Finding Elizabeth

by Louise Forster

  “No, of course not. I’ll tell Lea we’re leaving.”

  Katherine walked into the kitchen just as Leandra opened the microwave to pull out her teriyaki chicken. “Have you heard about reheating stuff?” she said.

  Leandra skewed her mouth, gave her a look and said, “Puhlease.”

  “Okay. Thanks for doing this. You could be going too, you know.”

  “Are you kidding? On my own, with you and Mr Hotty—no, thanks. I’ll be fine with my reheated chicken and a glass of wine. I’ll laugh and cry a lot while I watch my favourite movie Love Actually with Bubbles at my feet.”

  “Thanks, I’ll return the favour one day. Bubbles has had dinner, don’t give her any leftovers; there are doggy biscuits in the pantry. If she starts fussing and nudges you, that means she needs to go pee. Don’t let her on the couch. She will try. Just point to her bed and tell her to go, and she’ll settle.”

  “Yes, Mum.” Leandra rolled her eyes.

  “Well, I’m just helping you out here,” Katherine said.

  “Shut up and go have a great time with Jack. You are so lucky,” Leandra puckered her lips and kissed her fingertips, Italian style. “Mmwwaa. If you want me to scram when you get home, just give me a signal.”

  “I’m not kicking you out in the cold,” Katherine laughed softly. “See you later,” she said as she moved to join Jack at the front door.

  He’d finished buttoning his coat and was peering out the window up the drive. He looked to be giving someone the thumbs-up signal.

  “Who’s up there?” Katherine asked.

  Jack flinched. “Um, just some bloke having difficulties, thought I’d let him know it looked okay to me.”

  “Uh huh.” She gave him a dubious look and slipped into her long red padded overcoat. She kicked off her stilettos, intending to carry them until they were at hall. Grabbed warm fur-lined boots, slipped them on, then gloves on, a woollen hat from the stand, a scarf wound around her face, and Katherine was ready.

  Jack suppressed a grin.

  “Get that silly look off your face. It’s freezing out there.”

  “But you’re a local.”

  “All the more reason.”

  Jack insisted on carrying her stilettos as she forged slightly ahead. Her breath fogged out in clouds around her face as she tried to keep an eye on the path. She started when Jack’s hand slipped under her elbow. She almost gave him a look that said, I live here, remember, but decided to take his polite gesture in her stride. Someone had impressed upon him that good manners were important, and she wasn’t going to blow all their hard work.

  Reaching the road, Katherine was finally able to stop watching where she placed her feet, and looked up. She gazed in wonder at the horse-drawn sleigh that stood waiting in the pale moonlight, its ornate timber sides painted a lavish red with a gold trim. The horse, under a warm blanket, stamped one hoof impatiently as they approached. Hot breath blew out of large nostrils, and hung like a fog around the sleigh and driver. The mystical scene reminded her of a romantic fantasy.

  “Wow! Someone’s going to freeze their …” Katherine peered up and down the road. Streetlights cast circles of pale yellow light on the snow, and Jack’s car was parked on the other side of her driveway. There was no one around to claim this ride. “For us?” she asked, taken aback. “We’re going by horse-drawn sleigh?”

  This was better than the memory of her last ride with a bunch of teenage friends.

  “This is crazy, but I love it.”

  “Crazy? You think we’ll need defrosting at the other end.” Jack quipped.

  The driver saluted them. Hands in padded gloves, he touched his fur-lined, Arctic hat. He knew the drill; his earflaps were firmly in place, and he’d wrapped a scarf around his nose. He stayed put, high on his seat under a thermal blanket. The only way Katherine knew he smiled was that his eyes, surrounded by wrinkles, almost disappeared.

  “Pretty cold huh?” Katherine asked.

  “It’ll be all right back there,” the driver nodded over his shoulder. “I’ll get the brunt of it.”

  “Are you okay with this? We can still take the car. It seemed a good idea at the time, not so sure now …” Jack trailed off.

  “Of course we’ll freeze, but I’m game. I haven’t done this since I was an adventurous teenager and freezing parts of your anatomy was never a problem.”

  “I can’t tell whether you’re being facetious or not,” Jack said, looking at her askance.

