Christmas in London

by Anita Hughes

  “Leave it to me,” Kate said confidently and picked up a hairbrush. “The stylist is late and you have to be on set in fifteen minutes. A little hairspray and lipstick and you’ll be camera ready.”

  * * *

  Louisa slipped off her wireless microphone and took a deep breath. Taping the show was over and the production assistants were milling around, removing gaffers’ tape and turning off bright lights. The director huddled with Kate in the corner and the kitchen staff loaded the dishwasher and scrubbed down the marble counter.

  When Louisa first took her place beside Pierre and Andreas and Alan, Digby’s publisher, she had been terrified she would freeze. But then she pictured Ellie and Chloe huddled in front of their television and knew she couldn’t let them down. If Louisa wasn’t in New York baking cinnamon rolls for the Christmas rush, she at least had to do a good job so Bianca would promote the bakery on her show.

  It had been easier than she imagined! The moment the assistant placed the ingredients for the croquembouche in front of her, she didn’t think about Noah at all. All that went through her head was that the puffs should be perfectly round and the crust must be light and fluffy.

  It was only when the cameras stopped rolling that she glanced around for Noah. But Kate had been wrong: he hadn’t returned. He was probably on his way back to New York, enjoying a special Christmas Eve in-flight meal of turkey and stuffing and Christmas pudding.

  The kitchen door swung open and a man appeared. He wore a brown leather jacket and there were snowflakes in his hair.

  “Noah!” she gasped. “What are you doing here?”

  “Apparently there was a camera malfunction and I’m the only person in London who could fix it.” He approached her. “I was standing on the sidewalk at Heathrow waiting for a taxi, and Dexter pulled up in front of me.”

  Louisa looked up and wondered if she’d heard him correctly.

  “You were waiting for a taxi?” she asked.

  “It’s impossible to get a taxi at the airport on Christmas Eve.” He nodded. “I had just let mine go and there wasn’t another free taxi anywhere.”

  “Why did you need a taxi? You were on your way to America.”

  “That’s what I thought I was going to do, but when I reached the departure terminal I realized I couldn’t leave Kate in the lurch.” He dusted snow from his hair. “I ran back outside and tried to flag down a cab. Then Dexter showed up and said the whole production was in jeopardy unless I returned.”

  “I see.” Louisa folded her apron. Noah was only worried about the show, he hadn’t come back to see her at all. “Kate will be very happy. She said she wouldn’t accept your resignation.”

  “You read my resignation letter?” Noah asked.

  “Kate gave it to me. She can’t do the show without you.” Her voice wobbled. “You were right, Digby only wanted to seduce me. He’s not even a real chef. His publisher writes his cookbooks and Digby shows up for the publicity shoots.”

  “I came back because I hadn’t finished doing my job. But I also came to tell you that it’s my fault, I should have trusted you.” Noah shook his head. “You said you were going to return the earrings and I should have believed you. When you love someone you have to have faith in them.”

  “Digby did try something,” Louisa said uncomfortably. “I told him I wasn’t interested and he slunk off like a dog without a tail. His car broke down and the whole house party went to Chichester and I was stuck at Yardley Manor for hours. Kate and Trevor rescued me, and Kate showed me your note.” She paused. “She sent Dexter to stop you. She said we were just having a lovers’ quarrel and we would both calm down. Love could be uncomfortable and difficult but life without it is meaningless.”

  “Say that again,” he cut in.

  “Say what again?” she asked. “Don’t tell me you haven’t been listening. I’m tired and my feet hurt and I need a bath. I don’t want to repeat the whole story.”

  “Just the last part of the sentence,” he urged.

  Louisa tried to remember what she said and frowned.

  “I’ll say it for you,” he offered. “You said that love could be difficult but life without love is meaningless.”

  “I did say that,” Louisa agreed. “Of course, there are other things that are important too. My career means everything to me. I’ve worked so hard to open my restaurant and I’m not going to stop now. And I’ll always want to make time for Ellie and Chloe, they’re like family. I really enjoyed writing the Christmas recipe cards for Chloe. Chloe and I might collaborate on a children’s cookbook. After all, Christmas is all about children and it could be very successful. But—”

  Noah leaned forward and kissed her. She kissed him back and the lights glimmered on the pots and pans like fireworks on the Fourth of July. His mouth was warm and he pulled her close.

  Noah’s hand moved down the small of her back and she felt a shiver of excitement. She pressed herself against his chest and her whole body was filled with the most incredible yearning.

  He kissed her harder and then he stopped and rubbed his thumb over her mouth. He tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her on the neck. She took a deep breath and suddenly had never wanted anyone more.

  “Oh, Louisa,” he whispered. “I want you so much.”

  “I want you too,” she breathed, reaching up and kissing him again. He smelled of pine leaves and cologne and she felt light and happy.

  “You kissed me while I was still talking,” she said when they finally parted.

  “I don’t need to hear anything else.” He grinned. “You told me the only thing that mattered.”

