Page 39 of All We Want for Christmas
Flynn hesitated that bit too long before responding. Lara was staying at the castle over Christmas and he couldn’t imagine her being on her own.
‘I would love to spend the day with you and it’s very kind of you both. Can I hang on? I just need to check I’m not expected to stay at the castle. Obviously there isn’t a light show on Christmas Day, but I had heard vague rumours of a staff dinner for all those who were working away from home and on their own on the twenty-fifth.’
Harvey’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Wow. That sounds like something fromDowntonbloodyAbbey. All the staff gathering in the servant’s hall whether they like it or not …’
‘It does a bit. I don’t know any details or even if it’s definitely on. I suppose I don’thaveto go to it, either, but I ought to find out what normally happens as I’m the new boy. There are several people who are working over Christmas and won’t be able to go home.’
He also assumed that Lara would be one of the people who was bound to go to the communal dinner if it was happening this year.
‘I promise I’ll find out and let you know.’
‘If you do have to go to this thing, then you’re welcome at ours on Boxing Day. We usually have a walk, go to the pub, and then come home and eat all the leftovers.’
‘That sounds great. You can definitely put me down for that.’
The dinners arrived and the talk turned to all sorts, from the kids’ Christmas presents to Flynn’s motorbike and sport. Flynn wasn’t a big football fan but he’d played cricket and rugby at school and once had a try-out for one of the junior teams at Cornish Pirates. Nothing had come of it and he was now rather glad that he hadn’t ended up with a broken nose and cauliflower ears. He thought of Lara’s reaction to him if that had been the case and suppressed his laughter.
They’d finished the roasts and were tucking into portions of Cumberland Rum Nicky, a date and rum pie topped with rum butter, when Lara messaged Flynn.
He read her WhatsApp and felt his mouth stretch into a grin.
When he put the phone down, Harvey was watching him carefully. ‘Work or pleasure?’
‘Erm. Neither … and possibly both.’ The message had been reminding him not to forget the costume fitting at five.
Harvey scratched his beard. ‘Now I’m really intrigued. Go on.’
‘If I do, will you promise not to laugh too loudly?’
‘I’ll try very hard.’
Flynn dived in. ‘I’m going for a historical costume fitting.’
Harvey spluttered. ‘You what?’
‘Mate, you promised not to laugh,’ Flynn said, feigning a serious face.
‘I – er—’ Harvey covered his mouth with his hand. ‘I never expected to hear that phrase come out of your mouth.’
Flynn sighed. ‘It’s for the Twelfth Night Ball. They hold it every year apparently, and it’s fancy dress – well, historical costume – and I’ve been persuaded to join in. For the sake of the team, of course.’
‘Well, if it’s for the team and it’s part of the job, I guess you’ve no choice, but …’ Harvey sniggered again. ‘You’re not going to wear tights or breeches, are you?’
‘Not if I can help it,’ Flynn replied, struck with horror at the prospect of either. ‘The castle manager is overseeing the fitting.’ He hoped Harvey wouldn’t ask who she – or he – was. ‘I can’t really wriggle out of it.’ Not that he’d want to wriggle out of anything where Lara was involved. Plus, if any ‘wriggling out’ were to be done, he hoped it would involve Lara shimmying out of the red dress she’d worn when he’d first met her at Halloween.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
‘One hundred per cent no.’
‘OK. How about this?’ Lara asked, holding up a monk’s habit.
Flynn snorted. ‘I can’t see myself as a monk.’
‘Neither can I,’ Lara muttered. ‘OK. What about …’ She plucked another hanger from the rail in the costume storeroom. ‘This one?’
‘You’re joking, aren’t you?’ Flynn muttered from behind her. ‘I did say no jingly bells.’
Lara turned round to find him standing squarely, with his hands on his hips. Since he’d arrived at the room used to store the fancy dress, she’d avoided looking at him too closely, because the slim-fit tracksuit bottoms and T-shirt he was wearing showed off a lean yet muscular physique, honed from doing physical work his whole life.
