Fancy dress in the British sense of a theme costume, not fancy dress in the American sense of wearing one’s best.
Taking off the big glasses that were part of the outfit but made it even harder to see, he pulled the wedding invitation from his pocket, and squinted until the letters came into focus.
He hadn’t been confused.
There, clearly written on the heavy engraved card in Immy’s unmistakable spiky hand-writing.
Halloween fancy dress mandatory. ‘Mandatory’ underlined for extra emphasis.
Looked as if Immy had set him up with the unexpected invitation. Hard to believe, but it seemed she’d had her petty revenge for the past planned all along.
It wouldn’t work on him. He’d shrug it off. A reputation as an eccentric scientist came in handy sometimes.
But he wasn’t alone. Beth made an irresistible and unexpected bonus target for Immy.
Only one thing to do.
As soon as the ceremony ended, he had to get Beth out of there and out of Immy’s firing range.
He looked down at her sweet face as she stood beside him, staring straight ahead at Hugo and Immy as they made their promises of commitment.
His job was to protect the woman he loved.
Chapter 8
Beth should regret her decision to come to the wedding. The evening could easily rank as one of the worst of her life.
They were the only ones in the room in Halloween outfits.
She’d publicly shamed herself in front of the people she most needed to impress.
Imogen would be out for her blood.
And being so close to James had her emotions running riot. The way he made her tremble and her pulse pound in her throat scared her more than the thought of what Imogen might do as revenge.
But those sensations were the very things that made it impossible to regret being here.
When he’d put his arm around her as the celebrant spoke about the meaning of marriage, an inner battle raged — struggle or surrender.
Choosing surrender felt right.
Being close to him was the closest thing she’d ever known to having a home.
His nearness made focusing on the ceremony almost impossible. The bride and groom recited their wedding vows, but their voices faded from her awareness. They might as well be reciting times tables.
James captured far more of her attention. Her gaze traced the strong line of his jaw and his firm lips, the way she wished her fingers could.
Forget Imogen.
Forget her embarrassment.
And for a couple of hours, forget the vast chasm dividing them.
Treat this evening with him as the blessing it was, an unexpected gift from God that wouldn’t be repeated.
As if he sensed her stare, he turned and met her eyes. Smiling a smile that warmed her right through, he handed her the card he held.
She dragged her gaze away from him to read it.
The wedding invitation, an expensive engraved one. No mistaking the handwritten instruction to wear costume.
Forgive and forget hadn’t been in Imogen’s vocabulary ten years ago, and this suggested it wasn’t now, either.
The older girl had once been so certain that no-one else but her would be Mrs Tetherton-Hart. A prank like this was childish, even for Immy.
Much of the guilt weighing on Beth for disrupting the ceremony evaporated. The bride must have planned to embarrass James and whoever accompanied him.
They’d simply have to be impossible to embarrass.
James was far too kind to say anything to Imogen despite her trick, and the last thing Beth wanted was any sort of confrontation.
Handing the invitation back, her fingers brushed his, and her breath caught.
Something sang between them, sweet yet indefinable, like distant music.
He bent a little to slide the card into his pocket, and his sandy hair flopped forward. The endearing little boy look it gave him was adorable, something he’d keep even when he was ninety.
Still, her hand itched to reach out and sweep back that silky softness so nothing blocked her view of his face.
“I’m happy to pronounce you husband and wife.”
The celebrant’s triumphant tones startled Beth from her focus on James.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes the marriage ceremony. Please be seated for the signing of the Register.”
Imogen and her husband moved to the table behind them, and bent their heads to the large book there.
“Now’s our chance,” James whispered. Instead of sitting, he bent double, hidden behind the seated guests. “Out the door while we can!”
Quicker than he’d been to sit, she froze in her chair. Surely running away would make things worse.
On the other hand, facing the wrath of Imogen wasn’t appealing. Beth inched to a crouch, and stayed hunched over as they crept to the back of the room.
James edged the door open just enough for her to slip through, and then followed her into the foyer.
As soon as the door closed behind them, they collapsed against each other.
His arms came up, gently holding her. Together, they shook with stifled laughter.
Being in his arms was so good, so right.
No, too good. Too right.
Too much like something she shouldn’t let happen.
Allowing herself to enjoy an evening in James’ company was one thing. Falling back in love was something else again.
God wanted her to trust Him, but this was too much.
She pulled away, forcing her giggles under control and holding up a hand in a stop sign. “I feel bad about this. We did interrupt her wedding, after all.”
James raised his eyes to the ceiling in a Lord-give-me-patience expression, and tugged at the edge of his jacket. “I’m very sorry we disrupted the ceremony, but do you truly think you owe Immy anything? What did she expect would happen by asking just one guest to dress in Halloween costume.”
“Not for the guest to arrive late and throw her gift around right at a crucial part of the proceedings, I’m guessing.”
He smiled and touched her cheek. The mere brush of a finger sent tremors through her. “Please don’t change. I’ve always loved that sweetness of yours.”
