Fateful

by Cheri Schmidt

  She kept wandering until she stopped cold facing the fourth dead-end or sixth, she’d lost count. Danielle ran her fingers through her hair as frustration overtook her emotions. I may as well just give up now. She thought about sitting down right there to wait, figuring he would come looking for her if she never showed up at the tower.

  Suddenly, strong arms snaked around her waist from behind. She screamed, and then heard Ethan chuckling softly in her ear. “It’s this way, Danielle,” he said, his shoulders still shaking with silent mirth.

  He then led her through the maze with his hands on her waist to guide her. Danielle thought he must have it memorized because he never entered a dead-end, and never slowed down to think where he was going. In only a matter of moments the yews opened to a clearing with the big gothic tower standing above it all in the center.

  “Was I even close?” she asked, feeling annoyed with the ease he had just finished the maze.

  “Not really,” he said, trying weakly to hold his laughter in.

  She rolled her eyes and exhaled. “This garden is nice, but I hate mazes.” She put as much emphasis into the word “hate” as she possibly could. “I hate getting lost, and I’m really good at it,” she finally confessed.

  Ethan suddenly snatched her close to him, letting her see the full potency of his blue irises. “Are you mad at me?”

  “Um…” Besides being shocked by his sudden move, she couldn’t help but ask mentally, Why is he so familiar? She was losing her train of thought, but struggled to hold her ground while fighting against his dreamy azure eyes. “Yes, a little. You left me alone in that horrible maze. I should have told you—being lost is one of my worst fears.”

  He then released her from his gaze before she could figure out what it was about him that was so familiar to her.

  “I’m sorry it upset you. I never really left you alone,” he said, his tone sweet and gentle.

  “What?”

  He repeated himself using different words. “I’m sorry, Danielle. I was only toying with you. I never would have let you get lost.”

  “So you were nearby the whole time?”

  “Yes, of course.” His soothing smile spread further across his face.

  She wasn’t sure what to say to that, but decided to believe his words, which had made her feel a little better.

  Ethan gathered her hand into his again. “Come on. Let’s go to the top of the tower. You can see everything from up there.” Danielle wobbled, still a little befuddled.

  Once they got to the top, they shared a moment of silence as they took in the breathtaking view. Danielle rested her elbows on the stone ledge so she could lean out further. The breeze was stronger from this height. It danced on her face, and playfully ruffled her hair. She could smell the sweet flowers and the impending storm in the air.

  Danielle realized, with a start, that Ethan was watching her again. Getting the weird feeling that he knew a lot more about her than she knew about him, she searched his gaze for an answer. She couldn’t fathom how that could be possible after only one date. And strangely, it appeared like he knew why he seemed familiar to her, but what did he know that she didn’t? Danielle couldn’t understand it, and was debating whether she was too polite to ask him flat-out. Her shyness was winning this one, however. She couldn’t bring herself to it just yet.

  Ethan spoke, as if meaning to distract her from her thoughts. “So have you enjoyed this place? Well, except for the maze part, I mean.”

  “Yes, I’ve enjoyed it.” She exhaled. “Thanks for bringing me here.”

  “Are you hungry for a late lunch? You may enjoy the Orangery Restaurant, it isn’t far from here.”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  “Let’s go.”

  They had lunch and tea. Danielle was pleased to see peach tea available, which she selected without hesitation. Ethan ordered food for both of them. However, he ordered more for her than he did for himself. This guy appeared to be under the impression that she ate a lot of food, or needed a lot of food. Self-consciously, she glanced down at herself, wondering if she appeared too thin. As with the pastries, she knew she wouldn’t be able to finish everything.

  Ethan had a strange look in his eye as he watched her eat, like he was almost … envious. Of what, she wasn’t sure. He only picked at his own food. She wondered if maybe he didn’t like his own choice and was coveting hers, but he turned her down when she offered him a bite.

