Finding Bella Blue

Finding Bella Blue

When Paths Meet Book 2

By Sheila Claydon

Digital ISBNs

EPUB 978-1-77299-910-5

Kindle 978-1-77299-911-2

WEB 978-1-77299-912-9

Amazon Print 978-1-77299-822-1

2nd Edition

Copyright 2014 by Sheila Claydon

Cover art by Michelle Lee 2014

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Dedication

To all those readers who have been asking for this story -

thank you for waiting so patiently while Izzie grew up.

Acknowledgements

As with Mending Jodie’s Heart, (When Paths Meet Book 1), I am indebted to Lesley Fleming for her helpful and insightful comments and suggestions when she read the draft manuscript. Without her I would not have had the courage to continue Luke’s story.

Chapter One

Seeing a cavalcade of black cars turn in through the gateway, Jack briefly wondered who it was this time. Then he shrugged. In his experience it hardly mattered. A model, a film star, a singer: they all believed so implicitly in their own publicity that the lives of everyone around them would be absolute hell for the duration of the photo shoot. On that thought he gave a piercing whistle and by the time the cars reached the bottom of the avenue his dog had stopped dawdling between the trees and was racing across the grass towards him.

Amelia Corley sighed as she caught sight of the two of them heading towards the woods at the far side of the estate. These days all she seemed to see of her brother was his back view.

Problems? the woman sitting next to her asked.

Not really. Well not as far as you are concerned anyway. It’s my brother. I’ve just seen him hightailing it away from the house as fast as he can. He does it every time I organize a photo shoot.

Her companion laughed. He sounds a bit like Luke before Jodie civilized him.

You mean there’s a cure. What is she, some kind of miracle worker?

My sister? Yes, I guess you could call her that although she wouldn’t thank you for it. She owns a horse therapy center. She’s had some fantastic successes with people with…um…problems. Luke’s one of them.

Luke?

Her step-son. When she first met him he couldn’t even leave the house without a full-blown attack of hysteria. Now he helps her run the center.

She saw the unspoken question in Amelia’s eyes and gave a wry smile. Luke is autistic but I’m so used to his quirky behavior that I don’t really notice it. In fact going back home and spending time with him is my own therapy because as far as Luke is concerned I’m just Izzie. He’s not impressed by Bella Blue at all.

Amelia looked at her curiously, surprised by the sudden burst of intimacy. In the few weeks since they first met the singer had been a closed book as far as her personal life was concerned. While she was still wondering what had prompted Bella’s confidence, the other woman changed the subject.

Am I dreaming or are those actual deer over there?

Following her pointing finger Amelia laughed. Actual deer. I told you this place has everything you need for the photo shoot. If you want rural there are plenty of livestock and trees; historical, then it’s the family portraits in the great hall and the rusting suits of armor in the cellar. We can even do modern if you don’t mind slumming it in the half built cafeteria.

Bella’s peal of laughter was infectious. That’s what I like about you Amelia Corley. You are such a shameless hustler it’s impossible to turn you down. You’re right about this place though. It’s lovely, and as I’m sure you’ve already decided what backdrops you want for the shoot, I’m going for a walk while you try to persuade the rest of the team to agree with you.

Amelia stared at her in mock horror. A walk! An. Actual. Walk. Is this really Bella Blue talking; the girl who can’t go anywhere without minders in dark glasses clogging up the scenery?

At her words the smile faded from Bella’s face and her eyes clouded over as she nodded. It really is, and because this place is behind security gates I’m going to ditch the minders whether they like it or not, so I can spend some time on my own. She hesitated for a moment. Sometimes I find it difficult to remember who I really am because the concerts and the constant travelling get in the way. It’s only when I see acres of grass and empty woodland that I remember I’m Isabella Eriksson, someone who is a country girl at heart, and that Bella Blue is just a figment of everyone’s imagination."

The regret that shadowed her face triggered an invitation that Amelia didn’t know she was going to make until the words spilled from her mouth. In that case why don’t you stay at the Dower House with me instead of going back to the hotel each evening? I know my mother would love to have you as a houseguest. She spends far too much time on her own these days.