  The kitchen door opened and Louisa jumped. She had almost forgotten where they were and she was suddenly embarrassed.

  “We should go,” she whispered. “They have to finish clearing the set.”

  “Louisa, wait.” He stopped her. “We hadn’t finished.”

  Louisa turned and wondered what she had forgotten. Noah wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

  “Now we can go,” he said and smiled. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you, I’ll never doubt you again. You are bright and beautiful and you know more about baking than anyone I have ever met.” He paused and kissed her again. “I realize how lucky I am. I couldn’t have found a better replacement.”

  Chapter Twenty

  LOUISA SAT AT A TABLE at the Foyer and sipped a glass of sparkling water. It was Christmas Day and the restaurant was the most elegant place she had ever seen. White tablecloths were set with gold inlaid china and Baccarat champagne flutes. The Christmas tree was strung with white and blue lights and gold candelabras held flickering candles. Silver balloons floated to the ceiling and there were fruit trees with oranges and lemons.

  Christmas Dinner at Claridge’s had been a huge success. Pierre’s oyster with fennel and wild mushrooms was the perfect appetizer and Andreas’s pigeon with onions and rhubarb was superb. The roasted duck was fragrant and tender and the sides of cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire pudding made her long to stay in England.

  Digby’s publisher, Alan, made a Peach Melba with vanilla foam that was so light, it floated down her throat. And he was terribly apologetic about Digby’s behavior. Louisa brushed it aside and said it was Christmas. There were more important things to talk about than Digby Bunting.

  The flight to New York was leaving that evening but they were all having Christmas lunch first. It had been so nice to see Kate and Trevor together last night. When Kate hugged Louisa after the show and said it had gone better than she hoped, Louisa could sense that Kate was happy and in love.

  She had barely talked to Noah after they left the kitchen last night. One of the cameramen went on a pub crawl and took the camera with him. Noah had to find him and no matter how hard Louisa tried to stay awake, her eyes kept closing. She finally texted Noah and said she would see him in the morning.

  But she was confident they would make it work. She would have to make changes in her schedule, but it would be worth
it. She couldn’t order up love when it was convenient, as if it was a cheesecake from Harrods. Noah was like no one she had ever met and she wasn’t going to lose him.

  A man appeared in the doorway and she recognized Noah’s short brown hair. He wore a tweed blazer over a beige shirt.

  “I’m sorry I’m late.” He approached the table. “The maître d’ wouldn’t let me in without a sport coat.”

  “You didn’t buy one!” she protested. “They must cost a fortune.”

  “I looked in the gift shop but I couldn’t afford a single button,” he admitted. “Apparently the concierge keeps a selection of blazers for this situation. It’s a little big around the shoulders but it will do for lunch.”

  “It suits you,” she mused. “You look quite British.”

  “Next time I’ll pack a blazer.” He sat down. “You look beautiful. Is that a new sweater?”

  “It was a Christmas gift from Kate.” She stroked the soft angora. “She shouldn’t have bought me anything; she gave me the best week of my life. But it is lovely and it’s perfect for Christmas lunch.”

  “It’s gorgeous.” He nodded. “And Kate was very pleased with the show. You did an excellent job.”

  “I bought you a present.” She handed him a parcel wrapped in tissue paper.

  Noah opened it and took out two knitted cup warmers.

  “You put them around your cup to keep the coffee warm.” She suddenly wished she had splurged on a tie or bottle of cologne. “To be honest they were all I could afford at the gift shop, and everything else was closed.” She flushed. “But I thought they would come in handy when you were studying.”

  “They’re perfect.” He kissed her. “I can’t think of anything I’d like better.”

  Louisa turned and a couple approached the table. Kate looked stunning in a cashmere dress and silk scarf. Trevor stood beside her in a navy blazer and beige slacks.

  “We’re sorry for keeping you and Noah waiting.” Kate pulled out a chair. “I’ve been on the phone with New York. Bianca is frantic about next week’s show. She wants to do a New Year’s Eve menu, and she can’t find bitter milk chocolate for the mosaic chocolate dessert.”

  “I know a chocolatier on the Lower East Side,” Noah offered. “I’ll track some down.”

  “This is for you.” Kate handed Noah an envelope. “It’s your Christmas bonus. Perhaps you and Louisa can stay at a bed-and-breakfast in Vermont over the holidays. And I put in a request for you to have an assistant.” She smiled. “You have to study for law school and make time for your personal life. You shouldn’t be trying to find quince for a chestnut puree on a Friday night.”

  “Thank you.” Noah slipped it in his pocket. “That’s very thoughtful.”

  “What gorgeous earrings.” Louisa noticed Kate’s sapphire earrings. “Are they new?”

  “Trevor gave them to me for Christmas.” She touched her ears. “We promised we wouldn’t give each other anything too expensive, but he bought them anyway.”

  “They were the only thing I liked in the gift store and all the jewelry stores were closed,” Trevor said. “Besides, they bring out the color of Kate’s eyes.”

