by Bella Bryce
She smiled back and looked over at Brayden. “Miss Greyson said the Christmas decorations are going up tomorrow. Are they really?”
“Yes, my darling. I always have them put up two days after my birthday, so I don’t feel like a Christmas elf on my special day.”
Ana and Alice both laughed, although Alice was slightly shocked at Brayden’s words. He didn’t often make such humorous remarks and it caught her off-guard. She also noticed how Brayden and Ana were smiling at each other.
“If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to run upstairs and catch up on my correspondence,” Alice said and walked toward the staircase.
“Alice Kathryn, you haven’t said a proper goodbye to Miss Greyson.” He turned toward her.
“She’s not leaving yet, Father,” Alice replied over her shoulder with a gentle laugh and then carried on up the staircase.
Brayden raised his eyebrows and turned to Anabelle. “Tea?” he asked.
Chapter Fourteen
Elisabeth sat across from Bennett after the waiter pushed her chair in. “I’ve never been to eat in London,” she whispered.
Bennett smiled. He loved the way she looked. She wasn’t dressed like the other women, showing off parts of her body in an insecure attempt to convince or reassure herself and whomever she was with that she was, indeed, attractive.
Elisabeth wore an adorable dress that he’d never seen before, one Brayden had commissioned. The top was black velvet formed into the bodice and short, ruffled, elasticated sleeves. The black velvet dropped down to her hips and from there a red tartan bubble skirt in satin formed to just above her knees. Her black tights and patent black shoes with gold bows on the top finished off her look. Elisabeth’s chin-length hair was pulled back on one side by a small gold bow clip.
Bennett had never found Elisabeth more attractive than she was in front of him at that moment, looking completely innocent as she unfolded her napkin and laid it in her lap. Not even the night before, when she was in her ball gown. He looked at his menu when her eyes lifted.
“Mr. Fowler,” the waiter said, when he appeared.
Bennett turned to the waiter in a way that caused Elisabeth to spy at him over her menu and smile. She loved how controlled and formal he was. It had been driving her absolutely insane since the day she realised she fancied him and had only gotten more and more intense with every moment they spent together. She glanced over at his three-piece black suit with white pinstripes and bit her lip.
“The Chef has this menu for you to consider this evening as well, Sir.” The waiter passed a second one to Bennett.
“Thank you, we’ll look it over.”
The waiter nodded, glanced at Elisabeth and left their table.
“Does that menu have steak? I’m really in the mood for steak,” Elisabeth whispered.
Bennett raised an eyebrow and glanced over at her. “Ah, they have your favourite, filet mignon. It comes with roasted potatoes, carrots and tomatoes on the vine with red wine reduction.” Bennett looked at Elisabeth.
“That sounds like me,” she said, laying her menu on the table beside her plate.
“I will have the same,” Bennett said, laying his two down as well.
“Why did they give us a second menu?” she asked, as she reached for her water goblet.
“I have shares in The Ivy restaurant, so my menu is always a little more varied than the one offered to everyone else,” Bennett said factually. He was never arrogant about his money.
Elisabeth raised her eyebrows and swallowed. “Oh,” she said, as the waiter returned.
Bennett gave their order and then crossed one leg over the other under the table and looked at Elisabeth. “Did you enjoy yourself at the ball last night?”
Elisabeth smiled as she laid her napkin in her lap and nodded. “Except, of course, for the part where I got into trouble for your mother’s cheeky behaviour.”
Bennett raised his eyebrows and exhaled an amused breath. “Oh dear, we are certainly getting comfortable with this arrangement, aren’t we?” he asked.
Elisabeth smiled back at him. “Yes, Sir, I am, rather,” she replied.
“This must be the appetiser,” Bennett said, looking up at the waiter.
Elisabeth was about to comment that they hadn’t ordered an appetiser because they’d only sat down two seconds prior, but she dismissed it because she’d never eaten in a restaurant like the one she was in, and figured she didn’t understand the formalities... like the waiter placing a tray in front of her and pulling the silver dome cover off.