In the long silence that followed she wondered whether she had gone too far because, friendly as Bella seemed, she was still a major celebrity - by far the biggest name to visit Corley Hall to date. She was not even close to being a friend either, despite the fact that they had spent a lot of time together in the past few days. As a very junior fashion editor on the magazine that was featuring Bella’s first decade as a singer, Amelia knew she was only part of the photo shoot because her brother owned Corley Hall. In difference circumstances a more senior editor would have taken charge of the whole event. She risked a sideways glance, worried her invitation had been too pushy. To her amazement Bella’s striking turquoise eyes were awash with tears.

Do you really mean it, she asked, not attempting to hide her feelings.

Of course I do. We all know this is going to take much longer than the two days your manager has allocated. We know, too, that he’ll be unbearable for most of the time, and that he’ll change his mind at least twice an hour until the cameras stop rolling. If you stay at the Dower House you can escape whenever you want to; and in the evenings, when everyone else has gone back to the hotel, we can relax and have some fun.

Fun sounds good. So does living in a house for a few days instead of a hotel, so if you’re sure your mother won’t mind then, yes, I’d love to. But if I’m to stay with you, you must stop calling me Bella. All my friends call me Izzie.

* * *

Thus it was that Jack Gunnerson-Corley, Lord Corley, Earl of Faversham, almost tripped over her when he strode across the grass a few hours later. She was lying prone beneath a huge horse chestnut tree staring up into its domed canopy, the grey-brown of her leather jacket merging with the windblown shadows.

His dog found her first and with all the joyful abandon of a half grown puppy decided the stranger on the grass wanted to play. Jack yelled moments before it pounced but he was too late. By the time he was close enough to grab it’s collar the girl was shrieking for mercy as a wet, pink tongue slathered her face with slobbery kisses.

He gave an inward groan as he hauled his dog off and began a systematic search through his pockets for a clean handkerchief. What was the girl doing here anyway? Why couldn’t she stay indoors with the rest of them? He was going to have to insist Amelia insert some sort of access clause into future contracts if people started treating the place as if they owned it. Finally locating a wedge of tissues, he thrust them at her with an apology.

Sorry about Cora, she...you surprised her.

Not as much as she surprised me, the girl was sitting up now and laughing. Despite his irritation he noticed she had the most amazing eyes. Then Cora lunged again, distracting him. When he finally had the dog under control he saw that the girl was shaking biscuit crumbs out of the tissues.

The mark of a true dog lover, she laughed as she wiped her mouth and the smear of dribble drying on her cheek.

Or maybe a dog owner who still has to bribe his dog into obedience, he surprised himself with a wry smile.

She seized the excited dog by the ears and looked into its eyes. So you’re called Cora are you? Well it’s time you learned some respect. Sit!

To his utter amazement, Cora sat.

Now lie down…good dog. Without a murmur Cora slumped onto the grass beside her and pretended to go to sleep.

Jack stared at her. What are you, a dog whisperer or something? She barely does what I tell her, let alone a complete stranger.

No, nothing like that. I just grew up with animals so I know all about letting them know who is in charge.

Well that’s lucky for Cora. Her bad manners could have put you off dogs for life.

She shook her head. It would take a lot to do that. Most of the time I like animals more than people.

You and me both, he was surprised into another smile. Is that what you’re doing here? Playing hooky from people. I thought everyone involved in these photo shoots had to stay within shouting distance.

They do, but I wangled a special dispensation today by persuading everyone I was superfluous to requirements. As soon as they agreed I made a hasty escape before they changed their minds. I intended to go for a walk but then I saw this tree and it sort of asked me to lie down under it and stare at the sky through its branches.

He nodded because what she had just said made total sense to him. Then, realizing he was in danger of breaking his own self-imposed rule by being halfway friendly to one of Amelia’s clients, he poked Cora with his toe. Come on lazy bones. No more chatting. We’ve work to do.

Sighing heavily, she ignored him.

The girl laughed. Seems her training has a way to go yet. What have you got to do anyway, and is Cora an absolutely indispensable part of it? If she’s not, then maybe she’d like to come for a walk with me instead?

