by Bella Bryce
“I will, of course, if I deem them appropriate,” Brayden said, raising an eyebrow.
Ana liked his reply. His tone and that raised eyebrow nearly made her blush even though the raised eyebrow was for Alice, not for her. She had a weakness for strong, no-nonsense men; but she was at work and she couldn’t let her personal life cross into her professional one. They had always been separate and they would stay that way. It was risky and irresponsible otherwise.
She spoke up before she had a chance to linger on the thought. “Would you have time this afternoon to do a walk-through with Mr. Fowler and me? He texted to say he would be here for half four to do so,” Ana said, unlocking her iPhone to double-check.
Brayden looked at his watch and then pulled out his iPhone from his blazer and looked at his diary.
“Half four it is. I’ll meet you in the foyer, shall I?” he asked, looking up at her.
Ana glanced up from her phone quickly and nodded, realising that in the five or six past years of organising Brayden’s birthday ball she’d never spoken to him as much as she had in the time she spent with him then.
“Yes, please,” Ana managed, over her convincing thoughts about his gorgeous tailored suit, neat hairstyle and beautiful smile. The strangest thing was, Brayden didn’t even know it. He had no idea how attractive he was.
“It’s in my diary. I’ll just need to arrange for Alice to have her afternoon walk with Celia instead of me,” he said, locking his iPhone.
“Alice can come along, if you think she’d like to see behind the scenes,” she suggested.
Brayden maintained a polite reaction so as not to appear excited or anything. “That’s very kind. There’ll be two of us at half four in the foyer then.”
Alice was indeed excited when Brayden told her that instead of their afternoon walk in the gardens, Ana would be giving them a walk-through of how the evening would go from start to finish. Her team of assistants walked closely behind and Bennett was at her side. He obviously wanted a front row seat and since he was hosting and paying for everything, his eyes were extra critical.
Elisabeth had been invited to join, but Bennett wanted her to spend some time upstairs in her room alone. He’d taken Elisabeth to see her parents that morning and it was a rather emotional day. Elisabeth’s father, in particular, had very unexpectedly deteriorated physically and mentally. Bennett had a quiet word with the staff who were told to phone him any time of the day or night if he worsened, and he feared that Elisabeth could lose her father by the New Year. Perhaps Elisabeth thought so too, because her manner was subdued that afternoon when they returned to Waldorf.
Brayden gave Alice strict instructions to hold his hand and not to speak unless she was spoken to. She was to walk beside him and listen to everything and take it all in, but she was not to interrupt. Alice was perfectly happy with the conditions because she would still get to see how everything was put together. She wasn’t completely surprised because the quality of decorations, the rentals of all the beautiful carved tables and chairs, the section of chairs in the ballroom for the orchestra, the sculptures, topiary (on top of what Waldorf already had) began to stick out as being even more impressive. She realised just how much her Uncle Bennett admired her father, having done and spent so much on the event for him. Of course, none of the practical effort came from him. He just used his bank account to make sure the events company got it done to his discerning eye.
The walk-through started in the foyer where Wellesley, being the good sport that he was, demonstrated opening the front doors to guests as he did countless times every day, to the entourage. Ana told Wellesley there would be a second butler for the evening that would open the other door - one butler per Waldorf Manor door. It also meant if one butler needed to vacate the foyer for whatever reason, the doors were never unattended. Ana referred to the coat valet system for the evening which would utilise the walk-in wardrobe in the corridor before the butler’s pantry. She didn’t take them back there in any case as it would have been bad form. Nobody needed to see where guests would have their coats hung; they just took Ana at her word and believed it would occur.
She led the way through the foyer to the left corridor past the sitting room, and the music room to the end where it came to a ‘T’ and took a left to the ballroom where all three sets of double doors were open. During the setup all but one set had been left open to minimise foot traffic, but they were nearly finished.
Bennett couldn’t help but think about his own ballroom and how only a few weeks prior he’d given his first kiss away there to Elisabeth Warner. Entering through the doors made him think of her and he was only brought back to attention when he saw the placement of the chairs for the orchestra.
