The Perfect Hero: The perfect summer read for Austen addicts!

Chapter Six

It was late by the time Adam left The Three Palms Hotel and headed back to his home in the Marshwood Vale. He had to admit that the party had been fun. He usually tried to avoid social situations. He was far more a stay-at-home-with-a-bottle-of-wine-and-a-good-film type of guy but he had to admit that he’d enjoyed chatting to the cast and crew. Teresa, the director, although never the life and soul of a party, had nevertheless been fascinating, telling him about the ideas she had for the film and how she hoped to use Lyme Regis to its best advantage. She was also excited about the two locations Adam had found for Kellynch Hall and Uppercross but was a little concerned about the weather reports which were promising rain, rain and more rain. They’d just have to keep their fingers crossed.

Adam had been delighted when he’d found Marlcombe Manor. He’d known immediately that it would make an ideal Kellynch Hall and he was thrilled when the owners and the film company agreed with him. Situated just five miles from Lyme Regis, the Jacobean manor house was the perfect answer to the great seat of the Elliots, and the nearby village of Ashbury was going to stand in for Uppercross with the exterior of a fine Georgian house being used for the home of Charles and Mary Musgrove.

It was always so much easier when filming could take place in as few locations as possible. It saved time, money and cut back on no end of hassle. It was also particularly welcome for Adam who was able to stay at his own home instead of booking into the hotel along with the cast and crew. He valued his privacy and preferred his own company once the working day was over.

He thought again about the party. He’d done his best to make conversation with the assistant director, Les Brown, but nothing had come of it. Les had grunted and mumbled and then left to go to the Gents.

‘Take no notice of him!’ Beth Jenkins had said, sidling up to him in her slinky slashed dress. ‘He’s a total bore. You do know his nickname, don’t you? Les Miserable.’

Adam had laughed and Beth had taken the opportunity to link an arm through his.

She hadn’t been interested in him really though. Adam had noticed how she’d kept glancing back at the terrace to where Oli Wade Owen was standing.

As he slowed down to take a bend by a church, Adam chuckled to himself. The only reason a beautiful actress would fling herself at him was in the hope of making another man jealous.

Then there’d been Gemma. Sweet Gemma Reilly. At last, Adam had met a woman who was as shy as himself. He’d watched her hovering around the bar, stirring her drink and watching the action from a distance. He’d spoken to her briefly before and had immediately warmed to her.

‘All ready for the big day tomorrow?’ he’d asked as he’d approached her.

‘As ready as I’ll ever be,’ she’d said.

He’d looked at her pale face and the look of uncertainty in her eyes. ‘You nervous?’

‘Yes!’ she’d said, the word leaping from her mouth. She’d looked surprised that she’d confessed such a thing.

‘But you’re a great actress,’ Adam had told her. ‘I’ve seen you in rehearsals and you’re fabulous. I’m really excited about this production.’

She looked up at him and smiled. ‘That’s really sweet of you.’

‘I’m just being honest.’

‘It’s just—’ She stopped.

‘What?’ he asked.

‘Well, this is my first film and I’m terrified of letting everyone down.’ Her eyes were wide and fearful.

‘But you won’t!’ he said.

She nodded. ‘I mean, what if I’m just not a very good actress?’

Adam couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This was one insecure lady. There was only one thing for it – to lie. ‘But everyone feels like that on a film set.’

‘They do?’ She didn’t look convinced.

‘They certainly do. I was talking to Beth Jenkins before. She was shaking with nerves. I couldn’t believe it!’

‘No way! Beth Jenkins is nervous?’

Adam nodded, wondering where all this was coming from and if he could keep it up. He supposed it was just an extension of his storytelling abilities. ‘She said that there hasn’t been a single film where she’s felt confident beforehand but that it’s those very nerves that drive a good performance.’

Gemma nodded. ‘I was the same at stage school. Every performance gave me the shakes.’

‘But I bet every performance was brilliant?’ Adam said.

‘Well, I’m not sure about that,’ she said with a little blush.

‘You wouldn’t be standing here right now if anyone doubted your ability. A film’s too expensive a project to cast the wrong person,’ Adam said and then regretted it as he saw her pale again. ‘Which is why you’ve nothing to worry about. Teresa was just telling me how wonderful you are. This production’s already in the can. It was the day you were cast.’

Gemma let out a long sigh and reached out a hand to touch his arm. ‘Thank you,’ she said.

