Christmas in London

by Anita Hughes

  “At the Graduation Ball, Ian offered to get me a glass of champagne. I ran out of the tent, but he followed me. It was such a lovely evening with the sky full of stars and warm summer breeze, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to sit on the steps and chat.” She perched on the sofa. “Then suddenly Ian pulled out a ring and asked me to marry him. Apparently, he had been carrying it around all semester.

  “I tried to return the ring, but he told me to keep it and give him an answer in the morning. I could hardly leave a diamond ring on the lawn. I put it in my purse next to your promise ring.” She paused.

  “I couldn’t sleep. I finally dozed off fully dressed and then I overslept and woke up at noon. I didn’t even have time to change out of my gown. I ran straight to Ian’s room and gave him back the ring.” She took a deep breath. “I told him I couldn’t marry him because I was in love with you. He said he saw you at the brunch and I was afraid you overheard that I still had his ring. I rushed downstairs and you were standing in the foyer. You saw me in my ball gown and assumed I spent the night with Ian.”

  “What else was I supposed to think?” Trevor demanded. “It was almost noon and you were just leaving Ian’s room. You had your evening bag and your hair was rumpled and you were wearing last night’s makeup.”

  “When I woke in the morning I didn’t even think about changing my gown. All I wanted was to say no to Ian and go find you. I ran after you but I slipped on the playing field and you disappeared. By the time I reached your parents’ hotel, you had already checked out.” She felt like a long-distance runner who can see the finish line. “You and I just had a wonderful week exploring London, and realized we both wanted to have a future. Then Ian Cunningham stepped out of a cab and kissed me and it all disappeared like snowflakes on the pavement. Are you really going to let him do that to us again?”

  Kate’s heart raced and she walked to the bar. She poured a glass of water and took a long sip.

  “You can’t imagine what it felt like to see you leaving Ian’s room.” Trevor twisted his hands. “It was as clear as the simplest math equation. You accepted Ian’s proposal and didn’t have feelings for me at all.”

  “You didn’t trust me,” she murmured. “If you loved me you would have given me a chance to explain.”

  “I was twenty-two. All I could see was Ian in his white dinner jacket and gold cuff links sweeping you off your feet.” He clenched his fist. “How could I compete with a trust fund and a villa in the south of France?”

  “There was no competition,” she said quietly. “I haven’t felt the same about anyone ever.”

  Trevor paced around the room and she was reminded of how handsome he was. His shoulders were broad under his wool sweater and when he smiled, something inside her melted.

  “You don’t know how many times, before I met Susannah, I longed to conjure you up, like stars at the end of a telescope. But it’s like anything: one learns to live without it. Then I saw you at Claridge’s and thought we could just have a few dinners. I never meant to fall in love with you again.” He paused. “But when Ian appeared at the Dorchester and kissed you, it brought up everything that happened. I can’t risk feeling like that again, it’s too painful.”

  “It doesn’t have to be like that,” she whispered.

  “I don’t want to hurt either of us again,” he said. “Do you mind if I take a little time to think about it?”

  “Of course, I don’t want to get hurt either. You said you were falling in love with me and I felt the same.” She stood up. “I have things to do, I’ll see you later.”

  Trevor touched her cheek. He drew her close and kissed her. She kissed him back and his mouth was warm and tasted of berries.

  “I do love you, Kate,” he said when they parted. “That will never change.”

  * * *

  Kate entered her suite and walked to the sideboard. She poured a cup of coffee and added cream and sugar. She would have to leave the maids a very large tip. Every time she returned to the room there was always hot coffee and fresh cream and a bowl filled with sugar cubes.

  It was almost three thirty and she hadn’t heard from Noah. She still refused to panic. Digby was one of the most well-known chefs in England. He wouldn’t just disappear before the biggest television event of the year.

  She ran her hands over her mouth and thought about Trevor. She was glad she went to see him. But now it was up to him; she couldn’t give it any more thought.

  There was a knock at the door and she answered it. Noah stood in the hallway, clutching a clipboard.