“Could those chairs actually move down toward the windows? They’re quite close to this set of doors, here,” Bennett asked, one hand in his pocket and the other lean arm in his blazer referring to the meticulously aligned rows of Chiavari chairs arranged into a crescent.
Ana didn’t take offense and handled Bennett’s criticism well. She watched Bennett refer to the space beyond the last row in front of the wall of ceiling-high windows and heavy drapes before she spoke.
“Yes, Mr. Fowler, I see what you’re saying. The conductor asked me to put the orchestra here because the further to the windows and drapes they get, the less room their percussion section has. I’ve left that space there for the timpani; they won’t arrive until tomorrow afternoon. And, Kathryn always had the chairs here. Her notes show the measurements from this set of doors going out and down,” Ana replied respectfully, but informatively, and looked up at him.
Bennett acknowledged that Ana had a point whilst Brayden replayed her voice in his mind saying his mother’s name. Ana spoke of Kathryn as though she were still alive and her opinions and notes couldn’t be questioned. It was rather touching.
Alice looked up at Brayden several times, wondering why he was so quiet, although she didn’t ask questions.
Next, they walked through a connecting set of double doors into what Brayden’s parents used to refer to as the overflow ballroom, which was really just a second, smaller ballroom, but it was just as beautiful. Ana didn’t have to point out that was where the dining would take place. The round tables and tablecloths with matching captain’s chairs had been arranged throughout. A freestanding vintage mahogany bar was set up on the far side as well as wooden partitioned walls on gold caster wheels where the caterers and staff would prepare and make finishing touches to each course. Brayden’s chefs would stay in the main kitchens, which could be accessed by an almost unknown corridor through which the caterers would carry the food before adding garnish and tidy the plates from behind their prepping walls. The hired wait staff would go out from behind and serve the guests from there.
“Where will we sit, Father?” Alice asked, when Brayden looked down at her.
Before Brayden could reply, Ana turned to them. “That’s a very good question, perhaps you could tell me what you think, Alice. I’ve put your father at the head of that round table there, with you to his left, then Mr. Fowler to his right and Miss Warner to his right, with Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Fowler beside Alice. In the past, we’ve always put you at a rectangular table going horizontally, but it feels a bit out of touch with the rest of the circular ones.”
Alice looked at the one Ana had referred to and then looked up at her. “I think you know best, Ana,” she replied.
Ana smiled and looked up at Brayden, who was still holding Alice’s hand and pulled her close to him. “Miss Greyson,” Brayden urged, raising his eyebrows at Alice.
“Sorry. Miss Greyson,” Alice corrected herself.
Alice nearly blushed. Whilst Brayden hadn’t been harsh with her, he had in fact, corrected her in front of nearly a dozen people who all looked on her as a wealthy child, dressed primly and under obviously disciplined care of her single father.
Ana smiled and carried on after thanking Alice for her input. She also leant in and had a quiet wo
rd with Bennett at one point, who gave a nod in Brayden and Alice’s direction and then they carried on. No one took close notice except Alice, who had a good idea of what they’d spoken about. As a result, there was one room Ana wouldn’t be taking them on for the walkthrough because it would have spoiled everything.
At the end, Brayden told Ana he was pleased and he had nothing to criticise. Bennett was another story and texted Ana as he stood beside her a list of several details he wanted improved.
“Right, young lady, I’d like you to go upstairs and rest for a little while. Dinner in an hour and I’m sending Celia up to trim those nails before then,” he said, holding Alice’s hand with her palm in his as he looked at her dainty fingers.
She was about to make a face when Brayden also nodded toward Ana.
“Thank you, Miss Greyson,” Alice said, drawing her attention.
“You’re welcome, darling, thank you for your help. I look forward to seeing you all dressed up tomorrow evening,” she said, looking at Alice as though she were absolutely delighted with her.
“Are you going to wear a ball gown as well?” Alice asked.