When the word walk percolated Cora’s apparently moribund brain cells she forgot she was playing dead and leapt to her feet, barking excitedly at the pair of them.

You have taught her something then, folding her long legs beneath her the girl stood up surprisingly quickly, pushing the soggy tissues into her pocket as she did so.

Oh she knows all the nice things…you know…biscuit, walk, dinner, ball…it’s the other stuff she has trouble with…the rules. Isn’t that right Cora? It’s the rules you ignore. He bent down and patted the dog’s head as he spoke because now that the girl’s wide turquoise eyes were almost level with his, his heartbeat seemed to have inexplicably speeded up.

When he straightened up she was still standing next to him and was looking almost as expectant as Cora. Despite himself, he laughed. I don’t know why I’m saying this but yes, you can take her for a walk around the estate on the absolute understanding that you teach her something useful. In the meantime, I’ll get on with my work.

Done. She held out her hand as if they were sealing a major agreement. Shaking it, he was surprised by how firm it was, and how small and slim it felt, and how much he wanted to keep holding onto it. He was still holding onto it when she asked him the one thing he hadn’t thought to tell her.

How will I know where to find you when we’ve had enough? I don’t even know your name although something tells me Cora will be identification enough!

Jack. My name is Jack. He held out a handful of biscuits with a rueful smile of agreement. You’d better have these too because she only understands bribery. Don’t worry if you lose her either, because she’s safe enough on the estate and she knows her own way home.

Okay Jack. But I’m not going to lose her. I’m going to bring her back walking to heel.

He shook his head as she moved away with Cora frisking around her. In your dreams. What’s your name by the way? You didn’t say.

She waved her arm. So I didn’t. It’s Izzie.

Chapter Two

Cora led the way, splashing in and out of the stream that meandered through the estate but occasionally pausing to check that her new friend was following. Izzie knew the dog wouldn’t be able to concentrate on learning something new until she had run off all her excess energy, so she did nothing more than call her back whenever she ran too far ahead. After thirty minutes Cora took a long and noisy drink from the stream and then flopped onto the grass with her tongue hanging out. Izzie sank down beside her with a smile.

Ten minutes and not a moment more, then it’s time for lessons… and no biscuits unless you earn them.

* * *

Jack saw them both as he trudged back up the slope towards the house. He was hot and dusty and the heavy rope slung across his shoulders was chafing the skin at his neck. Swapping the canvas bag full of tools to his other hand he paused to watch them.

Silhouetted against the pale backdrop of the sky they were shadowy figures as they walked together, Cora a fraction behind Izzie, her nose questing hopefully for a biscuit. After a dozen paces they turned and retraced their steps. Then Izzie led Cora around in a wide circle before making her sit.

Fascinated, he continued to watch as she finally rewarded his dog with a biscuit and then threw herself down onto the rough grass beside her. Good manners forgotten, Cora immediately rolled over and exposed her stomach. He heard Izzie’s peal of laughter as she obligingly rubbed it, but her voice, when she spoke, was a murmur that merged with the buzz of the insects and the shrill birdsong that filled the late afternoon.

He shook off the feeling that he would like to stay where he was and watch them for the rest of the day and took the dozen paces necessary to reach the top of the slope. Cora greeted him with her usual tail-wagging enthusiasm but Izzie took longer to acknowledge him and he saw her stuff the tissues he had given her back into her pocket as he reached her. When she finally turned to look at him her eyes were unnaturally bright, and he suspected she had been crying. Her voice was firm though, and her expression dared him to comment. Casting about for something to say, he spoke to his dog.

You agreed to let her take you through your paces then Cora?

Only because she wanted to prove she wasn’t as hopeless as you made her out to be. Why did you pretend she was rubbish?

He was surprised to find himself grinning at her. Because I wanted to see what you’d do. Besides I knew she would come and find me if she got fed up with whatever training program you had in mind.

Her eyes lit up with laughter, banishing the memory of the tears he had seen earlier. Well she didn’t. You enjoyed every minute of it didn’t you Cora? And I did too. It’s a long time since I took a dog for a walk.

