by H. L. Burke
Nyssa drilled her gaze into Henri’s forehead, wishing she could telepathically shout at him to leave. “I’m sure they have one at the music shop downtown. I can give you the address, if you want.”
“No, I know the place.” Henri kept staring at Ellis. “A remarkable device, that chair of yours. It’s marvelous how technology can make up for deficiencies.”
Nyssa jaw slackened. How dare he say that to Ellis? Lost nuance or not.
“Well, it can make up for some deficiencies.” Ellis gave a wry smile. “I’ve never come across an invention that could do much for lack of wit.”
Henri flinched. Nyssa smirked. Good one, Ellis.
Ellis rolled to his workbench and pushed a button. The door swung open. “Another technological advantage. You can see yourself out.”
Henri bowed to Nyssa. “Until we meet again.”
She gave a curt nod. It was all she could do not to sigh with relief as the door shut behind him.
“Did everything go all right with the suppliers?” she asked, eager to forget the encounter.
Ellis’s gaze bored into her. “Nyssa, do you respect me?”
Her chest tightened. “Of course.”
“Really?” He raised his eyebrows. “Because this is the second day in a row you’ve told me a flat out lie and expected me to buy it like a first class sucker.”
Her stomach twisted.Oh shock me, what does he know and why is he mad? He couldn’t know about the dance lessons just from seeing Henri in the shop. He has no idea who Henri is. “What … what do you mean?”
“Forget it.” He started for the door to the hall.
“Ellis! Don’t be mad!” She rushed after him and grabbed his arm.
His shoulders shook. His hand found her wrist and pulled her closer. “Look … Nyss, I love you, but I can’t live a lie and if you …” The corners of his mouth wavered. “If how you feel about me has changed, I trust you to treat me like an adult, not a child whose feelings you have to shelter, all right? Rip the bandage off, get it over with, but don’t act like I’m a fool.”
“Ellis …” What is he thinking? Does he think I’m … cheating on him? With Henri? How could he think that? “I’d never hurt you that way. I love you.”
“Really? And the men’s cologne I smelled on you yesterday? The same stuff that idiot with the ridiculous accent practically reeked of?” He grimaced. “Who is he really?”
“Does it matter? How can you think I’d do that to you?”
I’ve got to tell him. I can’t let him think what he thinks now, but if I tell him, I have nothing for Christmas … why can’t he just trust me? A whiff of cologne is all it takes to make him doubt after everything we’ve been through?
She bit her bottom lip until she tasted blood. Ellis’s gaze pierced her.
Nyssa brought his hand to her face and kissed it. “Please, I promise, if everything works out, it’ll be worth it.”
His fingers tightened around hers. “When I entered the room, that man might as well have beat his chest. He wants you. That shot he took about my ‘deficiencies,’ that was a blatant challenge. Nyss, if you want me to fight for you, I will, but you’re not a prize to be won, and that’s not how I want to treat you.”
“It’s not like that. Henri’s a boor, is all.”
“Henri? So you do know him, then?”
“Yes, and it was a mistake to pretend I didn’t, but I swear, it is nothing like you’re thinking. He’s simply helping me with a project. When that’s complete, I’ll never see him again.” She wrinkled her nose. “Believe me, that will be as much a relief for me as it will for you.”
“Oh, I doubt that.” He rested his palm against her cheek, his fingers disappearing into her brown hair. “You could have any man you want, you know.”
“I want you,” she whispered. She bent down and pressed her lips to his, but he didn’t kiss back. When she withdrew, he closed his eyes, as if evaluating her affection. His doubt stung like a hand across her face.
She stepped to the counter, her throat tightening, and took up her cleaning cloth. “Did you get everything ordered for the shop?” she asked, wanting to talk about anything but Henri.
“The supplier should deliver the parts shortly. They also offered me a deal on some machinery they ordered for a steam car mechanic who went under and couldn’t pay for the shipments.” He pushed his hair back from his forehead. “Not anything we need for the shop, but having the parts about always stirs my imagination, and it was cheap. I’ll have them set to the side until after Christmas.”
