Fairytale Christmas on the Island (Scottish Highlands & Island Romance #4)

CHAPTER TEN

Snow continued to fall overnight, but had stopped by the morning. The main street shone under the bright winter sunlight, and everything from the shops to the hills rising up from the shore looked like they were encrusted with diamonds against a blanket of white snow.

The Christmas market stalls were set up regardless of the surprise snowfall, and everyone was bustling around getting ready to sell their crafts and other produce. The stalls were arranged in a niche near the town’s Christmas tree, handy for shoppers. Ailsa had made an early start and her craft stall was ready for customers looking for craft gifts. This included her handmade jewellery and tiara hair bands that she hoped would interest those attending the ball.

Rowen’s knitting stall had a selection of her latest range of yarns, and she’d made items like woolly hats, shawls and tea cosies to advertise the yarn and these were for sale too.

Snowflakes had settled around the edges of Innis’ cake shop, creating a picture–perfect look to the cakes on display in the front window.

Roofs and roads were blue–white where the sunlight beams shone down from the cloudless blue winter sky.

Everything dazzled, bedecked in white, with the colourful shops adding pops of pastel pinks, yellows and blues to the picturesque scene.

The tide was out, and all along the coast the sand was a whiteout of snow, and the silvery–blue sea kept its calm during the beautiful December morning.

Finlay had taken his yacht that was anchored in the harbour for a trip around the island. He’d taken Merrilees with him. She was wrapped up in a light cream jacket and matching woolly hat.

The aquamarine hull cut through the sea, and the white sails billowed in the breeze, emphasising the yacht’s ability to challenge the winter sea and Finlay’s skills as an accomplished yachtsman.

Standing at the helm, he wore a stylish white, crew neck sailing jacket, and the wind blew through his thick blond hair. Finlay was in his element, and even more so these days now that he could share his world with Merrilees.

The advertising feature about the fairytale ball at the castle was out in the daily newspaper. Finlay had bought a couple of copies from the grocery shop before they boarded the yacht. A flick through the pages confirmed that it had been included as planned, but now it was tucked away below deck to be read thoroughly after they’d had their morning sail.

Sailing around the island after the first snow fall of winter was a tradition Finlay had created for himself. He enjoyed it all the more seeing Merrilees smile and squeal with delight as he sailed at speed using the expensive yacht’s sleek design to full advantage. He’d won trophies in various sailing challenges and she knew he was well capable of handling the yacht. Nevertheless, feeling the yacht slice through the icy water at a fast rate of knots was invigorating.

After a lap around the island, he planned to anchor back at the harbour so Merrilees could go to the vintage dress shop to see the ball gowns.

The first delivery of ball gowns had arrived and Skye and Holly were busy unpacking each exquisite dress, gasping at the gorgeous fabrics, from tulle to taffeta and voile to velvet. The colours ranged from white and pale lemon to pastel pink, hues of blue, and lilacs that deepened to heliotrope, purple, red and burgundy.

The rails in the shop were festooned with fabulous ball gowns. Most had been worn once, to a special party, dance or ball, the wearer unknown, the event a mystery, but the beauty of each dress showed that someone in the past had loved it. Every pre–loved ball gown was hung carefully on the rails they’d had ready for the new arrivals. And soon the customers seeking a dress for the ball would love each design once again.

‘The pink ball gown is here!’ Skye couldn’t contain her excitement as she unpacked the dress and held it up in front of her to admire it in the dressing room mirror.

‘It’s perfect for you,’ said Holly.

‘It is, isn’t it.’ The pale pink organza sparkled under the lights, and the fitted bodice and full skirt looked like they would need little, if any, alteration.

‘Try it on before everyone starts popping in to see the new dresses,’ Holly encouraged her.

Needing no encouragement at all, Skye put the dress on and smiled when she saw how beautifully the bodice encrusted with sequins and crystals flattered her slender curves, and then the layers of organza sprinkled with sparkle sat out into full ball gown splendour.

‘With heels on, it’ll be the ideal length so I won’t even have to alter the hem.’

Every now and then, a vintage dress that looked like it was designed for either Skye or Holly, made its way to their shop. Sometimes it was a tea dress, a tartan wrap, a little cocktail number from the thirties, a retro chambray sundress, or a classic evening dress.