“James —”
He stilled her protests with a finger against her lips.
“Come with me.” Grabbing her hand, he led her to a door next to the lift, opening it and stepping through. “I checked the fire plan in the entrance. We should be able to get up to the high level walkways from here.”
Her steps faltered on the threshold.
“Are you sure?” The door opened onto steeply winding stairs.
“I don’t think we’re breaking any rules.” He smiled, tilting his head to one side. “Okay, I don’t know that for sure, but the door opened and there’s no sign telling us not to. And what’s the worst that can happen? Either the door at the top won’t open from the outside and we’ll have to walk back down again, or we’ll crash someone else’s wedding and need to reverse very quickly.”
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. We’ve caused enough trouble for one evening already.”
She couldn’t tell him the real reason she didn’t want to do it. Admitting her terror of heights shamed her. Another thing they’d ridiculed her for at school.
He grinned at her and tugged her toward the landing. “I doubt they’d have two weddings on the same night. And think of the best case scenario. We not only escape Immy, we get to see one of the most spectacular views in the world.”
Still she held back. Just the sight of those precipitous stairs had her knees wobbling and her stomach lurching.
“Be adventurous, Beth.”
Movement sounded from the other side of the doors they’d just escaped through, the ones to the ceremony room. Imogen or Hugo or another guest could come out at any moment.
That decided her.
The only way was up.
Besides, it was
long past time to stop letting silly fears and things that happened years ago run her life.
Her step onto the landing was a chance to do that.
The door closed behind her with a quiet click, echoing on the empty stairwell. The click held a finality, as if with her decision, they’d passed into a different world.
Like an enthusiastic Labrador, James tugged on her hand, seeming ready to race up the stairs.
Impossible for her to do that.
If James was an excited puppy, she’d be the kitten up a tree, too scared to climb back down.
She forced a smile. “You go on up. I’ll take my time.”
Already half a flight ahead, he turned to peer at her intently.
Something in her voice must have given her away.
Okay, so the intensity of his gaze was most probably more to do with struggling to focus at this distance in the dimly lit stairwell. It still made her heart race way faster than the fear did.
Her pasted-on smile might have fooled him without his glasses, but her white knuckled death grip on the railing probably glowed in the dark.
Even James noticed that.
The questioning expression on his face softened into concern, and he bounded down to her two steps at a time. “I’m so sorry, Beth. I didn’t realise. You don’t like heights, do you?”
Her teeth sank into her upper lip. Admitting this weakness wouldn’t make James think less of her. He wouldn’t use it as a weapon, the way the schoolgirl bullies had.
Slowly, she shook her head.
The gentle and comforting hand he placed on her arm quivered her with emotion. Ten years ago, he’d been the kindest and calmest person in her world. Nothing he’d done since they met again had changed her opinion.
“We’ll go back.” He smiled. “It’s okay to tell me no. I won’t throw a tantrum if I don’t get my own way, you know.”
Relief at escaping the climb buoyed her spirits enough to almost float her to the top of the stairs.
Almost, but not quite.
Cautiously releasing her grasp on the stair rail, she turned back the way they’d come. But the hum of voices seeping through the heavy fire door stopped her.
“I’m not sure what I’m most afraid of now. Facing Imogen and her guests, or facing the stairs.” Her voice pitched low. If they heard the people in the foyer, those people could probably hear them, as well.
“Your choice,” James said, equally quiet. “I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t want to. I’m just sorry I put you in this situation.”
“Don’t be. I chose to come here with you.” She closed her eyes for a second, then opened them with a smile. “And now, I choose the walkways and that view you promised me.”
Before he tried to talk her out of it, she moved to the stairs, grabbed the railing, and managed two steps before miserable fear froze her in place.
Jesus, help me, please!
James was at her side, an instant answer to her silent prayer.
“Take my arm. I’ll be beside you every step of the way.”
Her free hand took the arm he offered, and his other arm came around her, lightly holding her waist. Even through her numbing fear, his touch tingled gently.
Pulses galloping, shaking all over, she ventured one more step, then another. Though one hand still clung to the rail, his warm strong arm gave her far more confidence and support than the cold unyielding iron.
By the next flight of stairs, her grip on the rail loosened. It seemed far safer to lean on him.
Slowly, step by step, he helped her climb to the top.
Elation bubbled up, fizzy as home-made elderflower champagne.
She’d done it. With James’ help. Looking into his eyes at the top of those impossibly steep stairs, her heart swelled and a wave of warmth swept over her.
The love she’d had for him at sixteen year old hadn’t ever left her.
James was her first love. She wanted him to be her last love. Her only love.
But that tide of love mustn’t sweep her away, despite the longing, despite her barely controlled impulse to throw her arms around him.
They had no more hope of a future together now than they’d had in their teens. Climbing the stairs was easy compared to climbing high enough to fit into his world.
