Abigail walked into the bedroom to her husband lying in bed. He turned as she came in and smiled at her.
“You came back.” He whispered.
She didn’t say a word as she got up on the bed him, kneeling over him. She kissed him sweetly, her lips a promise.
“You really came back.”
“Ssssh.” She whispered back as she tenderly stroked a lock of his dark hair from his forehead. His hands grabbed her sides. She let him. Kissing and caressing far more important than anything else.
“I wasn’t angry at you. You have to believe me.” He wouldn’t be silenced. Yet her lips took away his breath, his words.
“Just make love to me, Antoine.” She begged him.
Tenderly he wrapped his arms around her, giving in to his wish to touch her.
With a gentle hand, she helped him undress.
“No underwear, you naughty woman.” He gleefully said as his hand slid under her dress. She bent forward and kissed his lips, his jaw, his neck and scraping her teeth over his collarbone. He groaned as he felt what it did to him.
For quite some time, she kept him on edge, with her hand, her mouth, and her entire body. When she was sure he couldn’t take anymore, she lowered herself over him and let his rod slide deep into her wetness. His hands were on her hips, guiding her. It had something incredibly sexy, this sedate, almost lazy lovemaking. He took her hand and put it between her legs. “I want to see you come.” He urged her. Her smile was the most beautiful he’d ever seen.
With a soft groan, Abigail came, taking her hand from herself and putting it to his cheek. He turned his head to kiss it. It felt cool to his warm skin. “I love you so much.” There was a tear in his eyes.
She didn’t answer but smiled warmly. Her muscles contracted around him. His head felt feverish as he let go. Closing his eyes, with a deep moan, he came.
When he opened his eyes, she was gone, without any evidence, she’d ever been there. Too tired to think, he closed his eyes and drifted off.
This was getting too weird. Tony thought as he woke up. He clearly remembered the lazy sex from his dream. It had felt like a goodbye. She had disappeared. Or was that just in Antoine’s head? Although he’d felt as if he was in the man’s skin, it had felt off. Different. Was it dying to wake up in a new life? His own new life?
Checking the time on his phone, he turned over. Nobody knew he was here; he didn’t have any business that day. He could do with another nap.
Abby woke up to her phone buzzing. She’d not fallen asleep until nearly morning. As she answered, she saw it was almost noon.
“Abby, it’s me, Julie.”
“Hey, how can I help?”
“I thought you’d still be at the house?”
“What?” Abby checked the hotel room and remembered the urgency she had felt to leave the house the night before.
“Yeah, change of plans.”
“Good thing too. The owner decided to go there straight from the airport. He came home during the night. And he wanted me to tell you that he’s pleased with the work you’ve done for him.”
Abby chuckled. “He paid me very well for it too.”
“He did. And he requested me to invite you to his housewarming October 31st.”
“That’s Halloween.” Abby’s brain still struggled with waking up.
“Indeed it is, that’s why it’s a Ball Masqué.”
“A what?”
“A Ball Masqué. Masked ball. Victorian themed, but deviation is allowed.”
Where was Abby going to find a Victorian dress so soon?
“Anyway. Just wanted to tell you the owner happy with the house.” It almost sounded like an accusation.
“I’m glad he likes it.”
Soon Julie hung up. When it came to Abby, she wasn’t going to waste her social energy. Although she didn’t hate the older woman, Julie just didn’t understand her.
Abby quickly got dressed, sorry she couldn’t make use of the enormous bathtub. She checked out and made her way out. Although she could have picked anywhere in the world, she had chosen not to go too far away. She’d found an apartment in a town nearby. Fully furnished, as she didn’t incline to get her things from storage. Not that it was that much, but as long as she wasn’t clear at when she’d find a steady home, would she do that.
