A Cosy Candlelit Christmas: A wonderfully festive feel good romance (An Unforgettable Christmas Book 2)

by Tilly Tennant

  He laughed. ‘Put the radio on. I don’t want you to slip into a coma.’

  ‘That would make for some very awkward silences,’ Isla agreed. She turned to the window as he chuckled and the town began to move across her vision. There were thick clouds on the horizon, but they looked harmless enough and there was even the occasional chink of blue. Her mood was lighter than it had been for days and now that she was out she was looking forward to her trip. Seb promised to be good company too, better than she’d anticipated, and already she could see a wicked sense of fun lurking beneath that nerdy and eccentric exterior. If she could see past the mad bow-tie collection he might even be considered attractive. She’d have to remember to get his number at some point, just so she could pass it on to Dodie.

  Isla fiddled with the tuner on the radio; the stations were quite predictably in French but she managed to drop onto one playing contemporary pop songs she knew from the charts back home. She flicked a glance at Seb.

  ‘I suppose you hate this sort of music,’ she asked. Though she thought she detected a tiny grimace he shook his head.

  ‘It doesn’t bother me; I’m happy to concentrate on the roads and I doubt you’ll find any of my taste on the commercial stations anyway.’

  ‘So, that’s a yes.’

  ‘No,’ he said with a slight smile. ‘I don’t hate it – I just don’t listen to it given a choice.’

  ‘So what do you listen to… hang on – let me guess. Classical? Swing? Jazz?’

  ‘A bit of all of those,’ he said. ‘I don’t really listen to a set genre, I just like real music with heart and feeling.’

  ‘Boring music then?’

  ‘Some would say that I suppose,’ he laughed.

  ‘I could turn the radio off—’

  ‘Please…’ he cut in. ‘Don’t do that. Honestly, I’m happy to listen to whatever you want to listen to.’

  They were silent for a moment as Seb kept the speed low while they were in the village. After a brief period he spoke again.

  ‘I was hoping to get away with it, but in the end I decided to put the snow chains on,’ he said. ‘I hope they’re not too distracting for you.’

  It was only then that she registered the gentle bump of the car along the road. It wasn’t annoying, and she only felt grateful that at least they were guaranteed some traction. Isla had never actually had to use them before – when it snowed at home she just did her best not to go out in it – so she was glad she hadn’t been driving out here alone or she would have ended up stuck for sure. She was also glad that Seb seemed to know what he was doing. He handled the car so deftly that she felt safe in the knowledge they’d reach their destination in one piece.

  The low wooden farms and chalets clinging to the slopes began to give way to open vistas of majestic snow-capped peaks, their flanks scored by rivers of rock and ice. It was hard not to feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of them, an endless stretch of giant after giant unlike anything she’d seen before. As they drove Seb pointed out things of interest, like a lone ibex standing sentry on a terrifying-looking outcrop and a frozen waterfall like something from a fairy tale. He talked her through geological features, myths and legends of the region and the origins of place names and soon she’d stopped noticing what was on the radio. She was enjoying his company, and strangely, she was beginning to realise that his company alone was enough. She didn’t need to see lakes or glaciers or mountain goats – she was happy just chatting to Seb.

  ‘So you went out yesterday? With that chap I saw you with in the morning? Somewhere interesting?’

  ‘Justin,’ Isla said, thrown by the abrupt change of subject and suddenly feeling it was a question to make her squirm. ‘He’s my cousin,’ she added, feeling that such an answer would fend off any more awkward enquiries. The fact that he wasn’t really her cousin, and that she’d almost snogged his face off at Serendipity Sound was something she wasn’t about to add to what little information she was volunteering.

  ‘Oh. Is that why you’re here? To visit family? I thought you were travelling alone.’

  He sounded relieved. Isla tried not to think about what that might mean.

  ‘I am travelling alone. It’s sort of complicated but, yes, I am sort of visiting family. But sort of not.’

  ‘There seems to be a lot of unexpected variables there.’

  ‘I suppose so. To be truthful I don’t know myself what to tell you about it.’

