Yorkshire Lady

Yorkshire Lady part 13

Part 13 

Rebecca's  reaction to the news  that Caroline wanted a  divorce couldn't have been more different to Andy's.

The fact that  Caroline had another man;  well that was a complete surprise  certainly.

“ Just think though darling, “ she purred in the  voice that  Andy could never resist.

“ It'll make things so much easier and less messy.  If she wants to be a  servant and married to a gardener then let her. “

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Even though the legal proceedings of the divorce had to be gone through and would take time;  Caroline already felt free.

It was a huge relief  that both she and Andy could cite adultery as grounds  without any longer having to  name the  other woman and  man.  Caroline hadn't thought it would have been honest to mention  Andy's coldness to her.

She'd never had his love and had known it from the offset.

 In the same way  citing adultery was really just a  means to end the charade of a marriage

and ensure the well being of the children involved.

 Andy would be paying in maintainance  to Caroline  for herself and the boys.  The understanding was reached that Andy's sons and  their mother should be entitled to remain at Sparthwaite Manor.

They'd lived there far more that Andy and he visited it only occasionally.  It would have been foolish to hire someone else to help  Mrs Medlock run the house,  when she and Caroline worked so well together.

Andy's access to the boys had to be formally sorted out.  Caroline was heard to comment dryly that this way  they'd end up seeing more  of him that they normally did.

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Obviously weddings couldn't be organised until   after the  divorce was finalised;  but both couples were keen to at least get engaged.

John talked to Rick as they worked together.  he said that as Andy had always been so cold and business like with Caroline he wanted to shower their nuptuals  with romance.

He wanted to throw a  party for her.   “ Will you help me ? “  he asked his friend.

Rick patted his shoulder.  “ You mi owd lad  have earned a lot of points in this village for making Caroline happy.  I'll whisper in a few ears.  They'll all be happy to help.

I can guarantee it. “

He was right.   John was moved almost to tears by how willing everyone was to make the party a success.

“ Oh they love any excuse for a nosh up and booze up this lot, “  Rick said lightly.

“ If romance is  in the air better still, “  he said  with a grin.

When the party day came Caroline found herself whisked out for day by John.

 A friend of his  who would be up at the house making preparations;  let them use his flat   for a  thoroughly steamy tryst.

Lying in bed  snuggled up on John's broad shoulder Caroline was demanding to know what was going on  today.

“ There's some thing afoot I know there is.  “ She persisted.  “ You,  Rick, Simone, Phyllis, even the boys have been  acting oddly.   Are you going to tell me or do I have to get  seriously rattled  ? “

She gave him her stern look that told him she wasn't messing around.

“ Get yourself a shower love,  “  John told her.  He indicated a suitcase in which she'd  find  her green, flowery meadow dress,  shoes and make up.

“ When you're ready I'll take you to see your surprise. “

John parked at the front of the house and told Caroline to shut her eyes as he led her through to........

'You can open them now'.   The garden was full of  Sparthwaite villagers   who burst out cheering. 

“ Your man here's been plotting an engagement party in secret, “  Simone told Caroline  with a wink;  even Henry, Freddie and Charlie have been in on it. “

Phyllis and her WI cronies had done a sterling job  with the food  and had even provided a  cake.  Tim, John's rugby colleague and Landlord of the 'Duck and Drake'  was along with 2 of his bar staff doing a good job of keeping up with everyone's thirst.

Tim's cousin had a DJ ing  and karaoke business  and  had done a lot of  party nights at the pub;   which led to his being booked  for weddings, birthdays, engagements etc.

He and John had had a few top secret words  over a pint a few nights ago. 

He set up the  microphone and then spoke to  the crowd.  We'll be having  the disco later  but first the karaoke's open for anyone wanting to put their name down.

First of the mark  is  John who has a  final  surprise for  Caroline. 

John kissed  Caroline; giving her  his sunniest smile  before her leapt onto the stage and took the  karaoke microphone.

 The music began and John found it quite magically easy to spirit the audience away  as he homed in his eyes onto Caroline seeing her adoring and adorable  blue eyed gaze fix on him as he sang  Neil Diamond's  'Sweet Caroline' just for her.

The astonishing beauty of his voice, the fact that he'd summoned up the the confidence to do this and the pure unadulterated romance of it all  quite overwhelmed her and she was glad of tear proof mascara as she sobbed  joyfully.

The audience erupted into rapturous pleasantly surprised cheers and applause.   The village rugby team especially.   Rick came over and hugged his friend with admiring affection, 'you deep dark horse Standring'  he laughed.

John was feeling euphoric and looking at Caroline's expression which was bordering on hero worship  had shot a bolt of arousal into his belly.

 Rick saw the looks passing between them and he and Simone shepherded  Freddie and Charlie off to watch a  fire work display that had just begun.

'Let's find somewhere quiet',   John whispered urgently.

They found themselves 5 minutes later in the rose garden.  The flowers wouldn't bloom at their best this year but they were showing a promise of what was to come.  The scent was already wafting round and the delicate colours gave the place a soft romantic haze. 

Caroline's cheeks were still wet with her tears of joy as she leaned against the trunk of a silver birch pulling John's face close as she poured out her feelings into a kiss.

'Thank you,' she whispered.  'That was  the loveliest thing anyone's ever done for me and it was so brave of you.  I'm massively  impressed and flattered that you over came you shyness enough to do that for me...........I love you'.

John wiped away the residue of her tears.  ' I can do things that I couldn't have done before, because of you and I love you for that amongst other things “,   he told her soulfully. 

' You make me feel special and strong and desirable,  no one's ever done that before so I wanted to show what you've helped me to become'.

He pulled her down with him under the tree. In the distance other villagers were already beginning to have their  turns on the karaoke. 

 It might as well have been in a different world.

A soft growl came from John's throat as his mouth plundered Caroline's.  'You're also the sexiest woman I've ever met and the way you 're looking at me , like I've just dropped down from Heaven...."

TBC