by Anita Hughes
“People will come to your restaurant because the pastries will be delicious,” Noah persisted. “You don’t need Digby Bunting.”
“You dragged me to London and said being on Baking with Bianca will be good for my career,” she reminded him. “Now you’re trying to stop me from doing something just as important.”
“I thought you wanted to spend time together on our morning off. We were starting to be important to each other,” he said slowly. “It seems I was wrong.”
The wrapped ornament twinkled under the lights and she sucked in her breath. A few minutes ago Noah kissed her, and now they were getting into a fight.
“I am having a wonderful time, and I appreciate everything you’ve done,” she urged. “But this is a great opportunity and it doesn’t interfere with the show. I don’t see why I have to choose.”
“Sometimes you just do.” He picked up the package. “Never mind. It seems you already have.”
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“I’m going back to Claridge’s,” he said. “I’ll call a taxi. You can keep the horse and carriage.”
* * *
Louisa fiddled with her key and opened the door of her suite. How dare Noah tell her she couldn’t assist Digby! It was like asking a tennis player not to play at Wimbledon or a pianist not to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Noah said he had feelings for her, but his distaste for Digby was more important to him than her success. She was lucky they only had one kiss; they weren’t ready for a relationship.
She entered the living room and gasped. A white Christmas tree stood next to the fireplace. It was strung with blue and silver lights and topped with a gold Christmas angel. Candles flickered on the side table and silver tinsel was littered over the rug.
There was an envelope with her name propped against the mantel. She took out the card and read out loud.
“Dear Louisa, tomorrow is Christmas Eve and you don’t have your own Christmas tree. I couldn’t trek through the lobby with a fir tree, so I asked the concierge to deliver one.
“You’ve given me the best gift I can imagine this year. Since I met you life is more than just surviving each day without dropping from exhaustion. It’s about enjoying each other’s company and being excited for the future. I’m very glad you agreed to come to London. Merry Christmas. Love, Noah.”
The late-afternoon sun filtered through the satin drapes and there was a pewter teapot on the sideboard. A fire flickered in the fireplace and the whole room was bathed in a silvery light.
Noah must have had it delivered while they were sightseeing. He was so thoughtful and she hadn’t even gotten him a gift.
It still didn’t excuse his behavior at Selfridges. If he really cared for her, he would have been thrilled about Digby’s invitation. But it was a beautiful Christmas tree and the card was lovely. Maybe she should forgive him.
Tears pricked her eyes as she thought about Noah storming out of Selfridges. It didn’t matter how she felt. Noah was furious and everything was ruined.
Chapter Fourteen
KATE TURNED ONTO BOND STREET and thought it was even more elegant than Fifth Avenue in New York. Flags flew over the storefronts and windows were filled with diamond necklaces that looked so expensive, she couldn’t imagine wearing them in public.
Tomorrow was Christmas Eve and she had been so busy, she hadn’t explored Mayfair at all. There was so much to see. Grosvenor Square was like a snowy white handkerchief, and Bruton Street had smart cafés and there was Piccadilly Circus and Park Lane. She could have spent hours in the lobby of the Langham Hotel and admiring the paintings at the Halcyon Gallery.
And the shops! She stroked crimson-colored sweaters in Mulberry and admired suede loafers in Hermès and spent a few minutes in Bulgari. She was dying to try on ruby butterfly earrings, but she was afraid the salesgirl would coax her into buying something she couldn’t afford.
William & Son beckoned to her from the corner and she took a deep breath. She had only been there once, to buy Ian a twenty-first-birthday present. It was still terribly imposing. Glass cases were filled with navy silk ties and the air smelled of leather goods and men’s cologne.
“Can I help you?” A saleswoman approached her.
“I need a gift,” Kate replied.
“Is it for someone special?” the woman asked. “A husband or boyfriend?”
“I’m not married, but it is for a man,” Kate answered. “I haven’t gotten him a present before, it’s all brand new.”