Elisabeth expected to find crab or salad or something besides a blue box with a white ribbon and the words, ‘Tiffany & Co.’ on it. Her eyes widened and she looked up at Bennett.
“Is this the appetiser?” she asked, somewhat confused.
Bennett smiled and nodded toward her place setting. “It is,” he replied factually, “Although I’m afraid it isn’t quite edible.”
Elisabeth’s eyes widened and she looked over at him, receiving a nod of encouragement to open it. At first, she was thinking there must be an engagement ring inside, although the box was the wrong shape. Elisabeth pulled the lid straight up from the flat box and she would have gasped, but her hand covered her mouth before any sound came out as she looked up at Bennett.
She clearly had no idea how to react.
Bennett leant over confidently. “Do you like it?” he whispered.
Elisabeth’s mouth remained open and she nodded whilst both of her hands were clasped together and rested on her chest. “It’s so beautiful. Is this really for me?” she asked, looking over at him.
“Yes. Shall I put it on you?”
She nodded, still unable to really speak. She didn’t have words. Bennett stood up and walked behind her chair, then removed the necklace from its box and secured it around her neck before planting a kiss on her cheek. It was a large, oval yellow diamond surrounded by a halo of round, brilliant white diamonds set in platinum and eighteen-carat gold. Elisabeth looked down and touched her hand to it; it didn’t need any effort whatsoever to be beautiful or sparkly, even in the restaurant with low lighting.
Bennett reclaimed his seat and signalled to the waiter, who removed the tray and left them. Elisabeth put the box beside her cutlery as Bennett watched her.
“Thank you,” she said, when she looked back at him. It had taken her by surprise to open a box and find a diamond a quarter of the size of her palm right in front of her and being told that it belonged to her.
“You’re welcome. Now, would you like a proper appetiser?” Bennett asked.
Elisabeth smiled and put two of her delicate fingers over the diamond as she nodded. She very nearly cried and Bennett could see her eyes were glossy.
He was rather touched and taken aback by her reaction. Had he been courting a girl who had been raised in his social class she wouldn’t have reacted so genuinely. Guaranteed. A gift such as that would have been expected. Elisabeth’s humility and lack of expectation was Bennett’s gift in return.
“Did you know, this is the exact necklace I put on my wish list on that Tiffany’s app you installed on my iPhone?” Elisabeth said.
Bennett raised an eyebrow. “Is it? Oh, dear. Well, isn’t that interesting?” he asked, as he picked up his wine glass.
Elisabeth smiled and looked down as it hung low enough for her to see it. She put her fingers up to it and ran them across the perfect ridges of the diamond. It was so yellow it reminded her of the sun in jewel form. It was absolutely stunning.
“Thank you,” Bennett said, when the waiter served both of them.
“Thank you,” Elisabeth echoed, as the plate was laid in front of her. “Oh,” she said, and looked over at Bennett. “What is this?” she whispered.
“Shredded pheasant on a bit of plum sauce. You’ll like it.”
Elisabeth loved it. Bennett knew her palette well. He could suggest the most unsuspecting dish, when they chatted about food, and Elisabeth found herself salivating at the
idea of eating it. He always let his own chef experiment, so it was rare when Elisabeth ate at Barton-Court House that she would have had the same meal twice.
Her mind wandered beyond dinner and wandered off to imagining that she was married to Bennett. Her attraction to him had heightened steeply even since the ball the night before and the diamond had nothing to do with it. Elisabeth recalled Bennett pulling her across his knee and then putting her to face the wall in the sitting room at Waldorf Manor whilst the guests carried on in the ballroom. She loved his consistency and when they were apart, she often thought about his rules and how rigid they were – which only made her sigh. The security she gained from knowing Bennett was always watching and listening made her feel safe.
“Is everything going well at Waldorf?” Bennett asked, when their dinner was served.
Elisabeth smiled and nodded as she picked up her next fork and knife. “Yes, Sir, I’m enjoying being with Uncle Brayden and Alice. They have a very strong relationship, that’s for sure.”
