Darcey stared at the smart and adorable child. Over the years the little one never failed to amaze her. At only age five Carmen spoke decent French, Spanish, Italian and English. She could read better than most girls her age and she could tell time like an adult. But what was most impressive about Carmen was how perceptive she was. Darcey felt her chest swell with pride and sadness thinking about the years she watched the infant grow into a little lady.
She carefully walked towards Carmen’s bed. “May I sit?”
Carmen nodded. “What’s for supper?”
“Carmen, there’s something I want to tell you.”
“Okay.” The little girl rubbed her eyes. She was still under her warm and plush duvet. Her cheeks were flushed from slumber.
“You remember when you asked me what I wanted to become when I grow up?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, you know, Carmen, I’m all grown up, right? I received an offer to work as a writer for a famous magazine in California.” Darcey kept her tone cheerful but her heart was heavy. She wanted to be strong for the beautiful child.
But Carmen’s next words almost broke Darcey’s resolve to appear calm.
“You’re leaving us, Darcey?” It didn’t sound like a question.
Darcey hugged the little sweetheart. “If you must know, Carmen, I really didn’t want to leave. I like you and Max.”
Carmen sat up and stared at Darcey with misty blue eyes. “You want to get married?”
Despite herself, Darcey laughed. She was taken aback with Carmen’s question. “What made you think that?” She wiped the curls off Carmen’s face.
“Darcey, when you get a job you can afford to pay for your wedding and get a big diamond ring from Cartier.” Carmen grinned, lifting Darcey’s spirits.
“Who told you that?”
“Georgia. She told me that her mummy told her she can get married when she gets her dream job. But she has to make sure she gets a 2.2 carat ring from Cartier.” Carmen sounded like she was stating a fact that Darcey didn’t know about but should have.
“Sweetie, when someone gets their dream job, it doesn’t really mean they’re getting married. And when someone gets married, she doesn’t need a 2.2 carat ring from Cartier, or Tiffany’s, or any jewellers for that matter.” Darcey chuckled and put her arm around Carmen. “She only needs to be with the man who’ll love her truly and make her happy for the rest of her life.”
“Oh, and kiss her like the prince in Snow white and Cinderella and the Little Mermaid?”
“Almost, but not quite. Not everyone will end up with a prince.”
“I know, mummy said a baron or an earl will do.”
Darcey pulled back, genuinely surprised. “Really, your mum said that?”
“Well, Gregory is third son of an earl but he doesn’t like me. We’re just friends.”
“You remember Nicholas, my friend who owns the café, Carmen?”
“Of course. He likes you.”
Darcey chose to ignore the last statement. “Well, he’s also a son of an earl, but his older brother gets the title and, like you, he’s just my friend.”
“But he likes you, Darcey!” Carmen looked at her like she was missing such an obvious fact.
Darcey shook her head and laughed. There was no arguing with an oracle with blonde curls and a Little Pony next to her.
“So, you what’s Los Angeles gonna be like, Darcey? I’ve never been.”
“Well, as I remember, it’s warm, and sunny. Palm trees are everywhere and there are plenty of beaches since it’s by the Pacific Ocean. Oh, and it’s the place where movies are made. Heard of Hollywood?”
“Darcey!” Carmen squealed. “You might meet an actor and marry him.”
Talk about imaginative! “Why do you want to marry me off?”
“So I can throw petals around at your wedding and so the stork can give you a baby.”
“So as soon as I get married, the stork will give me a baby?”
Carmen rolled her eyes. “Darcey, there’s a waiting list. Everyone knows that.”
All of Darcey’s resolution to stay calm melted. Tears rolled down both her cheeks. She quickly hugged the little angel so the child wouldn’t see her tears. “Oh, Carmen! How I’ll miss you!”
Carmen shook her head, obliviously to Darcey’s display of emotions. “You better get married soon. Time waits for nobody. That’s what my dad likes to say.”
Darcey wiped her tears away and smiled at the child. She felt so blessed to have watched this precious little person grow up over the last five years.
“And, Darcey?”
“Yes?”
“You really don’t like your friend Nicholas?”
“Sweetie, he and I are just good friends.”
The little girl didn’t insist any longer. Darcey knelt beside the bed and held Carmen’s hands in hers. “Carmen, when you have a new nanny, please be as sweet and nice to her as you have been to me, okay? And when your mummy and daddy are busy, please remember it’s only because they work hard to give you all the pretty dresses and toys and get to send you to school. There’s no need to be sad, OK?”
“I know, that nice man who likes someone told me.”
“Who?” Darcey felt puzzled.
“You know, the nice man at the Christmas tree lighting with Father Christmas.”
“Ah, right, Nathan. Wow, you remember everything.” The image of Nathan’s face flashed through Darcey’s mind, adding more weight to her heavy heart.
