CHAPTER EIGHT
Lily’s dressmaking and mending day at the shop flew by in a flurry of chiffon, silk and sequins.
‘Make sure you relax this evening,’ Mirren said, picking up her bag to leave for the night. She gestured to the rail of mended ballgowns. ‘We’ve both worked hard and repaired plenty of the ballgowns. The shop is closed tomorrow, but I’ll be back here in the morning and we can pick up the mending from there. But get your dinner and unwind a wee bit, especially as you don’t have a dance lesson to go to.’
‘I will,’ Lily said, thinking of all the things she planned to get up to, including sewing. But not the ballgowns. She aimed to work on the wrap skirt she was making for Mirren’s Christmas.
Lily had selected a lovely deep blue fabric that was warm for the winter months but was soft and easy to wear. She’d used one of her own patterns to cut the pieces she needed for the classic, midi–length skirt, including the waistband and ties.
Waving Mirren off, and locking the door, she gazed out at the crisp winter’s evening. She felt the urge to head out and explore the Christmas market rather than go upstairs and make dinner.
So she put on her coat and pink woolly hat and ventured out into the frosty night. It was only just after five o’clock so there was plenty of time to browse the market and enjoy some festive fun.
Breathing in the scent of the cold fresh air, she walked along under the Christmas lights that decorated the street and headed to the brightly lit Christmas market.
The stalls were aglow with lights and there were lots of people browsing for gifts and enjoying the selection of the funfair activity.
Lily stood for a moment, listening to the carol singers’ voices merge with the festive music. She gazed up at the twinkle lights and Christmas decorations sparkling against the dark night sky.
The delicious aroma of various tempting treats, from chestnuts roasting to hot chocolate stalls, wafted in the air, adding to the feeling of Christmas.
She’d just bought herself a hot chocolate and took a sip as a message came through on her phone from the journalist she’d contacted. He wanted to interview her the following night at the dance studio, half an hour before her dance lesson with Frazer.
Lily replied, confirming this was suitable.
They exchanged a few messages discussing the details of the interview.
Then she sent a message to Frazer to let him know about the interview.
Moments later, Frazer called her.
‘I got your message,’ he said. ‘I’ll be teaching at six–thirty, but I’ll be finished around ten to seven, if the journalist wants to speak to me.’
‘He does. So he’ll interview me first and then chat to you for a few minutes around seven. If that’s okay.’
‘Yes, this is what we wanted. Publicity for both our businesses.’
‘He says he wants to chat to me about learning ballroom dancing for the Christmas Eve ball. He’s writing features about dancing and activities for the festive season. He’ll mention my dressmaking, that I made the pink ballgown. It’s for a magazine supplement for one of the papers.’
‘Great, so I’ll see you tomorrow night then,’ he said. And heard the carol singing in the background. ‘Where are you?’ He’d assumed she was at the shop or in her flat.
‘I’m at the Christmas market again. I wanted to see it all lit up at night. It’s magical.’
‘I enjoy the Christmas markets, though I’m so busy with the studio that a lot of the activities are whizzing by without me having time to see them.’
‘I’d planned to have dinner in my flat and then work on my sewing. But then I thought...no, I’m heading out. And here I am.’ She gazed around her. ‘It’s like being in a fairytale. The lights, funfairs and stalls are amazing.’
‘You’re making me wish I was there.’ His words hung in the air, sounding as if there was an undertone of longing to be with Lily too. ‘Anyway, have fun.’
‘I am. The dress shop is closed tomorrow, but Mirren and I are working there so we’ll catch up on a lot of the mending.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Then I’ll be dancing with you. After the interview. I didn’t think I’d be so busy when I came here to Edinburgh. I knew I’d be helping Mirren in the shop, but I never anticipated learning ballroom dancing and being featured in a magazine.’
‘Any news on the job offer in Glasgow?’ he said.
‘Yes, I’ve scheduled a video call interview with them in a few days to discuss the details of their offer.’
Frazer’s heart took a hit, and he tried to shrug it off. ‘It sounds as if they’re keen to have you work with them.’
‘They’re looking to hire dress designers with my type of skills and experience to work on their new collections. I’d be designing evening dresses for them.’
‘It sounds like the perfect match.’ He tried to sound upbeat about her leaving Edinburgh.
‘Yes, but I want to discuss the deal before I agree to move back over to the west coast.’
‘Well, I’ll let you get back to having fun at the Christmas market,’ he said. ‘I’m about to teach a couple how to tango.’
‘See you tomorrow night,’ she said.
After the call, she sipped her hot chocolate and meandered through the market, but she kept thinking about Frazer, and was looking forward to dancing with him the following night.
Finally, she headed back to the shop, having bought more bargain gifts. Little mementos. Walking towards the shop, she looked up at the night sky. Snowflakes fluttered down, lit up in the glow of the Christmas lights, like icy starlight.
She felt the flakes on her cheeks and hurried into the warmth of the shop.
Taking her coat, hat and boots off, she went upstairs, tucked the gifts away, and put the kettle on for a cup of tea.
