Christmas at the Little Clock House on the Green

by Eve Devon

  ‘Who’s Mrs Blunkett? I don’t know who you are.’ With panic in her eyes she tried walking around him.

  ‘Hello, Betty,’ Emma said cheerfully as if Betty wasn’t standing naked under Jake’s dinner jacket in a meadow covered in snow in the middle of the night.

  ‘Lisa?’ Betty squinted and moved closer to Emma. ‘Is that you? This man was—’

  ‘Offering you his coat, all gentleman-like,’ Emma finished, giving Jake a reassuring smile. ‘He’s going back inside now, so there’s nothing to worry about.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Jake asked for her ears only as he stepped away from them.

  ‘Absolutely. Betty and I are going to be right in,’ Emma said, her smile bright and determined.

  Thinking only to hurry back into The Clock House and grab coats for both Emma and Betty, he was surprised to find Old Man Isaac standing at the moon-gate in his coat, and holding one out for Jake.

  ‘Wait,’ Isaac said as instead of putting on his coat, Jake automatically went to take it to Emma. ‘Not yet. You’ll scare Betty.’

  ‘They both need to be inside where it’s warm,’ Jake said.

  ‘Emma will get her inside,’ Isaac said watching the women. ‘You just have to be patient.’

  ‘Lisa, is it really you?’ Betty asked staring at Emma.

  ‘Who’s Lisa?’ Jake asked Old Man Isaac.

  ‘Lisa was Betty’s friend. They grew up together,’ Isaac said quietly. ‘But she died at least twenty years ago now.’

  Emma avoided outright lying and said instead in a perfect British accent, ‘And what’s all this then?’

  ‘Oh.’ Betty looked around at their surroundings. ‘I…’

  ‘You always were the exhibitionist out of the two of us,’ Emma said as if they were just chatting over a cuppa. ‘Any excuse to dance.’

  ‘Yes,’ Betty nodded.

  ‘But it’s too cold to be flashing your bits for Derek,’ Emma confided as she looped her arm briskly through Betty’s and took a couple of steps forward.

  ‘I’m guessing Derek was Betty’s husband?’ Jake asked as he and Isaac took a couple of steps back so that they weren’t seen.

  ‘Yes. He’s been gone three years now.’

  ‘Besides,’ Emma said, pulling Betty across the courtyard and Jake was close enough to hear Emma’s teeth beginning to chatter, ‘It’s Friday night and you know what that means.’

  ‘Lock-in at the pub,’ Betty said. ‘They think we don’t know about that.’

  ‘I know. Men,’ Emma said, pretending exasperation. ‘It’ll be different when you and Derek marry.’

  Emma walked right past Isaac and Jake as if they were invisible. Her entire focus was on Betty and getting her back inside. Jake could only look on impressed.

  ‘You really think Derek and me are going to get married?’ Betty asked.

  ‘Course I do,’ Emma replied. ‘He’s going to pop an emerald on your finger, Betty. I just know it.’

  ‘How does she know all this stuff?’ Jake asked Isaac.

  ‘Besides the emerald on Betty’s finger? She’s a good listener, Jake. You’ve seen her in action, haven’t you? You must have noticed.’

  Yes.

  He had.

  There was something about Emma that had made even him entrust a few secrets to her.

  Jake looked on as she headed for the closest door. Gloria was standing behind it and quickly pushed it open as they approached.

  ‘An emerald?’ Betty asked, caught up in the story. ‘Do you really think so? Emeralds are my favourite. If he put one on my finger I’m not sure I’d ever take it off.’

  ‘Well, let’s get you inside then, where it’s all nice and warm,’ Emma soothed. ‘And then we’ll find your clothes and get you ready for the party.’

  ‘Party? Will there be dancing?’

  ‘Can’t call it a party without dancing,’ Emma confirmed.

  Betty stopped and stared at Emma. ‘And that’s what you’re wearing then?’

  ‘Ah.’ Emma looked down at her dress and then back up at Betty. ‘It’s fancy dress?’

  ‘It’s awful.’

  Emma laughed.

  ‘Who are you?’ Betty suddenly said.

