Chapter 45
CHAPTER 45
LUKE
J essy looks amazing. The beautiful powder blue silk costume complements the blue in her eyes and the make-up she is wearing is absolutely perfect. She is wearing a costume wig that isn’t dissimilar to her own light blonde hair, and I can’t stop staring at her.
Everything is going well. The fact all the lines are on autocue takes the nerves away and the moment I have been waiting for comes sooner than I anticipated.
We are to walk down the staircase hand in hand to greet our guests who are congregated around the huge tree and as we wait at the top on the landing, Jessy’s soft hand feels so fragile in my much larger one. I wonder why I feel so protective of her. It’s as if I want to wrap her in my arms and hold on forever, reassuring her that I’ve got her and we are a team who can take on the world.
She is silent, wrapped in her own thoughts and I don’t want to break the spell, but this is my one chance to make my case before the play tears us in opposite directions.
“Jessy.” I whisper as we wait for our cue.
She turns and looks at me and I whisper, “I’m sorry about last night.”
I detect a spark of disappointment in her eyes and I expect she hates to be reminded of what I said and I say quickly, “Please let me explain. I promise not to pressure you, but will you meet me later for a drink when this charade is over?”
“Where?”
She smiles, which gives me hope at least, and I whisper huskily, “I’ll come and find you after the play.”
“Okay.”
She smiles shyly, and it’s like a dart of happiness to my heart.
We hear our cue and as we descend the stairs, Jessy says loudly, “Oh Barnaby, this is my favourite time of the year. Christmas is such a magical time, but mainly because I get to share it with you.”
“My darling, Marianne, nothing means more to me than you and without you, there would be no Christmas.”
“Oh, Barnaby, you do say the nicest things.”
I can tell Jessy is struggling not to laugh at the corny lines we are reciting and as we reach the bottom of the staircase, I glance up and pull her to a stop.
“I spy a sprig of mistletoe, my darling, it would be bad luck to–”
Before I can say another word we hear a loud, “I found some!”
“Cut!” Jasper yells and we all stare at Wilf, who is red-faced and panting as he rushes in through the door, his gun slung over one shoulder and a huge bunch of mistletoe in his other hand.
“Oh my God.” Morgana cries as she rushes towards him and retrieves the mistletoe from his hand.
“Where did you find it?”
“In Pike’s wood. I nearly missed it, but as I was walking, it fell from the sky in front of my feet.”
He beams proudly. “A bird flew off and I expect it was carrying it and yet when I looked up there was one of the biggest bunches I have ever seen. I can’t believe we missed it.”
I stare at Jessy, who appears to be in shock, and Jasper says loudly, “String it up.”
As a crew member races to hang it on an arrangement that we must pass under, Jessy turns to me and smiles shyly.
I grip her hand tightly and I can’t tear my eyes from her and as the commotion dies down, we are unaware of the cameras at all.
I repeat my earlier words, “I spy a sprig of mistletoe, my darling. It would be bad luck to pass under it without stealing a kiss.”
Her voice trembles as she says softly, “I will never deny you a kiss, Barnaby. You have my heart and you always will.”
I run my hand around her slender waist and pull her gently towards me. Her breath hitches as she holds my gaze and I note the soft gleam in her eyes and the quiver to her soft red lips.
Her eyes sparkle as her chest rises and falls against the period costume and as I lower my face to hers, her sweet breath caresses my skin like a feather.
My eyes gleam as I tentatively touch my lips to hers and with my other hand, I gently cup her face and run my thumb against her delicate skin. It takes one second for our lips to touch and as I close my eyes, I am lost in the sensation of tasting Jessy’s lips for the first time.
It’s like a homecoming and as she shifts a little closer, she reaches up, her fingers brushing against my cheek and I deepen the kiss, in no hurry to stop, treasuring the moment when I finally get my wish.
It’s as if nobody else is here and now I’ve started I can’t stop and tug her closer. I never appreciated the power of a kiss before, and I don’t want to stop. I can’t stop and Jessy isn’t complaining. In fact, she is kissing me back, both of us reluctant to pull away.
When we finally remember there are close to thirty people watching us, I rest my forehead against hers and whisper, “Happy Christmas my darling.”
“Happy Christmas, Barnaby.”
Her soft giggle causes me so much happiness I have to fight my desire to steal another kiss and as the cheering starts, I don’t even register it’s not part of the show. Taking her hand, I turn and nod to the gawping crowd of villagers, “Happy Christmas, Granthaven. Now, let’s celebrate in the traditional way.”
The show must go on and it does. We act out the rest of the scenes without a hitch and by the time the pantomime ends and Granthaven is left a village in mourning, Morgana steps forward and addresses the camera.
“This play is based on a true story and to this day, Mistletoe has never grown in the village. However, today that changed when it was found again, along with the new ‘Lord’ of Granthaven making this his home. Luke Adams inherited this estate and never knew what it involved. We came here not really appreciating the sense of community and the spirit that never died.”
She turns and calls me forward and smiles lovingly. “Luke has fallen in love with Granthaven and I know will do right by the village, so, happy Christmas, Luke and happy Christmas, Granthaven. May the mistletoe flourish and love be restored to the village and everyone who lives here.”
As I kiss Morgana on the cheek, she nestles against me and as our hands clasp together we are the perfect picture of love and happiness, and it’s true. Morgana will always be incredibly important to me and always part of my family, but it’s time for us both to pursue our dreams and close this chapter in our own story so we can begin the next one.