And yet something Luke had said had made him think that perhaps he was wrong about Dan and Juliet. When he had told Luke what he had seen on Friday night, of which Luke was apparently unaware, and of what he had seen again in the pub this morning, Luke had shrugged and laughed.
'They've known each other all their lives and they're exactly the same age, bar one month. Of course they're going to be close. But if Juliet has feelings for Dan, she definitely hasn't told Zoe. And Zoe says that she thinks Dan may be gay. I know he looks like a strapping, athletic kind of guy, but he's certainly got a strong feminine side.'
'He calls her darling all the time,' Harrison said. 'He doesn't do that to anyone else. Not that I've heard, at least.'
'But she doesn't call him darling, does she?'
That much was true.
'Every time I see them together they've got their arms around one another,' Harrison moaned.
'But have you actually seen them kiss? Not a kiss on the cheek. I've seen them do that. A real kiss. On the lips.'
He hadn't. But perhaps they didn't like to be overly demonstrative in public.
'There's only one way to find out, bro,' Luke had said. 'Just ask Juliet.'
'That may not be as simple as it sounds.'
'Of course it is. You simply ask her if she's dating Dan, or anyone else? I'd ask her myself, but you've forbidden me from telling her how you feel. Although I suppose I could ask her if she's dating anyone. As her future brother-in-law that shouldn't sound too creepy. I wouldn't want her to think I'm interested for myself. And Zoe would kill me if she thought that. On second thoughts, ask her yourself. And do it tonight. You're not getting any younger, you know.'
'Thanks. I'll bear that in mind.'
And he had been thinking of little else all day.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Once again Luke came to collect them, but this time Bernard didn't have to ask him to slow down. From the moment he left their front door to the second he arrived at The Grange and pulled up between the two large, brightly lit Christmas trees, he drove at a sensible speed in the icy conditions.
'It's going to snow again tonight,' Bernard said. 'And it's even forecast for tomorrow. I can't recall the last time we had snow on Christmas Day.'
'It was when we lived at The Grange,' Rosa said, snuggled on the back seat beside Juliet, who was seated in the middle between Rosa and Zoe. 'The year before we moved out. I can remember because the boiler broke down on Christmas Eve and we couldn't get anyone out to fix it until the day after Boxing Day. We had to have fires in every room. But at least we didn't have guests that year. We had started to tighten our purse strings.' She gave a little cough. 'But Luke, the house looks marvellous. You all must have been working very hard.'
Luke laughed. 'Harrison's a slave driver. Only joking. But he certainly knew exactly what he wanted and was determined to get it done in time. What do you think of it, Juliet?'
Her astonishment had increased the closer they had got to the house. 'I think it's spectacular. It reminds me of all the Christmases we spent here. And I know it sounds ridiculous, but the house itself looks happier.'
'That's exactly what Harrison said when we stood outside at dusk. He asked Daphne to turn on all the lights and as the house went from darkness to row upon row of fairy lights, he said it was as if the house had actually smiled, and somehow grown in stature as if it were bursting with pride.' Luke chuckled and threw a quick grin at Juliet as he engaged the handbrake and switched off the engine. 'I told him he must be suffering from exhaustion and was clearly delusional. Either that or he'd started downing a bottle or two of the festive spirit ahead of the rest of us.'
Juliet couldn't help but smile as she got out of the car. She wished she had been standing beside Harrison when he had said that. She would have liked to have seen his face. She glanced towards the door, but this time he didn't come out to greet them.
Another car pulled up beside Luke's and Dan and his entire family piled out. It was a good thing Kevin had an eight-seater.
'Hello darling.' Dan ran over to Juliet and hugged her. Lowering his voice he said, 'I told the family we had to be here at spot on seven. I've got to see the grump's face when he lays his eyes on that dress.'
'I'm feeling really nervous,' Juliet whispered back.
'I'll hold your hand, darling until we get inside.'