They both had favourites hanging in their wardrobes at home or in the shop but not for sale. At the back of the shop they had two rails of dresses that they called currently loved. These were owned and loved by them. Perhaps one day they’d sell them as pre–loved for someone else to enjoy, but their little collection of cherry picked chic was their personal fashion favourites.

Adding ball gowns to this collection wasn’t practical, but practicality wasn’t a consideration when it came to dressing like a fairytale princess. Skye pictured the sparkling pink dress as part of her currently loved fashions.

Lyle bagged two Scottish fern cakes, stuck a back in five minutes sign on the front window of his tea shop, put his sunglasses on, and hurried along to the vintage dress shop.

Innis saw him go by and wondered why he was wearing sunglasses. The snow wasn’t bright enough to merit shades, and there was something in Lyle’s manner that reeked of mischief.

He peered out the cake shop window to see where Lyle was headed. The dress shop. Yes, he was up to something. But what?

Innis had been steeped in his own thoughts, replaying the ideal scenario whereby he walked into the dress shop and if Holly was there, which was likely, and a customer viewing the ball gowns, he’d take Skye aside for a private moment. Perhaps they’d go into the kitchen. So far, so good. Then he’d tell her how much he enjoyed her company at the castle making chocolates, and finally ask her to go with him to the ball.

The dress shop was buzzing with women eager to see the latest ball gowns. The grocery shop had already sparked the local gossip about the newspaper feature, and this had added to the interest in buying a dress for the ball.

Undeterred by the buzz, Lyle made an entrance wearing the sunglasses and a bright smile. ‘Morning, ladies.’

Unfazed by the arrival of Lyle, the customers giggled but continued to rummage through the rails.

‘I knew you’d be too busy this morning to pop to my tea shop, so...here you go. Special delivery.’ Lyle put the bag of fern cakes on the counter.

Skye peeked in the bag. ‘Oh, tasty, thank you.’

‘Is there a reason for the sunglasses?’ Holly said to him.

‘You said that you were due a delivery of dazzling dresses, sparkle and sequins galore,’ he explained. ‘So I thought I’d better wear these.’

Holly and Skye laughed, and so did the customers.

‘Anyway, I’d better scoot back to my tea shop.’ He went to leave, but Skye had a couple of questions for him.

‘Holly says you have ball dance experience,’ said Skye. ‘You showed her how to waltz last night, but when she was trying to show me, we couldn’t get the stance right.’

‘You said something about resting a couple of fingertips on your shoulders or was it tilting the hand?’ Holly chimed in. ‘I was going to look at videos online, but as you’re here...could you show us?’

Always willing to help, he nodded cheerfully and had just taken Skye in hold when Innis walked in.

‘If we were dancing around the floor at the ball—’ Lyle stopped instructing Skye, suddenly noticing the tall figure standing glaring at him.

Mistakenly thinking that Lyle was making a play for Skye, Innis thought the warnings he’d had were true. Another man would step in and ask Skye to the ball. The pang of longing he felt for her caused him to override all hesitation. He needed to do something now. Right now, because there was Lyle, trying to look cool in his sunglasses, showing Skye how they’d dance around the floor!

‘Innis...’

Amid the adrenalin pumping through his system, Innis heard Skye utter his name.

But instead of responding, he forged ahead boldly.

‘Skye,’ Innis announced in his rich, deep voice. ‘Will you go with me to the ball?’

The buzz in the shop became silent and everyone stared at Innis.

Skye gulped. Did Innis just ask her in front of everyone? She’d thought he’d been holding back, waiting for the right moment to ask her. With her mind in a whirl, she hesitated longer than she’d intended before replying.

Innis thought his heart thundering in his chest was loud enough for everyone to hear. He stood there, hoping Skye would accept, but her hesitation tore through him.

‘Yes, I’d love to go with you to the ball, Innis.’ Skye forced what she hoped was a relaxed smile, trying to hide the fact that her stomach was doing back–flips.

Innis nodded and wasn’t sure if he smiled. ‘Thank you for accepting my proposal.’

A group intake of breath charged through the shop.

‘Not a marriage proposal,’ Innis stumbled to clarify. And then he scolded himself. You sound like a total fool.

‘Right, I have to scuttle back to my tea shop,’ Lyle said, wanting to escape the pressure cooker atmosphere.