  ‘I’m Emma, Mrs Blunkett. Emma Danes,’ she replied, switching easily back from playing Betty’s old friend to playing her new one. ‘You’re at The Clock House to celebrate it opening. Lots of friends of yours are here, so it will all start to feel familiar in a moment.’

  ‘Use Kate’s office,’ Gloria said quietly. ‘I’ve put all her stuff in there and you won’t be disturbed.’

  ‘Thanks Gloria.’ Emma smiled her appreciation.

  ‘I see Isaac,’ Betty suddenly said, stopping inside the doors. ‘Isaac, is it true? We’re all here to party?’

  ‘It is, Betty,’ Isaac answered with a smile. ‘Emma’s going to look after you first. Make sure you’re warm. And then, perhaps, you’ll save me a dance?’

  ‘All right then. I’ll see you in a moment.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to it.’

  Betty stopped in front of Jake and laid her hand gently on his cheek as if trying to capture who he was.

  ‘Reminds me of my late husband,’ Jake heard Betty say as she allowed Emma to steer her towards the lift.

  Jake gave Gloria a nod of thanks as she silently moved past them to rejoin the party and then he turned to take the coats from Isaac. ‘I’ll hang these back up for you so that your hands are free to claim that dance with Betty.’

  As he returned the coats to the coat-stand, he heard Isaac say, ‘You know only a fool would pass up the opportunity of dancing the night away with Emma.’

  Jake fussed with making sure the coats were hanging straight on the rail.

  ‘And I never did have you down as a fool,’ Isaac added.

  ‘Well, then I might just have to at that – if only to protect my reputation.’

  ‘Jake, Isaac, thank you,’ Kate said as she walked over to them. ‘Gloria’s just told me Betty’s okay.’

  ‘Actually, it’s all thanks to Emma,’ Jake said. ‘You should have seen her, Kate. She was incredible. The way she stepped in and looked after her.’

  She’d gone from reality to pretence and then back to reality in her stride, which had to be down to her acting.

  But also, he forced himself to consider the bigger truth; that it was down to her natural role of care-taking.

  Because that’s what Emma’s greatest talent was, wasn’t it?

  Care-taking.

  In the same way she preserved a writer’s words and kept care of their scripts, she took care of people.

  She was able to put herself in other people’s shoes and understand what was going on with them.

  It was why she got living at Knightley Hall.

  Alice had never understood that taking on Knightley Hall was about leaving a mark you could be proud of when the time came to pass it on.

  Emma did.

  The realisation made him nervous.

  Because as much as he wanted so badly to trust it, he’d been wrong before…

  ‘Didn’t I tell you I always thought you were observant,’ Kate said with a twinkle in her eyes and thankfully, before he could form a response, she was walking towards the lift. ‘You two make sure you get yourselves a drink. I’m going to check on Betty and Emma.’

  ‘Isaac?’ Jake asked, as he accompanied him back into the room, his glance automatically going to the chandelier. ‘About George and Lillian…’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘You must have seen them together. Did you think they were in love?’

  ‘I was only a child, Jake. What did I know?’

  ‘I guess.’

  ‘You don’t always have to look to your past to see your future, you know? Sometimes, you just have to leap,’ Isaac said, and then held his hands out as if he had a dance partner in them as he danced over to the bar, leaving behind a knowing chuckle.

  Jake knew the moment Emma walked back into the r
oom.

  His hand paused halfway to lifting his bottle of beer to his mouth and as her gaze found his, warmth flooded him and the nervous feeling came back, yet without hesitation he started weaving his way through the crowd to her.

  ‘You okay?’ he asked, unable to stop himself from reaching out to stroke a fingertip down her arm. Good. No hypothermia. Only skin as soft and warm as it had been when he’d traced it with his mouth last night.

  ‘I’m fine,’ she whispered back, her smile gentle as if a little surprised but pleased by his worrying about her.

  He thought he’d shown her last night how much she meant to him, but then again, he hadn’t said it with words so maybe she hadn’t heard.

  Or maybe she had and hadn’t wanted to hear it?

  ‘You did good, Hollywood. Better than good. You saved the day.’