Then she sat at her sewing machine, making the wrap skirt for Mirren. It was an easy pattern for someone with Lily’s skill to make. Her machine whirred in the quiet of the flat, and she glanced out the window at the snowflakes fluttering down.
The forthcoming interview with the journalist, the video call for the job in Glasgow, and thoughts of Frazer kept interrupting her concentration as she tried to focus on finishing the skirt.
It was quite late when she switched her sewing machine off and hung the skirt on a hanger.
Heading downstairs to the shop to check that it was secure for the night, she saw the tall figure walking down the street.
As if sensing her watching him, Frazer looked over and waved. She waved back to him, and he headed towards the shop.
She opened the door and he stepped inside, bringing a flurry of snowflakes with him.
‘I’ve just finished at the studio and was heading home,’ he said.
Lily was wearing the heliotrope jumper Mirren had knitted for her, but she shivered, having been cosy upstairs.
‘Did you have fun teaching the tango?’ she said.
‘The tango went well, then I was teaching the quickstep. After everyone left, I danced to some of the songs I’ve listed for the ball, to see if they suit the dances.’ He reeled off some of the songs.
‘They sound like popular choices.’
‘I want music that people love to get up and dance to. I’ll let you dance to a few of them tomorrow night.’
She smiled and nodded, unsure whether she should offer him a warming cup of tea before he drove home, or not.
‘I’d better be on my way,’ he said.
‘Do you want a cup of tea before you go?’
‘Thanks, but I really need to head home and get some sleep. I’ve an early start in the morning and it’s been a long day and busy night.’
Lily smiled, wishing she hadn’t put him on the spot.
Giving her an acknowledging wave as he headed out, he mentally kicked himself for refusing her offer. The biting wind cut through him, but it was nothing compared to the feelings he had every time he thought about Lily leaving Edinburgh in the New Year.
As the snow fell heavier around him, Frazer marched on wishing he could rewind and accept Lily’s offer. When she was gone, working on the other side of Scotland, he’d regret any chance he’d had to be with her and let it slip through his foolish fingers.
Lily filled the kettle to make herself a cup of tea. It was late, but in all the things that had happened, she’d skipped dinner and wondered if she should fire up the grill and make some toast.
A knock on the front door startled her, and was accompanied by a message on her phone from Frazer:
Can I change my mind and come in for that cup of tea?
Lily hurried down the stairs wearing her fluffy socks and unlocked the door.
‘The kettle’s boiling,’ she told him.
Frazer shook the snow from his coat and boots outside the doorway, and then stepped in.
Lily locked the door behind him and led the way upstairs.
‘I was going to make myself some hot buttered toast,’ she said.
‘That sounds great. I skipped dinner.’
‘So did I, unintentionally. I was too busy browsing the market stalls and then sewing.’
Frazer took his coat and boots off. He wore a body–hugging black top and black trousers and padded around the living room in his socks.
‘Can I help you make the tea or toast?’ he offered.
‘You could make the tea,’ she said, putting four thick–cut slices of bread under the grill.
Frazer started to set up the cups while the kettle boiled.
‘Please don’t think that I live on toast,’ she told him. ‘I can cook, but I’m still settling into the way of things here.’
‘Never crossed my mind,’ he assured her. ‘It must be quite a change for you living here in Edinburgh.’
‘It is.’ She sighed heavily. ‘I’ll probably have just settled into the rhythm of things when I’ll have to leave.’
The teaspoon rattled in the cup of tea he was making.
‘That’s if I decide to go back to the west coast,’ she added. ‘I’m not going to mention the job opportunity in Glasgow during my interview with the journalist. Nothing is settled yet.’
‘What would entice you to stay in Edinburgh?’ He tried to sound nonchalant, but there was a deep resonance to his tone in the close confines of the tiny kitchen.
‘A strong reason not to leave.’ Lily checked the grill. The toast was browning nicely. She set up a tray with two small plates.
‘Such as?’ He poured the milk in their tea.
‘Working here from the shop, retaining my independence as a dressmaker. Designing my own patterns rather than collaborating with a large company. I like to decide what designs I make. But that can be a difficult route to take, especially financially.’ She shrugged as she buttered the toast. ‘But I’ve always been a bit of a wild card at heart. Even though I might not look like that.’
Frazer put the cups of tea on the tray. ‘It’s late at night, snowing outside, and you’ve got your dance instructor making tea in your kitchen.’
Lily laughed. ‘Is that what you consider wild?’
Frazer shrugged his broad shoulders. ‘It depends. Your waltzing video is headlining my website and creating a lot of interest.’
‘Maybe I’m a wee bit wild,’ she conceded.
Frazer carried the tray through to the living room and put it down on the table by the fire.
They sat down together on the couch to enjoy their tea and toast.
‘I’m going to need a partner to waltz with me for the opening dance of the ball.’ He bit into a slice of hot buttered toast.
‘Surely that would be Victoria.’
He took a sip of his tea. ‘Someone having had lessons at the studio and learned to waltz would be more impressive.’
