by Alyssia Leon
The doorbell rang, startling her.
Nathan?
Her heart doing a mile a minute, she quickly swiped a hand over her yellow top and loose cotton trousers to remove any stray bits of sewing thread before hurrying to the front door and opening it.
“Hey, sleeping beauty.” Lisa grinned at her.
Aura had to hold on to her smile to keep it from dropping.
Lisa’s face was artfully made up and her long blonde hair had been styled into romantic waves that flowed down her back. The whole princess look was at odds with the old jeans and cream wool coat she wore, and the oversized bag slung over her shoulder.
Aura gasped. “Oh my god, your date!”
“You forgot?” Lisa giggled and stepped into the house. “Loverboy has been keeping you busy if you forgot about me so fast. The dress is ready, isn’t it? Or am I stepping out in these fine tatty jeans tonight?” She swept a hand over her jeans.
Aura closed the front door. “Of course it’s ready. And I didn’t forget.” She led the way to the sewing room.
“Uh-huh,” Lisa said as she followed. “Where is he anyway? Don’t tell me he’s holed up in his room working on Valentine’s Day. He’s supposed to take you out and paint the town red.”
Heat scorched Aura’s cheeks as she took Lisa’s covered dress from the wardrobe and laid it on the cutting table.
Lisa squinted at her. “Why have you gone all tomato? Ooh, he has, hasn’t he? He’s gone off somewhere and left you all alone on Valentine’s Day.”
“It’s not like he has to do anything for me.” Aura averted her eyes from her friend’s piercing gaze. “It’s not that kind of relationship.”
“Well, that’s mighty handy for Nathan.”
Aura shrugged, her expression carefully neutral. “I’m not that bothered.” She paused with her hand on the zip of the black plastic cover. “Now, are you ready to see your dress, or not?”
Lisa grinned and clasped her hands together. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
Aura opened the cover and carefully lifting the dress out, held it up beneath the warm white of the ceiling light.
It was blush pink, high-waisted and A-line. It came to just above the knee and the gently flaring skirt was made up of many delicate pieces of cloth sewn one over the other to look like new spring leaves.
Lisa clapped her hands over her mouth and stared at it wide-eyed.
“Do you like it?” Aura asked.
“Oh my god, Aura, it’s stunning.” She reached for it. “I’ve just got to try it on.”
“You bought the shoes, didn’t you?” Aura went to look in the shoulder bag as Lisa shimmied out of her walking boots and the rest of her clothes.
“Yep, shoes, purse, the whole kaboodle. Everything a girl needs to be going out with.”
Fishing out the cream high-heeled pumps, Aura took them back to her. Lisa slipped on the shoes and Aura moved behind her to do up the hidden zip at the back of the dress.
She turned Lisa around and stood back with a broad smile, admiring her creation. The dress was a perfect fit, the deep v-neck enhancing Lisa’s pretty cleavage and the waistband accentuating her nipped-in waist. “Perfect, if I say so myself.”
“Let me see.” Lisa opened the wardrobe door and gazed at her reflection in the long mirror there. She shook her head in wonder. “I can’t believe it. I don’t even look like me anymore.”
“It’s not the dress, really. You’ve got the kind of figure men would kill just to see.”
And with her shiny blonde locks and perfect hourglass figure, Lisa looked the part of the fairytale princess to perfection, while Aura was just pretending, having been lumbered with the name. Lisa was the sort of woman Nathan usually went for in a heartbeat.
With a silent sigh, Aura bit back her envy. It wasn’t fair on Lisa to think like that. Hopefully her date tonight would be worthy of her. “Your mystery man, he knows to pick you up from here, doesn’t he?”
Lisa grinned, twirling around in front of the mirror, trying to catch sight of herself from all angles. “Sure girl, I’m no fool. I’m not going to give him my real address, am I? He could be a stalker or a serial killer, or heaven forbid, a dog lover.”
Aura smirked. “Gee, thanks a bunch for landing me with him then.”
“Don’t worry, babe, you’re so innocent looking no one will hurt you. Besides, you have big brawny Nathan here to protect you.”