Driving back through the darkening country lanes, Adam thought about Gemma’s beautiful young face and how genuinely scared she’d been. He hoped his words had calmed her and he hoped he’d be around to comfort her if she had another attack of nerves.

* * *

Later that night, Gemma woke up with the strange sensation of feeling wet. She flung back the bedclothes and leapt out of bed, turning on her bedside lamp and shrieking as she saw a huge wet patch on her pillow. She looked up to see the ceiling dripping.

‘Oh my goodness!’ she exclaimed, stuffing her feet into a pair of shoes and grabbing a jumper from her suitcase. Where was it coming from? Was the ceiling about to collapse? Was she in danger of dying before she could make her mark in the world of film?

There were voices in the corridor and Gemma opened her door.

‘My room’s turned into a swimming pool!’ Beth was squealing. Gemma couldn’t help noticing that she’d still managed to brush her hair and apply a coating of mascara and lipstick in her panic.

‘My bed’s completely soaked,’ Sophie said. She was wearing a cute pair of pyjamas covered in teddy bears and, like Gemma, hadn’t been anxious to apply make-up in such circumstances.

‘Everyone all right?’ Oli said, coming down from the floor above them. ‘There’s a burst pipe. Everywhere’s drenched.’

‘Oh, this is dreadful!’ Beth said.

‘You should see our rooms,’ Oli said and Gemma noticed that his jeans were soaked and his hair was plastered to his face.

Teresa appeared on the landing, her face dark and drawn. ‘Grab your things as quickly as you can,’ she said.

‘I’m not going back in my room,’ Beth said. ‘I could drown!’

Oli shook his head and dashed in for her. Gemma returned to hers and started packing, grabbing her things as quickly as she could and meeting everyone out on the landing a few minutes later.

‘What the hell are we going to do?’ Les Miserable said, scratching his head and making his hair stick up even more than usual. ‘Where are we going to sleep?’

‘I don’t know,’ Teresa said. ‘They must have more rooms available here.’

Les shook his head. ‘Fully booked.’

‘What are we going to do?’ wailed Beth. ‘I need my beauty sleep. I can’t work without a good night’s rest.’

Gemma tuned out as she watched Oli shaking the excess water from his hair. His t-shirt was soaking too. Gemma turned away. Now was not the time to be thinking about heroes in wet shirts.

It was then that the hotel manager appeared, his arms waving around like the blades of a windmill.

‘I am so sorry, ladies and gentlemen! Is everybody okay?’

‘I’m not okay!’ Beth announced, stepping forward and looking pristine.

‘Oh, my dear!’ the manager said. ‘I will never forgive myself if my favourite actress was hurt whilst in my establishment. Where are you hurt, my dear?’

Beth looked shifty for a moment, rearranging her dressing gown. ‘Well, my toes got a bit wet but my suitcase is ruined! Everything will need replacing.’

‘Oh, don’t fuss,’ Sophie admonished.

Teresa stepped forward to take charge. ‘Are there any other rooms we can use?’

The manager pulled a face. ‘I’m afraid we are completely booked.’

‘Oh, this is ridiculous!’ Beth said. ‘Do you expect me to hang around all night on a draughty wet landing in only a thin little lacy negligee?’ she said, batting her eyelashes in Oli’s direction. Oli grinned and Les Miserable did too, only it was more of a leer and Beth thought it prudent to cover at least half of her cleavage up.

‘I’ll tell you what we can do,’ the manager said. ‘We have lots of spare bedding and can make beds up in the lounge for the rest of tonight.’

Beth tutted. ‘I’ve never heard the like!’

‘There is only about two hours left before we’re due to get up anyway,’ Sophie said. ‘I don’t see what the big problem is.’

The two actresses glared at each other.

‘We’ll make proper arrangements tomorrow,’ Teresa cried above the chaos. ‘Let’s just try and get through the rest of tonight.’

Gemma sighed and watched as Oli sauntered casually downstairs with his suitcase and there was a sudden scramble between Beth and Sophie to follow, both no doubt intent on grabbing the nearest makeshift bed next to him.

Chapter Seven

The last few weeks had passed in a blur of activity for Kay. She’d sold her little house in Hertfordshire and had moved from the county that had been the home of the Bennet family in Pride and Prejudice and the scene of so much of her own personal sadness, into Wentworth House in Lyme Regis and a brand new beginning. The trouble was, her dream to be an artist by the sea hadn’t quite materialised. She hadn’t even had time to unpack her paintbrushes let alone paint anything. There was just so much to do, like saying goodbye to all her old friends and promising that they could come and stay at the B & B as soon as it was ready.

