Page 24 of Staging Love
Camilla nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "Yeah," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "It's been seven and a half months, but sometimes it still doesn't feel real."
Jade wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. Camilla leaned into the embrace, drawing comfort from Jade's warmth.
"He was brilliant," she said. "Brilliant in business, alwayspushing for more, better, bigger. He loved Mom so much and he was a hopeless romantic around her but after she died, it was like he threw himself into work even more to avoid dealing with the grief. He never wanted to talk about her; I don’t think he could."
She paused, remembering the long days at the office, the quiet dinners where conversation revolved around sales figures and marketing strategies. "I think that's part of why I did the same after my father’s passing," she admitted. "It was easier to focus on the company than to face the empty spaces they left behind."
A tear slipped down Camilla's cheek, and Jade gently wiped it away with her thumb. "Oh, sweetheart," she murmured.
The term of endearment, spoken so naturally, made Camilla's heart swell. She turned her face into Jade's hand, pressing a kiss to her palm.
"It's okay," Camilla said, managing a small smile. "Being here, with you... it's helping. More than I ever expected."
"I'm glad," Jade said softly. "You deserve all the happiness in the world."
The sincerity in Jade's voice made Camilla's chest tighten with emotion. She wanted so badly in that moment to tell Jade everything - about the will, about the marriage clause, about how what had started as a business arrangement had become the most real thing in her life.
But the words stuck in her throat. She was afraid - afraid of bursting this bubble of happiness they'd created, afraid of tainting what they had with the complications of her inheritance. And if she was honest with herself, she was afraid of how Jade might react. Would she feel betrayed? Would she think that everything between them had been a calculated move on Camilla's part?
So instead of speaking, Camilla leaned in and kissed her, and Jade responded immediately, her lips soft and yielding against Camilla's.
The moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Girls?" Aunt Lara's voice called from the hallway. "Everyone's gathering downstairs for drinks before dinner. Are you almost ready?"
Camilla cleared her throat, trying to shake off the intensity of the moment. "Yes, Aunt Lara," she called back. "We'll be down in just a minute."
They heard Aunt Lara's footsteps retreating down the hallway. Jade stood, smoothing out her dress. "Well, I suppose we should make an appearance."
Camilla nodded, rising to her feet. When she moved to the full-length mirror and applied lipstick, she caught Jade's reflection watching her.
"What?" She met her eyes with a smile.
Jade shook her head, as if coming out of a daze. "Nothing. I just like watching you. You have this quiet grace about you. It's beautiful."
Camilla blushed at the compliment. She turned to face Jade, suddenly overwhelmed by the depth of her feelings for this woman who had been a stranger before they arrived.
She closed the distance between them, contemplating kissing Jade again with the risk of smudging her with lipstick, but another knock at the door startled them out of their reverie. This time, it was Theresa's voice that called out, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"If you two lovebirds are quite finished, the rest of the family is waiting. Some of us would like to eat sometime this century."
"We're coming!" Camilla called back, then turned toJade with a mischievous grin. "She’s just jealous. I bet she hasn’t been laid since Emma was conceived."
Chapter Eighteen
The grand dining room of the Parkes family estate had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Garlands of evergreen and holly adorned the walls, their rich green hues punctuated by the bright red of berries. Twinkling fairy lights were woven through the greenery, casting a warm, magical glow over the room. The enormous crystal chandelier that hung above the table had been adorned with delicate glass icicles, catching and refracting the light in mesmerizing patterns.
At the center of the long mahogany table stood an elaborate centerpiece – made of pine branches that surrounded tall candles. The fine china place settings gleamed in the soft light, each one accompanied by polished silver cutlery and crystal wine glasses.
Camilla glanced around at her family, all dressed in their holiday best. Aunt Vivian wore a shimmering gold cocktail dress, while Uncle Robert looked distinguished in a dark green velvet jacket. Of course the children, Emma and Jack, had been coaxed into festive attire too, though Jack was already fidgeting withhis bow tie.
The kitchen team had truly outdone themselves this year, pulling out all the stops to create a memorable feast. For the starter, they had served a delicate butternut squash soup, garnished with a swirl of crème fraîche and a sprinkling of toasted pumpkin seeds. The rich, velvety texture and warm, comforting flavors had set the perfect tone for the meal to come.
The main course had been a masterpiece of culinary artistry – a perfectly roasted rack of lamb, its exterior crisp and golden, and tender and pink within, accompanied by a medley of roasted winter vegetables glazed with honey and herbs and creamy dauphinoise potatoes.
As the main course was cleared away and dessert was being prepared, Uncle Robert stood at the head of the table, tapping his wine glass with a spoon to call for attention. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to him expectantly.
"If I could have everyone's attention for a moment," he began. "I'd like to propose a toast."
Camilla felt a flutter of anticipation in her stomach. Her uncle's toasts were always heartfelt, often touching on family history and shared memories. She reached for her wine glass, her other hand finding Jade's under the table.