  “I tried Digby’s hairdresser but he was doing the hair for Victoria Beckham, and his makeup artist is on holiday in Singapore.” He paused. “His mother was very friendly but she hadn’t heard from him since her birthday. But I got hold of his publisher and he gave me the address of the country house.”

  “Did he say when Digby would be back?” she asked, relief flooding through her.

  “He wasn’t reassuring.” Noah fiddled with his pen. “Apparently Digby has done this before. Alan, his publisher, had to cover for him.”

  “He’s run off before an internationally televised program and no one said anything?” she asked incredulously.

  “Digby is like a rock star.” Noah shrugged. “Alan sends out an apology that Digby got laryngitis or came down with a twenty-four-hour flu, and he’s forgiven.”

  “Then we’ll have to get Louisa ourselves.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ll call the front desk and ask for a car. We’ll be cutting it close, but we can make it.”

  “Alan said the house party includes some members of the royal family,” he said. “Without security clearance, we may not be able to get through.”

  Kate sipped her coffee and remembered all the crises she had dealt with: when the Lincoln Tunnel was shut down and Bianca was stranded in New Jersey, Kate had hired a helicopter to deliver Bianca to Manhattan. The time a protest blocked Fifth Avenue and she had to pay a bike messenger to borrow his bike and transport three cartons of eggs and a bottle of vanilla extract in his basket.

  “I’ll pile my hair under a hat and pretend I’m the Duchess of Cambridge if I have to.” Kate gathered her purse. “What’s the address?”

  “The house is called Yardley Manor.” Noah consulted his notes. “It’s in Sussex near Chichester.”

  Kate froze and her purse dropped on the floor. “What did you say?”

  “The hostess is named Susannah Skyler. She throws a house party every Christmas and invites well-known chefs to cook the meals,” he continued. “Digby was supposed to bake the puddings and leave them in the fridge.”

  Louisa and Digby were at Trevor’s country house in Sussex! He could get her through security. But what if he didn’t want to see her and refused to go? She wouldn’t take no for an answer. The whole show depended on it.

  “I know how we’re going to get there.” She picked up her purse and opened the door. “Follow me.”

  She raced down the hallway and pushed the button on the elevator. The door opened and Trevor stepped out.

  “Kate!” he exclaimed. “Where are you going, I was coming to see you?”

  “I don’t have time to talk about us now,” she said. “You have to take me to Yardley Manor.”

  “What did you say?” Trevor gasped. “You want me to drive you to Susannah’s house?”

  “It’s the most important thing in the world, I’ll explain on the way,” she said and turned to Noah. “You should stay here in case Louisa returns.”

  Kate and Trevor stepped into the elevator and the doors closed behind them. Whatever Trevor came to tell her would have to wait; finding Louisa was the only thing that mattered. A shiver of excitement ran down her spine and she didn’t know if it was from the strong coffee or finding Louisa or the fact that Trevor was standing so close to her.

  “I hope you know some back roads, we have to get there quickly.” She turned to him.

  “I’ll do my best.” He nodded and a smile crossed his face.
“I don’t want to disappoint you.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  LOUISA WALKED DOWN THE HALLWAY of Yardley Manor and peered into a room with a billiard table and walnut bar and framed portraits. A fire flickered in the fireplace and a silver tray held bottles of sherry.

  She had explored the whole downstairs hoping to find someone: a guest who had fallen asleep and not gone with everyone else, a maid who was doing endless loads of laundry and didn’t hear her and Digby arrive. But the house was empty.

  She wondered if she had ever been so miserable. There was the time she sprained her wrist before the tenth-grade ski trip and had to stay behind. She was the only one in the grade who missed it and spent the day in the English teacher’s classroom. The teacher let her watch A Night at the Roxbury and brought her brownies but it didn’t make up for missing hot chocolate with her friends at the ski lodge.

  And there was the time after she graduated from the Culinary Institute and had an interview at the Four Seasons as an assistant pastry chef. A deer jumped in front of the train and by the time the deer was rescued and the train was running, she missed the interview and someone else got the job.