Mr Piper had recommended a local painter and decorator, Charlie Evans. He’d turned up with his seventeen-year-old son who didn’t look at all happy to be there and kept disappearing only to be found at the nearest slot machines. Still, they’d made a start with the hallway, dining room and the bedrooms as they were the most visually horrific rooms and the ones that paying guests would be most likely to notice. The living room and kitchen would have to wait.

Out went the headache-inducing carpets and the pink sinks and in came tin after tin of cream paint and an army of white sinks. To replace the carpets, Kay chose seagrass. She’d always loved it but had never been able to afford it before. Then the fun bit had arrived – choosing the accessories. There were some gorgeous shops in the area and bedding, towels, lamps and mirrors were chosen with love and care until all the rooms were worthy of featuring in a glossy magazine and Kay could feel just a little bit proud of the new home she’d created for her and her guests.

How quickly she’d got used to her new life on the coast. She loved waking up to the sound of seagulls. Their raucous cries were the most efficient of alarm clocks and she always tried to get a quick walk along the Cobb before breakfast, taking in the bracing sea air and watching the ever-changing moods of the sea.

She’d bought a map of the area and was learning all the names. To the west of the Cobb was Monmouth Beach and, further along, Pinhay Bay. But her favourite place was still Lyme. She loved the view across Lyme Bay to the great hulk of Golden Cap and, on a very clear day, it was possible to see as far as the Isle of Portland.

There was so much she wanted to see and explore too. All of the places had magical-sounding names like Gabriel’s Ledge and Black Ven along the coast and, inland, villages with names like Wootton Fitzpaine and Whitchurch Canonicorum.

She loved the street lamps along the front in Lyme Regis that were shaped like ammonites. She loved the shiny mud of the harbour which reminded her of the bitterest chocolate and she loved the evenings when the sea and the sky turned the palest pearly blue and it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began. In short, she loved everything. But her favourite thing was the Cobb. She’d looked at it and walked along it, photographed it and worshipped it from every angle, admiring the sloping sweep of it, sketching it in her pad over and over again, determining to paint it one day soon. It seemed like a living thing to her and she desperately wanted to capture that energy on paper.

But what she loved most about the Cobb was how welcoming it seemed to be – how everyone could walk there from toddlers with grandparents to the dozens of dogs who came to Lyme with wagging tails and lolling tongues.

It was at the end of a particularly long day of ripping out old shelves and painting walls that there was a knock on the door. Kay had been sitting in the living room at the front of the house. Although it hadn’t been decorated yet, it looked jolly enough with her old sofa and a couple of armchairs and she was already beginning to feel quite at home there.

She’d just been rereading a few of the Lyme Regis pages from Persuasion and wondered who on earth it was calling. She hadn’t been in Lyme long enough to make any friends and she hadn’t yet opened Wentworth House for business. Kay walked down the hallway and unlocked the door. There was a slim woman standing on the step. She looked about forty years old with an unsmiling and careworn face.

‘You are a bed and breakfast, aren’t you?’ the woman asked, desperation in her voice.

‘Well, I guess I am,’ Kay said.

‘Good,’ the woman said. ‘It’s just possible that you could save my life.’

Kay didn’t quite know what to say to that as she’d never saved anyone’s life up to this point but, before she could respond, the careworn woman had invited herself in and was talking ten to the dozen.

‘I’m Teresa Hudson. You’ve probably seen some of my films. Passion of a Lady, Two on a Tower – that sort of thing. I’m a director. We’re making Persuasion here in Lyme and the whole cast and crew are with me. How many rooms do you have?’ she asked, bustling about and poking her head round the door. ‘It’s very small, isn’t it?’

‘Five,’ Kay said. ‘I have five rooms, all en suite.’

‘Five? Twins, double?’

‘Three double, two twin but the twins aren’t quite ready. We’ve been redecorating and I wanted to—’

‘I’ll take them. I’ll take all of them. Doesn’t matter if they’re ready. We’re a bit desperate, you see. We’ve been staying at The Three Palms up the road but a burst pipe’s made a few of us homeless and there’s absolutely nowhere left in town. I’ve got production assistants running up and down the streets hammering on doors. It’s ridiculous. But somebody mentioned this place only it didn’t look very promising from the outside.’