“If only he didn’t like someone else, he’d be perfect for you, Darcey.”
“Sweetie, what made you think that?”
“It’s the way he looked at you.”
Darcey almost choked. “How did he look at me?”
“He looked at you the way the prince looked at the mermaid when she saved him from drowning.”
Funny how I wished you were right, Darcey thought ruefully. How she wished Mr. Nathan Cromwell would think of her as more than a friend and not as one of his charity projects. She wasn’t looking forward to the next cold weeks before she flew out of the dreary winter into a land of surf and sun. Darcey felt she was bound for the heartbreak hotel.
“Darcey, I’m going to miss you. You’re my bestest nanny ever.”
Her eyes brimming with unshed tears, Darcey hugged the little girl tight. “Thank you, Carmen. I’m going to miss you way too much. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Darcey,” the little girl whispered.
Chapter 25
The night of the ball arrived. Darcey got her hair done at her favourite salon. She put on a vintage black dress she inherited from her grandma. A touch of make-up and red lipstick and she was ready to go.
A knock rapped on her door. She opened it expecting Nathan but was greeted with the sight of Dimitri outside her door.
“Dimitri, hello! What brings you here?” He looked like a prince.
Dimitri pulled her into an embrace that lasted a tad longer than necessary. He planted a kiss on her cheeks before she could protest.
“Yes, I just wanted to see how you looked. And right now I’m tempted to whisk you away to a castle thousands of miles from here, just the two of us.”
Darcey blushed and slowly pried herself away from his embrace. She was getting accustomed to his lively compliments but he still managed to catch her off-guard. “We’re going to the same charity event,” she reminded him.
“What a small world! Here I was thinking to introduce you to my parents tonight but someone else is already taking you.” His drawl made him sound like a devilish rake from one of the historical novels Darcey loved to read.
She had never seen him all dressed up before. He was definitely born to play the part of debonair. She did a mock curtsy. “The world of the elites is indeed small, Cinderella just happened to be invited.”
“You’re far more beautiful than all the princesses there, my lady.” With a forefinger he brushed away a strand of wavy hair from her face.
&nbs
p; “Dimitri, I told you before, I--”
He placed a finger on her lip. “I know what you said but it doesn’t change the way I feel about you. Tonight I simply wanted to tell you how beautiful you look. You must promise to dance with me.”
“Sure, I shall try not to step on your toes. You know how clumsy I am.” Darcey laughed.
“So, who’s the lucky guy?“
“Oh, just a friend I promised to accompany.” She couldn’t bring herself to say Nathan’s name out loud. She didn’t trust her emotions.
“So, if he’s just a friend, that gives me hope.” He winked at her.
Teasing her senselessly seemed to be his full-time hobby at that point, even after Darcey had informed him many times over how she only wanted him as a friend. She didn’t find it annoying though, he was too much of a good guy. She did feel bad about not returning his feelings. Dimitri just didn’t evoke emotions within her. Unlike a certain other gentleman.
Without warning, just as Darcey was mentally brushing Nathan’s face from her mind, Dimitri took her hand and placed it to his lips for a kiss. Before Darcey could react, there was the sound of the lift closing. Darcey turned around and saw Nathan standing behind her, his expression inscrutable.
“How romantic.” Nathan’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. His face remained placid, not betraying his thoughts.
“Nathan.” Darcey tried to sound cheerful. She stepped away from Dimitri and smiled weakly. “Dimitri, I’d like you to meet Nathan Cromwell. Nathan, this is Dimitri--”
“Stenolakis.” Nathan finished for her.
Darcey looked from one gentleman to the next. “Oh, do you guys know each other?”
Dimitri nodded. “My parents are patrons. I met Nathan at more than one occasion. I believe you’re part of the committee?” Before Nathan could answer, Dimitri continued, “You’re quite lucky. Your date is ravishing.”
Darcey wanted to laugh but she felt beyond nervous. Nathan looked as stiff as a board while Dimitri wasn’t holding back with his flirting. He could really say the most scandalous things.
Darcey poked Dimitri on the arm and he flinched in mock pain. She was about to explain how Dimitri was her neighbour but Nathan spoke first.
“Indeed. Won’t your own date be waiting for you? I’m surprised you decidedly knocked upon someone else’s date.” Nathan’s deadpan voice and the murderous look in his eyes frightened Darcey.
She tried to clear the air. “Well--”
Dimitri didn’t flinch and interrupted her. “I didn’t invite anyone. I promised my parents I’d be there tonight. I also wanted them to meet the woman who’s brought a positive change in their prodigal son.” He met Nathan’s eyes with enough courage to throw any other guy off but Nathan’s face remained unreadable.
Dimitri didn’t stop there. “Mate, I’m sorry but I’m not backing off.”
