by Bella Bryce
“You said that we mustn’t ever skip meals, Father,” Alice said, as she picked up her fork and knife.
“This morning is an exception, darling. Father had three glasses of champagne, a brandy and he turned twenty-nine last night, so he’s full up on reluctance. A cappuccino will do until luncheon.”
Ana offered a small laugh as she picked up her own cutlery.
“What are you doing today, Ana?” Alice asked.
“Miss Greyson.” Brayden gave his daughter a look.
“Sorry, Sir,” she offered quietly.
“Well, I stayed the night so that I could be here first thing to ensure the contractors return everything that was rented for the party. Once it’s all back to normal, I’ll be going home to London.”
“You can come on my afternoon walk if you like. I also do reading in the library and it gets lonely. I don’t mind if you stay.”
Brayden looked at Ana as she met his eyes. “Darling, I’m afraid Miss Greyson is not your playmate. She’s a grown up and probably has a very busy schedule.”
Alice frowned and looked at her plate. Elisabeth obviously kept her comments to herself, although she picked up on Alice’s wishful thinking. Ana was even a little disappointed.
“I’m not too busy to spend time with you, Alice. Perhaps another time, when your father decides it is best,” she replied, glancing at Brayden and then back at her plate.
Ana wanted Brayden to know that she could answer questions for herself and that her value system included spending quality time with people. Her career didn’t always speak to that value system, but she made cuts into other parts of her time where possible to accommodate.
Brayden watched Ana return to her breakfast. He hadn’t expected her to respond in that way. “Elisabeth and Alice, I’d like you both to go out into the gardens for a walk. Wellesley will bring your outdoor clothes to you in the foyer. I’ll see you for tea in the sitting room at promptly quarter past eleven.”
“Yes, Sir,” they both replied, then said a polite goodbye to Ana and were excused from the dining room after breakfast.
Brayden replaced his cup into his saucer and looked over at Ana as she left her napkin neatly beside her plate.
Ana’s eyes darted up to his. “I really must get on,” she said, starting to push her chair out.
“Anabelle, can I have a word with you? Come and take Alice’s chair,” he said, nodding toward the one nearest himself.
Ana swallowed the last of her breakfast and calmly stood up out of her chair before reclaiming the one Alice had occupied moments before. She waited as Wellesley cleared the last two plates and poured her another cup of tea, before looking into Brayden’s captivating eyes.
“I must apologise for my daughter becoming rather excited and expecting you to spend time with her as though you were a child who could be invited to a tea party. She rather enjoys when we have guests. You are the first, might I add.”
“I would have been happy to go on her walk, Mr. James,” Ana replied solemnly.
Brayden looked back at Ana and then took a sip of his cappuccino. Wellesley was going to clear a few things from the centre of the meticulously laid table, but he held back and discretely watched his young employer and Ana speaking.
“Alice is a darling girl,” she added, as she smoothed out her knee-length pencil skirt. “One wouldn’t think she was any older than ten.”
Brayden nodded. “That’s my intention. This life has been good for her.”
Both of them were incredibly pensive, their words somewhat insecure to form and slow to digest. Ana was speaking about Alice, but had Brayden on her mind. Brayden had Alice on his mind and Ana on his heart.
“Mr. James, I don’t mean to be forward or unprofessional, but if you find that Alice could do with some female companionship or perhaps she just wants to chat, I’d like to say don’t hesitate to ring me.”
Ana was most genuine as the words left her mouth and she realised that they weren’t in any way helping explain how she was feeling about Brayden, and perhaps the offer was a connection in that instance.
“Thank you, Anabelle. I appreciate your offer.” Brayden’s eyes fell to his lap, but he managed a smile and a small nod in acknowledgment when Ana looked back up at him. “May I ask if you found your room comfortable? Did you sleep well?” he asked.
“I did, thank you, Mr. James. And I apologise for being late for breakfast. I had a phone call that woke me last night and lasted an hour. I was quite tired this morning,” Ana replied.