‘Well, I’ve just moved in,’ Kay said, feeling it necessary to explain but annoyed that she had to. This was, perhaps, the rudest woman she’d ever met.

‘We’ll want breakfast and dinner. No lunch. We’ll be eating early and late, okay? Now, let me see the rooms.’

Teresa didn’t bother to wait for Kay to lead her upstairs but made her own way, opening doors and peering inside.

‘Nice,’ she said. ‘Small but nice. Paint smells a bit strong.’

‘We’ve just decorated,’ Kay said. ‘As I explained.’

Teresa nodded and got out her mobile from her jacket pocket. ‘Les, it’s Teresa. I’ve found somewhere. Parking?’ she said. ‘Is there parking?’

‘Not far away,’ Kay said, pointing in the direction.

‘Yes, there’s parking nearby. You know what Lyme’s like.’ There was a pause and Teresa frowned. ‘Well, hurry up and finish eating and then get yourselves down here. Marine Parade. It’s a place called—’ She stopped and looked at Kay with raised eyebrows.

‘Wentworth House,’ Kay filled in.

‘Wentworth House,’ Teresa repeated with a wry smile. ‘I know. It’s fate,’ she said, snapping her phone shut. ‘Right, I’ll choose myself a room.’

Kay watched in total bemusement as her first guest disappeared up the stairs.

‘Extraordinary,’ she said to herself.

Things got a bit chaotic after that. The next time Kay opened the door, she came face to face with a droopy sort of a man who was stubbing his cigarette out in Kay’s new terracotta pot. He didn’t say anything, only nodded and pushed into the hallway where he hollered, ‘TERESA!’

Kay jumped.

‘Les!’ Teresa shouted back, appearing on the landing. ‘Everyone with you?’

‘They’re on their way. I’ve got Gemma, Sophie, Beth and Oli. The others are okay at The Palms.’

‘Their rooms okay?’

Les nodded.

Before Kay had time to hear more, there was another knock on the door.

‘Is this Wentworth House?’ a young woman with a pretty heart-shaped face and blonde curly hair asked.

‘Yes, it is.’

‘I’m Sophie,’ the woman said. ‘Sophie Kerr.’

Kay frowned. She’d heard the name before. Recognition suddenly dawned as she ushered her inside. ‘You were in The Solitary Neighbour!’

Sophie nodded. ‘I was. How sweet of you to remember. That was years ago!’

Kay smiled. The Solitary Neighbour was a gothic Victorian made-for-TV movie – just the sort of thing that Kay lapped up – and Sophie had played the heroine.

‘So you’re in this production of Persuasion now?’ Kay asked, hoping she didn’t sound too star-struck.

‘Henrietta Musgrove,’ Sophie said. ‘The boring sister who doesn’t get to jump off the Cobb and nearly break her neck in the name of flirtation.’

Kay laughed.

‘To be honest, I don’t mind. At least I don’t have to risk an injury doing stunts like Beth will be.’

‘Beth?’ Kay asked.

‘Somebody mention my name?’ a voice called and Kay and Sophie looked round to see the red-haired actress entering the bed and breakfast.

‘BETH JENKINS!’ Kay all but screamed.

Beth batted her eyelashes. ‘Oh, a fan!’ she said.

‘I can’t believe it! I just can’t believe it. I’ve just been reading Persuasion – look!’ Kay ran into the sitting room and came out holding the book.

‘Well, how funny!’ Sophie said.

‘I had no idea it was being filmed here.’

‘Yes, well, one has to slum it occasionally,’ Beth said, looking up and down the narrow hallway. ‘My last job was filming in a villa in Marbella. Stunning views. Simply stunning. Got to top up my tan and everything.’

‘Yes, but Jane Austen heroines are meant to be pale and interesting,’ Sophie said, ‘and not look like an old leather handbag.’

Beth glared at her and Kay’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t believe it. There were two famous actresses standing in the hallway of her bed and breakfast and they were fighting!

‘I’ll show you to your rooms,’ Kay said.

‘I want a double,’ Beth said. ‘With a view.’

Kay nodded. ‘Sophie?’

‘Oh, just stick me in anywhere,’ she said with a wave of her hand.

‘Do you have any bags?’ Kay asked.

‘Oli’s bringing them,’ Beth said.

Kay wondered who Oli was. Probably some poor put-upon assistant.