  * * * * *

  When they returned to the car, he held the door like a true gentleman. He seemed like the type of fellow who would take off his coat to drape across a mucky puddle so a lady could cross dryly, or he might actually just carry her across, getting his own shoes wet in the process.

  While his need to feed her was odd, and that thing with his eyes was just plain weird, she still never felt like she’d discovered any dark, troubling secrets. Except for when he made her think he’d abandoned her, but then again he never really did. He’d teased her, and that was hardly a deep dark secret. Danielle had already forgiven him for it.

  She began to wonder if he would want to see her again, and studied his face for a sign of how he felt about their date as he backed the car out. He sensed her gaze, and turned to face her, his eyes guarded again.

  But he smiled. “Did you have a good time?”

  “Yes. Did you?”

  “Certainly,” Ethan said it with a great deal of enthusiasm, and Danielle took an equal amount of hope from that.

  Ethan reached to turn on the music while he steered the car onto the highway. Danielle raised an eyebrow as violins began to sing. More than half the guys she knew liked good old rock and roll. So this was something else different about Ethan Deveroux. And she liked it. Note to self—he’s classy, add to the why-Ethan’s-the-best-choice-for-a-London-love-affair list.

  Her eyes lifted to the clock on the dashboard. As he’d promised her uncle, he was getting her home very early. The sun was just beginning to set. The sky gradually became painted with vibrant colors of gold, orange and pink. He watched the sinking sun like he was going to miss it while it was gone for the night.

  Ethan pulled up to her uncle’s house, opened the door for her and walked her to the front door. As he remained averse about sharing his eye contact, Danielle couldn’t decide if she was beginning to get used to it or not.

  With words whispered softly, he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, all right?”

  “Okay.” Trying hard to not let on how delighted with that she really was.

  He stroked the side of her face with the back of his knuckles, then slid his thumb along the line of her jaw, following it to her chin. His gaze followed his hand, avoiding her eyes until it settled on her mouth. To her dismay, he did not kiss her. Then before she knew it, he was back to his Jaguar, and gone.

  She was having a difficult time dealing with his continual, sudden disappearances.

  It was then, she realized, that during his brief farewell, she’d neglected to breathe. She took in a big calming breath, gathered herself and stepped inside.

  “Danielle, is that you, love?” Aunt Charlotte called.

  “Yes,” she replied softly, realizing she didn’t quite have her voice back.

  “Come in for dinner. It’s still hot.”

  Danielle entered the dining room with a permanent grin on her face. “Thanks, it smells wonderful.” She seated herself next to Brianna.

  “Wow, he really did get you home early. We weren’t sure if we should expect you for dinner or not,” her uncle said. Obviously he continued to be impressed with Ethan, and shot a glance at Brianna, who knew why immediately.

  “Keep your hair on Dad, I’ll try not to miss my curfew any more. All right?” Brianna huffed rolling her eyes.

  “I’ll believe that when I see it,” he replied flatly.

  Brianna groaned, and then leaned toward Danielle. “So how was it? Did you have fun? Tell me everything.”

  “Okay, after dinner?” Danielle said while absent
mindedly pushing food around the plate. It seemed she wasn’t very hungry after having a late lunch with Ethan.

  “Deal,” Brianna said.

  They talked well into the night about Ethan and Will. The way girls normally do—at least when boys are the topic of conversation.

  Chapter 5

  Second Date

  The next day Danielle and Brianna sat chatting in the library after their classes. They had discovered a quiet corner where they could whisper without disturbing anyone else, and Danielle asked Brianna to tell her about Will.

  “Well, he’s a talented rugby player, and he’s an engineering major.”

  “So he’s athletic and smart.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ve never seen a rugby game.”

  “We’ll have to take you sometime.”

  “I’d like that.” Danielle slid her books and art portfolio into her bag before she continued, “What’s his full name? I’m guessing it’s William…”

  “Yes, William Matson Kent.”

  A mischievous smirk pulled at Danielle’s lips. “Brianna Lynn Kent. I like it! Or Mrs. William Kent. Oh, I like that too!”