He took her hand in his as she waved at Paula, Kevin, Mr and Mrs D, and Noah. She was surprised to see Noah. As the vicar of St Clement's she thought he would be holding an evening service, in addition to preparing for Midnight Mass.
'Who's holding the services this evening, Noah?' Rosa asked, as if reading Juliet's thoughts.
'We had a service between six and seven, but Daniel came and virtually dragged me out at a few minutes to the hour. Having said that, the church was as good as empty. I assume everyone is either on their way, or preparing to come here. I'm expecting everybody at Midnight Mass. And I hope that includes all of you.'
He smiled at Juliet's family, who all nodded enthusiastically.
'There's a first time for everything,' Zoe whispered, beside Juliet. 'You're coming too, Luke.'
'I'll happily go with you. That'll mean I'll actually see you first thing on Christmas morning. What time does it end? Around one a.m.?'
Zoe shrugged. 'No idea. I've never been before. Let's get inside. It's freezing out here.'
Everyone piled inside, but Dan held Juliet back. 'You want to make an entrance, darling. Not go in with the herd. You need him to wonder where you are, and to look for you. And if we go in last, he won't be in a rush to take the coats from anyone behind us.'
'When did you get so good at this?'
He rolled his eyes. 'Years of practice, darling. Right. They've all gone in. If we amble slowly, we should time it perfectly.'
Dan was right. When they walked inside the door, Luke was helping Daphne take coats from everyone in front of them. Harrison must have already taken one armful and hung them up, because when Juliet and Dan stood in front of him, he only had one other coat draped over his arm, as he cheerily wished them Merry Christmas.
In what obviously seemed to Harrison to be an ungentlemanly gesture, if the expression on his face was anything to go by, Dan stepped in front of Juliet and took off his coat, handing it to Harrison with a beaming smile. And then, instead of waiting for Juliet, he walked away and stood beside the sitting room door, turning back to look at them, with his hands shoved in his pockets.
Harrison's frown followed Dan for a moment, and then he turned his attention back to Juliet. Daphne and Luke had left with their arms full of coats, and everyone else had made their way to the sitting room, effectively leaving Harrison and Juliet alone.
Exactly as Dan had shown her, Juliet slowly removed the snood that was covering her hair and neck and was gratified to see Harrison's eyes widen as inch by inch her expertly styled, up do, with delicately curled tendrils hanging at intervals each side, was revealed. He didn't say a word when she gently laid the snood across his forearm, whilst looking directly into his eyes.
A moment later, she turned away from him and slowly and seductively, slid off her coat. The first thing he would see were the gossamer, emerald green and gold strands, dotted with the finest, lightest glitter, like the delicate web of a spider after a morning frost, criss-crossing her naked back.
His eyes would then take in the emerald green velvet of the skirt, which clung to her from her waist to just below her thighs, from where sliver after sliver of alternating, emerald green and gold organza flowed to points, an inch or so below her knees.
Then she would turn, ensuring her coat was held in one hand, away from her body, so that his gaze would fall on the fitted velvet, low-cut bodice, encased in the sheerest emerald green organza covering her décolletage and arms.
As Dan had said when he saw it, the dress revealed nothing, and yet, in a way, everything at the same time.
'And it won't take a genius,' Dan had added, 'to r
ealise that there won't be any underwear beneath that dress.'
From the look on Harrison's face as Juliet handed him her coat, Harrison had figured that much out.
'Merry Christmas, Harrison,' she said, looking deep into his smouldering eyes, and smiling. 'The house looks magical tonight. And there's even a full moon. It's enough to make you believe that anything could happen.' Then she sashayed towards Dan, desperately hoping that she wouldn't topple over in her high-heeled, glittering emerald, evening shoes, because she was absolutely certain that Harrison was watching her every move.
Dan smiled as she reached him, linked her arm through his, and whispered in her ear.
'Bloody hell, darling. That was even better than I expected. The man can't take his eyes off you. This evening should be fun.'
'I need a drink,' Juliet said. 'A large one.'
'Don't forget,' Dan added. 'Throw the man a little smile before we disappear from view.'