“You were up an hour further last night?” he asked.
Ana blushed ever so slightly and looked away. “When my phone rings, I can’t ignore it.”
“You could do with a bit of a holiday, I think.”
Ana laughed. “Not a chance. Not this year.”
Brayden frowned. “You won’t have any holiday this year?”
“This will be the second year in a row that I will lose my holiday. Public holidays are about my only reprieve. My weekends aren’t even guaranteed because I was promoted recently so I’m kind of on call for the new girls coming in. I have to be available to step in. Reputation is everything in my career and that includes being there when the juniors need me.”
Brayden wasn’t amused, in fact, he was a little disgusted at the complete lack of work-life balance the agency failed to enforce on their employees.
“Don’t look so shocked, Mr. James,” Ana laughed gently.
“You already know how I feel,” Brayden remarked, referring to his comment the night before when he accidentally blurted out how he thought Ana needed to be with a man who could provide a life whereby work was a choice for her.
“Do I?” Ana asked, choosing to ignore his original meaning and refer to the unspoken attraction that was rather obvious. The staff noticed it. Bennett knew it. Evelyn saw it. Alice hoped for it and even Wellesley did too.
Brayden raised an eyebrow. “Anabelle, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you are trying to draw something out of me.”
Ana didn’t smile, although she straightened her napkin as it sat beside her plate. “I’d best finish, Mr. James,” Ana added softly. She’d counted to five in her head and he hadn’t spoken on the subject; she didn’t want to waste her time.
“Anabelle,” he said.
She looked up at him before pushing her chair away from the dining table. She loved the way he said her name.
“Tell Wellesley to find me before you leave this afternoon, won’t you?”
Ana nodded. “Yes, Mr. James, of course,” she replied, forcing a smile.
Brayden watched her walk away from the table and toward the double doors at the far end of the dining room. He waited until long after she’d left him in the dining room before he moved. He closed his eyes and put his forefinger and thumb over the bridge of his nose; it certainly wouldn’t be easy from that point moving forward, especially considering Ana had made it clear she liked being led and she liked Alice. Those were clear signs that regardless of anything else, she was a potential partner.
Yet, in his mind, it was still complicated. How could he know for sure that Ana would still like Alice if they courted? Beyond that, did she even like him? It was all very well to find a woman who accepted the situation with Alice, needed to be disciplined, was intelligent, beautiful and enjoyed the kind of life he could provide, but it would boil down to an empty foundation if she wasn’t completely in love with him, or vice versa. Brayden wasn’t about to court or marry a woman simply because Alice would get a mother out of the deal.
He looked at his watch and abandoned the dining room. Ana was still on his mind. Rather, she’d been there since their meeting the day before the ball and she hadn’t really left. He continued to think about Anabelle Greyson during tea with Elisabeth and Alice in the sitting room later that morning as the girls chatted quietly and it was just as well his attention was somewhat occupied, because Brayden couldn’t understand their conversation. It was one thing interacting with Ali
ce, yet quite another when a girl closer to her age was added; the conversation become almost unrecognisable, referring to things and using phrases he hadn’t any clue about.
Snow began to fall that afternoon and left a thick, protective layer over the formerly green grass. It was welcomed by enthusiastic exclamations from Alice, shouting the obvious, that it was, indeed, snowing.
“Good afternoon, Sir,” Wellesley greeted Bennett as he stepped inside.
“Good afternoon, Wellesley,” Bennett replied. He entered the grand foyer and set his eyes upon Elisabeth straightaway, as she was there waiting there to be collected.
Alice noticed the subtle sparkle in Bennett’s eye when he saw her. Elisabeth shyly smiled and walked to him, kissing his cheek softly before laying her head against his suit and woollen coat.
“Hello,” he said quietly to Elisabeth.
Alice tried not to giggle and Brayden gave her a serious look as he buttoned his coat.
“Brayden,” Bennett said, after he’d had a quiet moment with Elisabeth.