  Brianna gasped. “Danielle!”

  “Oh, come on! I’ll bet you’ve written it down a few times just to see what it looks like,” Danielle accused, as the smirk on her face grew.

  “Maybe,” Brianna replied sheepishly.

  Danielle snickered. She knew it was true; her cousin had tested his name with hers.

  “So, Ethan said he would see you today?” Brianna asked an obvious distraction tactic.

  “Yes, but he didn’t say when or where.”

  “I see.” Brianna pondered to herself as the mischievous smirk seemed to creep from Danielle’s lips to hers. “Well, Mrs. Ethan—” she began.

  “Don’t you even dare go there, Bri! We’ve only just met!”

  Brianna laughed, and let Danielle off the hook. “Should we go then? Would you like to do lunch in the city, or when we get home? Are you feeling peckish now?”

  Danielle assumed “peckish” meant hungry. “Uh, sure let’s go. I don’t care where we eat, it’s up to you.” She bent to lift her satchel and slung it over herself. When she sat up, she was startled to see Ethan standing behind Brianna, wearing a wicked grin on his Prince-Charming face.

  Brianna had no idea he was behind her, and jumped when his masculine voice drifted over her head. “I have an idea for lunch.”

  Her cousin’s head flipped around tossing her hair into her face. He smiled down at her silently. She turned back to Danielle with one eyebrow raised.

  Danielle felt embarrassed, but smiled anyway. She wondered if he’d heard them talking about him right before he materialize behind Brianna.

  “So, Danielle, how does lunch with me sound to you?” he asked in a low purr.

  How could she say no to that? But Danielle did remember Brianna. She addressed her first, “Are you okay with that, Bri? Now I’m the one ditching you.”

  Ethan cut in, “Bri, you’re welcome to come too, if you would like.”

  Always the gentleman, thought Danielle.

  “Thanks, Ethan, but you two go on without me. Have fun, Dannie, don’t worry about me.” She then flashed a knowing wink her way. Danielle understood perfectly—Brianna expected a complete report later.

  “Thanks, Bri!” Danielle finally addressed Ethan who’d been waiting patiently. “I’d love to, thank you.”

  His smile grew, making it considerably more heavenly. She wondered how he managed such celestial innocence with mischief dancing in his eyes like that. But Danielle came back to earth when Brianna jumped in to tease them. “Don’t keep her out too late, Ethan. It is a school night.” She made her voice sound stern and motherly. It was a little unnerving how much she reminded Danielle of Charlotte at that moment.

  Ethan’s eyebrows rose, his smile transformed into a smug look. With a hard chortle he replied, “Yes, ma’am … but why are you people so stuck on Danielle’s curfew?”

  Danielle answered his question. “Well, that’s because Bri is having trouble keeping hers.”

  He began laughing silently, his shoulders shaking. Brianna flashed a bitter look at him, he stopped laughing the second she did, and wiped the grin off his face, then returned to laughing when she twisted back to Danielle.

  Danielle was finding it difficult to keep her own laughter in. “I’m sorry, Bri, I was only teasing.”

  Brianna rolled her eyes. “I know. I wish Dad would just lay off.” She sank back into her seat with her arms folded.

  Ethan innocently locked his piercing eyes with Danielle’s for less than half a second. She went weak at the knees, and was relieved she was still seated. She then realized that he’d looked into Brianna’s eyes at close range. Why do his eyes get to me, and not her? It made no sense.

  He moved around Brianna and seated himself on the armrest of Danielle’s chair, then leaned one arm across the back of it, so he was very close to her. She caught a faint whiff of his essence that had hit her at the tea party. She fought the impulse to giggle like a schoolgirl with a crush and lean toward him for a better drag of that heady fragrance.

  “Have you had afternoon tea in London yet?”

  “No.”

  “That is an experience you simply cannot miss. How does Tea Manor sound?” he offered, an eccentric lilt now tainting his words.

