Unknown by Unknown

for.'
    He turned the car onto a country lane and a little while later he slowed down and said, 'Here we are.'
    He pulled into a wide driveway, and when Sarah stepped out of the car and looked around she saw that lanterns illuminated the porch and the side of the house, providing a welcoming glow.
    It was a sprawling building, stone built, with roofs set at different levels and lovely Georgian windows overlooking the fields opposite. The house was colourwashed with white paint and bordered by an array of shrubs and climbing plants. A low wall, also painted white, fronted the building and enclosed a neat cottage garden.
    Sarah didn't see many other houses around, and this one nestled comfortably in a corner of the rural landscape, set back from the road.
    She stared for a moment. 'It's beautiful,' she said. A gust of cold wind ran through her and she shivered, pulling the blanket more closely around her.
    'Come on, let's get you inside.' He led the way, opening the front door and showing her into a wide hall. 'Through here,' he murmured, indicating a room off the hall.
    It was a large sitting room, warm from central heating, but he went and lit the fire at the hearth so that the glow of flame brightened up the room. She went and stood in front of the fireplace, letting the warmth surround her.
    Mark said, 'I'll go and make us a hot drink, and I'll see if I can find a change of clothes for you. I can let you have a T-shirt and an overshirt and a sweater, probably, and there should be some of my cousin's jeans around somewhere. She's about your size.'
    'Does your cousin stay here sometimes, then?'
    He nodded. 'She came for a visit recently with my uncle and aunt. We all get on well together and they decided to stay for a few days because they wanted to do a bit of shopping over the weekend. There are enough rooms here for me to accommodate them easily enough. After they had gone home I noticed that Carol had left a few odds and ends behind. I phoned her about them, but she said not to worry. I know that she won't mind if you borrow them.'
    He glanced at her searchingly. 'You know, you're welcome to stay, if you'd like. It's very late, and you must be worn out by now.'
    She shook her head. 'I don't think I'd better do that.'
    He frowned. 'Are you sure? You don't have to be at work in the morning, do you?'
    'No, but Jamie will wake up and wonder where I am. I don't want to change his routine any more than necessary. He's been through more than enough changes lately.'
    'That's true, I suppose.' He waved her to an armchair. 'Why don't you sit down for a while and try to get warm, while I go and organise things?'
    She did as he had suggested, enjoying the heat from the fire, and he was back within a couple of minutes, bearing a steaming cup of hot chocolate. 'Drink that,' he said, 'then I can show you the bathroom, and you can get changed if you'd like.'
    'Thanks.' She nodded, sipping gratefully at the drink. 'You're soaked through yourself,' she said. 'The same applies to you—you ought to get into something dry.'
    He nodded. 'I will in a while. Let's just get you sorted out first.'
    He showed her to the bathroom a few minutes later. 'Take your time,' he said. 'You can shower or take a bath, if you'd like. There are fresh towels in the cupboard.'
    'Thanks, I think I'll do that.' She looked down at herself. 'I'll be glad to wash away some of the grime.'
    He nodded and gave a quick smile. 'Help yourself to whatever you need, and come downstairs when you're ready. There's no need to rush. I'm going to take a shower in the other bathroom along the hall.'
    Sarah took her time bathing. It was good to lie back in the warm water and feel the heat seep back into her body. She looked around the room as she lay there. It was a sumptuous bathroom, the height of luxury, beautifully tiled, with glass shelving and fittings that gleamed. Everything about Mark's home was perfect.
    When she had finished bathing, she dried herself and began to dress.