CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
There was a collective hush as Elizabeth sat at the piano. All here knew it was Hanna’s piano, and the damn thing hadn’t been played since her death. It had been a monument. A shrine to a woman who had lived life to the fullest. His first love. That meant a lot, but Elizabeth was here now and life was meant to be lived.
Nervous glances were thrown James’ way, darting between Elizabeth and himself. He didn’t give them another thought. Elizabeth had renewed life to this piano, the house and everything it contained. They’d soon see.
Elizabeth kept her gaze averted and downcast. He felt the nervous energy coming from her in waves, but she didn’t back down. A warm glow of appreciation filled him. She wanted to do this for him. She gave him the gift of life and music back into his life. And so much more. If only she knew.
He had to tell her. Words were frail compared to the way he felt about her, but making love to her had failed to tell her how he felt. He wanted everyone to leave so he could pin her naked to the bed and worship her as she deserved to be worshiped. He’d keep her there until she knew what she meant to him. No more doubting. Elizabeth was his second love. He needed to step up. She needed to know he was in love with her, and she’d damn well listen any way he could get her to.
For now, though, he had guests. He fell back into the spellbound moment. All eyes were on Elizabeth, waiting, the air pulsed with hesitation and expectation. Silence. Madeline curled her arms around his neck and leaned her cheek on his shoulder, waiting with as much anticipation as he did.
Elizabeth took a deep breath that echoed in the silence and splayed her hands on the keys. The first notes filled the room, caressing his skin, sliding right through him and into his core. His soul sighed.
Elizabeth began to sing. It was a well-known song originally sung by one of the greats of the UK. Made into a movie cover and sung by actors and an Australian actress. This song was her gift. The tone of her voice was warm, liquid honey. He closed his eyes, concentrating on the husky sound, letting his mind unravel on the melody, taking him to a place where there were no words; just feeling and forgiveness.
He felt Hanna’s warm embrace around his shoulders, a whisper of her lips on his cheek. Peace and ease slid through him, stroking his very soul, finally easing the remnants of darkness of her death and obliterating it. His mind was filled with clarity.
And he knew.
Both women were a gift. His wife, who’d given him so much but had to leave far too young. Hanna had worked from Heaven to give both Madeline and himself this beautiful, loving woman. Elizabeth wasn’t Hanna. No one could replace his first wife. Elizabeth wasn’t a replacement of Hanna.
She was a gift in her own right.
James sighed, opening his eyes to the glorious sight of Elizabeth playing the piano. He recognised the melody. It was one of his favourites. And he was humbled.
The melody caressed around and through him. He was finally ready to move on from his beautiful wife, his past, and he wanted Elizabeth to be his future. This was the true gift, one he would grasp with both hands.
His life had changed so much in such a short time. For the better. Because of Elizabeth. A woman he'd given his heart to, and a woman who would also embrace Madeline. She was more than a gift.
She was a miracle.
The last notes of the song became silence. There was a single clap, then the room erupted in applause. Elizabeth blushed prettily and tried to hide her smile, a mix of shyness and happiness, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
She swiveled from the stool and stood at the edge of the raised platform the piano was on. She spotted him, the colour in her cheeks deepening to a dusky pink. She stepped down, people parting for her, and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
“Happy Birthday, James.”
His put his spare arm around her shoulders but was held back with a steel-like grip. He spun to see Anastasia’s flushed face. Her usually pouty mouth was flat-lined, and hardness had crept into her eyes.
“The nanny has a voice! Personally, I don’t think servants should be allowed to take over their boss’ party. Especially not such an important one like this. Leads them to think they’re on the same level as their betters.”
The softness evaporated from Elizabeth’s face. Her shoulders slumped as her gaze internalised. With shock, he realised she wasn’t angry or hurt by Anastasia’s comment. She hadn’t offered a reply. She'd just stood meekly and taken the verbal abuse. As though she…as though she believed it!
“That’s enough, Anastasia!”
“You can’t have possibly fallen for that performance.” Anastasia’s sleek brows twisted.
“That was no performance. That was from the heart - as if you would know that place even existed. And it was her gift to me.”
He turned to see a space where Elizabeth had been standing. He lost sight of her as she left the room. He went to follow, but Anastasia didn’t let his arm go.
“Don’t tell me you’re going after…that!”
He clenched his teeth, fighting to stop angry words tumbling from his mouth. He didn’t want to make a scene in his own house. He just wanted to find Elizabeth. Nothing was more important. Not these people, not his business, and definitely not Anastasia. He tugged his arm free from her grasp.
“Don’t say something you’ll later regret,” he said.
“May I remind you that your business is dependent on my venture? Without me and giving me everything I want, you are ruined.”
He was lost for words. As his mind caught up with her meaning, he studied her, recognising the triumphant glow, the haughtiness of the raised brow, the facade of arrogance.
“Anastasia, you can get anyone you want. Why me?”
She traced a red-polished fingertip down the centre of his shirt. “Because you’re not for sale. Everyone else is. I want what can’t be bought.”
He reeled back. “I don’t sell my business like that.”
She shrugged, a graceful gesture. “Everyone has a price. I need to know what yours is. Is it your business? Your house? Your daughter?”