She took a deep breath, slowly turning her head until her eyes met Harrison's. A brief smile; the merest lick of her lips, and she turned away again. But not before she saw his jaw drop towards his chest. She could almost hear the gasp escape him.
She wanted to jump for joy. But she didn't want to risk it in her shoes. She would probably break her ankle.
'God. That felt good. Who knew that deep down, I'm nothing but a flirt?'
'You're a goddess, darling. Goddesses don't flirt. They merely mesmerise. Now all we have to do is get rid of Kiki, and find a way to make sure you and Harrison can be alone. But I'm telling you now, if I see that man frown or scowl at you, I'm going to punch him in the face. The season of goodwill, or not.'
Juliet laughed. 'I might do that myself if he tells me to get lost.'
'The man is a grump, darling. Not a complete idiot.'
'Champagne?' Luke appeared from the hall, with Zoe by his side, and a waiter who was carrying a tray of glasses filled virtually to the brim.
'You've got staff?' Juliet was surprised.
'We've got caterers,' Luke said. 'Don't ask me how at such short notice, but it seems that Kiki was right. Money can buy anything.'
Juliet stiffened. 'When did she say that?'
Luke shrugged and glanced at Zoe. 'At the pub on Monday night, I think. Here.' He handed Juliet and Dan a glass. And then his eyes opened wide and he looked Juliet up and down. 'Wow. That's some dress. You and Zoe are determined to outshine everyone tonight.'
Zoe's dress was black, tight-fitting crêpe, with tiny silver hearts embroidered down the gossamer sleeves, but the rest of the dress was plain, and straight, and very sexy. Although according to Dan who helped Zoe choose it, not quite as sexy as Juliet's.
'Thanks,' said Juliet.
'Has Harrison seen it?' There was a look of devilment in Luke's eyes.
'Yes,' she said, with a smile. 'He's seen it.'
A huge grin spread across Luke's face. 'I think tonight is going to be interesting.'
'I hope so,' Juliet replied.
Luke and Dan both burst out laughing and Zoe grinned and winked.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Harrison wasn't sure what was happening to him. Was he having a heart attack? Or just palpitations? From the moment he had seen Juliet's hair, he had felt the craziest urge to slide his hands into either side, and gently pull her towards him, kissing her glistening, dark cherry lips. And when she had turned her back to him he wanted to get caught in that fabric spiderweb. To say he was knocked for six when she turned around again to face him was an understatement. Had the world spun off its axis? For a moment he was sure it had. She had smiled at him and spoken those words – and the entire universe tilted into an uncontrollable spin. How could one woman make him feel like that?
What was even more distressing, was that he definitely hadn't had the slightest effect on her composure. She was cool, seductive and mind-blowingly sexy, and it didn't even look as if she was trying. And when she tossed him that tiny breadcrumb of a smile as she walked away on that bloody man's arm, he wanted to run after her, get down on his knee, and beg her to marry him right then and there.
But of course, all that would have achieved would have been to make him look like an even bigger fool than he was. She would obviously have said no. She may have even laughed.
He looked down at her coat and snood, shook his head and walked towards the closet, where he hung them up with the others. He was about to go and get a drink, because, boy, did he need one, when the doorbell rang. The only guests he had planned to meet at the door was of course Juliet and her family, so he quickly caught the eye of one of the staff he had employed for the evening, and asked him to 'do the honours'. Then he quickly dashed into the sitting room and grabbed two glasses of champagne.
'Is one of those for me?' Kiki asked, as she sidled up to him.
He shook his head. 'Nope. Sorry Kiki. I need them both.' But he nodded to one of the waiters and the man brought over a tray containing several more.
Harrison emptied one glass and grabbed another as Kiki helped herself.
'Thank you for letting me stay,' she said. 'I can't believe there weren't any flights at all.'
He shrugged. 'Well, it is Christmas. You're welcome to stay as long as you like, Kiki. But I need to ask you something.'
'Yes?' She turned to face him and smiled.