Aura rolled her eyes. If only she did have him.
The doorbell rang and Lisa clasped her hands together again, doing a little jig on the spot. “It’s him! You get it. I’m too nervous.”
“Don’t be. You’ll blow him away. Just wait and see.”
Aura hurried to the front door and opened it.
There in the evening sunset, stood a tall, lean young man with mousy-brown hair that swept across his brow and grazed the round glasses over his cornflower-blue eyes. He was dressed in a neat brown overcoat over dark grey trousers and polished black oxfords.
He smiled at her, his whole face changing from good-looking to striking in a beat. “Hi, I’m Gary.” He suddenly remembered the lone red rose he clutched in his hand and held it out rather shyly. “For you.”
Aura jumped back as if the rose had sprouted pointy teeth and snapped at her. “No, not me. You’re here for Lisa.”
Gary’s cheeks glowed pink. “Oh, bugger. I’m so sorry. I thought you were—”
“No, it’s fine. I really should have introduced myself. I’m her friend Aura.”
He still stood there looking mortified and she caught him by the elbow. “Come on in. Lisa’s nearly ready.”
“Oh, right… thank you.”
He stepped into the warm hallway and she closed the door after him.
He smiled at her, seeming to search for a topic to cover his earlier embarrassment. “It’s rather cold out. Not raining though, so that’s quite nice. I suppose…” His voice trailed off as Lisa came out of the sewing room.
Aura stepped towards her. “Lisa, this is Gary. Gary. Lisa.”
Lisa smiled at him, but Gary just stood there and gaped.
Aura regarded him. Should she nudge him and tell him to scrape his jaw off the floor?
Luckily, Lisa wasn’t so overcome. She stepped forward with her hand outstretched to shake his. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Gary.”
Gary hinged his jaw back together and his wide-eyed gaze flicked from Lisa’s face to the elegant hand she held out. Taking it, he bowed and planted a kiss on it.
Lisa stiffened and goggled at Aura over his bent head.
Straightening, he held the rose out to her. “For my love is like a red red rose.”
Aura hid a grin.
Lisa looked like someone had smacked her with a wet haddock. Her mouth was open in shock and her eyes bulged. Reaching out on automatic, she snatched the rose from him and clutched it to her. “Th–thank you… I need a moment to get ready, would you mind…” She looked at Aura for help.
But Gary answered with a nervous grin. “Sure.” He nodded towards the half-open door of the living room. “I’ll wait in there, shall I?”
Aura nodded, moving to open the door fully for him. “Can I get you something to drink while you wait? We have tea or coffee.”
He followed her in and plopped down on the couch. “No, I’m fine thanks.” He took off his glasses and wiped a hand across his forehead, shoving his brown locks back. “Rather nervous as it is. I don’t need more fluid messing up the waterworks.”
Aura hid another grin as she left him.
Lisa grabbed her arm as soon as she came out into the hallway and pulled her into the sewing room, closing the door behind them.
“Oh my god,” Lisa whispered, fanning herself dramatically with the hand that wasn’t holding the rose.
“Is that a good Oh my god or bad?”
“I don’t know. He’s not what I expected… The way he talks…”
Aura blinked at her in surprise. “I thought he was lovely, the ros
e and that little snippet of poetry. And the way he was staring at you, like you’re the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. He’s a tad nervous, but that’s quite sweet too.”
“But don’t you think he’s a bit too pretty and sweet for me? I mean, I usually end up with the rough rugged ones.” She went to the open wardrobe and checked herself in front of the mirror again.
Aura watched her from the door, not missing the way Lisa’s fingers trembled as she adjusted her dress. How much of this reluctance was down to nervousness? It was tough imagining Lisa being nervous about anything, but the more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. “You wanted someone more considerate and kind, remember?”
Lisa spun around from the mirror, wringing her hands. “He just seems so… What if I can’t keep up with him? What if he finds out I’m really dumb as soon as I open my mouth and then decides to bail on me half way?”