Brayden put his hand on Alice’s back, indicating toward Ana he hadn’t realised she was going to ask questions.
Ana smiled, “I won’t be here very long, I’m afraid. I shall have to leave after the guests arrive.”
Alice’s head shot up to Brayden’s. “Why?”
“Darling, it’s not polite to ask personal questions. I apologise,” he said, reclaiming his daughter’s hand to establish that her freedom of speech had come to an end.
“It’s quite all right. Every girl loves a ball, don’t we?” Ana asked, looking at her.
Alice smiled and nodded before Brayden excused her. Alice began walking out of the ballroom and looked over her shoulder noting how lovely it was to see Brayden talking to Ana. He was a foot taller than her and Ana was just over a foot taller than Alice. She wasn’t sure how or if it would ever happen, but Alice captured the idea of Ana and Brayden together and it made her smile.
“I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t quite realised that you never stayed,” Brayden said, once Alice left the ballroom. “Of course, what arrogant twenty-one-year-old is paying attention to anyone but himself at his birthday ball?”
“Please don’t be,” Ana smiled. “I used to stay for the first couple of hours to ensure everything ran smoothly, but there have been changes at the agency based on client feedback in the last couple of years that regard it as highly inappropriate for me to attend. I’m afraid I quite disagree; there is no greater honour than watching all of your hard work unfold flawlessly and seeing your client happy. That sounds terribly arrogant of me,” Ana said, maintaining her professional demeanour whilst revealing a slice of her personal self.
“It doesn’t,” Brayden replied, confidently. “I shall make a phone call and insist that you stay. I can tell them I would be highly insulted if you didn’t attend, after all, you organised everything. You should be here to see it.”
“Thank you, Mr. James, but I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t,” Brayden replied.
Ana’s smile faded to one of politeness and she gave him a small nod in agreement. Brayden excused himself and Bennett, who had been terribly subtle about observing their interaction whilst pretending to look at his phone in the most un-Bennett like manner, followed him out of the ballroom.
“Court her,” Bennett said, as soon as they were in the corridor beyond the ballroom.
“Pardon?” Brayden asked.
“Ana. Court her.”
Brayden laughed and carried on walking beside his best friend, passing various trolleys and staff coming and going in the corridor caused them to appear like characters in film who must keep their conversation private.
“I’m afraid those things don’t work on command,” Brayden replied.
Bennett stopped walking and Brayden copied him. “Yes?” Brayden asked.
Bennett was standing in his usual authoritative stance, giving his best friend a look. “She is precisely your type.”
Brayden looked around at the passing uniformed contractors and stepped closer to Bennett. “I don’t have a type.”
Bennett smiled. “Yes, you do. We both do.”
Brayden didn’t respond.
“She thinks Alice is adorable, by the way,” Bennett added, then raised his eyebrows and excused himself.
Brayden stood there in the grand corridor letting the words enter his ears with consideration as they floated in and rested in places in his mind where it made sense for them to rest. Bennett was trying to make a point because several months prior, Brayden had gone to dinner with Jade, a woman he met during his University years (despite that Brayden completed his degree via distance learning, at Waldorf, under a tutor as if he were a schoolboy). Brayden had never spent time alone with her, but after reconnecting via polite email, he offered to take her to dinner. It had been a pleasant evening with a stroll along the river and then dinner at The Ivy, but it all ended rather abruptly after Jade made it very clear that Alice being adopted at eighteen and regarded as his young child was disturbing to her.
Brayden asked her to keep her voice down because she’d become rather vocal in her criticism, but her personal remarks had been both cutting and terribly rude. Their food hadn’t been served, but Brayden left the cost of it all in cash with the waiter plus a ridiculous tip, asked for her coat, put it over her shoulders and told her they were leaving. Jude drove the Rolls Royce with Brayden and Jade back to her house where he politely wished her well and said goodbye. Any rejection of Alice was a rejection of him, he’d told her. Brayden was not the type of man who believed children were the centre of the universe. They certainly weren’t. But his situation was unique and he committed himself to Alice long before dinner with a female acquaintance, so it was no question whom he would defend.