It was a bit scary. Usually, Abby had other jobs lined up when she was done. She had plenty of offers. She’d not picked a new project yet. They all seemed a little plain for her. Something would pop up, she considered. Maybe it was time for a vacation. She’d worked for the past five years, more or less without a break. And Julie had asked her to be available just in case there would be problems at that house.
Once settled in, Abby opened up her laptop. If she wanted to go to that party, she would need a costume and eBay would have to be her best friend.
Abby wanted to see the house alive with people. As much as she’d feared meeting the owner, she was curious about the interaction between the house and other people.
After ordering a dark dress that she gathered would look like it came from the era, she decided to check out properties for sale in the neighbourhood.
As much as she enjoyed her job, she had found it increasingly pleasant to be her own boss and employee. She had loved restoring that house, and make that furniture. Maybe it was time that she started doing that for herself. Over the last few years, she’d done some big projects, and most of them came with on-site living, or accommodation she didn’t have to pay for. It had made that there was a decent amount of money available to do a project. If she could buy a cheap property with a small living space, or something she could easily convert, she could live on-site while she worked on it. She could even take out a small mortgage or loan to get it done. She had the portfolio to show what she could do. As long as the property was hers, she could always take jobs on the side to pay for it.
Pretty quickly, Tony settled in the house. He loved the features, the entertainment space in what had been stables and tack room before. It was an ideal space to host a decent party. Then there were the outbuildings. Most were done up to be safe and dry. Bare to leave it to him to figure out what would happen with them. One of them could easily be converted into a test kitchen. It would be great to have a kitchen away from any restaurant he worked at, just to try things out.
He also visited the castle. For that occasion he brought Julie. After lunch, they got a tour, and they sat down with the couple that had run it for the last 25 years. Julie was very much in favour of selling.
To Tony, it wasn’t so clear cut though. He’d need a kitchen to cook in. He might have moved away from Melbourne; he was still a chef. Running a restaurant was something he had enjoyed immensely, and he wasn’t inclined to give up on that. The structure of both building and organisation was solid. He could move in without any trouble. A fresh wind was all it needed. He invited the couple over for his party that weekend. They gladly accepted.
Julie was organising a massive party in the hotel ballroom in the run-up to Christmas for business partners and potential buyers. Tony wanted a small get together at his house first. He had an entire estate, with neighbours, farms, and a hotel. It would be good to get to know them. It might prove valuable for his ideas for the restaurant. Local and organic was something he was very much in favour of, and it was all the rage at the moment. How cool would it be if he could finally make that dream into a reality? His own gardens for vegetables and herbs. His own cattle for dairy and meat. Within a few days of moving in, the creative energy was flowing freely.
In the mirror, Abby checked her appearance. She looked as if she just stepped out of a time machine. Her hair pinned up in a tight knot. The long, dark dress made her look like a Victorian servant. Or maybe a governess. Jane Eyre came to mind.
Her car still seemed to remember the way to the house flawlessly. Turning onto the driveway felt like coming home to Abby. There were cars parked. She had to remember she couldn’t just put hers in the garage. She no longer had those rights.
With her purse, she got out and put on the mandatory mask. She was quite tall and fat. It wasn’t like she’d fool anyone. But she wanted to disappear in the crowd.
The company was lively and moving around the hall in the back. Abby had followed the fairy lights and entered through the direct access to the entertainment space. Part of which had previously been her workshop. She felt the positive energy of the people. The house did seem to put its best foot forward that evening.
“Abby!” A tall man approached her. His mask didn’t hide his voice, his grey hair, or the twinkle in his eyes.
“Jim!” Abby answered delighted. She’d been scared not to know anybody. But as Jim introduced her to Irene, his wife, she noticed other neighbours and even the couple that ran the hotel.
“I understood that the owner, whoever he might be, wanted to get to know us,” Jim explained. Abby checked around and wondered who that owner might be. There were no formal introductions to people she didn’t know.
There was no time for Abby to ponder over anything. It was a party, and Jim and Irene seemed to feel personally responsible for Abby not being lonely. There was dancing, tours of the house, chatting about the fantastic kitchen that had been installed.