  But neither of those situations made her feel sick to her stomach: she was letting down Kate and Noah. Christmas was about doing things for others and she had only been thinking about herself. From now on she would spend every weekend at the Boys & Girls Club in Harlem teaching kids how to bake cinnamon rolls. Or she could sign up to deliver homemade desserts to a nursing home in Queens.

  After she told Digby she didn’t want to sleep with him, he had wandered upstairs. He wasn’t used to a woman rejecting him and she probably wouldn’t see him for hours. How could she have misjudged him? He was like a male model who was only real in the pages of a fashion magazine. Once you took away the smart blazers and expensive loafers, there was nothing there.

  She had searched the mudroom for a pair of boots and jacket and was going to run down the driveway and flag a passing driver. But then it started to snow and she decided it was a bad idea. If she got struck by a car she’d create more problems for everyone.

  She remembered when she met Noah and he said she had to come to London because it was her fault that Bianca’s lips blew up like a blowfish. She’d gladly listen to any of his lectures if it meant he would talk to her. He had forced her to go to London even though she wanted to stay in her suite, and he had been so furious that she went to Buckingham Palace by herself and was almost late for the reception at the Fumoir.

  She had every right to have been angry with him. He didn’t trust her when she just said she was falling in love with him. But isn’t love about listening to each other? If she had taken his advice, she’d be standing in her suite at Claridge’s. Instead she might get Noah and Kate fired, and they would never speak to her again.

  Gravel crunched on the driveway and she peered out the window. A black Range Rover pulled up and Louisa wondered if she was imagining things. What was Kate doing here and who was the man beside her?

  She ran to the foyer and flung open the door. Kate jumped out of the passenger seat and strode toward her.

  “Louisa!” Kate exclaimed, walking inside. “Digby’s publisher told us where you are. I’m glad we found you.”

  “Oh, Kate!” Louisa wanted to hug her. “I’m sorry about everything, I feel awful. Digby’s car wouldn’t start and there’s no cell phone reception and the house phone seems to be broken. I kept hoping someone would give us a ride back to London, but the whole house party went to Chichester and hasn’t returned.”

  “I called Susannah on the way.” A man entered behind Kate. “They’re having afternoon tea at Amberley Castle. They’ll be back this evening.”

  “Louisa, this is Trevor.” Kate introduced them. “Trevor was married to Susannah. Yardley Manor is his house. Digby’s publisher said there might be tight security because some of the house guests are members of the royal family.”

  “I guess the security guards drove with the house party,” Trevor offered. “It’s like when Susannah and I stayed at Balmoral Castle. You couldn’t go to the newsagent without two men in a black car following you.”

  “Trevor is Susannah’s husband, what a small world!” Louisa exclaimed. “I haven’t even met her but the house is spectacular. I was so excited about preparing the desserts and it all came out wonderfully. But then we were stranded and I felt so terrible for letting everyone down.”

  “It’s not your fault. You asked if you should go and I thought it was a good idea. Where is Digby?” Kate asked. “We need to hurry if we’re going to get back to Claridge’s.”

  “I don’t think he’s coming.” Louisa bit her lip. “He made a pass at me and he got very angry when I refused. He started drinking and I doubt he’s in any condition to do the show. He wasn’t planning on going back at all.”

  “I’ll go find him,” Trevor said. “He can’t get away with that kind of behavior.”

  “It’s going to have to wait.” Kate touched his arm. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll never make it to Claridge’s.” She turned to Louisa. “Sit in the back with me and I’ll do your makeup on the way.”

  “You can do my makeup while Trevor is driving?” Louisa followed her outside.

  “I’m a television producer,” Kate chuckled. “I can iron a blouse on the hood of a car if I have to.”

  The car peeled down the driveway and Louisa peered out the window. Snow fell softly and it resembled a snow globe. Fir trees lined the road and there was the faint outline of grand country houses behind iron gates.

