Chapter 11 #2
Ellie smiled faintly at that. The simplicity of Alba’s observation made something warm stir inside her. “How do you do that? How do you read me and my emotions the way that you do?”
“I…I’m sorry if that’s the way it comes across.” Alba cleared her throat. “I’ve always been good at reading people. I didn’t do it because I was worried about you. I did it because I thought it would be something you’d enjoy.”
Ah. Ellie felt that small misunderstanding settle between them.
Alba thought she’d offended her. Ellie inched a little closer, closing the small distance between them.
“You don’t have to explain yourself. I just find it fascinating that someone I’ve only known for what…
six weeks, has the ability to understand me better than people I’ve known since my career began. ”
She hadn’t meant for her confession to sound quite so revealing, but once the words were spoken, they felt undeniably true.
Alba turned back and looked out at the water again, though Ellie noticed the subtle tightening of her shoulders. “I just thought it would be a nice change of scenery.”
“It’s more than that.” Admitting that felt oddly vulnerable, but Alba deserved honesty. “You’ve been really good to me since you arrived at the school.”
The words lingered in the air between them, and for a second, Ellie wondered if she’d said too much.
Alba frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. “I haven’t done anything special.”
“You have.” Ellie lowered her voice, the quiet of the terrace wrapping around the moment and making it feel unexpectedly intimate. “You’ve treated me like a normal person. Do you have any idea how rare that’s been lately?”
Ellie felt a familiar tightness behind her ribs as she revealed that. It wasn’t painful, but it was enough to remind her how long it had been since someone had spoken to her without that careful sympathy in their voice.
Alba’s expression softened. “I’ve just treated you like…you.”
The simplicity of the answer struck Ellie more deeply than Alba probably realised. “And that’s exactly what I mean.”
Though they’d fallen silent, Ellie found her attention drifting back to Alba again. Something about her seemed different tonight. Not dramatically so. Just subtly…off. She seemed quieter than usual, more thoughtful. The easy humour she normally carried around felt a little muted.
Ellie watched her for another moment before deciding she couldn’t ignore it. “You okay?”
“Of course.”
Ellie tilted her head. “You don’t sound very convincing.”
“I’m fine. Really.”
Ellie hesitated. Part of her wanted to let it go.
This weekend was supposed to be relaxing, and the last thing she wanted was to start digging into something that would probably darken the evening before it had even begun.
Still, she’d spent years reading people, and Alba wasn’t entirely convincing.
“You seem quieter than usual. Did I do something wrong?”
Alba’s head snapped towards her. “N-no. God, no.” She exhaled slowly and rubbed the back of her neck, clearly thinking something through. “It’s nothing serious. Just…school stuff.”
Ellie’s brows drew together. “School stuff?”
“You know how people are. Word will probably get around that we’re here together, and suddenly everyone will have an opinion about it.”
Ellie felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. “That’s what you’re worried about?”
“Well…yeah.” Alba shrugged it off, though the gesture looked slightly forced. “You’re the headmistress, and I’m a member of staff. People talk, Ellie. It’s what they do.”
Ellie leaned back against the railing again, thinking over what Alba had just said. She wouldn’t dismiss her concerns, but she also refused to let something as trivial as gossip spoil this weekend. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
“Of course you haven’t.” Alba smiled faintly. “You’re not the one who’ll get dragged into the staffroom gossip.”
“If anyone says anything, they’ll answer to me.”
“I-I know that.”
Ellie lifted a brow. “But?”
“I just…” Alba sighed. “I’d rather not be the centre of attention if I can help it.”
Ellie studied her. The explanation made sense, but something about it felt incomplete. Still, she wasn’t going to push further. Not tonight. She nudged Alba’s shoulder gently. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think the staffroom will survive the scandal.”
Alba laughed. Not the polite kind people offered out of courtesy, but the genuine kind. It caught Ellie completely off guard, bright enough to send an unexpected flutter through her chest.
“Imagine the rumours! Headmistress runs away for a romantic spa weekend with the new geography teacher.”
Ellie felt that flutter again. Only it was far stronger this time. “Well, that would certainly spice up the next staff meeting.”
Alba was smiling now, but Ellie still noticed that faraway look in her eyes.
Let it go for now.
Whatever was weighing on Alba’s mind, she hoped this weekend would ease it. Because dinner, wine, and the rest of the evening waited for them. That was what Ellie should be focusing on.
As she looked up at their suite, she realised that if there was anyone she was glad to be sharing this place with, it was Alba Clifford.
Ellie pulled the suite door closed and paused, her fingers still wrapped around the handle as silence enveloped them.
Outside on the terrace, there had been a breeze and space, but in here the air was thick and motionless.
An unusual sensation crept over her. The atmosphere between them felt charged all of a sudden, weighted with possibilities she hadn’t anticipated.
Her gaze drifted briefly to Alba. Had she felt it too?
Was that why she’d seemed so quiet outside?
Ellie pushed that thought aside and turned fully into the room, her gaze landing inevitably on the huge bed they’d be sharing this weekend.
The reality of it settled in her stomach with an odd mixture of excitement and nerves, but Alba didn’t appear to be thinking about that at all.
She was already kneeling beside her holdall, rummaging through it as she searched for whatever she needed for dinner that evening. A moment later, she pulled out her makeup bag, stood, and moved towards the wardrobe.
Ellie watched without meaning to. Once Alba had her dress in her hands, she held it up, inspecting it with a small frown of concentration. Ellie told herself she wasn’t staring, but she absolutely was.
Alba studied the dress for another moment before draping it carefully over the back of the chair near the wardrobe, and Ellie found herself picturing the moment Alba would slip it on. That image stayed with her long enough to make her realise where her thoughts were heading.
Right. That territory is far too dangerous!
Ellie quickly turned to her own bag and knelt beside the bed, pulling out her things for the evening as though she was suddenly very busy. But her attention kept drifting sideways. God, she needed to stop doing that.