  ‘Do you want to tell me anything? I don’t want to pry if it’s going to cause you discomfort. But at the same time, I’m happy to listen if it makes you feel better to talk.’

  ‘That’s sweet of you. I suppose when I say it all out loud it doesn’t sound like as big a deal as I’m making it in my head. Besides, I think we’re close to sorting it now. Let’s just say my father and I have been separated for a long time and this trip was to see if we could mend things between us.’

  ‘And has it?’

  She nodded. ‘I think so. We’re making progress at least.’

  ‘So if your father’s here then how did you end up living in England?’

  ‘Ian’s Scottish. He moved around a lot, or he seemed to, because he met my mum when he was working away from home on the south coast. Then he moved here when… well, he moved here and that’s why I haven’t seen him for such a long time.’

  ‘Ian?’

  ‘My dad.’

  ‘You don’t call him Dad?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  Silence enveloped the car for a moment. And then Seb spoke again.

  ‘I didn’t mean to pry.’

  ‘You didn’t. I volunteered the information – remember? And actually, I feel weirdly lots better for sharing it.’

  ‘My shoulders are broad if you want to share some more. Anything I can do to make you feel better still would be my pleasure.’

  Isla looked across at him. His gaze was trained straight ahead, concentrating on the icy highway, his brow creased slightly, one mischievous lock of hair curling across an eye. He blew it away, but it simply dropped back again. His eyelashes were incredibly long, and she’d never really noticed that before. And the freckles across his nose and cheeks had a distinct symmetry to them that was sort of handsome. She’d never considered freckles to be handsome before. She didn’t doubt for a moment that he’d do anything in his power to bring happiness to the people he encountered – instinctively anyone who met him would be able to tell he was that sort of a man. Kind and sweet and generous. It wouldn’t be so bad to share her woes with him, and she was certain she’d feel a lot better afterwards. And then she realised she was staring silently at his profile and that she probably ought to say something.

  She shook herself. She really must remember to get his number for Dodie before they parted – he’d be the perfect man for her sweet-natured friend.

  ‘You’re sure you want to hear it?’ she asked. ‘There’s a lot to tell and not all of it makes us look like a nice family.’

  ‘Absolutely. I’m very open-minded and I’m sure it’s not nearly as awful as you might think it sounds.’

  Isla shook her head and smiled. ‘OK. You asked for it.’

  By the time they reached the outskirts of the lake Isla had pretty much told him the whole story. Far more, in fact, than she’d planned to, going right back to her childhood and ruminating aloud on her mother’s part in the events that had ultimately altered the course of her life. But something about Seb invited trust – he made her feel comfortable, unjudged, listened to and taken seriously in a way that few people did. He didn’t interrupt and didn’t offer counsel unless she asked for it – he simply let her talk.

  When they finally reached a rather mundane and uninspiring car park, they left Seb’s car behind to take the Flégère cable car, and from there it was a hike long enough to finish Isla off before she’d even begun to explore. But despite the blisters beginning to form nicely on her heels and a severe shortness of breath due in part to her lack of fitness and in part to t
he altitude, it was worth it. As they stood on an outcrop overlooking the lake with the shadow of Mont Blanc beyond, Isla could do nothing but stare.

  The waters gleamed turquoise as the clouds parted to allow chinks of vibrant blue through, snow-dusted peaks crowding in beneath heavy blankets of thick white cloud, dark spines of rocks sweeping the shoreline. It was so perfect it was almost as if it couldn’t be real.

  ‘Wow!’ Isla took in a lungful of cold air. It might have been the cleanest she’d ever breathed.

  ‘Was it worth the walk?’ Seb asked.

  She turned to him. ‘Yes. It’s like Narnia or something.’

  ‘Let’s hope we don’t find any wicked witches. I wouldn’t fancy my chances with a lion either, come to think of it.’ He zipped his coat up high around his neck and the funny little bow tie he always wore disappeared. Isla suddenly missed it, as if he somehow didn’t look like himself any more without it. ‘What do you want to do?’ he asked. ‘We could walk for a while – spot some wildlife? There’s a circular walk we can do that will take us round to Lac des Chéserys and we should be able to see the Argentière Glacier that way too.’

