In the north of Downshire is the old market Town of Nettlebridge which was quainter and more peaceful than its neighbour Nettlefield which was a Military Town whereas Nettlebridge prospered from the sheep and wool trade, which is evidenced by the road names, Sheepfold Street, Woolsack Lane and Shepherds Bridge, and this trade had historically generated a great deal of wealth.
A week before Christmas, Mark Tudor was watching TV
and struggling to keep his eyes open when he suddenly remembered it was the
night of the Christmas Ball and his friend Isabelle Hasselman’s blind date with
Greg Welsh.
It was significant as it was not only Lisa’s first
blind date ever but was also her first date of any kind for almost 20 years.
She was understandably nervous about dating again
after the divorce.
Issy was unsure she wanted a strange man going to her
house so she had taken his advice so she was driving to his house where she
would leave her car on Mark’s drive and then walk next door to Lisa Wilford’s
where Greg would pick them both up and take them to the Hotel.
He looked at the clock and saw that she would be there
in about ten minutes, and Issabelle was always punctual, and right on time Issy
arrived and reversed her car up the drive.
He watched through the window as she came to a stop,
switched off the lights and got out and went to the front door and opened it
just at the precise moment she reached it.
Issy was immaculately dressed as usual in a
full-length green halter necked designer evening dress and a lavish faux fur
shrug.
“Wow” Mark said, “you look stunning”.
“Bless you darling” she responded as she handed him
the car keys in case, he needed to move it.
“But I’m scared to death”.
“You shouldn’t be Issy” he reassured her “Greg will
trip over his tongue when he sees you”.
“But I don’t want him to” she replied.
“Don’t want him to what?”
“Trip over his tongue” Issy replied.
“I don’t want him to be my blind date, I don’t even
want him to be my date”.
“Why not?” he asked, “He’s a really nice man by all
accounts”.
“Because he’s not you” she snapped and turned away.
“What do you mean Issy?”
“I want you” she retorted.
“To be your date?”
“No, to be my everything” she said as she turned to
face him.
“Oh Issy!” he exclaimed and hugged her “That’s what I
want too”.