“Speaking of deliveries, half the decorations Amara purchased for us are still sitting in their parcels. I really should put those out before tomorrow. Can you watch the shop?”
Ellis nodded.
Nyssa hurried up the stairs. She reached the sitting room only to collapse on the couch, a sob escaping.
I wanted to give Ellis a perfect Christmas and instead we’re fighting. How can he suspect me of something like that? Even if it looks bad, he should know I’d never do that to him. Shock me, Christmas is a stupid idea.
***
As Nyssa’s footsteps faded up the stairs, Ellis positioned himself behind his workbench and slipped the gift box from its shelf. The rose pendant winked up at him.
You just accused the woman who gave you a second chance at life of cheating on you, you insensitive clod, it seemed to say. What were you thinking? You know Nyss. She’s too smart to fall for the lines of some Parrisan dandy.
He rested his hand over his eyes, trying to will away a brewing headache.
A rapping made him jump. The jewelry box slipped from his grasp and hit the floor.
A burly man carrying a crate stood on the other side of the glass door. Ellis hit the button to open the door and rolled back. The box lay upturned beneath the bench. He could get it, but it would mean sliding out of his chair and maneuvering around the floor, too embarrassing to attempt in front of a stranger. He’d wait until the delivery man had gone.
“Three boxes for Cormac?” the man asked. “Where do you want them?”
Ellis pointed to the corner behind the display cases. “Back there. Thank you.”
He eyed the necklace’s box, just out of reach. That’s my next project. A mechanical arm I can use to grab things so I don’t have to scramble out of my chair like a hermit crab looking for a new shell whenever I want something on the floor.
The delivery man brought in the last of the three crates. Ellis tossed him a coin. “Thanks and have a Merry Christmas.”
“You too, sir.”
As soon as he was alone, Ellis slid himself to the floor and reached for the box. He picked it up. Empty.
“Blast it.” He felt about the floorboards. His fingers hit upon a few old screws and some scattered clockwork, but no necklace. His elbow bumped his chair, and it rolled backward with an ominous crunch.
Ellis’s heart leapt to his throat. He pivoted. There beneath the right wheel gleamed a silver chain. He eased it out, but the damage had been done. The delicate petals were crushed and the pearl had cracked down the center.
“Damnit.”
Gripping the edge of the desk, he swung himself upward, back into the chair. He laid the pendant upon the workbench and examined it with a magnification lens. At his touch, petals fell onto the desk.
Not now. This can’t happen now. After what I said, if I don’t have a present for Nyss, she’ll think I’ve given up on us. Can I fix it? I could buy another … will they have another?
With a pair of tweezers, he gently pried the crushed petals away from the ruined pearl. With a little bit of adjustment, it almost looked like a closed bud rather than a smashed bloom … almost. I’ve ruined everything I’ve touched today.
Closing his eyes, Ellis prayed. “Dear God, don’t let me hurt Nyssa any more than I already have. Give me a chance to fix this. This is our first Christmas, and I wanted it to be one she’d remember forever … for the right reasons.”
In his mind, a
vision bloomed, literally, a flower unfurling in the morning light, petals opening to the sun. He gazed down at the jewelry. They always kept some silver and gold leaf for repairs on watches and other decorative pieces … that and some extremely fine clockwork …
Ellis grinned, slipped on his magnification goggles and got to work.
Chapter Eight
Nyssa stepped off the trolley and stared down the street towards Henri’s studio. Half her brain screamed at her to turn and leave. Ellis didn’t like Henri. While she still felt Ellis should trust her, their fight and his suspicions still lingered like a storm cloud around her.
A long, elegant steam car rolled around the corner and pulled to a stop beside Nyssa. A driver in a black chauffeur’s cap leapt out and waved.
“Wait, miss!”
Nyssa raised her eyebrows but stopped. She recognized that car.
The driver opened the back door, and Amara beckoned. “I heard you and Henri had some sort of disagreement. Is everything all right?”
“Yes … no … sort of.” Nyssa swallowed. She came closer.