  ‘Well, I can hardly argue the need to look at a glacier with a glaciologist, can I?’

  He shot her an adorably boyish grin. ‘I don’t need much encouraging. It’s all rather sad I suppose.’

  ‘You’re lucky. Lucky you love your work so much – not many can say that.’

  ‘I suppose so. If you’re happy with that arrangement then shall we make a start? Tell me if you get tired and we can always turn back. Sound OK?’

  Isla nodded and they began to trudge through the snow. It was hard going – they often lost the path, such as it was, and divots and bumps underfoot hidden by the blanket of white sucked in boots and turned ankles when they least expected. She was thankful that she’d ended up buying a decent pair of winter boots, even if they weren’t quite as elegant as the gorgeous, fashionable ones she’d left in the wardrobe of her hotel. But Isla didn’t mind the fact that she was sweating, or the fact that the ground wanted to break one of her ankles, because she was mesmerised by the glittering landscape, decked out for Christmas in nature’s own finery and making her feel that if she ever had a moment where life felt like too much once she’d left France, all she had to do was visualise this silent, frozen beauty and she would always find peace.

  Every so often Seb would look back and grin as he led the way and then turn his long legs back to his task, like a puppy straining on a leash. Isla couldn’t help but catch some of his enthusiasm. If the scenery was making her happier than she’d ever thought a few mountains and a lake could do, the company wasn’t doing such a bad job either.

  ‘OK back there?’ he asked after five silent minutes of struggling through the drifts. He turned to check.

  ‘I’m still on my feet, if that’s what you mean.’

  ‘Care for a piggy back?’

  ‘And have you flat on your face in the snow with me on top of you? I don’t think so.’

  ‘Just don’t struggle. I’m stronger than I look and you wouldn’t be the first girl I’ve carried through snow.’

  ‘Very chivalrous of you. Was that your girlfriend?’

  ‘She was,’ he sniffed. And then he was silent. Isla sensed the mood suddenly shift. It was slight, almost imperceptible, and as soon as she’d recognised it things seemed to shift back to normality again.

  ‘Not now then?’ she asked.

  ‘No. Not now.’

  ‘So you’re single? Footloose and fancy free?’

  ‘I suppose you could say that. My job takes me away from home a lot so it’s hard to maintain a relationship.’

  ‘That’s a shame; you’ll make someone a good husband one day.’

  He turned to her and laughed, more his affable self again. ‘I’ll make someone a terrible husband and everyone knows it. Unless my future wife is passionate about rocks and soil and permafrost. In which case it would be a match made in heaven. But if she’s out there, I haven’t found her yet.’

  ‘Surely the right woman will learn compromise, even if she doesn’t love what you love. Being in love is what counts – with each other. The rest will follow, even if it needs a bit of work.’

  She watched the back of his head move as he nodded slowly. ‘I suppose so. Perhaps the problem lies with me then. Perhaps I’m not ready to compromise.’

  ‘There’s time, right? How old are you?’

  ‘I thought it was quite impertinent to ask someone their age.’

  ‘That only applies to women because we’re all neurotic about it. We’re allowed to ask men.’

  ‘Twenty-eight,’ he said. ‘Do I get to ask you now?’

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘But I can tell you I’m in that range.’

  ‘That’s all I’m getting?’

  ‘Yes.’

  His head tilted again. Then he stopped and waited for her to catch up. ‘It’s a bit more difficult underfoot here – you might want to hang onto me.’

  ‘What makes you think you’re more likely to stay on your feet than I am?’

  ‘I don’t. I was hoping you’d hold me up.’

  She broke into a broad grin as she threaded her arm through his. ‘You know exactly the right thing to say, don’t you? I can’t believe you’re still single.’

  ‘Not through lack of effort, I can assure you. I take it you’re single too?’

  ‘What makes you say that?’

  ‘You haven’t mentioned a man – at least romantically – all day. Most people with a significant other will bring them up pretty early in the proceedings.’

  ‘Maybe I like to keep my private life private.’

  ‘So there is someone?’