  “I would love to go on a sleigh ride. I wouldn’t miss it for anything—well, maybe a couple of things.” He cocked an eyebrow, and she laughed. “I’m teasing. Come on, let’s go. It’ll be wonderful.”

  “Okay, but be gentle with me. I’m not used to being teased,” Jack wisecracked, and held out his hand to help Katherine climb on board.

  “Is that you, Katherine Bell?” the driver asked.

  “Yes …Frank?” Frank had driven sleighs most of his adult life. During spring and summer he drove a local bus. He used to sing songs changing the lyrics to make the kids laugh. A popular man in town and not just because he was never late.

  “Yes, ma’am. It’s not too cold tonight, relatively speaking. You’ll be fine under the thermal blanket.”

  Comfortably settled with the blanket under their chins, Jack took her hand in his. He’d taken a glove off and deftly removed one of hers. Wondering where this was going, she almost pulled her hand away, but then he intertwined their fingers, and she lost the urge. The pads of his palm against hers, his thumb caressing the top of her hand, was such a simple gesture, yet so powerful.

  It wasn’t as difficult as she’d first thought. It helped to remind herself that not all men were jealous, obsessive creeps.

  Frank turned to see if they were ready before easing the sleigh along Mountain View Road. “C’mon, Trudy,” he clicked his tongue, and gently flapped the reins, urging the horse on to take a faster pace.

  Thick snow blanketing the moonlit countryside muffled all sounds. The only sounds came from bells jingling on Trudy’s harness, the soft thud of her hooves and the whisper of the skis as the sleigh skimmed along the snow-covered road.

  The glow of warm lights from windows of houses they passed cast soft patches of gold on the moonlit snow. The occasional Christmas tree, with multicoloured lights twinkling, added to the magical journey. Katherine nudged Jack, and lifted her face to point out the pale silver halo around the moon as wispy gossamer-thin clouds slipped across the sky. The hazy stars behind them still managed to twinkle.

  They snuggled together under the blankets. Laughter bubbled inside her, and Leandra’s cheery Have fun came to mind. She giggled and Jack turned to gaze at her.

  “This is wonderful,” she said, from behind her scarf.

  He nodded, drew Katherine closer, slipped the scarf from his nose and mouth, and with great deliberation, eased her scarf down, never taking his eyes off hers. Sure she was cold; nevertheless, heat ignited through every part of her body. Her heart raced as he neared. She decided to chance it and met him halfway. Lightly, Jack pressed his lips against hers. His kiss was not possessive, but instead, soft, gentle, and without urgency.

  “Mouth not working all that well, even hard to talk,” he laughed. “So cold, I think it cracked.”

  Not that cold. She laughed with him and lifted her scarf back over her nose. The sensuality of that moment would live with her forever. One day, she would tell her kids about this wonderful Australian bloke she’d gone on a sleigh ride with. Right now, she told herself firmly, he’s achingly sensuous, but it’s just a date.

  Clouds scudded across the sky, darkening the moon as they neared the town centre. Fluffy snowflakes drifted down, swirling in the sleigh’s lamplight and in the air around the streetlights.

  Frank eased the sleigh to walking pace, looked over his shoulder and said to Jack, “There’s an umbrella under the seat, if ye’ like.”

  Jack ducked down and found it. With a thwack of black fabric, the large u
mbrella opened, covering them with its canopy, the snowflakes landing on it with a soft whisper.

  As they came closer Christmas lights floated above the main street with decorations and fairy lights adorning the shops. Pedestrians ambled along the sidewalks, and rosy-cheeked children, rugged up against the cold, played under the streetlights. Some stood with open mouths and upturned faces, trying to be the first to catch a snowflake on their tongue. Others tried to make snowballs, but the powder snow wouldn’t pack together. When thrown, it scattered into a nimbus of sparkling white, and the children squealed with laughter.

  The sleigh turned a corner, and Katherine thought she’d never seen anything quite so spectacular.

  Chapter 6

  “My God, look at the town hall!” Katherine said, nudging Jack. “Clark Griswold would be so jealous. Every time I see this it gets bigger. It’s magical.”