And she had no idea how he really felt or what he wanted from her. For all he seemed to care something for her, she’d thought he did ten years ago, too. Surely, if he cared, he would have contacted her.
Hoping anything different was just wishful thinking.
She’d just have to be on her guard, make sure she didn’t embarrass herself any further by letting her feelings for him show.
But her heart still couldn’t help wishing and hoping.
Chapter 9
James wanted to hug Beth, to celebrate what she’d done conquering her fear, but held back. Every fibre of his being told him that she still cared for him, but she couldn’t be rushed.
He’d been nineteen, the summer she’d worked at Tetherton Hall, and even then he’d felt a sense of rightness. That God created them for each other. Ten years passing had only strengthened that. Yet she’d left without a goodbye, without a backwards glance.
Maybe this was nothing more than the infatuation of meeting up again with your first love.
Beth stared up at him for a long moment, as they stood close together on a small landing, opening onto the last few broad, easy stairs.
Even an obtuse scientist like him could recognise the conflict playing out on her face.
It was there, in her doubting eyes, her creased forehead, her pursed lips. And in her body, the tension that yearned toward him and pulled away from him both at once. The way an electron was pushed away from the atom’s nucleus by its own electrostatic charge, but pulled back toward it at the same time, endlessly circling.
A simplistic model, but no-one had disproved it yet.
Just as nothing he saw disproved his hope Beth cared for him.
He wished he was as certain of that as he was of God’s love and the existence of sub-atomic particles. No doubt about either of those, even if no-one knew exactly how they worked or could literally prove them.
But he prayed he was right about her, and the problem was less that she didn’t care and more that something had her unwilling to let go and trust her emotions. Unwilling to trust him either, though she’d clung to him like a lifeline a minute before.
Surely it she didn’t still think the nonsense Immy told her to drive her away was true? The lies about her not being good enough for him? No-one but people like Immy and his mother subscribed to that trashy elitist view.
His sweet intelligent Beth wouldn’t believe that garbage or hold on to it for so long.
Would she?
It was better believing that than believing she didn’t care.
“Beth —”
Before he said more she rushed into speech.
“Can’t hear anyone up there.” She spoke too fast and her smile became tight and strained. “Best not to crash another wedding. One’s enough for tonight.”
He didn’t try to hold her.
He had to trust, and stay patient. If God wanted them to be together, God would work on her fears. God would show him she cared.
Though who knew?
Everything he understood about love and relationships could easily fit onto the head of a pin. Probably he was doing it all wrong and pushing her away.
The stairs opened into another high-ceilinged room with small paned gothic windows, similar to the room the ceremony took place in. Heavy iron girders studded with rivets criss-crossed it. An even narrower and more precipitous set of spiral stairs than the stairway they’d walked up rose from one corner.
Beth glanced that direction and blanched. “We’re not going up there, are we?” Her voice shook, though he sensed she tried hard to control it.
“No. We’ll save that for next time.”
Smiling, he pointed out the signs at either end
of the room showing the way to the walkways.
“Thank God for that.” She rushed to stand under the big window.
He tried to ignore the icy chill of loss as she moved away from him.
Away from the stairs, not him.
For all he knew scientists had a duty to seek truth and not comfort, tonight he’d choose comfort. He wanted to trust Beth would stay this time. There wasn’t any data to contradict his reassuring theory, anyway.
So she’d left him before, just like his parents had? They’d disappeared without goodbyes too, carrying on their lives to suit themselves without considering how it affected him.
That didn’t mean Beth would leave him again.
“East or west, which should it be?” She tilted her head toward the opposing walkway entrances.
“West. I’d like to see the Tower and St Paul’s Cathedral from up here.”
But much as he wanted the view, he wanted her frightened less.
“You don’t have to come onto the walkway.” He touched the big wooden bench seat next to the stairs. “Sit here. I’ll have a quick look, and then we’ll get you safely back down. Or I don’t need to go out there at all. I can come back another time.”
She shook her head and turned toward the West Walkway. “No, I want to try. We’ve come this far. It’s a shame to waste a night time view like this.”
“If you’re sure.”
Her smile back at him seemed a little less forced this time.
“I’m sure. It’s not heights quite as much as stairs that I have this silly fear of. Apparently I tumbled down the stairs at my grandmother’s when I was a baby, and since then, I’ve been afraid of them, and heights too. So hard to break old beliefs. I decided things weren’t safe and that was that.”
The same as she seemed to have decided not to let herself get close to him and that was that.
There’d be a solution. It just needed discovering.
She’d trusted him on the stairs and she was willing to try the walkway. That was enough for now.
Returning her smile, and followed her to the entrance.
Her brave footsteps faltered.
He saw why. The walkway stretched away from them, unlit, with the glow filtering in from the external lighting providing the only illumination.
Love In Store Books 1-3: Collection of three sweet and clean Christian romances with a London setting: The Wedding List, Believe in Me, & A Model Bride Page 6