“I understand,” the woman said knowingly. “You aren’t comfortable enough in the relationship to just get him a sweater or nice tie. You want something that when he opens it, he can’t imagine having lived without it.”
“That’s it exactly!” Kate exclaimed. “I just don’t know what to get.”
“What does he like?” she asked.
“He loves astronomy and anything to do with mathematics. He hates romantic poetry and isn’t a fan of Shakespeare and refuses to read Don Quixote. He’s not interested in sports and doesn’t like loud concerts. He’s good at backgammon and is crazy about his dogs.”
“I thought you said it was a new relationship?” The woman raised her eyebrow. “I’ve been married for twenty years and don’t know half those things about my husband.”
“It is a new relationship,” Kate said and suddenly it all seemed so simple. “But we’ve been best friends for years.”
The woman showed her silver martini shakers and silk pocket squares and pearl dress studs. There were leather driving gloves and the softest cashmere slippers.
“What about these?” She snapped opened a black velvet box. “Every man needs a pair of cuff links.”
Kate remembered when she asked Trevor to the Snowdrop Ball freshman year and he refused. Now he dined at private clubs and wore tailored suits.
“It’s perfect.” Kate handed her a credit card. “Please wrap it up.”
Her phone buzzed as she left the store and she pressed Accept.
“Kate.” Trevor’s voice came over the line. “I’m sorry I haven’t called, I’ve been tied up all day.”
“Your ears must be ringing, I was just thinking about you,” she laughed.
“There’s something I want to talk about,” he answered. “How about dinner tonight at the Dorchester?”
“The Dorchester!” Kate exclaimed.
The Dorchester was one of London’s most exclusive hotels with a three-star Michelin restaurant and suites overlooking Park Lane. “Will and Kate,” as she had begun to think of them, were frequent visitors and it was the London haunt of movie stars and celebrities.
“You’re spoiling me.” She smiled. “I’m happy eating fish and chips at a corner pub.”
“Tonight it has to be the Dorchester,” Trevor insisted. “I’ll meet you at 7:00 p.m. And Kate, there’s a small box waiting for you in your suite. Open it before you leave.”
Kate hung up and strode down Bond Street. It was late afternoon and the air smelled of pine needles and perfume. Christmas lights were strung across the pavement and it looked like a holiday postcard.
Maybe Trevor was going to ask her to move to London. She was a respected television producer; it wouldn’t be hard to get a job. But she’d worked so hard and she would be starting at the beginning.
And she loved so many things about New York: the eclectic restaurants and billboards in Times Square. New Yorkers complained about the humidity in the summer and slush in the winter, but they were living in the most exciting city in the world.
London had arts and history. Mayfair was impossibly elegant and Notting Hill had outdoor flower markets and used bookshops. The fashions were stunning and there was Buckingham Palace and the royal family!
Perhaps Trevor was considering moving to New York. He could be a guest lecturer at Columbia and they would get an apartment in Morningside Heights. On the weekends they would drive upstate and it would be like when they explored the countryside around St Andrews.
She told Louisa falling in love made you want to be with the person all the time. That didn’t have to be a bad thing. It could make life exciting and full of possibilities.
She passed Agent Provocateur and stopped in front of the window. It had been so long since she entered a lingerie shop. But she was going to dinner at the Dorchester with Trevor. It might be fun to wear a silk camisole underneath her dress.
She tucked her present to Trevor under her arm and felt a thrill of anticipation. The door swung open and she walked inside.
* * *
Kate entered the lobby of the Dorchester and instinctively smoothed her hair. It was like something out of the 1930s with paneled walls and Oriental carpets and mahogany furniture. A Christmas tree was decorated with colored ornaments and a grand piano stood in the corner.
“Kate, you’re here.” Trevor approached her. He wore a dark suit and carried a bouquet of roses.
“I was afraid you’d be wearing a tuxedo and I’d have to go home because I’m hopelessly underdressed,” she laughed, kissing him on the cheek.
“You could never be underdressed.” He handed her the flowers.