  “Clark Griswold?”

  “Chevy Chase’s character in a Christmas move. His house was ablaze with lights. Astronauts could see it from space.”

  “Look, there’s more.” Jack turned to point out fir trees sparkling with lights lining a snowy path through a nearby park.

  Frank stopped the sleigh at the front steps with a soft, “Whoa, Trudy.”

  Jack threw their blanket aside and stepped down. Immediately, Katherine shivered with the loss of his body heat. He turned to her as she rose to follow, and reached for her waist. Her breath caught as he lifted her effortlessly off the sleigh. She looked up into his laughing eyes, and on impulse kissed him. She took his arm for the short walk up the old stone steps where an arbour of fir branches, lavishly lit with coloured lights, ushered them inside. In the foyer, a coat-check girl took their coats and her boots. Katherine couldn’t get over his solicitude and watched Jack’s every move. He placed her stilettos on the floor then, taking her hand, he waited as she slipped them on. Jack offered his arm and together they entered the main hall. The ceiling and walls twinkled like a clear starlit night. People gathered or sat at wooden tables arranged around the dance floor. Each had its own centrepiece of candles and gleaming baubles of red and gold.

  “I bet the committee had fun organising this,” Katherine said, admiring their efforts.

  “Weeks of fun, if their lights were a mess like yours,” Jack quipped.

  “Can you imagine it?” Katherine laughed.

  They found an empty table near the dance floor. Jack held a chair out for her and asked, “Like a drink?”

  “Yes, thank you. I’d love a glass of Merlot if they have it.”

  “Be right back.” Jack gently squeezed her shoulder and disappeared into the crowd, heading for the bar.

  While he was gone the band started up and, seconds later, a vaguely familiar figure approached. His shock of brown hair fell over his forehead and smiling hazel eyes took Katherine back in time.

  “Robert!?” she shouted above the noise, elated to see his happy face.

  “Yep, that’s me, the dork from high school.”

  “You were never a dork—a nerd, maybe,” she teased. “It’s so good to see you. You look great!”

  “And you look stunning. Come on, dance with me. I want to make my friends jealous.”

  “Good grief. I would love to, Rob, thank you—but jealous? Surely that’s not possible.”

  “Those guys lusted after you as much as I did back then and, trust me, nothing’s changed.”

  “Oh god—really? I never knew. I’m speechless. But I was all arms and legs.”

  He smiled and angled his head for a better look. “Yeah, those legs.”

  The music drowned her laughter. When she could manage it, she said, “How could I refuse?”

  They danced past Katherine’s table. It allowed her to catch a glimpse of Jack. He seemed unconcerned that she was in the arms of someone else. In fact, he looked relaxed and smiling as he sipped his drink. When the dance was over, Robert escorted her to her table and, after a brief introduction to Jack, left.

  With a careless wave of her hand, Katherine said, “I went to school with him.” She cringed inside, wondering why the hell she felt the need to explain anything.

  “You do realise your friend Robert’s mission was to dance with you past that bunch of blokes, as many times as possible?”

  “It’s a long story.” Katherine shook her head. “We’re all from the same year at high school.”

  “What I found interesting was that, as soon as one of his mates made the slightest movement towards you, he quickly slipped you away into the crowd.” Jack grinned. “Clever man, I was envious. You look stunning.” he leaned forward and added with meaning, “You are without a doubt the most desirable woman in the room.”

  She thought it better to let that comment slide. “For a moment it felt like we were all still in high school, frozen in time.”

  “No one was frozen, least of all Rob … or his friends.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  “Very clever. You probably have an arsenal of things that wiggle.”

  His cheeky laugh was drowned out by the band starting up again—thank goodness.

  “Come on, let’s dance before one of Robert’s friends whisks you away,” he said, and held out his hand.

  The band’s stack of speakers pumped out the music. Katherine could feel the bass in her chest, and she wondered how the older folk were coping. At first, they tried to talk, but in the end they had to settle for lip-reading. At one point, she could’ve sworn Jack said, “You’re amazing. You have no idea what you do to me.”

  You have no idea what you do to me? Holy cow, this was going way beyond anything she had imagined.

