Page 59 of All We Want for Christmas
Lara forced herself not to watch him go and turned away, compelling herself to walk back into the sitting room, all the words she’d left unsaid silently screaming to be let out.
She wanted to scream that the timing of this revelation was absolutely shitty. That life was unfair. That she would have been devastated to be deprived of her daughter for nineteen years. That she would have been shocked and overwhelmed too, but that she would have welcomed the chance to share the burden – the new dimension – with someone who would listen and try to help with navigating this scary, wonderful thing that had exploded into his life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
‘Now, isn’t this all terribly exciting?’
‘Very.’ Lara answered Fiona through gritted teeth while Tessa bustled around her like a seamstress from a bygone age. She’d never had a made-to-measure outfit of any kind and it felt weird trying one on.
The three of them were in the Penhaligons’ apartment, with Lara in her leggings and T-shirt. Henry had been banished to the estate office with the head gardener and the doors were locked.
‘Can’t have anyone walking in,’ Fiona had declared, turning the key in the lock. ‘Not while you’re trying the costume for size.’
‘Would you mind keeping still just for a few moments longer?’ Tessa said, holding out the almost-finished costume. It was stunning and only needed some final adjustments.
‘Sorry, it’s me. I’m distracting her,’ Fiona said. ‘Honestly, I ought to be too old for dressing up, but I feel quite giddy with excitement. The children keep asking me to send photos, but I’ve told them they have to wait until the ball.’
So the dynasty would turn up for the ball, then, Lara thought.
She didn’t think Fiona could ever be giddy with excitement but she did start to laugh before Tessa gave her a glare that wiped the temporary mirth off her face. It was a brief moment of levity since Flynn had told her about Molly the night before.
‘Fiona, it would help if you didn’t keep distracting Lara,’ Tessa said.
‘Why don’t I go and make us all some refreshments?’ Fiona still sounded more gleeful than guilty.
‘And I’ll stop fidgeting,’ Lara added, slipping the costume over her head.
The final fitting should have been exciting. Lara had been looking forward to dressing up and to the ball. She’d imagined the look on Flynn’s face when he saw her Lady of Shalott outfit, an updated take on the medieval costume she’d spotted in a photo of one of the previous guests at the ball.
She had no choice but to continue to focus on the Twelfth Night Ball, seeing as she was one of the chief organisers, but now the thought of attending it herself, dressed in her finery and making merry, was about as appealing as being thrown in the dungeon.
Now she was rueing the day she’d ever chosen such a doomed character as a lovelorn woman pining for one of the Knights of the Round Table.
With some umming and inaudible mutterings, Tessa finished her pinning, then marked a few things in a notebook and rose to her feet.
‘OK. You can breathe again now,’ she said, and called in the direction of the kitchen, ‘You can come back in now, Fiona!’
Fiona walked in carrying a tray with a china tea set and a plate of mince pies.
Lara drank the tea but declined the mince pie. Mince pies were way too festive to suit her mood right now. Talk turned to Christmas plans, but Lara was itching to get away.
‘How are the plans for the staff Christmas lunch going?’ Fiona asked.
‘Um. Good. It’s all in hand.’
‘How many people do you think will be going?’
‘Eight or nine. Not quite sure yet.’
There was a knock at the door and Henry called, ‘Am I allowed in yet?’
‘What’s the password?’ Fiona joked, before unlocking the door.
‘It’s F.L.Y.N.N. He’s with me now,’ Henry said.
‘In that case, you can come in.’
Lara almost dropped her cup. If it had been her decision, the door would have remained locked.