“You sent me those gorgeous roses and then you left me a gift, and now you’re giving me more roses.” She inhaled the sweet scent. “I haven’t received this many presents since I was a child.”
“I’ve never had anyone to buy Christmas presents for,” he said, taking her hand.
“Didn’t you buy Susannah gifts?”
“Susannah bought her own Christmas presents and put my name on the card.” He shrugged. “She was afraid my taste wouldn’t match her wardrobe.”
“You have wonderful taste.” She touched her ears. “The earrings are beautiful. But you shouldn’t have, it’s not even Christmas.”
“I’m being selfish. You’re leaving on Christmas night, and I wanted to see you wear them.”
“Then I’m very lucky,” she said and laughed. “They’re gorgeous and I adore them.”
They entered the Grill and it was even more glamorous than Kate imagined. The floors were polished parquet and the booths were butterscotch-colored leather and a glass chandelier hung from the ceiling. A huge mirror stood behind the bar and there were potted palm trees.
“I feel like I’m in a James Bond movie.” She slipped into a booth. “Any minute men in tuxedos will chase each other across the tables.”
“I doubt that will happen,” Trevor laughed. “Though Ian Fleming used to dine here. The bartender invented a drink for him. It’s called the Vesper martini and it’s Tanqueray and vodka, shaken not stirred.”
“How do you know these things?” she asked suddenly. “At St Andrews all you cared about was algorithms. Now you’re an expert on cocktails and popular culture.”
“I’ve grown to appreciate the good things in life.” He shrugged. “Like having a drink with a beautiful woman two days before Christmas.”
The waiter appeared and they ordered Angus prime rib and scotch sours with lemon juice and sugar.
“The Dorchester makes the smoothest martinis.” Trevor sipped his drink. “I could use two of these. I’ve been on the phone with Susannah.”
“With Susannah?” Kate asked and felt a pinprick of worry.
“I’m coordinating how to pick up the dogs,” he explained. “I don’t know how people handle divorce with children. She doesn’t want me to collect them until after the holidays because they add to the ambience. They do look wonderful lounging under the Christmas tree.”
“Aren’t the guests wondering why the man of the house is out and about in London while his wife is at Yardley Manor?” she asked curiously.
“Susannah told everyone I had to give an important lecture.” He waved his hand. “They might give it a moment’s thought and then they’ll go back to their backgammon tournaments and Christmas buffets.”
“Do you miss Christmas at Yardley Manor?” she wondered.
“The kitchen is full of delicious scents and every room is decorated with wreaths and mistletoe. But there are too many people and too much food and too many games. It’s like having a three-day pass to Disneyland and not being able to leave.” He looked at Kate. “Do you wish you were in New York for Christmas?”
“I love Christmas in New York.” She nodded. “The windows on Fifth Avenue are spectacular and no one minds the miserable weather and endless lines for taxis. But this afternoon I walked around Mayfair and it’s like a small village,” she said slowly. “I could fall in love with London.”
“When I woke up this morning, you were gone. I was afraid you thought last night was a mistake,” Trevor said abruptly. “I sent the roses to tell you how much I enjoyed it.”
“I should have left a note, but I didn’t know what to say.” She fiddled with her earring. “But I went to buy you a Christmas present and realized I knew you better than anyone in the world.” She took a deep breath. “I’m having a wonderful time and don’t want it to end.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. She kissed him back and tasted lemon and sugar.
“We have two more days, we’ll figure it out.” He touched her hand.
They ate mushroom risotto and talked about Christmas and theater and books. Trevor’s hand brushed her sleeve and she felt a tingle of desire mixed with the wonderful feeling of being home.
“I thought this trip was going to be a disaster,” she said as the waiter replaced their plates with bowls of Peach Melba. “We lost our star chef and I was worried about Noah’s replacement. But Louisa is lovely, and then you turned up at Claridge’s. I wasn’t even that surprised, we always seemed to find each other.”