“You’re treading on thin ice.”
“No, you are, James. I want you. That’s apparent. And you will give me what I want.”
“You can’t buy me, Anastasia. You have nothing I want.”
She quirked a brow. “Not even my business.”
He shook his head. “Your price is too high.”
“So moral. So upstanding. If I knew it would only take a song to win you over, I would have played that thing and satisfied myself a year ago.”
“That was more than just a song, Anastasia. I doubt you’d know the difference between paying for something and something worth so much being given for nothing.”
“Don’t forget, I’m your client, James.”
He spoke into her ear, “Agreed. Nothing more or less. I’m not about to indulge in anything else with you other than managing your building work. I don’t think I’ve led you to believe anything different, but if I have, I apologise. I'm here for your work needs, but nothing else. You came to me with your project because of my skills and experience with large scale buildings, not for any…personal…reasons. If this means you’re no longer interested in me to finish the final build, then so be it, I can’t help that, but I certainly can’t go on as we have been tonight. I respect you as a client and have more than enough skill and capital for your requirements. I would request that you make your decision based on past work performances, not because of any other reason.”
“You’d chance being financially ruined because of her?”
“You’d think it would be a hard choice, wouldn’t you? But when it comes down to it, it’s quite simple. The answer is yes. I’d risk it all because it’s worth it. She’s worth it. If I don’t have your contract, then I’ll find another. I’m not without contacts, and I’m a damn good project manager. I’ll keep my business and my self-respect. I’d advise you to do the same.” James took a deep breath and tightened his hold on Madeline, who clung to him as though he was a rock in a storm. “Now, I want to do something of the greatest importance. Please excuse me.”
He charged into the kitchen, dodging wait staff and into the hive of activity of the kitchen. He didn’t want to have to ask Mrs. D’llessio to watch Madeline while she was running the evening, but Elizabeth was more important than his guests receiving the smoked salmon five minutes later than they would have.
He found a relatively calm corner and set Madeline on her feet. He crouched, wanting to gauge how she felt after what she’d just witnessed.
“I thought Liz’beth played Mama’s piano like a fairy,” Madeline said.
James sighed, relieved that her first words were of Elizabeth, and not how rude Anastasia had been. How the woman thought she could have a relationship with him and treat Madeline like she did blew his mind.
He clasped Madeline’s shoulders. “An angel. She played like an angel.” He took his time to let his gaze wander over her precious face. How long had it been since he’d just looked at her like this, studying every feature and committing it to memory? “You know I love you, don’t you, little monkey?” It had also been a long time since he’d told her he loved her. She was his daughter. She should know without a doubt, just as sure as the sun comes up in the morning, that her father loved her.
Madeline giggled. “I’m not a monkey!”
“I didn’t say ‘monkey’. I called you a ‘little monkey’. Let’s talk to Mrs. D’llessio. How about I ask if you can help in here for a little while?”
Madeline nodded, smiling. “I can put butter on the bread. Everyone will love that.”
“Come here and give me a hug.” Madeline wound her arms around James’ neck. James kissed her, breathing in the sweet, innocent scent children possessed.
“Do you think Mummy still loves me?” Madeline’s voice was muffled.
James closed his eyes, waiting for the familiar guilt that normally washed with comments like that. There was nothing inside but a lightness he hadn’t known for a long time. The guilt was simply absent. A sense of knowing replaced it.
“Yes, Madeline. She definitely does love you. She’s watching you from Heaven and giving you angel kisses and cuddles all day. Never doubt that.”
There was a pause. “I think she sent Elizabeth to be my new Mummy.”
He wondered at the power children had with their words. That they spoke the simple truth without games or hidden agendas. Words came straight from their hearts. They mastered something adults found most difficult.
“I think she did too.” And more. So much more.
If he imagined Hanna was instrumental in bringing Elizabeth into their lives, now he knew it in the form of his daughter’s words. To him, Madeline’s knowing was a clear blessing from his wife from Heaven. He cleared his throat and pushed away the heat pricking his eyes. He was going to find Elizabeth and tell her in no uncertain terms how he felt and what he wanted. He was going to lay it all on the line and bare his soul.
She would understand in no uncertain terms that she was no accident of fate. She was loved and wanted and needed and treasured. He would have to fight hard to overcome a lifetime of destruction. She was worth the fight of his lifetime.
“I think she was, too.”
“Why did you let her go from the party?”
He touched her nose with a fingertip, and she giggled. “Just because I let her go from the party doesn’t mean I’m letting her go from the house. I’m going to find Elizabeth and tell her how much we love her and we want her to stay.”
“Can you ask her to take me horse riding again?" Madeline said.
James stood and brushed his fingers over Madeline’s chubby cheek. “I will. Now, let’s find Mrs. D’llessio in this messy kitchen and get you set up buttering bread, OK?”
He went through the motions as quickly as possible, making sure Madeline was safe before he stalked upstairs to Elizabeth’s bedroom. His guests would have to finish the party without him. He had an urgent matter to attend to, one that made his mouth dry and heart pound, and there was no way he was going to be down here a minute longer than he had to.