‘This is the best double,’ Kay said. ‘You can see the Cobb and the whole of the front.’

‘Is there a bath? I must have a bath and a shower.’

Kay nodded. ‘The shower’s above the bath—’

‘Oh, God! Not one of those pathetic pieces of work that dribbles tepid water, is it?’

‘Don’t pay any attention to her,’ Sophie said. ‘She’s nothing but a spoilt brat.’

Beth turned round to face Sophie and, for one frightening moment, Kay really thought she was going to punch her.

‘And there’s a lovely twin next door,’ Kay said, thinking it wise to move Sophie out of harm’s way.

‘Oh, it’s lovely!’ Sophie said. ‘Will I be sharing it?’

‘Depends how many of you there are,’ Kay said.

‘Hasn’t Teresa told you?’

Kay shook her head.

‘Well, I think there’s only Gemma and Oli and I’d better not be sharing with Oli – no matter how divine he is.’ She flopped back on to the bed and sighed. ‘I wouldn’t want to make Beth jealous. She’s such a diva. All the attention’s got to be on her twenty-four seven. I wouldn’t mind but she’s not even the lead.’

‘No?’

Sophie sat back up. ‘Gemma’s the lead and you wouldn’t find a sweeter actress anywhere, but she’s as jumpy as anything. The complete antithesis of diva-face next door. God! I can’t believe I’m working with her again. She haunts me!’

Kay grinned. ‘What have you been in together?’

‘There was that dreadful TV thriller last year and, before that, we were in that boarding school drama that seemed to go on for decades without any of us growing any older.’

‘Oh, yes!’ Kay said. ‘I remember that. Gosh, you’ve both been acting for years then.’

Sophie grinned. ‘You make me sound like an ancient dame.’

‘Oh, no! I mean, you’ve got so much experience. You make me feel so ordinary.’

Sophie looked at Kay. ‘But you’ve got this place. It’s pretty amazing.’

‘Thanks. I’ve just bought it. I was left some money,’ she said, thinking how easy it was to talk to this woman. ‘I’ve always wanted to live by the sea.’

‘I live near Waterloo station in London. It’s horrible. My flat’s not too bad, I suppose, but it’s so ugly there. I try and work as much as possible so I don’t have to stay there.’

‘But isn’t it odd living in hotels all the time?’ Kay asked.

‘You get used to it. I don’t mind living out of a suitcase and I love acting. I love becoming someone else.’

‘It must be a strange life,’ Kay said. ‘I can’t quite imagine it.’

‘Some are better suited to it than others,’ Sophie said. ‘Diva-face next door makes life miserable for everyone whose path she crosses. You won’t have to let her get to you. But Oli, now he’s brilliant.’

‘Who’s Oli?’ Kay asked.

‘HELLO?’ a male voice yelled from downstairs. ‘Anyone there?’

Sophie smoothed down her hair with her hands. ‘I think you’re about to find out.’

Suddenly, everyone was out on the landing.

‘We’re up here, Oli,’ Teresa shouted.

‘I hope you’ve got my bags!’ Beth said, walking out from her bedroom, her lips now painted a fierce scarlet.

‘There’s a double left for you, Oliver,’ Teresa said and that’s when Kay saw him for the first time. He was walking up the stairs and, at first, all she could see was a shock of butter-blond hair. Then he lifted his head and a pair of blue eyes met her own and a huge smile broke across his face.

‘Hello,’ he said.

Kay’s mouth dropped open. It was the actor, Oli Wade Owen, and he was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on.

Chapter Eight

If she could have taken her eyes away from him for a second, Kay would surely have done a prize-winning double take. To have a director in her house had been excitement enough, to have two famous actresses had almost caused Kay to combust with delight, but to have one of Britain’s most handsome actors – the man who’d played a thousand heroes, the man who’d adorned every cover of every magazine and newspaper – was almost too much to bear. And he was walking straight towards her.

‘You must be the good lady of the house,’ Oli said, extending a hand towards her. Kay held hers out and he took it in his and shook it. It was a warm, melting sort of a moment and Kay felt sure that her entire store of blood had rushed to her face because she felt as if her cheeks were on fire.

‘Kay,’ she managed to say. ‘Welcome to Wentworth House.’

‘Very apt,’ Oli said. ‘Seeing as I’m Wentworth.’ He looked around at the group that had gathered on the landing and everyone laughed. It was as if he was a king holding court.