Amara scooted over and patted the seat beside her. Nyssa glanced at the clocktower above the nearby bank. She had a few minutes. She settled beside Amara on the shiny leather upholstery.
“So? The juicy details? Was Henri too scandalously charming for your stoic tastes?” Amara batted her eyes.
Nyssa snorted. “Hardly. No … Ellis figured out I was sneaking off to meet with a man, but not why, and he got a little upset.”
Amara laid her hand upon her breast. “Oh, he’s jealous? How adorable! You should play that up, keep him on his toes. The lovemaking when you put him out of his misery, trust me, it’s worth it. Never let a man take you for granted.” She fussed with her hair. “I always flirt with other men when Renard is in the room. Then later he’ll prove that I’m his in the most intense way.”
“No, I don’t want to do that. It’s not funny to me, Amara. The look in Ellis’s eyes was just awful. I hurt him.” Nyssa hung her head.
“Oh, you poor thing.” Amara squeezed her arm. “Don’t worry. Once you tell him what you were up to and why, all will be forgiven.”
“Hopefully.” Nyssa glanced out the door, more convinced than ever she should run back to Ellis’s arms and forget the whole thing. “I really should get going, though.”
“Wait. I didn’t just intercept you for a chat. This is for you.” Amara passed Nyssa a bundle wrapped in shiny, silver paper. “Merry Christmas.”
Nyssa flushed. “Oh Amara, I didn’t get you anything.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Amara waved her hand. “You wouldn’t be able to afford anything I want.”
Nyssa bit her bottom lip. True, but not exactly tactful. “Thank you. Should I open it now?”
“No, hurry to your lesson. I know I didn’t have to get you a gift, but I’ve seen your wardrobe, and Ellis deserves to dance with a princess, not a spinster.”
Sparks and shocks, Amara and her blasted clothes. Nyssa drew a deep breath. She means well, Nyssa. Be grateful. “Thank you.”
She tucked the gift into her satchel and rose from the car. After she’d waved good-bye and the car had eased into traffic, Nyssa hurried to her lesson.
The clockwork ballerina smiled down at her with mocking eyes. Nyssa pushed through the door.
The reception room was empty. No sign of the haughty receptionist, but the door to the hallway sat open, and music drifted out to meet her. A faint whiff of smoke tickled her nose.
Following the song of the player piano, she stepped through the open door to the studio and blinked. Candlelight danced in the corners of the room. Someone had placed a small table with a crystal vase filled with roses in the center of the dance floor. Beside the vase stood a bucket with a green-glass bottle sticking out of the top.
“What in the world?” She turned to bolt from the room and found Henri grinning at her, his body blocking her only exit. She narrowed her eyes. “What is this?”Was Ellis right? Is he trying to seduce me?
“A dress rehearsal, if you will.” He strode forward. Instead of his previous clothing, he wore a tailcoat and gleaming leather shoes. “Tonight I play the role of your loyal beloved. You must trust me if you are to learn to follow.”
“And the alcohol?” She tilted her head towards the bottle in the bucket.
“To celebrate our success.” Henri offered her his hand. “The music is playing. Do you remember the steps?”
She nodded. “I still don’t see how this,” she swept her hand around the room, “is going to help me learn to follow.”
“If a man is worth loving, he’s worth following. Are you saying your dear Ellis is unworthy?”
She bristled. “I’m saying you’re no Ellis.”
“Touche.” He walked behind the piano. “So for now, in your head, I will be Ellis.”
Something squeaked over the floorboards, and Nyssa’s jaw dropped as Henri wheeled out a chair.
“Where’d you get that?”
“I borrowed it from the local hospital. It’s not as elaborate as your boyfriend’s, but it will serve our purposes. I’ve been practicing with it all morning, and I think I’ve managed to put together an elegant but simple routine that should suffice.” He sat down. “It is new for me as well. I will have to lead primarily with my arms, no footwork. I feel as if I’ve been cut in half, but for you, my charming ice princess, I will try.” He stretched out his hands. “Shall we?”