  Danielle checked with her cousin again, using their non-verbal language. Brianna gave the affirmative with a simple eyebrow move.

  She lifted her face to his, cautiously though, to reply. She feared eye contact with him this close could be more intense than she could handle. “Sounds wonderful,” she said.

  He only allowed a short moment of direct gaze before he stood swiftly and reached a hand out to her. “Shall we then?”

  She took his hand and stood. “Yes, please.”

  He reached out with his free hand and removed the schoolbag from her shoulder. As he did, he whispered into her ear, “By the way, I think you’ve sold me on jeans.”

  Danielle felt warmth rush to her cheeks as she resisted the urge to tug at her jeans since they were riding into places she didn’t like them. She could only grin bashfully and shudder as his breath tickled her flesh. He seemed to relish her reaction.

  Brianna waved and offered a “cheers” to Danielle as Ethan led her toward the doors.

  Ethan held the door of his Jag open for her, and then set her things into the back seat. He got in the driver’s side and didn’t waste any time bringing the engine to life, he then began the conversation the second he threw the gears in reverse. “What types of art are you into, Danielle?”

  “Well, mostly watercolor. It kind of depends on my mood, or the look I want to create.”

  “May I see some of your work?” he uttered invitingly.

  She stared at him. “Now?” she asked, uncertain.

  “Yes, please, if you have some with you.”

  “Um, okay.” Danielle reached into the back to pull her portfolio from the bag. She opened it, selected something she was fairly proud of, and held it up for him to see.

  The painting she held was of a girl, whose expression was very sad. Tears ran down her cheeks, her eyebrows were twisted up with sorrow, and her pouting lips were almost quivering. Danielle held her breath, exposing more than just a piece of artwork. She felt like she was standing there naked, wondering if he liked what he saw, fearing rejection or criticism.

  Ethan seemed a little troubled.

  Great, he doesn’t like it, she worried.

  “Why is she so sad?”

  She held it out in front of herself, smiling at the distraught girl while she considered her answer. “I don’t know…” She stroked her finger across the two dimensional cheek. “I love her though. Haven’t you ever felt like that?”

  “Hm, actually, yes I have.” Ethan seemed surprised to admit it. “I see why you like it now. You want to comfort her.”

  “Yes, that’s it.” D
anielle was thrilled he understood.

  “May I see another one?”

  “Well, the others aren’t finished.” Danielle disliked sharing unfinished work way more than finished work.

  “I don’t mind.” He aimed a grin at her.

  It was the kind of grin Danielle could never resist. She sighed and pulled another painting out. She must like him a bit too much already, she thought while finding herself too easily persuaded. She lifted the sketch of a lonely, gnarled tree up for him to see. It had branches arching out into a mushroom shape, and the style was distinctly folk. It was only half painted.

  Ethan tipped his head to the side as he studied it, glancing ahead at traffic only briefly. “I like that one too.”

  “Really?” She was genuinely surprised.

  “Yes, I rather like your style.”

  “Thanks.” Was he just saying that to be nice? Or did he really feel that way? She always wondered when people said they liked her work. She put the piece away and realized they were now pulling into a parking spot near Tea Manor.

  The restaurant was very small and narrow, and the decor was a simple, clean elegance. It wasn’t exactly what she was expecting with “manor” in the name. The hostess led them to a table near the window. They sat across from each other. Ethan kept his eyes guarded, as before. Even though he was very sly about it—still she noticed. But with this being only their second date, she feared bringing it up.

  Passing her gaze over the menu selections, she realized they had many more choices for tea than the other restaurants she’d been to so far. There were two fruit infusions that tempted her. The Precious Peach, of course, and the Enchanted Forest, which was a mixture of berries and hibiscus. She chose the Precious Peach to be safe, but was then very surprised when Ethan ordered the Enchanted Forest. He also selected the Manor Tea for both of them, which consisted of an assortment of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, jam, and a selection of cakes. She was fearful that he’d ordered more than she could eat again. It appeared to be a pattern with him.