Sometimes Abby felt eyes on her. When she checked the room, she saw a tall man look in her direction. He wore a mask and a wig. Abby felt shivers go through her spine when his eyes were on her. When she recognised Julie talking to him a little later, she assumed he was either the owner or one from the party from Julie’s office. The architect was there, as well as the accounted that had been by to check the budgets several times. They’d both brought dates.
Though curious, Abby seemed unsuccessful in closing in on that strange man. Every time she came close, he was gone.
Tony had seen Abby come in. He couldn’t see her face, but her hair, even her dress seemed familiar. Julie had told him she was the contractor who’d supervised the build. It had made him gasp. A woman? Had Julie hired a woman for this job? He searched his memory for clues. Julie had always referred to the contractor as ‘them’, and Tony had assumed it was a company. From a safe distance, he observed her until he noticed she was aware of his attention.
He was the host; it wouldn’t do to single her out and forget about the rest of his guests. But he couldn’t deny he found her intriguing. She was so much at home here. Well, no wonder, she’d probably put in every nail of the panelling. To cut the costs she’d done a lot herself, Julie had said.
It came close to midnight—the traditional taking off of the masks.
Abby stood by the fire in the back that emitted comfortable warmth. She had a glass of juice in her hand as she considered she’d be driving home later.
This had to be the moment, Tony considered. He watched her touch the wood and remembered that hand had done to him in so many dreams.
He walked up to her, somehow undisturbed by any of his guests.
“Abigail.”
She pulled back her hand and turned to face him.
Those eyes, those amazing blue eyes stared at her behind the mask.
“That’s the name of the first mistress of this house. The dress, the hair, I bet you look just like she did.”
Nervously she laughed. “Probably, yes. She was a companion to an older lady before she married and moved here.”
“She was?”
Abby nodded.
In the distance, a clock started to chime. Someone yelled that it was midnight and time for unmasking.
Abby took off hers and watched at the man standing beside her.
The moment his mask and wig were removed, Abby thought she’d faint. How often had she dreamed of running her hands through that dark curly hair? How often had those lips kissed hers, her body?
“Antoine?” She whispered, grabbing onto the mantle to steady herself. “You’re… real?”
He reached out to her and stroked her face. “You came back.” It was as if everyone around them had disappeared. They stood there, staring at each other. His hand cupped her head, and they moved towards each other, still breathless.
Abby wrapped her arms around his neck, and they kissed. This stranger she knew so well.
His arms were around her body, holding on tight, scared she might evaporate on him again.
“Antoine.” She whispered as his lips let go of her.
“Anthony, Tony.” He cleared up. “Abigail?”
“Abby.” She pulled him close again, wanting to make sure he was real.
Suddenly the reality of the situation got through to them. Slightly embarrassed, they let go of each other. “Don’t leave,” Tony begged. Abby shook her head.
Their company hardly seemed to have noticed what had happened. Apart from Julie, who stared at them with open mouth, and Jim, who chuckled and winked at Abby.
There was no time to talk. And even more, seeing as they were in the middle of a crowd, it was pretty much impossible.
They got separated.
“I thought you’d never met him?” Jim asked.
Abby chuckled. “I didn’t. But you know. This house…”
“This house indeed.”
Soon after taking off the masks, the crowd started to disappear. This wasn’t the Melbourne party crowd.
“Wait inside the house,” Tony said to Abby, pushing her towards the door to the utility room and kitchen.
She did as he said. The ground floor was still too restless. The caterers were packing up as Tony took leave of his guests.
He found Abby in his bedroom. Sitting on the bed, her hand wrapped around one of the posts and her head resting to it.
“Everyone left.” Tony closed the door behind them, taking off his jacket and tie.
“Good.” She straightened out.
“How is this even possible?”
She was as lost as he was.
