The Powder Mills was a breathtaking country house hotel and was originally used as a site to make gunpowder during the Napoleonic Wars. Ella had chosen this hotel particularly for its historical significance and natural surroundings. She had been feeling particularly melancholic these days and wanted a place that would cheer her up. Ella had also carefully chosen the Powder Mills because they housed on of the most beautiful libraries with books dating from the 18
th
Century. Nothing comforted her more than the endless pages of a book held close on her lap.
When the cab entered the gates of the hotel, Ben's face immediately lit up with wonder. Ella knew that a professor of history such as himself would surely recognize this place and if anything would indulge her a little in some history lessons, without making it look like she was desperate for information.
"This... this is the famous Gunpowder Works site isn't it? I didn't know they converted it into a hotel..." said Ben in amazement. Ella smiled. Looking out the window herself, she saw the beautiful woodland trails on their left a small lake on their right.
"Yes sir, it is. In fact, this hotel also adjoins the famous Battlefield of 1066," said the cab driver as he caught the couple's gaze in the rear view mirror.
"Ah, yes I am aware... the Battle of Hastings when William of Normandy conquered the Saxon King Harold to gain the throne of England in 1066."
"You would visit them sometime soon will you Sir?" the driver replied, smiling, pleased that his American guests were not as ignorant as he thought they would be. Ben smiled back as he placed his palm on top of Ella's. Perhaps that urgent leave that he took was worth it after all....
****
Ben watched Ella from a distance as she stood at the front desk waiting for the key to their room. Somehow, she did not look at all out of place amidst the Georgian setting, even though she was wearing jeans and a simple chiffon blouse. He didn't think that anyone could fall in love with another person over and over again each day, but he did. When Ella turned to face him, he caught sight of the dimple at the side of her face as she smiled and gestured him to follow her. He was such a sucker for her; there was no way he will accept 'no' for an answer to his proposal.
When she opened the door to their room, Ella simply stood still, her palms over her chest.
"Ella! What is it my love..." Ben panicked.
"It's... so beautiful..." she whispered. Ben put their bags down and walked towards the door. There was a four poster bed, complete with floral bed covers that were clearly Victorian in style. The plush cushion and coffee table were placed beside the window that overlooked a beautiful lake behind the hotel. He felt warmth and comfort just looking at their room. In fact, his eyes lit up when he saw their four poster bed. Didn't Ella mention something about making love once they reached the hotel?
Glancing at him, Ella caught the gleam in his eyes and narrowed hers almost to a squint.
"What?!" he asked, shamelessly.
"I know what you're thinking, you old pervert. Get those bags in and don't even think of getting me out of these clothes until I've grown tired of sitting down by the window," she snapped. Ben made a sulky face at her and went back to carry their bags in. She was extremely irritable since he proposed to her.
He watched her sitting at the sofa, her eyes capturing every single detail of the view offered by the full length window.
"Would you like me to order something for us to eat Ella?" Ben asked gently. She turned to look at him, smiled and nodded her head.
Ben dallied over the menu. He was still getting used to having an appetite of a human again. Giving up, he asked the receptionist on the line to recommend to him what was best to feed a famished couple.
When their food came, Ella, who had been staring silently since they've arrived, turned her head; sniffing at the wonderful smells wafting in the room. Her eyes widened at the various amounts of food presented before them.
"Are you sure that we can eat all these Ben?" she asked.
"It was supposedly a set meal for two..."
There was an excellent game pie that had generous slices of duck, pigeon and other fowls, pressure cooked and served alongside home made red plum chutney. It looked about enough to feed four people instead of two! As their entrée, there was a serving of pork rillette; where the meat was cured and cooked slowly in fat until it became tender enough to be shredded easily. There was also a serving of tomato and mozzarella salad topped with pesto dressing and parmesan shavings and saffron infused mashed potatoes as a side.
"This is wonderful Ben! My goodness! I've never eaten anything that tastes like this... It simply melts in your mouth!"
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself my love... perhaps we can go for a walk after this... We can take a look at some of the places that we can explore tomorrow. I suppose there's a reason you want us to come here right, Ella?"
Ella simply smiled.
****
Ella was up early the next morning, looking at the map given by the receptionist. She needed to find that Roman Bath house that her father mentioned. There was only mention of the Battle Museum that housed a replica of it but Ella knew she had to find the actual bath house itself.
Nevertheless, she decided she must give it a try.
"Ben... wake up... it's almost 9 in the morning now... I want to take a walk. The weather looks so nice today," Ella said as she nudged him to wake up.
"Mmmmm...." Ben moaned as he covered his face with the pillow. He started moaning something about jet lag. Rolling her eyes, she got on the bed to try and pull the covers off him.
"Come on!"
To her surprise, Ben pulled her down on top of him and locked her with his legs around her waist.
"I'm coming on right now..." he teased.
"Professor Abben Martin! Get off me this instance! I am already dressed!" she yelled as she struggled to free herself.
"I'm not letting you go until you say yes."
"What?"
"Marry me?"
"Why you little...." was all she could say as Ben covered her lips with his. Feeling trapped, Ella did the only thing she could- she kneed his groin.
"Owww... Ella... oh man..." he moaned. Leaving him to settle with his pain, Ella got her pouch bag and headed out the door. Is sex and marriage everything that that man thinks about?
Grumbling to herself, she headed towards the lobby to see if the receptionist could help her with the directions to the Battle Museum. She was told that it wasn't very far on foot but after storming out of the room earlier on, she figured it was best to take a cab.
Ella didn't want Ben to catch up with her too soon so she decided to hail a cab. Giving the destination to the cab driver, she simply sat back and thought about what exactly she would need to do once she discovered the location of the bath house.
"We're here ma'am," the chirpy cab driver said. He held out his hand as Ella fumbled with the Euros. Getting off, she simply stood staring at the cottage in front of her. Did she get the right address? This is Battle High Street... but there wasn't anything but this run down looking cottage with its simple gable rooftop and cobbled walkway. It also looked too quiet to be a museum; nothing like the ones Ella was used to or had seen. Even in Florence when they had gone the last time, the museums there looked at least 20 times bigger than this one.
