Bandit ran through the woods. He loved running in the early morning sun, while listening to the sound of the birds and the clatter of water falling over the rocks as it flooded down to the stream. His blood pumped through his veins. His heart felt as though it would burst through his chest, yet still he ran.
He hadn’t slept. Everything about the hall had changed and all he could think of was the evening he’d spent with Madeleine. How he’d held her in his arms as they’d sat before the fire, how they’d sipped wine, took silent pleasure in each other’s company and how she’d looked up at him with those deep, beautiful eyes.
They’d parted awkwardly and he was sure that Madeleine had felt the tension that had passed between them just as much as he had and now he thought about it, it had always been there. Since that very first night when he’d pinned her to the driveway, which was now a night that seemed so very long ago, when in reality it had been little more than twelve days.
Stopping on the track, he picked up a fallen branch and tossed it away from the path. A startled blackbird shot out from behind a bush, tweeting angrily as he went. Bandit shouted an apology, and once again he began to run. Heading through the trees, over the stream and down past the ha-ha at the front of the house and then, when he felt as though he couldn’t run any more, he turned and headed to the back door.
‘Morning, Nomsa.’ He walked into the kitchen and leaned for a while on the door frame to catch his breath. He looked between Nomsa and Bernie, realising that the normal buzz of the kitchen was missing. They were both silent and Bandit raised an eyebrow at Nomsa who indicated that something was happening in the dining room. Holding her finger to her lips, it was obvious that they were trying to listen to whatever was going on.
Peering through the small crack between the doors he could see Madeleine sat with her back to him, nose to nose in an intimate chat with her ex-boyfriend. They held hands under the table and they stared into each other’s eyes. Liam looked over in his direction, caught sight of him, winked, then smiled. Liam pursed his lips and pouted at Madeleine and for all Bandit knew, she could have been pouting right back.
Walking back into the kitchen, he punched the utility wall. Immediately wishing he hadn’t, he turned on the tap and ran cold water over his knuckles and then walked to the far end of the kitchen, pacing up and down. He had no idea why he was so frustrated. Madeleine wasn’t his and it really wasn’t any of his business what she was doing with Liam, but he couldn’t help but feel a streak of jealousy as it raged through him.
‘Sit down, my boy. I’ll make you a nice breakfast,’ Nomsa whispered as she placed a steaming mug of coffee on the table before him. ‘How would you like some nice pork sausages?’
Bandit stared at the steaming, golden fluid. It swirled around in the mug, like a whirlpool with milk.
He was exhausted. He’d been on such a high after the night before, really happy, content. He thought they’d shared a moment together. Thought it had been the start of something new, an amazing new beginning, but should have known that life wasn’t that simple.
Again he slammed his fist down on the table, making his coffee slop over the side of the mug and the cutlery jump up into the air.
‘I’ll not bother, Nomsa. I’m not hungry, but thank you,’ he said as his eyes stared at the back of the dining room door. ‘Bernie, do you need any duck or pheasant before tomorrow evening? If not, I might go into York, see my father.’
Bernie shook his head and wiped his brow on his sleeve. ‘No, you’re fine. I’ve got plenty for tonight. You get off and see your dad. I’m sure he’ll be pleased to see you.’
Standing up, Bandit walked out of the kitchen, through the back door and allowed it to slam shut behind him. Besides, it was about time he went to see his father, he hadn’t been since Morris had died. He hadn’t known whether he should tell him of his death or not, after all his father had been to the hall, had met Morris many times, but he wasn’t sure how much he remembered or understood and hadn’t wanted to upset him unnecessarily.