  “They’re beautiful and I adore them.” She smiled.

  “We’re going to celebrate my birthday next month in New York,” Trevor said to Louisa and Noah. “Perhaps you can join us.”

  “New York!” Louisa turned to Kate. “That is exciting.”

  “Trevor was asked to give a lecture at Columbia,” Kate began. “And I’m coming to London in the spring. Digby’s publisher wants me to produce a television special for one of his celebrity chefs. Her name is Felicity and she’s related to the royal family. We’re going to film at Kensington Gardens.”

  The waiter appeared and they ordered venison Wellington and Parmesan gnocchi and heritage beetroot. There was a wedge and blue cheese salad and bowls of tomato and basil soup.

  Louisa sipped white wine and they talked about her plans for the restaurant and Noah’s classes. Kate told them stories about television and Trevor recounted meeting Prince Harry. Noah’s arm brushed her sleeve when he reached for a bread roll, and she felt light and happy.

  The waiter cleared their plates and passed around leather dessert menus.

  “We don’t want anything from the dessert menu.” Louisa handed hers back.

  “Of course we want dessert.” Noah glanced at the menu. “That’s the best part of the meal. The warm apple crumble with vanilla ice cream sounds delicious or I might try the ginger and treacle cake.”

  “We’re not getting anything from the menu,” Louisa repeated. “I have a surprise.”

  The waiter disappeared and returned with a pyramid of golden pastry puffs coated with caramel and threaded with royal icing. It was wrapped in spun sugar like some fabulous diamond bracelet and decorated with sugared almonds.

  The waiter set it on the table and for a moment, Louisa was afraid it would collapse. But it settled on the plate and she relaxed. It looked so lovely in the flickering candlelight, like a jewel-encrusted music box in the window at Tiffany’s.

  “It’s my croquembouche,” she explained. “We didn’t get to eat it last night. I thought we could have it for dessert.”

  The waiter pulled it apart with silver dessert tongs and passed around porcelain plates. Noah took the first bite and Louisa held her breath. What if the pastry was too crunchy or the caramel was sticky or the slivered almonds got stuck in his throat?

  Noah put his fork on his plate and wiped his mouth. He looked at Louisa and it was the longest moment of her life.

  “It’s the best thing I ever tasted,” he said finally and kissed her.

  All around her champagne glasses tinkled and silverware clinked and Christmas music played over the speakers. Little girls in red velvet dresses drank Shirley Temples and boys in trousers and suspenders clutched toy cars.

  Louisa reflected on all the wonderful things about Christmas at Claridge’s: the giant Christmas tree made out of metallic umbrellas and Brandy Alexanders served at Claridge’s bar and wrapped ornaments in her suite. The Dorrington ham sandwiches served on green-and-white-striped china at afternoon tea and the English muffins with Cornish cream that were so fresh, they melted in her mouth. And the lobby! It was like the most luxurious British drawing room with a marble fireplace and sideboard set with decanters of brandy and sherry.

  She turned to Noah and her heart filled with such happiness, she thought it might burst like the silver balloons that floated to the ceiling.

  “I was hoping you would say that.” She beamed and kissed him back.

  Acknowledgments

  Writing another Christmas book is very special to me, and I want to thank my wonderful agent, Melissa Flashman, and my amazing editor, Lauren Jablonski, for the opportunity. Thank you to the whole team at St. Martin’s Press: my publicist, Brittani Hilles; Karen Masnica, Laura Clark, and Brant Janeway in Marketing; and my fantastic publisher, Jennifer Enderlin. Thank you to Jennifer Weis for bringing me into the St. Martin’s family.

  Thank you to my friends Sara Sullivan, Jessica Parr, Cathie Lawler, and Cindy Pintar. And the biggest thanks to my children: Alex, Andrew, Heather, Madeleine, and Thomas.

  Also by Anita Hughes

  Emerald Coast

  White Sand, Blue Sea

  Christmas in Paris

  Santorini Sunsets

  Island in the Sea

  Rome in Love

  French Coast

  Lake Como

  Market Street

  Monarch Beach

  About the Author

  Anita Hughes is the author of Emerald Coast; White Sand, Blue Sea; Christmas in Paris; Santorini Sunsets; Island in the Sea; Rome in Love; French Coast; Lake Como; Market Street; and Monarch Beach. She attended UC Berkeley’s Masters in Creative Writing Program and lives in Dana Point, California, where she is at work on her next novel. Visit www.anitahughesbooks.com for more information, or sign up for email updates here.

 
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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Anita Hughes

  About the Author

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  CHRISTMAS IN LONDON. Copyright © 2017 by Anita Hughes. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

  www.stmartins.com

  Cover design by Danielle Fiorella

  Cover photograph: wreath © Bill Dowling/Shutterstock.com; London © RexRover/Shutterstock.com

  The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

  ISBN 978-1-250-14579-6 (trade paperback)