“Are you fully rested after last night?” Brayden asked, as they shook hands.
“I am. Did you find it harder to get out of bed now that you’re twenty-nine?” Bennett inquired.
Alice’s mouth dropped open and she tried not to smile. “Uncle Bennett, that’s cheeky,” she said.
Bennett looked down at his niece. “It’s cheeky that you’ve not come to greet me properly yet, my girl.”
“Hello, Uncle Bennett,” Alice nearly sang as she neared him and stood on her toes as he bent to her. Alice planted a kiss on both cheeks.
“When are you bringing Elisabeth home this evening?” Brayden asked, as one of the maids approached and handed him gloves once his scarf was neatly around his neck.
“Half nine, if that’s all right. We’ve dinner reservations at half six.”
Elisabeth smiled and looked over at Alice. They hadn’t been out to dinner yet, as most of their time spent together was at Barton-Court or Waldorf.
“Have a lovely time then,” Brayden replied, kissing Elisabeth goodbye.
“We will, thank you.”
Alice also kissed Elisabeth goodbye and after Wellesley closed the doors behind them she looked up at Brayden.
“I bet they’re going to London. Father, can we go to London?” Alice asked, as Brayden straightened her scarf so it lay neatly down the front of her adorable red woollen pea coat.
“Perhaps we will, darling. For now we’re going out for your walk,” Brayden replied, then held out his hand.
“But this is supposed to be my afternoon walk and it’s practically evening now. So it’s an evening walk.”
Wellesley opened the doors and watched Brayden and Alice step outside for their walk and chat in the formal gardens as he had for the last ten months, listening to Alice’s voice fade as she told Brayden several other thoughts about walking and gardens and heaven only knows what else was on her mind.
In the limo, Bennett and Elisabeth sat side by side. Bennett’s long legs were like perfect 90-degree angles and his shiny dress shoes made Elisabeth sigh internally as she slipped her arm underneath his and lay against the arm of his topcoat.
“We are going to see your parents again this weekend. I want you to have some time with your mother, she’s not been well this week. Your father isn’t getting any better, either,” Bennett said, as the driver pulled down the drive toward the gates.
Elisabeth moaned.
“Hey,” he said, pulling his arm away so she couldn’t use it as a shield to hide behind.
“It’s so depressing, Bennett. They’re not getting any better, in fact me leaving is timed with them getting worse. It’s probably all my fault and I don’t like feeling guilty.”
Bennett turned and lifted her chin. “It is not your fault, young lady. Your parents have been unwell all of your life and they have the best care, because I’m making sure of it. I will continue to fund it and see to it that they have dignity and comfort until it’s their time to go. Don’t take this on, because their health is not based on whether you stayed to give them their pills or not. It’s simply not true and I won’t let you believe that lie.”
Elisabeth nodded.
“We’ll spend some of Saturday with them and then I’ll take you to meet with your friends, if you like.”
Elisabeth’s eyes lit up and she gasped. “Really?”
“Yes, really,” he said, refusing to sound excited.
“Thank you!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his cheek.
“You can thank me later if I don’t need to embarrass you. It will be a one hour visit at the same Starbucks as before, and you can tell them we are courting,” he said, pulling Elisabeth’s hands down from his neck and holding them in his own.
“Thank you, Sir,” Elisabeth replied, blushing.
Elisabeth was beside herself excited at the prospect of seeing her three friends whom she’d last met up with the morning she moved to Barton-Court, almost two months prior. Her closest friend, Emma, didn’t believe Elisabeth when she said she was moving in with him, but they weren’t a couple. Bennett had even come up behind Elisabeth and announced to all three of them that he was her disciplinarian and she was moving in with him so that he could keep an eye on her, including putting her over his knee when he felt it necessary. Elisabeth had nearly died of shock and embarrassment, although her friends were too shocked to say much of anything.
She hadn’t seen them in nearly two months, so it would be quite a story to tell how she went from being his charge, to moving out and becoming his girlfriend, although Bennett detested that label and forbad her from using it.
