Page 69 of Snowfall Over Halesmere House
‘Ella, you are distracted. Concentrate please, you must not look quite so dismayed.’
She pursed her lips, thinking about the charity swim with Max tomorrow. From what Pearl had told her, now the dog shelter had put it on their own social media lots of people had taken an interest as well as donated, and a crowd of locals was expected. She would just have to grin and bear it after that crazy confession of love to Max.
‘How long will this take, Noelle? You know we’ve got the swim tomorrow; I can’t be in bed too late.’
Noelle ignored that to continue sketching, her hand flying over the easel. Ella’s arm, held up to her face, was already beginning to ache. She glanced at the clock. She’d give it ten more minutes and then she was out of here and getting straight back into her pyjamas. Somehow another fifteen minutes inched by and she rolled a shoulder.
‘Noelle, I’ll have to stop, sorry.’
Noelle sighed and checked the clock again. ‘Bon, Ella, we have done enough. You may go.’
‘Thanks.’
Dismissed as quickly as she’d been summoned, Ella bent to unfasten the sandals, and jumped as Noelle cried: ‘Non, leave them on. They suit you; they look perfect with your gown.’
Ella straightened, surprised to see Noelle holding her cosy pyjamas. ‘Thanks, but I think I’ll get changed. I’ve got to go back outside and it’s freezing.’ She held out a hand for the pyjamas, but Noelle backed away.
‘So? You are young, you will hardly feel the cold.’
‘May I have my pyjamas please?’ Ella inserted a firm note into her voice, but Noelle shook her head.
‘Non, Ella. Go home in your gown. Max is waiting for you in the house.’ Noelle’s face softened in a smile. ‘Just know that he has loved and lost, and he is cautious, it has always been his nature. But if you think I do not know what is going on, you are mistaken.’
‘Noelle, what are you talking about?’ Ella’s heart was racing, and her skin was beginning to tingle. ‘There’s nothing going on between us.’
‘Nonsense, it is perfectly simple. You are in love with him, and I know my son well enough to know he is in love with you. Now go. Out, before I throw these terrible pyjamas from my window, and you will never see them again!’
‘Noelle, you really are mad.’ Ella wanted to rush across the room and hug her, but didn’t dare; she’d probably slip on the wooden floor in these heels. ‘You’ve practically kidnapped me.’
Noelle threw back her head and laughed. ‘Oui, lovely Ella, life is so much more fun that way. And Max needed you out of the house. I cannot work in this light, it is abominable.’
Ella managed the stairs in a series of cautious steps. Outside, snow was falling, landing on her skin, melting as it met the goosebumps forming. The chiffon gown was almost nothing and could do little to prevent her from shivering as she hurried across the gravel. She pushed open the door to the house and the warming notes of classical music being beautifully played was the first thing to hit her already heightened senses.
Her eyes raced over to the piano to see Max, not playing as she had expected, but standing by it. Now Ella understood why Noelle had been so insistent she keep on the beautiful gown. He was in black tie and looked devastating, the white shirt sharp against the elegance of his beautifully cut jacket and trousers. Ella recognised a glimmer of nerves behind the smile hovering on his lips.
‘If you weren’t beside the piano I’d think it was you playing.’ Now she was here, apprehension, anticipation, desire were all tumbling through her stomach and her voice was a croak.
‘It is me. I recorded it and made a playlist. I couldn’t think of another way to play for you and dance together at the same time.’ He was walking towards her, and she swallowed as she saw him taking in the gown she was wearing. One very thin strap had slipped in the dash across the courtyard, and she went to pull it up.
‘Let me.’ His eyes were blazing on hers as he slid a finger beneath the strap and inched it back up her shoulder. Ella very nearly told him it was the wrong direction as he placed his other hand on her bare back. ‘You are going to the ball, Cinderella.’
‘That’s a terrible line.’ She was already melting like the snow on her skin as Max fitted her against him and she felt the silk lapel of his jacket next to her chest.
‘I know, I’m sorry,’ he murmured, his mouth against her temple. ‘I promise I’ve only just thought of it. Dance with me?’
‘Is this a waltz?’ She could only whisper as she tried to follow him across the wooden floor in the unfamiliar heels.
‘It’s the “Waltz of the Flowers” fromThe Nutcracker. Do you like it?’
‘I love it, mostly because you recorded it for me. I’m sorry for stepping on your feet.’
‘That’s okay, you’ll get better with practice.’
‘I really don’t think I can dance all night in these shoes.’
‘I wasn’t thinking we’d dance all night.’ He dropped his head to speak against her ear, his lips drifting to her neck. ‘I have other things beside dancing planned for our ball.’
‘Such as?’ Ella had never been swept across a floor quite like this and she was finding it almost impossible to think of anything other than his body against hers, his hand on her back holding her up as her knees started to give way.