  There had been outrageous flirting with Justin, of course, but did that count? ‘No,’ she decided, almost as if confirming it to herself. ‘Not at the moment.’

  He offered no reply, his eyes fixed firmly on the horizon, and Isla found herself wondering just what was going through that strangely intriguing brain of his.

  They were still marching, their gazes everywhere, silently drinking in the intense and captivating beauty of the scenery, when Isla’s attention was drawn to the banks of the lake. A dark shadow slinking through the undergrowth suddenly caught her eye. She stared, trying to work out what it looked like and was about to call out to Seb when she slammed into a warm, padded mass.

  Seb flew one way and she flew the other and when she looked up they were both on their backsides on the ice, laughing uncontrollably at one another.

  ‘Sorry!’ Isla giggled. ‘I thought you were further ahead than that!’

  ‘I thought I ought to wait for you – as you were so slow and everything.’

  ‘Cheeky bugger!’ Isla squeaked, which only made Seb laugh harder.

  Isla hauled herself to her feet and staggered over to him. She held out a hand.

  He shook his head. ‘I’ll pull you over again.’

  ‘You won’t. I’m stronger than I look. And you wouldn’t be the first man I’ve helped up from the floor where I’d knocked them.’

  ‘Touché,’ he said with a wry smile.

  He took her hand, but as he stood upright, she stepped back onto a sharp rock and wobbled. As she lost her footing, his arms were suddenly around her and he pulled her close. She looked up, wrapped in an embrace that felt strangely right and good. His nose wrinkled as he smiled down at her. ‘I’ve got you,’ he said, his voice husky and low.

  ‘You have,’ she said, feeling all at once reassured and confused by his sudden and unexpected sex appeal. His arms were still around her, and without even realising hers had slipped round his waist in return. And for some reason she didn’t want to let go. ‘You’re a regular Clark Kent, aren’t you?’

  He laughed, blushing, which only served to make him more attractive. He cleared his throat and stepped back. ‘I think they were serving hot chocolate somewhere near the cable car building,’ he added, his face still burning, and he tu
rned away to look back in the direction they’d just come from. ‘Would you like one?’

  ‘Does that mean you’ve conceded defeat on the hiking?’ Isla asked, oddly deflated by the idea that their morning might be coming to an end.

  ‘I have to admit, I’m a little concerned about the weather,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t look quite as promising as it did earlier and we don’t want to get stuck up here if it turns.’

  Isla nodded slowly as he cast her a furtive glance before turning away again. She couldn’t deny that the clouds were moving in apace, even though it seemed they’d both been trying to ignore the fact for some time now. ‘Perhaps that’s not such a bad idea.’

  Two hours later they had settled at picnic tables overlooking the incredible vista of the mountains with cups of steaming chocolate clasped in freezing hands. Isla was now grateful for Seb’s suggestion that they head back; she was exhausted and it had taken far longer to return than she’d anticipated.

  ‘I forgot to say, I saw something by the lake,’ Isla said. ‘That’s why I bumped into you – not because I’m a klutz.’

  ‘Are you sure that’s the reason you bumped into me?’ Seb smiled, his composure recovered and his good-natured and unassuming ease now returned. ‘Sounds very much like an excuse to me.’

  ‘I did!’ Isla laughed. ‘Some sort of animal but I only got a glimpse so I couldn’t tell what it was.’

  ‘What did it look like? From what you saw?’

  She shrugged. ‘Like a dog, I suppose. Could it have been a wolf?’

  He nodded. ‘It’s rare but not impossible to see them. Lynx have been seen in these parts too. They usually stay away from the tourist trails though.’

  She fell silent for a moment, gazing out at the peaks.

  ‘You don’t have to worry,’ he said into the gap. ‘There’s no reason to be afraid – they’re generally happy to keep out of our way if we keep out of theirs.’

  She turned to him with a smile. ‘I’m not worried.’ It was strange, but she meant it. She wasn’t worried at all. Having Seb there made her feel safe, even with his nerdy bow tie and ridiculous face full of freckles and the nose that wrinkled boyishly when he smiled.