and down at the manor, I knew I had to have it.”

“It is quite a romantic place.”

“Indeed,” he said. “Moon Manor is a place for love... for love to flourish and grow. If I’m lucky, one day, I’ll find someone who shares my love of this place. So many these days want to live in the city; big lights, action, busy, busy, busy. But I’m sure there is someone out there who will look out from this bridge one day and love it just as I do.”

I looked up at him and the dreaminess of his eyes. His lips were curled in a gentle smile, smiling more to himself than to me.

“I absolutely love how you love this place,” I whispered.

He turned to face me, and his lips parted. I smiled, welcoming whatever it was that he might have to say to me. As his gaze darted from my eyes to my lips, to my nose and back to my eyes, his lips clamped shut and he remained silent.

Why had I not noticed it before? True, he didn’t have the refined airs of Mr. Darcy, but there was something about him that drew me in. He was very handsome in a rather earthy and rugged way. His unruly hair curled out from under his cap, and I suddenly longed to tuck it back in.

“I like your fashion sense,” I said for lack of anything more intelligent to say.

He chuckled. “I’m no Mr. Darcy. I just wear what works. I’m far more function than fashion.”

True, I wanted to say. He was far from having the showy mode of dress as Barnaby, but... somehow... it worked. As a matter of fact, it worked very well... very well indeed.

“You have your own fashion sense that is very appealing,” I managed to say.

He pressed his lips together, awkward and uncomfortable under my scrutinizing eyes.

With the sudden urge to kiss him and show him just how much I appreciated him, I inched closer. But he suddenly turned and walked away.

“We’d better get back,” he called over his shoulder, his steps heavy on the boards of the delicate bridge. “Keely made it abundantly clear that she wanted you back in time for lunch.”

“She did?”

“Yeah. Said something about a private lunch with you. I guess she wants to discuss some movie magic you guys are going to make.”

I rushed to keep up with him, still lost in the dense emotions that were suddenly plaguing me. Wait, I wanted to call out. But even from a distance I heard him start the engine.

I just barely had time to hop into the jeep that we were off and blazing down the dirt road. Dazed, I sat there, barely seeing the landscape as we returned to the manor.

I’d almost kissed him. Out of nowhere and so unexpected... I’d suddenly longed to kiss him. Jai. What in the world had gotten into me?