“We’re going out for dinner tonight, by the way. I hope you don’t mind London.”
Elisabeth was excited and looked up at him. “Why would I mind?”
“Some people really dislike London. Others prefer London in the evening when everyone is out for dinner. Some people wish London was completely empty so they could have it to themselves. You shall have to find out which temperament you are.”
Elisabeth smiled. She would indeed; she’d only been once.
Chapter Thirteen
The formal gardens looked best with a light dusting of snow, in Brayden’s opinion. If he could have his way, England would be dusted in snow year round. Winter was his favourite season and having a reason to bundle up for walks in the garden made them more pleasant.
Alice noticed he was quiet for the start of their walk. She held his hand and enjoyed the crunch of the gravel beneath her patent shoes as they neared the tall, hedge walls, which formed a labyrinth-like design once they passed the flowers and fountains; there were many because Kathryn James had been most fond of both. The flowers and fountains were Alice’s favourite too, and she loved to listen to the trickle of water as it fell from the top, down into the next pool of water before it gathered into the large, round, stone bowl at the bottom. Alice could have had a paddling party in the largest pool of water and often in the summer, during her walks, she’d been very tempted on a warm day. She’d also been seriously warned not to get into the fountains on more than one occasion. So far, so good.
“Can I ask you something, Father?”
“Yes, darling?”
Alice didn’t need to consider her words too carefully before speaking; she’d considered them many times over before that moment. “Do you think I’m a horrid person for not missing my old friends or my old life?”
Brayden stopped walking and continued to hold her hand. “You couldn’t be horrid if you tried, Alice.”
“You adopted me, you have to say that.”
Brayden bent down slightly to her height. “I think you’re right where you’re supposed to be, Alice James,” he told her quietly, then kissed her forehead.
“But I’m not awful for wanting to stay here forever?” Alice's eyes searched his back and forth.
“I don’t think it’s wrong to love your home.”
Alice nodded solemnly. Brayden hadn’t really answered her question directly, but his responses satisfied her.
Brayden returned to his height and carried on walking with Alice’s mittened hand securely inside of his own. He asked her how she thought Elisabeth was settling in, much to Alice’s delight. She loved to be asked her opinion and broadened on the subject for the better part of twenty minutes, pointing out areas which she felt Elisabeth needed improving in a most constructive and gentle way. Brayden held back his amusement and managed to change the subject once she’d finished. He rather rained on her critiquing parade when he told her she would be performing a piano recital just after Christmas, as it had been over six months since her first one.
“Oh no, Father, please don’t make me do another recital.”
“I’m only doing what any piano teacher and good father does when he’s proud,” Brayden said, giving her a raised eyebrow.
“Please don’t invite Aunty Evelyn. She fusses.”
Brayden chuckled, “She’ll fuss whether it’s a piano recital or afternoon tea, darling,” he said, glancing around the gardens and then back down at Alice.
“Very well,” Alice sighed dramatically. “But it’s a bit ostentatious, if I may say.”
“I disagree, young lady, recitals are good for you. There is little point in my teaching you piano without offering validation. My encouragement will only go so far. You need an audience and feedback in order to progress.”
Alice looked up at Brayden. “I think my age just jumped four years; that was a rather philosophical exchange.”
“I’m not ready for that yet. You’re still my ten-year-old,” he said, and kissed her mitten as they carried on walking.
“Just remember that this time next year, you’ll be thirty. I hope you have a health care directive.”
Brayden nearly chuckled, but instead he replied, “Be nice to your father or he’ll make you stay ten years old forever.”
When Anabelle Grayson signed the last contractor out of Waldorf Manor as the rental linens were packed away, she was left alone in the ballroom. It wasn’t her ballroom, but she felt a small ownership over the place where she’d planned and supervised the seven balls that had unfolded since Brayden’s twenty-first birthday. She looked around the empty ballroom where more than one hundred guests had been the evening before, finding it strange how it was all replaced to the way it was as if nothing had happened.