  “When we pulled up at Yardley Manor, I felt like Cinderella arriving at the ball,” she said with a sigh. “I was going to assist Digby Bunting and have my photo in Town & Country. How could I have been so stupid and think Digby believed in me as a chef? All Digby is interested in is a woman’s legs.”

  “You believed in yourself, there’s nothing wrong with that.” Kate took out her lipstick. “I asked Noah to wait at Claridge’s in case you returned. He told me everything that happened. He said he was falling in love with you, but you got in a terrible fight.”

  “He told you that?” Louisa gasped.

  “He blamed himself for you running off with Digby.” Kate nodded. “You were angry at him for not trusting you. You thought he put his feelings before your career.”

  “I was furious at him, but I would never miss the show on purpose,” Louisa insisted. “Anyway, I’m finished with love. I’m not going to let anything get in the way of opening my restaurant. Falling in love only causes heartache, and I almost ruined things for everyone.”

  “You and Noah should talk it out,” Kate advised. “Love can be painful, but it can also be the best thing in the world. Life is empty without it.”

  Louisa remembered when Noah kissed her by accident on the Giant Observation Wheel. She pictured entering Selfridges and Noah saying she could pick out whatever she wanted. They shared an omelet at the Foyer and Noah said he was in love with her.

  “I suppose you’re right,” Louisa said. “But sometimes I think it would be easier to get a cat.”

  The car pulled up in front of Claridge’s and Louisa stepped out. She had never been so happy to see the hotel’s striped canopy and revolving gold doors.

  “Come up to my suite. I already called the stylist to finish your hair,” Kate said. “I’ll tell Noah you’re on your way.”

  They took the elevator upstairs and Kate opened the door. A card was propped against a vase and Louisa recognized Noah’s handwriting.

  “Noah left you a note.” She handed it to Kate and had a funny feeling, like when she stepped on an escalator that was moving in the wrong direction.

  Kate tore it open and scanned the page. “You better read it,” she said, giving it to Louisa.

  “Dear Kate,” Louisa read out loud. “I am offering my resignation, effective immediately. You are the producer but you can only be as effective as the people who work for you. I let my personal life interfere
with my job and put the whole production in danger.

  “It is better for everyone if I’m not here when Louisa returns. I booked myself a flight to New York this evening. I’m going to go stay at my parents’ place in Wisconsin for a while. I’ll be back in New York at the end of January when law school starts and I’ll stop by the office to collect my things. Sincerely, Noah.”

  Louisa sank onto the love seat and her heart hammered. She smoothed the paper and folded it carefully.

  “I guess I don’t have to wonder if Noah will talk to me.” Louisa’s eyes glistened. “It’s better this way; I can concentrate on my career. When we get back to New York, I’m going to ask Ellie if I can do double shifts at the bakery. Chloe and I will bake on the weekends and I’ll volunteer at the animal shelter.” She fiddled with the paper. “I can’t have a cat because my roommate is allergic, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help animals. So many stray cats get picked up in Manhattan, I could help some of them find a home.”

  “Don’t be silly.” Kate snapped off one of her earrings. “Noah is just being dramatic, he’ll come around when you’re both in New York.”

  “New York is a long way from Wisconsin,” Louisa responded. “Maybe he’ll rekindle a romance with a high school girlfriend and forget about me. She’ll move to New York with him and become a cocktail waitress to help put him through law school. I’ll run into them in the East Village and exchange an awkward greeting.”

  Kate took off her other earring and placed it on the coffee table. She grabbed her phone and dashed off a text.

  “I’m sending Dexter, the assistant camera operator, to Heathrow.” She looked up. “I gave him instructions to stop Noah from getting on the plane.”

  “You can’t force Noah to stay in London!” Louisa exclaimed.

  “I’m not forcing him,” Kate corrected. “Dexter will invent an emergency that only Noah can solve. If I know Noah like I think I do, he won’t let the show down completely.”

  “Do you think it will work?” Louisa tried to keep the hopeful note from her voice. The important thing was that she do a good job on Christmas Dinner at Claridge’s, not that Noah was stopped from going to Wisconsin.