  Leandra! It’s all your fault.

  Seeing her worried expression, Jack leaned in closer, his mouth brushed her ear. “What’s wrong?” he asked before pulling away just far enough to see her face.

  Katherine shook her head. “Nothing!” she lied into his concerned grey eyes.

  Jack slipped his hand around the small of Katherine’s back. His other hand held hers close to his chest as if he wished to comfort her. God only knew why. She was a woman with all her faculties, and this night was not going to slip out of her control. Maybe. She sighed, but her body remained tense.

  Jack lifted her fingers to his lips. He opened her hand and softly kissed her palm, his warm mouth lingering on her skin. God, that’s not going to help. The hot, luscious sensation shot through her and lodged below her navel. Oh, that’s not fair, she complained of her body giving in so easily to lust. Jack Riley was a master at seduction.

  Katherine faltered under the impact of his kiss. Jack caught her up, clasping her close to the length of his glorious body, his thighs flexing against hers with every step. His right thigh moved stirringly between her legs, and her reticence melted away as she relaxed into him.

  “At last,” he breathed in her ear, sending delicious goosebumps down her neck. His warm hand caressed her back and around to stroke her rib cage. His heat seeped through the soft fabric of her dress onto her skin.

  The romantic lighting dimmed further, the crowd faded from view. Katherine floated as in a dream. He surrounded her with his powerful arms, where sensuality and protection existed as one. His chest pressed firmly against her breasts, and her nipples hardened.

  She slipped her hand under the lapel of his dinner suit and moulded her palm against his pectoral muscle. She slipped her other hand around his neck and into his soft hair. His arousal pressed against her belly as their bodies became one fluid motion to the slow rhythm of the love song. Protected in his arms, she wanted to crawl inside his jacket, into his shirt, feel his skin.

  Katherine rested her cheek against his jaw.

  “Kate,” he whispered teasingly, “you’re an intoxicating turn-on.”

  “Well,” Katherine quipped softly, “so I’ve noticed.”

  He chuckled into her neck, nipped her earlobe and drew her in tighter. “You realise since you’ve put me in this, hmmm, condition we’ll have to stay on the dance floor all ni
ght.”

  He caressed the soft skin at her nape, and she trembled under his touch.

  Jack gently eased Katherine’s head back. His tender gaze smouldered with a profusion of emotions; longing was top on his list. She returned his gaze without flinching.

  “I’ve wanted to hold you close to me like this from the first moment I saw you,” he murmured low.

  Katherine’s breath caught. She sighed, releasing the tension. As if in a dream she let the dance and Jack carry her away.

  The band took a short break. Katherine’s eyes fluttered open, her light-headedness slowly disappeared. If they didn’t move soon, they’d be the only ones left on the dance floor. Jack took her hand and led her back to their table.

  “You dance beautifully,” she murmured, sitting down. “You move well.”

  “It was all your doing,” he said, giving her a playful lopsided grin.

  “Oh the power, I never knew I had it in me,” she said flippantly, with a hand on her chest and batting her eyelashes.

  A fresh-faced young woman, wearing an evening suit, her fair hair in a short bob, approached their table. “Would you like your photo taken?” she asked, raising the professional camera slung around her neck.

  “Would you mind?” Jack asked. “It’d be a great souvenir.”

  Twenty minutes later, the photographer dropped two copies on their table.

  Katherine studied the pictures in the dim light of the candle glow. They made a good-looking couple, and it would be a lovely keepsake to remember him by.

  Jack peered over her shoulder. “You’re beautiful. I look like a rabbit caught in headlights.”

  Katherine gave him a playful smack on the arm and handed him one of the prints.

  “Could you keep mine for the moment?” Jack asked.

  “Sure.” She put them in her clutch bag, but wondered why he didn’t slip one into the inside pocket of his jacket. Perhaps he thought he would crush it. Was the whole photo idea just a ruse? Overwhelmed with negative thoughts, she wondered, had she lost her man radar? Shit.

  It was drawing close to midnight when Jack suggested they leave. As they shrugged into their coats and hats, Katherine noticed movement outside the glass doors. She laughed as Frank guided his horse-drawn sleigh to the kerb.