A tight smile appeared on Nathan’s face. “Well, I hope for your sake she will be in attendance.”
Dimitri gave a small bow. “Oh, yes, she will be. Which is exactly why I’m making sure her ‘friend’ will bring her there safely.”
Silence hung in the air for what seemed like hours to Darcey. She couldn’t bear it any longer. “Nathan, let me get my clutch and coat and we can leave.”
As she walked away, she heard Dimitri say, “Save me a dance, sweetheart.”
She hurried back into her apartment, leaving the two men staring at each other with murder in their eyes.
*****
The awkwardness followed Darcey and Nathan in his car. She started feeling a chill she couldn’t shrug off.
Nathan opened the door for her but didn’t say a single word for several minutes as he drove to the ball. He didn’t bother to compliment her or make small talk. At least Dimitri’s compliment lent her some courage. Posh parties made her nervous.
She decided to break the silence. “You look--” Darcey paused.
She meant to say “gorgeous” but stopped herself. Freshly shaven, dressed in a tux and wrapped in a bow tie, Nathan looked better than any prince--he looked like the man she was falling in love with day after day. Despite his cold demeanour, memories of their kiss on the skating rink and the passionate embrace on his couch couldn’t easily be wiped away from her heart.
“—good,” she finally added.
Nathan cleared his throat. “So do you.”
Ignoring his curtness, she added, “So, tell me about the charity.”
Fortunately Nathan didn’t hate her enough to completely ignore her. He glanced at her quickly before putting his focus back on the road. “It’s part of one of the oldest charities in Europe. The goal is to provide basic supply like clean water, food and legal services to victims of human rights abuse. We extend help to war refugees as well.”
His tone was so dry it convinced Darcey he was upset. But about what? She chose to ignore it. She knew didn’t do anything wrong and there was no way he was going to make her feel guilty, even if he looked like a dream, a dream that filled her heart with emotions she never felt before.
“That sounds fulfilling. It’s also admirable to hear you’re part of the committee. Is it your passion?”
He nodded, his features softened. “Yes, it is fulfilling. Having so much means nothing when you have no one else to share it with.”
Damn you, Nathan Cromwell. How can I ever hate you? Why do you have to be so perfect?
She hated her feelings more than ever.
Except you steal other men’s girlfriends, she thought with anger.
“I see.” Darcey clasped her hands together on her lap. “What am I to expect?”
“Well, there’s a silent art auction. In one of the rooms are artworks and you place a bid for the artwork you want by writing down your bid and the number you’ll be given. At the end of the night they’ll announce which bids won. There’s also the charity dance. People can bid on the person they want to dance with.” He shot her a quick glance when the car stopped at a red light, his gaze fell on her dress for a moment.
“How exciting.” She tried to keep her tone formal but her voice quivered. She hoped he didn’t notice.
He stole a glance at her again. “You’re sure to help the charity raise money tonight.”
“Me?” Now she felt both nervous and confused. “How am I going to do that?”
Nathan’s response made her blush. “With that dress and charming smile, I’m sure Dimitri will bring his checkbook tonight.”
Darcey was silent for a few seconds. His compliment stunned her and butterflies fluttered where there was once anxiety. “He knows how clumsy I am. I doubt he’ll pay for his foot to be stepped on.” She laughed nervously, fidgeting with her necklace.
“Not when you’re ravishing.”
He’s mocking me. I should have known.
“Oh, pay no attention to Dimitri. He’s just teasing.”
“Darcey, what you must know about men is we know when another guy is interested. And Dimitri wouldn’t come without a date when he already has eyes on someone else’s date.”
She didn’t know why but she chose to be honest with Nathan at that moment. “Dimitri did ask me but--”
Nathan’s attention was back on the road as he stepped on the gas. “I asked you first and you felt obliged to come with me instead.” His tone was flat and gone was the gentleness in his eyes once again.
She decided she didn’t like the Nathan sitting next to her that night. He was unfriendly and distant. “Look, I promised I would go with you and here I am.”
She almost blurted out “‘and I’m all yours” but stopped herself. He didn’t deserve to know her feelings for him, not when he was so rude, not when he stole her best friend’s girlfriend.
Not when you made me fall for you in the most tender way, only to tell me you made a mistake.
Nathan didn’t seem to notice or care for her sarcastic tone. In a clipped voice he said, “I expect you to be well behaved tonight, even for pretence purposes.”
He pulled the car in front of a driveway where a valet waited up ahead. They were behind two cars, a Porsche and a Lamborghini were waiting in line as well.
Darcey almost laughed out loud in mockery. She lifted her chin up instead and replied in a haughty voice, “Don’t worry. I made sure I read Emily Post’s book for social graces before tonight.”
“Don’t flirt with every man when I’m around.” There was no humour in his tone.
Be Mine This Christmas: A Lovers in London Book Page 20