Aura gasped. Was that how Lisa saw herself? She rushed to her friend and caught her by her shoulders. “Never put yourself down like that. You’re a gorgeous woman, a wonderful mother, and a true friend. Any man should be grateful to have a chance with you.”
“But—”
“But nothing. Gary’s in the other room waiting for you, and from the look of him, he doesn’t want to be anywhere else right now.” She released her hold on Lisa’s shoulders and stepped back, staring down at her own fluffy house slippers. “At least he turned up when it mattered. That’s such a huge compliment.”
Lisa clasped Aura’s face in both hands, forcing her to look up. “You really wanted Nathan to be here, didn’t you?”
Aura smiled, and leaning in, placed a kiss on her friend’s cheek. “We don’t all get what we want, but maybe you will. Give Gary a chance. He might surprise you.”
“You’re right. It’s not like the rugged type I’ve been with hung around when the going got tough. Besides, it’s just a date, and Gary had the decency to turn up like he said he would. That’s a promising start.”
“That’s the spirit. You ready then?”
With a nod, Lisa went and took a cream clutch and a shawl from her shoulder bag, and drawing herself up tall, walked out of the sewing room.
Aura shooed her into the living room, and then as she stepped back to wait in the hallway, the doorbell chimed again. She nearly jumped out of her skin.
Nervously licking dry lips, she opened the front door.
13
“Miss Aura Willis?”
A man in a black suit and chauffeur’s hat stood outside, his face partially obscured by the thick bunch of red roses he held up.
Nathan’s chauffeur. Where was Nathan?
A small frown touched her brow. “That’s me.”
“These are for you, Miss Willis.” He passed her the gold-wrapped roses and she had to stretch her arms wide to hug them.
Lisa gasped behind her.
“Here, let me help you with those.” Gary reached out and took the heavy bunch from her.
She surrendered it willingly, and turned back to the chauffeur.
“Mr Travers requests your company for dinner tonight, at the Belgravia, Miss.”
Her eyebrows rose. The Belgravia in Leeds was one of the finest hotels in Yorkshire. The sort of place you gawked at as you passed, but dared not step into because even a glass of water would cost you the same as a smallish house.
The chauffeur waited patiently for her answer. The sleek black Bentley that had brought Nathan to Langley a few days ago was parked in front of her gate, but Nathan wasn’t there.
“What’s your name?” she asked the man.
He touched the tip of his cap, a smile in his warm brown eyes. “George, Miss.”
“Well, George. It’s very kind of Nathan… er… Mr Travers, but…” She glanced down at her plain home clothes. “I’m not sure—”
“She needs to get ready, is what she’s trying to say.” Lisa pushed up beside her and poked her head out the doorway with a smile. “Won’t be long. Why don’t you come in and have a cup of tea?”
Aura shot Lisa a glare, which her friend blithely ignored before hustling Aura back from the front door so George could step in.
“Don’t mind if I do,” George said, taking off his hat and running a hand over his cropped salt-and-pepper hair.
“Gary, would you mind?” Lisa smiled sweetly at Gary. “The kitchen’s through there.”
“No problem.” Gary nodded amicably and turned to George. “So, you’re not from around here?”
“London actually,” George said, following Gary into the kitchen. “But I’m here as long as the Boss is.”
With a murderous look, Aura pushed Lisa into the sewing room and closed the door. “Why did you say that? I’m not going anywhere.”
“A minute ago, you were upset Nathan wasn’t here, and now you want to turn him down flat?”
“He still isn’t here!”
“But he wants you with him tonight, Aura. That’s something, isn’t it?”
Aura stalked to the cutting table and stared at her designs on the cork board. “All he had to do was come back home. I don’t need all this show. The roses. The chauffeur. And the Belgravia! I’m not the sort of person who goes to places like the Belgravia.”
“But you’ll go there for Nathan.”
Aura spun around and glared at her friend.
Lisa scowled back at her. “Think about it, Aura. Maybe this is all he knows. This is Nathan. A bit like Gary and his poetry. And if you love him like I think you do, then you’ll have to accept him as he is. All of him.”
“I don’t—”
“Oh please.” Lisa gave a dismissive flick of her hand. “It’s written all over you whenever you mention his name. You love that guy like there’s no tomorrow.”