‘The dance video was different,’ she explained. ‘It was just the two of us. Waltzing with you with everyone watching...’ she shook her head. ‘I’m not sure I could do it without messing up the steps.’
‘You’ll have had all your lessons by then. But don’t feel pressured. It’s fine if you’d rather not,’ he assured her.
‘Let me see how my lessons go,’ she suggested.
Frazer smiled and nodded, and then tucked into his toast.
Lily ate her toast, and sipped her tea. ‘Why did you change your mind tonight?’
Tell her the truth, he urged himself. So he did. ‘As I walked away, I thought that as you’ll probably be leaving Edinburgh next month, I wanted to enjoy our time together while you’re here. So I turned back.’
Lily smiled warmly. ‘Tell me about the ball. What’s your plan for the opening dance?’
‘I want a traditional start. As the host, I’ll announce the beginning of the ball, welcoming everyone, and then take to the floor for the opening waltz with my partner. We’ll dance for about a minute on our own, and then others will join us for the first dance of the evening.’
‘That sounds doable,’ she said.
‘Think it over.’
‘I will.’
He glanced over at her sewing machine. It was switched off, be he surmised she’d been busy dressmaking. ‘What were you working on tonight?’
‘A wrap skirt. A Christmas present for Mirren. We often make things as gifts.’ She gestured to the heliotrope jumper she was wearing. ‘My aunt knitted this jumper for me.’
‘It’s lovely, a gorgeous colour.’
‘We’ve always sewn, knitted and crafted gifts for each other over the years. I’ve made two silk ties for Bert’s Christmas. It’s sort of a tradition. He loves that his ties are one–off exclusives.’ She went over to where she’d hung the ties near the wrap skirt and brought them over to let Frazer see them.
‘These look like they’re shop bought. I mean that as a compliment,’ he added.
‘I take it as one. I love well–tailored waistcoats, shirts and ties.’
‘You make waistcoats too? Not that I’m hinting,’ he was quick to add.
Lily nodded. ‘Yes, tailored waistcoats, classic styles made from fine suiting fabric, with silk backings and silk linings.’ She smiled, and then told him about the ballgowns. ‘Mirren and I have mended a lot of the ballgowns. Do you want me to bring them with me when I come up to the studio tomorrow night?’
‘No, I’ll come down around lunchtime and pick them up.’
‘We’ll have them folded and bagged ready.’
‘I’ll hang them up in the studio shop for clients to view and to buy.’
‘Mirren has priced each ballgown, but it’ll be up to you to change the cost if you want.’
‘No, I’ll go by Mirren’s pricing. She seems to know what works well for her shop, so I’ll take her suggestions.’
Frazer finished his tea and stood up. ‘I’ll be on my way and let you get some sleep. Thanks again for the tea and toast.’
He put his coat and boots on and headed downstairs. Lily followed him and opened the door. Snow came fluttering in.
‘Close the door,’ he said, stepping out into the snowy night.
Lily shut it firmly and watched him disappear into the whiteout.
Hurrying upstairs to the warmth of the living room, she cleared away the tea tray, and turned the lights off in the kitchen and the living room. And then she sat by the glow of the Christmas tree lights, gazing out the window before getting ready for bed.
The view from her bedroom window was equally festive, and the large flakes of snow fluttered by as she snuggled under the quilt.
Lily rewound Frazer’s offer to waltz with him for the opening dance at the Christmas Eve ball.
She pictured herself wearing the pink ballgown, and Frazer leading them around the floor to wonderful music. The dress itself would hide any mistakes she made, and Frazer would surely keep her right. It would be something magical to look back on. Someone was bound to film them waltzing, and she could watch it and remember the night she danced with Frazer at the ball.
Maybe she’d decide after she’d had more dance lessons.
Frazer got ready for bed when he arrived home. The trees outside his bedroom window glittered with frost and a light sprinkling of snow.
He stood for a moment in the shadowed darkness, gazing out the window at the garden, trying not to think about Lily leaving Edinburgh.
The bedroom was mildly warm, but the thought of her leaving chilled him to the bone. Shaking off these feelings, he got into bed and tried to get some sleep.
He made a mental note to remember to pick up the ballgowns the following day, and pictured clients buying them to wear to the ball. He’d advertise them on the website, and they’d be on show in the studio’s shop.
Planning ideas for the ball, Frazer fell asleep as the snow continued to fall outside the window.
Lily was still awake, drifting in and out of slumber. All the excitement of the day and the evening kept sparking through her.
With the dress shop being closed the following day, there was a chance that the ballgowns would all be mended. Mirren’s expertise had enabled them to forge through the work and finish the selection of ballgowns.
Then it would be back to sewing and mending the pre–loved vintage dresses that were still selling well for the party season. She’d need to add another dress to the window display. The tea dresses were continuing to be popular, but the cocktail dresses were in demand too.
Thinking about work, and dancing at the ball with Frazer, Lily finally fell sound asleep and didn’t wake up until the bright, snowy dawn streamed through her bedroom window.