Bennett glanced up at her. “Yes,” he nodded. “Sometimes I forget Alice doesn’t share his DNA.”
Elisabeth laughed. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
“I do hope Alice hasn’t been cheeky enough to ask you any prying questions.”
“No, Sir,” Elisabeth replied with a coy smile. “She doesn’t want to hear how much I enjoy kissing you.”
Bennett put his wine glass down and raised his eyebrows. “Well, young lady, you’d best not be sharing those details,” he warned, with a look that made Elisabeth’s heart skip a beat.
She smiled as she chewed and gave him a small shake of her head.
“That reminds me, I was in touch with your friend Emma, the ringleader,” Bennett started.
Elisabeth chuckled as he carried on speaking.
“She’s on holiday until after the New Year,” Bennett said.
“Can we just make time to go see her and Aggie and Lucy when she gets back, then? I’d rather wait until I can tell all three girls that we’re courting at the same time.”
“Yes, that should be fine,” Bennett replied.
“Emma’s absolutely going to flip. The girls are going to think we’ve been together this entire time.” Elisabeth shook her head.
“They won’t be surprised then?” Bennett asked.
“No,” she said, shaking her head again.
“No, Sir,” Bennett added.
“No, Sir,” Elisabeth repeated, with a small smile.
Wellesley delivered tea to the sitting room and poured for Brayden and Ana before leaving unnoticed, as was his talent. He returned to his pantry-come-study and smiled.
“What is funny?” Celia asked, appearing in his doorway.
Wellesley turned around to find the head housekeeper untying her white, formal, ruffled pinafore.
“Nothing is funny,” he replied, clearing his throat.
Celia raised an eyebrow and removed the apron, draping it across one arm.
“Finished for the evening are you?” Wellesley asked.
“Changing my apron, this one has furniture polish across it.”
“What are you polishing furniture at this hour for?”
“I had to return Miss Greyson’s room to how it was before she stayed,” Celia replied.
“Did you?” he asked coyly.
Celia closed the door. “I’ve not seen that look in your eye for donkeys years and I’ve been here a few years.”
“Mr. James and Miss Greyson are in the sitting room.”
“No!” Celia gasped.
“Having tea,” he added.
“No,” Celia repeated. “At gone nearly eight o’clock?” She gasped again at her own words. Wellesley nodded.
“You know full well he won’t have her staying the night if it’s that serious, Wellesley, having tea in the sitting room at this hour. That’s naughty to say so.”
Wellesley managed a smile and opened his leather-bound journal.
“I think you’d best keep your nose out of it,” Celia warned.
Wellesley frowned, causing Celia to clear her throat and leave the room quickly. He was the head of all domestic staff so Celia really hadn’t any business telling him what to do, although she had a point. Wellesley stepped over a well-known James family boundary by suggesting Celia leave Ana’s guest room as it was, insisting that because Brayden and Ana were obviously enjoying their time together that perhaps she would stay. He meant it all in good heart and jest, and of course, would never have said such a thing to Brayden.
Having watched his young employer go through his childhood, boarding school, holidays, birthdays, everyday life, losing his parents, adopting Alice and then, perhaps, falling in love – he felt the joy was his own to some degree. All good domestic staff often felt those things. The proverbial sympathy pain often pumped right through the employers and into the blood stream of the staff. Wellesley wanted Brayden to fall in love and to see Waldorf blossoming with a proper family living in it, much as it did when Brayden was a child.
Alice was sat on the bottom step of the grand staircase – the right one – with her chin resting in her hands as though waiting patiently for an imaginary train to collect her. She glanced across the foyer at the grandfather clock and, although she was bored, she was still hopeful. Ana hadn’t left yet and that perhaps meant it was because she and Brayden were talking or kissing or something that would bring them closer to being a couple. Alice had already decided that she thoroughly liked Anabelle Greyson and that she needed to stay at Waldorf. There was never an ounce of jealousy in Alice regarding that thought, and she wanted nothing more than for them to fall in love. Of course, Alice wasn’t on the other side of the sitting room doors and she could only imagine such things in her mind, but not create them.