“But he doesn’t love me.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I’m not that naive that I believe great sex equals love.” Aura said, with a pointed look at her friend. “You’re right. I’ve always loved Nathan, but I know I don’t mean anything to him.”
“All right. If you’re so sure he feels nothing for you, why not go and put your cards on the table tonight? Tell him you love him and ask what he plans to do about it.”
Aura shook her head. “I can’t…”
“Look, if he doesn’t love you, then dragging this relationship on will only hurt you more later. You’ve got to know, Aura. If he’s not truly yours, then end it now, because he won’t stay anyway.”
Aura paused, but Lisa was right. This thing between Nathan and her lived or died tonight. She nodded. “I’ll go.”
Lisa grinned. “Excellent!”
“But I don’t have anything to wear that’s good enough for the Belgravia.”
“You’ve got to have something.” Lisa strode to the wardrobe, where all the dresses were hidden in their black covers. “What about one of the dresses you were making? That blue one for Mrs Carthers. She won’t mind if you take it for a test drive.”
“She may not…” Aura said, coming to stand beside her. “But since I’m not a buxom fifty-something, I doubt I’ll rock it quite the same.” She reached for a dress cover. “I have the black one I wore for that date with Bill.”
“Black? For Valentines? No way! Besides, isn’t Nathan sort of responsible for your black hang-up?”
“I don’t have anything else.”
“Right. Then you wear this.” Lisa reached back to pull down the zip of her pink dress.
“No!” Aura grabbed her hand. “All right. Fine. I may have something.”
Lisa smirked. “Thought you might. Come on. Show.”
With a resigned shake of her head, Aura reached into the wardrobe and pulled out the dress cover right at the end. She laid it on the cutting table and opened it to reveal the red dress inside.
“Oh, wow. Just wow,” Lisa breathed. She ran a reverent hand over the detailed lace of the bodice and the soft layers of the skirt. “You had this all the time and you never showed me?”
>
“I never planned on wearing it.”
“You are so going to wear this tonight.”
“But it’s just the dress. I have nothing else to go with it. No shoes. No bag. Nothing.”
“Never fear, Cinderella. Leave it to your fairy godmother, Lisa. You have the perfect dress. Your carriage awaits. And you shall go to the ball tonight and capture your prince’s heart. But first we need to go raid your mother’s wardrobe.”
* * *
Aura’s eyes widened as she stepped into the Belgravia’s exclusive restaurant. The dark wood and cream decor was enriched for Valentines with red up-lighting along the walls and pillars, giving the tables and high-backed chairs a gentle romantic glow. The scene was completed with red candles on all the tables and soft instrumental music from a live band at one end of the restaurant.
The atmosphere was meant to seduce, and it was doing a wonderful job going by the way various couples were leaning into each other at their tables.
She clutched her mother’s dark-pink purse and walked further in. The place was full, and she sent a mental thank-you to Lisa for dressing her to perfection. In her flowing one-shoulder gown, red open-toe pumps, soft face-framing dark curls, and make-up that managed to make her lips fuller and green eyes larger, she could pretend she belonged in a place like this. The women wore jewellery that flashed and caught the light and the men wore elegant suits. None of it looked cheap.
She paused and glanced around. Several pairs of eyes had turned to her, but strangely she no longer wanted to run and hide. She stood straighter, looking around for the one pair of silver-grey eyes that mattered to her.
A short, slight man with slicked back hair, a black tailcoat and bowtie, came to her and dipped his head in a small bow. “Can I be of service?”
He had to be the maitre d’.
“Mr Travers? …I’m supposed to be meeting him.”
“Of course. If you’ll follow me.”
He led her deeper into the restaurant, where the lighting changed, becoming more golden red, and the tables were larger and spaced further apart. They approached a gently lit section that had been partitioned off with a waist-high ornate wooden divider, giving the four tables there a certain degree of privacy from the rest of the restaurant. A couple sat at each table, except the one at the back, where Nathan lounged alone, a whiskey tumbler in his hand.