“I had just driven from Sussex and all I wanted was a brandy.” Trevor nodded. “You were sitting by yourself and you were so beautiful.”
“You said you wanted to talk about something,” she remembered.
“I’d rather talk in private. Let’s wait until we get to Claridge’s.” He squeezed her hand. “I’ll pay the bill and call a taxi.”
They crossed the lobby and stood on the hotel steps. A man stepped out of a black cab and Kate had a sudden premonition. Like when they filmed a segment of Baking with Bianca in the Hamptons last summer. The weather report predicted clear skies but Kate noticed a single cloud in the morning. By noon it was pouring and the outdoor kitchen was ruined.
“Good god, I can’t believe it!” a man with a British accent said. “Trevor Skyler and Kate Crawford at the Dorchester. I wouldn’t be more surprised if I ran into the president of the United States and our own prime minister.”
“Hello, Ian.” Trevor held out his hand. “It’s nice to see you.”
“Trevor and I ran into each other a few months ago in Spain.” Ian turned to Kate. “But Kate, has it really been ten years? You look the same as the last day at St Andrews. That blond hair and those long legs and that iridescent smile. It’s imprinted on my memory like stamps on my passport.”
Kate gasped and wished she could run back into the Dorchester. Ian’s hair was thinner and his belt was tighter, but he had the same blue eyes and smile that could light up New York.
“I’m in London for work,” she answered quickly. “Trevor said you were married.”
“We’re in London so my son can meet his grandparents.” He nodded. “There’s nothing better than coming home for Christmas. The Yorkshire pudding is better than anything in Spain, and you run into all the best people.”
“We have to go,” Trevor said shortly. “Our cab is waiting.”
“You mustn’t rush off, we have so much to catch up on,” Ian suggested. “Why don’t we stop in at the bar and have a cognac?”
“I don’t think so.” Trevor shook his head. “Maybe another time.”
“Well, in that case at least I should get a kiss.” He turned to Kate. “I don’t know when I’ll see you again.”
Before she could stop him, he leaned forward and kissed her. It was only a quick kiss but her cheeks flushed and she felt unsettled.
&nb
sp; “It really was good to see you both,” Ian said and his face broke into a smile. “I’ll have to return to London more often.”
* * *
Kate sat in Claridge’s bar and fiddled with her glass. How could they have run into Ian? But it wasn’t that unlikely; his parents owned a flat in Mayfair. Where else would he stay except the Dorchester or Claridge’s?
Trevor was completely silent in the cab. When they arrived at Claridge’s, he said he had to make an important phone call and would see her later. Kate couldn’t bear being alone in her suite and inhaling the scent of Trevor’s roses. She entered the bar and ordered a scotch.
Ian was married with a child. She had no interest in him and it didn’t change a thing. But it was as if the clock turned back and they were all students at St Andrews again. She remembered the day of graduation. The June sun glinted on the ancient buildings and she was overcome with nostalgia and excitement for the future.
* * *
Kate stood under the tent erected in St Salvator’s Quad and nibbled a smoked salmon sandwich. She really must go back to her room before tonight’s Graduation Ball or she’d be too tired to finish arranging the centerpieces.
But the tent looked so beautiful with its pink tablecloths and pastel-colored balloons. If she left, it might feel like an ordinary afternoon instead of her graduation day from St Andrews.
The whole day had been thrilling. She woke early and attended the chancellor’s breakfast. She remembered when she arrived four years ago and he was so terrifying in his black robes. Now he shook her hand and gave her a quick hug.
The ceremony in Younger Hall seemed to last forever. Her pumps were too tight and she had to keep poking Trevor so he didn’t scribble equations on his program. Then the students paraded down North Street and tossed their caps in the air and she was so happy and sad at the same time.
It had been a wonderful semester. After the society dinner in January, she and Trevor cautiously started dating. They were like trapeze artists who didn’t want a fear of heights to interfere with their act. Neither of them wanted to hurt their friendship, but the attraction between them made them bright and happy.