When Alice heard voices on the other side of the doors she shot to her feet, smoothed the pleats of her pinafore and calmly stepped down from the last stair onto the marbled foyer floor as Brayden and Ana appeared.
“Alice, there you are. Say goodnight to Miss Greyson. She’s just leaving,” Brayden said.
Her smile faded. “Goodnight, Miss Greyson,” Alice’s disappointed voice making no effort to hide.
“Goodnight, Anabelle,” Brayden said, and politely kissed both of her cheeks as the typical departure dictated.
There was absolutely nothing romantic about it and Alice slumped further into disappointment. She wiped her face of any obvious displeasure when Ana slipped her arms into her coat as Wellesley held it out.
“Bradley and Jemima will be here tomorrow with their team to do the decorations just after breakfast, if that’s all right?”
“Wellesley?” Brayden asked.
“Yes, of course, Miss Greyson,” he said.
When Wellesley looked up he saw Celia and two other maids standing eagerly nearby; Celia holding Ana’s beret, another girl holding her scarf and the other held her gloves. Wellesley cleared his throat and retrieved each of Ana’s belongings one by one, giving each girl a look. He knew the staff were there to spy on Ana and Brayden and they had attempted to do so by each carrying in one article of clothing.
Ana texted her colleagues whilst Wellesley gave each of his nosey staff a warning glance and she didn’t seem to take any notice, while Brayden knew exactly what they were doing.
Alice bit her lip so as not to laugh.
When Ana finally looked up, the staff were leaving the foyer.
“Well, on behalf of Tweed Events Company, thank you for choosing us for the seventh year, Mr. James,” Ana said, offering her hand out to him. “Or rather, you can pass my thanks onto Mr. Fowler. I’ll have a card sent to him in any case.”
“It is my pleasure. Thank you for another flawless ball,” he replied, shaking her hand out of politeness. He didn’t believe in shaking a woman’s hand, although technically it was a business handshake.
Ana shook her head. “Nothing is flawless in my line of work. There’s always something that could be bette
r,” she said.
“As the birthday boy, I have the final say on that matter,” Brayden said, still holding her hand in their handshake and giving her a rather fatherly look. “And I have nothing to critique.”
Ana smiled as they let go of each other’s hands. Wellesley stayed back for a moment until he knew they were done smiling at each other and then offered Ana her hat, then her scarf and her gloves. Alice rolled her eyes and shook her head, then crossed her arms over her chest. She didn’t want Ana to leave, not yet.
“Are you sure Jude can’t take you all the way home? There’s no need to get the train,” Brayden remarked, as Ana put on her hat, scarf and gloves.
“No, Mr. James, you’ve been too kind already. Thank you for the lovely afternoon and for dinner as well,” Ana said.
“It was our pleasure, we’ve enjoyed your company.”
“Well,” she added, looking back up at him and then Alice, “have a very happy Christmas.”
“Happy Christmas, Ana,” Brayden told her.
“Bye,” Alice offered quietly.
Anabelle walked toward the doors feeling as though it were wrong that she was leaving. She wanted to stop and say something, but she had no business doing so, Brayden hadn’t given her any indication and he didn’t owe her anything. She only wished he would have stopped her. Alice frowned as Ana turned and waved one last time before descending the front stairs down to where Jude held open the car door for her.
Wellesley secured Waldorf Manor, walked straight past Brayden and returned to his duties in the back corridor.
Alice rolled her eyes, uncrossed her arms and started for the staircase. She let out an audible, frustrated, melodramatic sigh. “I cannot believe this!” she lamented.
“Alice!” Brayden exclaimed, turning toward the staircase.
“Why do you have to be so polite? Why couldn’t she have stayed?” Alice continued, turning over her shoulder as she stomped her feet up the stairs.
“Alice Kathryn Lillias James, come back down here to me this instant,” he said calmly, pointing to the marbled floor.