With a cheery wave, Lyle was gone.

‘I have to get back to my cake shop too.’ The tone of Innis’ voice resonated deep and strong.

Skye’s wide blue eyes gazed at Innis in wonderment.

Nodding at Skye, and then at the others, as if it was some sort of formal address, Innis strode out of the dress shop leaving behind him an impression that Skye, Holly and the others would never forget.

‘Did Innis just almost ask you to marry him?’ Elspeth said to Skye. She’d left Morven to watch the knitting shop while she went to see the dresses.

‘No,’ said Skye. Turmoil and elation battled to take charge of her tone. Innis hadn’t proposed, but was this remotely in his mind? Had he blurted out a hidden intention?

Nettie was there and spoke up. ‘It’s clear that he wants to.’

A blush started to rise in Skye’s cheeks.

‘Did he think that Lyle was making a play for you?’ Holly wondered.

‘I’m not sure.’ The only thing Skye was sure of was that she had a date with Innis to go to the ball.

Innis walked into the cake shop and through to the kitchen to get on with his baking. Rosabel and Primrose were serving customers, but from their relaxed manner they hadn’t yet heard the gossip about his invitation to Skye.

Melting chocolate to make ganache for pouring over a chocolate cake, he had a bet on with himself. He gave it fifteen minutes before the gossip filtered through to them.

Squeals of surprise sounded from Rosabel and Primrose in the front shop.

Make that five minutes, he recalculated.

Keeping his head down and melting the smooth ganache, he was aware of two smiling, eager faces peering in the kitchen at him.

‘Say it and be done with it,’ he said without taking his eyes off the ganache.

The giggling said it all.

Holly had messaged them with the news. No surprises there.

As customers came into the shop, Rosabel and Primrose went back through to serve them, while chattering about the happy news.

Finlay lifted Merrilees from the deck of the yacht on to the harbour’s edge. She could’ve managed to step off fine by herself, but he playfully lifted her, holding her in his arms for a moment and smiling at her.

Her laughter rang clear in the cold air.

‘Have fun ball gown buying,’ Finlay said, gave her a kiss, and then drove off to the castle, leaving Merrilees to go into the dress shop with a heart full of anticipation. Holly and Skye had promised to earmark dresses for her and she couldn’t wait to see what they’d selected.

The shop was busy and Merrilees saw Rory wave in the window to grab Skye and Holly’s attention as she entered the shop.

Skye stepped outside for a moment. ‘What can I do for you, Rory?’

‘Rowen is working at her market stall this morning, but she’s planning to pop in to buy a dress for the ball later. Whatever she buys, I want to pay for it,’ he insisted.

Skye smiled at him. ‘That’s very romantic of you.’

Rory shrugged. ‘I just want to treat her to something nice.’

‘I’ll make sure she gets a lovely dress,’ Skye assured him.

Happy that he’d done this, Rory waved and headed into the cake shop.

‘Can I talk to Innis?’ Rory said to Primrose.

‘Yes, he’s in the kitchen, away through.’

He wore his jeans, a chunky Aran jumper and a denim jacket with a warm lining.

Innis looked up as Rory bounded in and pulled a folded envelope of plans from his jacket pocket.

‘I’ve drawn up the building plans for your extension, all nice and neat. This is a copy for you. Peruse it at your leisure and let me know if you want any alterations.’ Rory put the envelope down on the kitchen table, not expecting to stay. He’d just popped in to drop off the plans.

Innis wiped any residue of cocoa powder off his hands and opened up the plans, nodding firmly when he saw them. ‘First class. I’ll have a proper look later, but this is excellent.’

Rory grinned. He’d made a thorough job of designing the extension for the cake shop. He pointed to the windows. ‘These will be double glazed, but this section here can open out in the summer on to the garden.’

‘It’s great.’ Innis was pleased, but the backlash of what he’d done in the dress shop gnawed at him. He thought he hid it well.

‘Did someone steal your sweeties?’ Rory said bluntly.

For one moment Innis thought to hide what was wrong, but decided against it and told Rory what had happened in the dress shop.

Rory rocked back on the heels of his sturdy boots. ‘I’ve just been in the dress shop. It’s jumping this morning. I couldn’t even get in.’ He explained about buying Rowen a dress. ‘And you asked Skye in front of all those customers?’