  ‘If you hadn’t got that jacket on her…’ She shivered and he knew it wasn’t leftover chills from being outside. She’d played a part to help Betty and she’d played it with skill and without artifice. And she’d done it because she could and because she’d felt for Betty.

  But although she made it look easy, that didn’t mean it had been.

  ‘How did you know to say all those things?’

  ‘I’ve got to know her during rehearsals for the Christmas show. Trudie managed to persuade her not to do the burlesque routine so she’s going with reading a passage from A Christmas Carol instead. I’ve been helping her with her lines.’

  He’d forgotten she was now part of the show.

  More and more she was becoming assimilated into Whispers Wood’s way of life.

  ‘What did you decide to do for the Christmas show?’ he asked.

  ‘Tsk, tsk,’ she grinned, wagging a finger at him. ‘You’ll have to wait until you come back from Cornwall and ask to watch someone’s recording.’

  So she had heard him. Had even believed him when he’d said he was leaving. He should be pleased about that.

  So why wasn’t he?

  Why was he struggling to keep everything as light as she was?

  ‘I haven’t even had a chance to tell you how amazing you look,’ he said.

  ‘What, this old thing?’ She glanced down at her gown and grinned. ‘Although I’m pretty sure Betty wasn’t seeing this and thinking about the 1970s. I’m pretty sure she was thinking it would look better as a tin foil hat.’

  ‘No way. In that dress you—’

  ‘Should be, dancing … yeah,’ she sang, doing a quick Bee Gees disco move.

  He looked around at everyone enjoying themselves and in an effort to match her lightness, he offered, ‘Shall we, then?’

  ‘Dance?’ Shock entered those gorgeous silver eyes of hers. ‘You and me? Together?’

  He nodded and lifted the bottle to his lips to drink some down. ‘Me and you.’

  ‘Are you sure you can handle my moves?’

  ‘I think I did all right last night.’

  ‘More than all right,’ she said, her eyes shining.

  ‘You even let me take the lead for a while,’ he grinned and taking her hand in his, moved towards the bar so that he could put down his drink, before moving into the centre of the room with her.

  As soon as he took her in his arms, he felt better. Less nervous. Was that because in his arms was where she belonged, or because being in hers was the only place he wanted to be?

  ‘Emma—’

  ‘I like it when you say my name,’ she said, pulling back a little to search his eyes. ‘I don’t mind you calling me Hollywood too much, but I do like it when you say my name.’

  Last night had wiped away the distance that he’d held onto with the name and he found himself instinctively pulling her in closer.

  ‘If I’d known you when Betty and Derek were our age,’ he said into her ear, ‘I wouldn’t be spending my Friday nights in a pub lock-in.’

  ‘Is that a fact?’

  ‘I’d have taken you out dancing. Slow dancing. Like we’re doing now. I’d have talked to you about earthy things that would have got you all stirred up.’

  ‘Really? That’s what you would have done is it?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Tell me some more.’

  ‘I’d have complimented you on what you were wearing while trying to figure out how to get you out of it.’

  ‘Exciting.’

  He swayed to the music with her, feeling one step away from his heart going out from under him.

  ‘I’d have walked you home,’ he whispered, feeling her shiver and knowing it was from him now and not from being outside in a dress as thin as the air.

  ‘All gentleman-like,’ she replied, her accent now her normal mix of American and British.

  ‘And when we got to your door, I’d have offered to come inside and check your cottage was warm for you.’

  She threw back her head and laughed.

  ‘And I’d make sure the fire didn’t go out all night.’

  ‘I can’t think of anything I’d like more than you walking me home tonight and making sure the fire doesn’t go out.’

  As they danced together under the chandelier, Jake’s hands tightened reflexively.

  Last night he’d thought he was simply surrendering to the moment.

  Now he realised it was more.

  So much more.

  He was falling.

  Free-falling.

  For Hollywood Danes.

  On what would have been his wedding day!

  Chapter 36

  Badly Done, Jake!

  Jake

  Seven mornings in a row he’d woken up with Emma lying next to him.

  Seven nights of keeping each other warm.

  Seven days of sneaking moments to be together.