'Did you, by any chance, go to Juliet's room when she was here?'
Kiki shrugged. 'Yes. Just to say hello. I told you I had.'
'Did you?' He frowned. 'I don't remember that. Did you also tell her that you and I were in some sort of relationship?'
'I told her I had been your assistant for several years, and that you and my brother are friends.'
'And that was it?'
She shrugged again. 'I believe so. Why? Has she said anything different?'
'Yes. But I thought she was imagining it. And I can't remember exactly what she said.'
'Well, it's hardly important, is it? This looks like it could be a fun evening.'
He nodded. 'I hope so. Even Grandfather's smiling. And he seems to be standing without using his cane.'
'I noticed that.' She gave Harrison an odd look. 'He's nothing like I expected. I thought he would be some sort of ogre. He's really rather nice.'
'I told you not to believe anything he said.'
'I know you did. Don't worry, Harrison. I'm a big girl. I can look after myself.'
Harrison smiled. 'I don't doubt that for a second. Excuse me. I think I should be mingling. Have fun.'
'Oh, I intend to.'
Harrison gave her a quick look as he walked away. That almost sounded as though she had something planned. But he wasn't interested in that. He had been scanning the room for Juliet from the moment he entered, and finally he had caught a glimpse of her. She was walking out into the hall. He grabbed another two glasses of champagne from a tray as he passed, leaving his empty glasses in their place, and followed Juliet.
She was walking towards the French windows, leading out onto the terrace at the back of the house. Surely she wasn't thinking of going outside without a coat? It was freezing out there. He needn't have worried. She stopped in front of one set of windows and peered through the glass, as a stream of moonlight bathed her from head to toe.
'It's a beautiful night,' he said, as he drew close.
She spun around, a startled look on her face, her hand on her chest.
'Sorry,' he added. 'I didn't mean to startle you. I seem to be doing that a lot.'
She looked like a frightened doe. Her gaze darted from side to side as if searching for an escape. Was she scared of him?
'Are you okay, Juliet? There's really no need to be frightened. I wouldn't dream of harming a hair of your head.' He stopped in his tracks to prove his point.
She let out a sigh, and shook her head, her tendrils of hair gleaming silver in the moonlight.
'I know you wouldn't. I'm not frightened of you. I ...' She shrugged her shoulders and gave an odd little smile. 'I was embarrass
ed for being caught.'
'Caught?'
'I was looking at the lake. You can just see a glimpse of it from here. I can still remember how beautiful it looks on a night like this, with the moon trailing across it. It'll be glittering as if it were a pool of diamonds under the snow and ice. I wanted to see it. I'm sorry.'
Harrison let out a breath. 'You don't need to be sorry. And you certainly don't need to be embarrassed. You're welcome to go anywhere you want in this house. To look at anything you want.'
'I don't think your grandad would agree.'
'It's got nothing to do with him.'
She shook her head slowly, but didn't respond.
'If you want to look at the lake,' he added. 'I can get our coats and we can go for a walk.'
She lifted her foot a fraction. 'In these heels?'
'Good point.' A smile crept onto his lips. 'There is another option.'
'Oh?'
'The Lake room has the perfect view.'
She nodded. 'I know. But I thought it was a bit cheeky to wander into one of the bedrooms.'
His smile broadened. His heart picked up a beat or two. 'I'm sure no one will mind. I can go with you. That way you'll have permission.'
She hesitated. Her brows furrowed the merest fraction and she gave him a questioning look.
'Could we? I really would love to see it.'
'Absolutely. So would I. Come on.'
He nodded his head in the direction of the stairs and she hurried to his side. He handed her one of the glasses and she took it with a smile.
'Thank you for this.'
'The champagne?'
She tutted. 'You know that wasn't what I meant.'
He smiled. 'You're very welcome. So, you think the house looks magical?'
He could see the colour flood into her cheeks and her eyelashes flickered for a moment.
'It does.'
Bells and Bows on Mistletoe Row Page 15