‘I hadn’t planned to. I wanted to talk to her in private. But when I went in, Lyle was there, all cool looking in his sunglasses, showing Skye how to dance at the ball—’

Rory cut–in. ‘Hang on, Lyle was wearing sunglasses? It’s winter. It’s snowing. What was he thinking?’

‘I think he was making a move on Skye. So I jumped in and asked her before he could do it.’

Rory frowned. ‘Why would Lyle do that when he spent last night having dinner with Holly in his tea shop, showing her how to bake scones.’

This was news to Innis. ‘Lyle was with Holly last night in his tea shop?’

‘Yes, they had a fun time. While you and Skye were making chocolates up at the castle, Lyle was baking and boogying with Holly. They were waltzing around his tea shop. No romance. But I think there’s potential for it.’

‘Are you in a hurry?’ Innis said to him.

‘No...’

‘Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab a cake, any cake, and sit down for a minute. Are you sure that’s what happened with Lyle and Holly?’

Rory poured a mug of tea, lifted a cupcake and sat down to reveal everything that Lyle had told him earlier that morning when he’d been in the tea shop. He often stopped by and wanted to check that everything was working after all the snow they’d had.

Innis shook his head and sighed heavily.

‘Ach, don’t fuss over that. We all make fools of ourselves sometimes over the lassies.’

Innis almost smiled. This was true. He’d made a fool of himself several times recently over Skye.

‘Lyle wasn’t making a pass at Skye, but you can be sure that some lad would, so now you’re taking her to the ball. Isn’t that what you wanted?’

It was. Innis nodded.

‘The gossip would’ve sparked anyway whether you’d blown your trumpet about your feelings for Skye in front of a lot of folk or in private,’ Rory reasoned.

‘Yes, that’s true. Thanks for taking the time to tell me about Lyle. He’s been generous with his time and knowledge about our plans for the ball. I don’t want any ructions.’

‘I’ll smooth things over with him if you want,’ Rory offered.

‘No, I’ll tell him myself.’

Rory bit into his cake and drank his tea.

‘I suppose we do all make fools of ourselves when it comes to romance,’ Innis said thoughtfully.

Rory laughed. ‘I saw Finlay twirling Merrilees around like a baton down at the harbour when he helped her off his yacht.’

They shared a smile.

Drinking down the remainder of his tea, Rory stood up. ‘I’ll let you get on with your baking.’

‘Thanks again,’ Innis said as Rory headed out.

‘I’m stealing one of your chocolates,’ Rory told him, grabbing a truffle from the confectionary display as he left the shop.

Innis laughed.

Rosabel and Primrose came hurrying through to the kitchen. ‘Everything hunky–dory now?’

‘Yes, Rory brought my plans for the extension.’ He gestured to the architectural drawings on the table.

‘Are we allowed a peek?’ said Primrose.

‘Yes.’ Innis poured the ganache over the chocolate cake and started to smooth it over the surface. The melted chocolate mix ran down the edges and he used a spatula to create a glossy chocolate surface.

Primrose and Rosabel were eager to see the plans and nodded as they approved of the design.

‘It’s going to be a bright but cosy wee hub for serving tea and cakes,’ Primrose commented.

‘I like that it looks out on to the garden,’ said Rosabel. ‘It’ll be lovely in the summer, but even on a snowy day like this, it’ll be quite magical.’

Leaving the plans on the kitchen table, they hurried back through to serve customers.

A message pinged on Innis’s phone. It was from Finlay.

Congratulations! I heard you asked Skye to go to the ball.

Yes. And I heard you twirled Merrilees around after you went sailing.

Gossip travels fast.

Too fast.

Have you seen the feature in the newspaper?

No, I’ll pop out for a copy.

We’ve had a few bookings for the ball already because of it. Ean thinks we’ll need more ice cream.

I agree. I’ll talk to Brodrick.

Cheers.

Innis tucked his phone in his pocket. ‘I won’t be long. The castle’s feature is in the paper. I’m popping to the grocery shop to buy a copy.’

‘Buy one for us while you’re there please,’ Rosabel called after him as he headed out.

Innis raised his hand in acknowledgement and strode up the snowy street in his short shirt sleeves to buy the copies. He didn’t feel the cold, only the warmth in his heart for Skye as the realisation sank in that she’d agreed to be his date for the ball.