  Moments that kept them eager for the end of a shift.

  Seven days and seven nights and hundreds of moments where he’d kept putting off the knowledge that Christmas was creeping ever closer and he was still in Whispers Wood. Trying not to label what he and Emma had, but getting closer to needing to.

  ‘I think I’ll add some height with the roses on the far borders, maybe a deep blue salvia with spires of linaria purpurea to make a statement,’ Jake said half to himself, half to Emma as he heard her padding back into the bedroom with the breakfast tray. ‘And then for full out summer feeling I could block in some philadelphus. It’s heavily perfumed but that might work well if I end up opening that area for weddings.’ His heart gave a thwack against his chest wall as he thought about Emma still being here in summer and in his head he held up a yellow card for getting ahead of himself.

  ‘Sounds perfect and dreamy,’ Emma sighed as she set the tray on the end of the bed and went over to her dresser to check her phone.

  Jake stretched and sat up in her bed. Tonight they were going to have to make it back to his proper-sized bed, if only to save his feet from getting frost-bite. ‘Do you even know what those plants are?’

  ‘Uh-huh,’ she answered, eyes still on her phone. ‘One’s sort of blue and spiky and the other is a mock orange, isn’t it?’

  ‘Are you looking them up on your phone?’

  She grinned. ‘How do you spell linaria again?’

  ‘I think we should discuss planting schemes back in bed.’

  Her hand went to the top button of the shirt she was wearing. His shirt. She unbuttoned it slowly. ‘I’m not sure. I mean I really enjoy talking planting schemes with you but don’t think for a moment I haven’t worked out you just want to put your big cold feet on me to warm them up.’

  He smiled and snagged a piece of toast. ‘I’m that transparent, am I?’ As he chewed, his mouth got dry and worry scuttled across nerve endings. Were his feelings for her equally as transparent? He’d spent two years in a relationship with someone who he’d thought had felt about him, how he’d felt about her, and he’d been wrong.

  ‘I love it when you talk Latin,’ Emma said. ‘So tell me more about what you want to plant in the borders—’ she broke off as his
phone started ringing and automatically reached for it to pass it to him.

  He glanced at the caller display and frowned. ‘Hold that thought,’ he told her and into his phone, said, ‘Felix? What’s up?’ He listened for a few minutes, and with a soft expletive got out of bed and started hunting around for his clothes. ‘No. I’m sorry. You did the right thing phoning me, I’ll come back now.’

  ‘What’s happened?’ Emma asked as soon as he ended the call.

  ‘Seth’s left the bloody paddock gate open on the lower field and I now have a herd of cows heading straight for the gardens.’

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ she said, immediately reaching for fresh underwear.

  His hands paused on the button of his jeans. ‘Don’t be silly. You have to work.’

  ‘My shift doesn’t start for another hour and if we phone everyone on the drive over we can get them all to pop over and help. Have the herd back where it belongs super-quick.’

  He swore again, this time silently at her automatic desire to help. Half of him wondered if it was desire to help or a much more deep-rooted need to help. The other half simply reminded him that he was supposed to be able to do all this on his own. ‘Trust me this isn’t going to be something you can fit in before your shift starts.’

  ‘Then I’ll be late for my shift. Gloria will cover for me.’

  ‘Do you even know how to get cows to follow commands?’

  ‘I can help, Jake. I want to,’ she said, her voice determined as she whipped off his shirt to hand it to him to put on.

  But what if she did help? What if she spent all day helping him and realised it wasn’t what she’d signed up for? Even though, he thought, neither of them had got around to talking about signing up for anything together.

  No. He couldn’t risk it. He grabbed the shirt, gritting his teeth against the tease of her body heat. ‘I know you do, but really, it’s not necessary,’ he said, buttoning the shirt up. ‘I can sort this out myself. It doesn’t need the whole village coming to my rescue when there’ll be Felix and Seth already there.’

  Emma stared at him like she was a crossword gal and he was a sudoku. ‘It isn’t rescuing you. It’s helping.’

  ‘Thanks, but I don’t need it.’

  ‘Don’t need it or don’t want it?’