Tony stared at her. It looked like she belonged here. In this house, on this bed. Without saying a word, he knew he didn’t have to explain to her about the dreams, about Abigail and Antoine.
The house was quiet around them. As if it held its breath, waiting for what was to come.
Tony kneeled in front of Abby, watching her hand stroke the wood. Again he vividly remembered that hand on his body.
“Where did you find this bed anyway? I was told all furniture was lost in a fire.” He hardly dared speak, scared it was all a mirage.
She put both her hands in her lap. “I built it.”
“You…” He took her hands tenderly in his, opening them up and feeling the calluses that years of hard work had put there. “With these hands?”
“With these very hands. I couldn’t find one. And it had to be an exact match. Nothing else would do.”
“I understand.” The visions they both had had were too clear, too precise.
He bent forward and kissed her hands.
“So, how strong is it, this bed?”
“Pretty strong. I pride myself on the quality of my work.”
“You should. You have done amazing.” His hands felt soft as they massaged hers. Shy but not uncomfortable, she smiled. It felt amazing. It didn’t matter that they’d only just met. They had known each other literally for ages. Roaming around the world, looking for each other.
“So if I’d want to make sweet love to you…” He got up and pushed her down on the bed, lying down with her. She turned and kissed him, wrapping her arms around him.
“Sweet, hard, hot love. This bed should be able to withstand a nuclear attack.”
“Hmmm. And if, hypothetically speaking, I’d wanted to tie you to the posts.”
“No problem at all. If it is, I’ll build you a new bed. A stronger one.”
His hand slid over her side, pulling up her dress, stroking her naked skin. He groaned hard when he’d reached her hip.
“No panties.” He uttered.
She smiled widely at him. “No restrictions, I seem to remember.”
Was a few hours too soon to make promises?
“Never leave.” He begged as he pushed her down.
She shook her head and ran her hand through his hair, indicating she wanted more.
“Never.” She promised.
It was summer. Abby sat on a corner of the counter, in a light summer’s dress. They were in one of the outbuildings of the house. Tony loved how his test kitchen looked. Abby had done most of the work, using the next-door workshop. After finally meeting, she never even returned to her apartment, apart from picking up her things and handing over the key. She’d also bought a property on the other side of town, to restore. Tony agreed with her that flipping houses and a custom furniture shop were suitable investments. He was her most faithful customer.
The doors to the courtyard were open. Abby stopped reading from her book and stole a raspberry.
Strictly Tony looked at her, then demanded a kiss in return for the missing fruit.
Gently she hit him with the book. After months together, she finally came around to reading the history of Abigail and Antoine to him. The words from the book were perpetuated with the pieces of both their dreams. They were both amazed at the links to their own lives.
Abby’s loveless and childless marriage, them both roaming the world looking for something they finally found at home.
Tony had taken over the hotel and had gladly put a head chef in charge of the everyday kitchen. He enjoyed cooking there and trying out new dishes, but his time of ten hours a day in the trenches, six to seven days a week were over. He had so much more to live for these days.
“Antoine’s last words were ‘I love you so much’. After falling off his horse, he contracted a fever and passed away before morning came. He never even knew they’d found Abigail’s body in the stream. Most people in the neighbourhood seem convinced that both spirits still roam the grounds, in search of each other.” Abby concluded the story. She leaned forward and pulled Tony close.
He tenderly stroked her cheek. “Not anymore.” He whispered. “I love you so much.”
“Likewise.” She teasingly said.
His hand stroked her arm, her hip, landing on her stomach.
“By the way, should you be sitting here, reading to me?” He loved it when she did. It wasn’t a first. Sometimes she took a break from work to join him, as he regularly did with her. It was a definite upside to adjoining workspaces. There was a huge window between the rooms. They both looked at Abby’s workbench in the middle of the other room. A nearly finished cot stood right on top of it.
“Don’t worry. We still have plenty of time.” She reassured him.
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