He suddenly laughed. And that was what snuffed out any annoyance that might’ve lit inside her. He was smiling and she was so pleased to see it.
‘You’re the dramatic one,’ she teased him, mock-balefully. ‘Secretly passing me priceless jewellery.’
He’d wanted to do something nice for her. Something fluttered in her chest. Something both dangerous and devastating and tempting her to believe in it.
‘We can just hang out in the background,’ she said. ‘No one is really interested in talking to me.’
‘That’s not true. I was watching you for a while before you saw me. That guy was super-interested in talking to you.’
That flutter in her chest grew stronger. ‘He was talking to me about Linda’s cats.’
‘I think...’ He suddenly sighed. ‘That, seeing you’re wearing a vintage prom dress and vintage jewels, I think that we ought to dance.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘If we’re dancing, everyone else will leave us alone.’
Violet had seen Linda watching them from the doorway and seen the protective lift of her chin. She wouldn’t let anyone interrupt them. And the guests smiled but stayed back, giving him the space. The older ones were all aware of his past. There was a hint of curiosity, of course, but they were too well-mannered and too compassionate to intrude. So Violet and Roman danced at the back of the room in the shadows, as lost in the crowd as it was possible to get.
He moved stiffly at first, but she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned in. Then he softened. He wasn’t really a grump—he was prickly because he was protecting himself. And, given all the losses he’d suffered, she didn’t blame him.
He couldn’t seem to take his gaze off her. She certainly couldn’t look away from him. Lazy jazz music played—Christmas tunes somehow blended into easy-moving melodies. The pianist was talented, as was the singer. They were barely moving to the music, but he was safe, warm and not alone, and it didn’t matter if they weren’t terribly social.
‘They all leave at eleven,’ Roman muttered eventually. ‘There’s a service in town at midnight for those who want to attend. Others go home and open presents.’
‘On Christmas Eve?’
‘Well, it’s Christmas Day by then. But yes.’
Roman’s whole body ached. She looked like the angel on top of a Christmas tree. A perfect, petite thing dressed in silver. She’d been laughing when he’d first spotted her. Of course she’d been laughing, as she’d chattered away to the group of people surrounding her. She entranced everyone—most especially him.
Her beautiful glossy hair was partially tied up in an intricate plait from which the length then fell at the back. The style exposed her fine features—those high cheekbones and the heart-shaped face and dainty ears from which, he noted with immense pleasure, the diamonds hung. Radiance shone like silvery light from her. Stars sparkled in her eyes.
‘Are you okay?’ She broke into his thoughts. ‘You look a little ferocious.’
‘I’m okay.’
Oddly enough, he was. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. Being here like this, he had feelings both of happiness and heartache. So many memories converged on him at once. He only wanted to recall the good.
‘I remember so many balls here. Joan—my grandmother—would let me choose one present to unwrap before sending me to bed.’
Violet’s smile deepened. ‘She spoilt you.’
‘She did.’
‘What else did you do at the balls?’
‘Lots of the things you see here. Linda’s kept up all the traditions she knew. The lights in the windows are there to invite everyone in and so Santa couldn’t possibly miss the lodge. Reindeer feed outside. Cookies.’
‘Did you have a stocking?’
He nodded. ‘Always got a new woollen hat to keep my ears warm. Joan knitted it. But I’d always lose it some time in the ski season.’
‘A hat like the ones we saw at that market?’
He nodded and she pressed closer to him.
Everything ached. ‘Is it okay if we go upstairs now?’ he asked.