Brayden didn’t ever expect to find a woman who would accept Alice as she was or him for his decision to regress and then age her steadily. Whether or not he did wasn’t important, of course, it just would have made his idea of a proper family more complete.
He disregarded such thoughts as he glanced at his watch and left the corridor. He wanted to sit in his study alone before dinner.
Chapter Ten
Alice couldn’t help but smile. In fact, she was beaming. Proper, all out, prideful beaming when she stepped from behind the screen in her bedroom.
Elisabeth’s eyes widened and she gasped as Alice showed her the dress. “Alice! You look so lovely,” Elisabeth cooed.
She walked over and touched the ruffly tiers of organza as they went down from the waist and stopped at her knees. The bodice was satin and featured a wide, hunter green sash from the front and tied at the back into a pre-made, perfect bow in the same material. Alice looked charming, sweet and even gorgeous in such an innocent and juvenile ball gown. It wasn’t suggestive, but it really accentuated her striking eyes and the high neckline and sleeveless bodice worked well with her long hair, which Celia would curl within the hour.
“I seriously love it. I never want to take it off,” Alice said, jumping up and down a few times.
“Alice,” came Brayden’s voice, followed by two knocks on her door.
Her first instinct was to run behind the screen and hide so that he didn’t see her until she had her tights, shoes and hair curled to complete the look, but it was worth it to see his reaction.
“Darling,” he said, his voice softening as he fully entered the room. He was still in his three-piece suit and wouldn’t change into his tuxedo until he knew his niece and daughter were sorted.
Alice smiled and shyly clasped her hands loosely in front of her. “Do I look pretty?” she asked quietly.
Brayden kissed her forehead. “The prettiest girl I have ever seen,” he whispered.
Elisabeth smiled, but felt a lump in her throat. She wished her father could have been a fly on the wall to see her when she put her dress on a
nd to tell her that she was pretty. Elisabeth quietly excused herself and went to her room next door. Celia wouldn’t be in to help Elisabeth dress until she’d curled Alice’s hair. Brayden knew as much and after he’d spent a moment with Alice, knocked on Elisabeth’s door.
She wiped her eyes and looked over from the window seat where she sat as he entered. He could see Elisabeth’s dress hanging up over one of the doors of the wardrobe and smiled. Brayden approached the window seat, pulled up his pressed trousers and sat beside Elisabeth.
“Bennett tells me your father isn’t well,” he said, looking at her.
“Yes, Sir,” Elisabeth replied quietly. “And my mother will die of a broken heart. Then, I will be orphaned like you.” She somehow managed an unbelieving, but quiet, laugh at the end.
Brayden took Elisabeth’s hand. “You can’t be an orphan if you have family. Neither Bennett nor I would leave you without one. Do you understand?”
Elisabeth nodded.
“No matter what happens.”
“Yes, Sir,” she replied quietly.
“Come along then, I want to see you in your dress,” he said, patting her hand.
Brayden knew Bennett would be beside himself when he saw how beautiful Elisabeth looked in her dress, but there was something different about hearing such compliments from a person who was more of a paternal figure. Nothing touched a girl more than to hear her father tell her she was beautiful and accepted in his eyes.
Bennett was indeed speechless when Elisabeth descended Waldorf’s grand staircase that evening. Her short brown hair, which framed her heart-shaped face and sat obediently on her chin, complimented the rest of the look. She wore subtle makeup, blush, and colour on her lips, nothing more. The red dress fit over her frame in a way Bennett had never seen a ball gown fit any female. One side was bustled up onto her hip, but of course the only part of her left leg that was revealed was up to her knees. The other side fell down to mid-calf. The cap sleeves rested over her slender arms and long, white satin gloves ended at her elbows. Bennett actually swallowed as she descended the stairs toward him, although Elisabeth didn’t see. She was too absorbed in the solid, confident wall that was Bennett Fowler in his tuxedo with contrasting black buttons marching down the front of his tall, lean stature.