Nyssa exhaled. Her face warmed.Stupid and vain of me to think this was supposed to be romantic. I’m not the sort of girl men trip over themselves to entice. Henri probably has his pick of belles. I’m just a client.
“I owe you an apology, Henri. I thought the worst of you when you really are trying. This is … more than I expected.”
“I have hidden depths.” He winked. “Now, come! We shall dance!”
Nyssa stepped forward. He slipped one hand into hers.
“Let’s try walking side by side first. Forward, forward. Now step before me and we’ll move diagonally.”
She did her best to follow, but had to dodge to stop him from running over her toes.
“Again!” he ordered.
Tension built between her shoulder blades. Stepping backwards, she tripped over her own heels. Henri yanked her forward to keep her from falling, and she landed in his lap. She scrambled up, blushing.
Henri raised an eyebrow. “You still do not trust me?”
“It’s hard.” She bit her bottom lip. Telling him of Ellis’s suspicions felt like a betrayal to Ellis. “Maybe I should go.”
“No, we’re making progress. Don’t give up now.” He stood, reached into his breast pocket, and pulled out a strip of dark cloth. “I was saving this for just such an emergency.”
“Are you going to tie me up?” She shied away from him.
“You must believe the fantasy. Let me be Ellis for you.” Slipping behind her, he looped the cloth over her eyes.
Nyssa shuddered and pushed it away. “No. This is a bad idea.”
“This is a brilliant idea.” He put the blindfold back in place. “Please, Miss Nyssa, trust me just this once. I’ve done this with many students. It is my secret weapon.”
Steadying her breathing, Nyssa allowed him to tie the cloth over her eyes. I can always remove it, she promised herself. It’s not as if he’s tied my hands. If he tries that, I’m kicking him in the knee and running.
A quiver cut through her when he placed his hand in hers. His other hand settled on her waist.
She frowned. “You’re not sitting.”
“Not yet. This is to teach you to follow only. I will turn to the chair once that has been accomplished.”
Stiff as rusty gears, Nyssa felt for his shoulder.
“There. Now remember. You will go back—”
“I know, back right, back left, feet together. Remembering the steps isn’t my problem.”
“Good.” She could hear the self-satisfied smirk in his tone. �
��And one, two, three …” He propelled her backwards. Her grip on his shoulder tightened. “I won’t drop you. Trust, Nyss, trust.”
She cringed. “Don’t call me that. Only Ellis calls me that.”
“Ah, but now, I am Ellis. That is the point to this exercise.”
Nyssa bit back a retort and focused on the music and the movement. With graceful swaying motion, Henri led her about the room, the spicy odor of his cologne mixing with the candle smoke. She had to admit, in the darkness his strong arms were a comfort, the only thing that kept her from flailing about looking for a wall.
“You are quite elegant when you allow yourself to be,” Henri’s voice became silken. “If given more time with you, I could make you the toast of fashionable parties.”
“I don’t want that. I just want …”
“I know, you just want to dance with your boyfriend.” He scoffed. “A woman such as you does not deserve such obscurity, all buttoned up in grays and browns. You should wear scarlet and twirl beneath crystal chandeliers … on the arms of a man who can stand tall beside you.”
Nyssa stiffened as his hand slid lower. His fingers gripped her hip. She froze mid-step, but rather than withdraw, he came closer. His breath tickled her face, and before she could flee, he pulled her body against his and set his lips to hers. Her mouth fell open in horror. His tongue snaked in, and instinctively she bit down. Henri shrieked.
Quivering with rage, Nyssa ripped the blindfold from her face with one hand and shoved him with the other. “How dare you!”
“How dare I?” Henri dabbed at this mouth. “You little witch. You drew blood.”
“You’re lucky I didn’t give you a black eye while I was at it!” Nyssa backed towards the door. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking you deserved a real man, one who could stand on his own feet.” His lips curled. “Now I see you want a weakling you can lead like a puppy. Your crippled boyfriend suits you well.”
“You aren’t even half the man Ellis is. He was right about you, and I should’ve listened to him. You’re an arrogant pig.” She reached for her satchel which lay beside the door. “You have no idea what it takes to be a real man.”