You sound as if you miss it. Why don’t you get a dog of your own?

Because it wouldn’t be fair. I spend too much time travelling and staying in hotels. I’d be a terrible dog owner.

Cora doesn’t seem to think so. As far as she’s concerned she’s yours for as long as you’re here, or for as long as you’re not needed by whoever is organizing the photo shoot.

Something in the way she suddenly bent down and fussed Cora made him think the tears might be back, but when she eventually straightened up and looked at him she was dry-eyed and serious.

That was such a nice thing to say and I’d love to walk her again. She reminds me of a dog I knew a long time ago. He was called Blue and he was really special. He was already old when I met him but I just know he would have been like Cora when he was a puppy.

He nodded. It’s funny how some dogs get to you like that isn’t it? I’ve owned dogs since I was a little boy, sometimes two or three at a time, and yet out of all of them there was one that grabbed my heartstrings in a way none of the rest of them did, and I think Cora is going to be another one.

* * *

Of one accord they turned and began to walk back towards the Hall in a companionable silence with Cora trailing at their heels. When they reached the horse chestnut tree where he had nearly tripped over her, Izzie smiled apologetically as she gestured towards the bag he was carrying.

Sorry for interrupting your working day. What were you doing while Cora and I were enjoying ourselves?

Me? I was moving fallen branches, or at least I started to until I realized a deer was in labor in the thicket right beside them.

Her eyes widened. Really and truly?

Yes. I saw her leave the herd and walk into the woods earlier today but I didn’t think anything of it until I found her in a tiny clearing between the bushes, panting hard. She’s young so it’s probably her first fawn. First thing tomorrow I’m going back to see how she is.

The huge turquoise eyes that he found so inexplicably unsettling, widened even further. May I come too?

He frowned, his irritation returning as he reminded himself she was one of Amelia’s celebrity hangers-on, someone whose only experience of a fawn was probably Bambi. It’s not entertainment you know. I’m only going to check that she’s all right. Mostly they are but occasionally there’s a breech birth. If I’m lucky enough to discover it in time I can help.

The harshness of his voice deflated her. I didn’t mean…I just thought that if I promised to be quiet you’d show me something worth seeing…something real, instead of...instead of all the stuff I work with every day.

Against his better judgment the controlled desperation in her voice made him grudgingly reconsider. Okay. You can come on two conditions. One that you do exactly as I tell you so we don’t spook the mother, and two, that you are here promptly at five o’clock tomorrow morning. If you’re late I’m not waiting because I want to get to her before the rest of the estate begins to stir.

She nodded eagerly. I’ll be here.

Make sure you are. He turned away without a farewell, calling Cora to heel as he strode across the grass.

Izzie, watching him go, wondered if he lived on the estate or in a cottage in the village she had glimpsed from the car as they approached Corley Hall. Letting her imagination run wild she pictured a wife, probably pretty and pregnant, listening for the click of the gate so she could run to the door to welcome him home. The thought produced a curious constriction in her throat. With a hollow laugh she turned towards the Dower House. How ridiculous to feel like that just because he had loaned her his dog for the afternoon. She was feeling lonely was all. It was time she went to find her hostess.

Chapter Three

Cam was furious, Amelia said, handing Izzie a glass of wine.

Who with, you or me?

Both of us. He said you aren’t taking the shoot seriously enough and that I need to concentrate on what I’m being paid to do instead of disrupting things by inviting you to stay here. He said you should be at the hotel where he can keep an eye on you…make sure you’re safe.

Safer in the hotel than here behind a high brick wall…I don’t think so. Don’t let him get to you, he’ll be over it by morning. Izzie gave an irritable shrug. Cameron Watt had taken over her business affairs when her previous manager had had a heart attack two years previously, and as far as she was concerned, it was two years too long.

I really hope you’re right because from the amount of shouting he did I thought he was going to cancel the entire photo shoot.

"No chance. He and your editor have been planning it for months. Besides, there’s a deadline on this. The studio needs the pictures by the end of next