A week before Christmas
Dempsey held tightly to Makepeace's hand, he was enjoying himself and secretly happy to be rather like any couple in the middle of London in December. He hadn't appreciated how much he hated the clandestine relationship they had to have until they experienced the freedom of being together back in New York last month.
In amongst these crushing crowds no one would notice their holding hands.
"This is bloody ridiculous" Makepeace moaned
"It's seasonal fun"
"No Dempsey, seasonal fun is calling into Harrods on a quiet midweek day and asking for the gifts you need"
"It's more fun looking around different shops"
"You can't actually move in this crowd"
"Well there's one good thing" he wriggled his fingers to intertwine with Harry's
"What?" she asked
"That's my word" Dempsey turned to look at her
"So?"
"So how comes you're using it" he put his arm around her shoulder to guide her through the crowd and across the road
"Free speech Dempsey, you have that in America too you know" Makepeace was almost marching now
"It's not like you to use one word when you can use ten" he grinned
"I might not have time to say a whole sentence before I'm crushed to death"
"Rubbish, look we're nearly there; we'll do Hamleys and then go round into Oxford Street and Selfridges" he let the other thoughts drop
"Can we call in at Liberty's?"
"They won't sell presents we need for your cousins or their kids"
"They sell all sorts"
"All sorts of things that you have in your bathroom or wardrobe Lady Harriet" Dempsey grinned as he opened the door to Hamleys "Now how old are these kids we're giving presents to?"
"Oh I really don't know that accurately; I think Matthew is about 7 or 8 and Jessie is 10 or 11 I guess. Anthony and Henritta's boy is probably about 5, then I suppose I should get something for Grace who isn't coming till after boxing day but I can leave a present there for her."
Dempsey coughed a deliberate cough. Harry looked at him slightly uncertain "Oh about 4 probably, pretty little thing"
Dempsey coughed again
"What?"
"That's my word remember?"
"Well speak English then"
"Didn't we discuss this whole present giving conundrum on Monday night and that's why we're late night Christmas shopping together?" Dempsey emphasised the together
"Yes"
"So we don't have to do it again do we?" Dempsey had noticed Harry's use of the phrase 'I' when it came to present giving, Harry seemed not to have noticed.
"No" she looked at Dempsey from head to toe trying to get his point
"You're spending too much time with me Harry, you're turning monosyllabic"
"Well at least that's one more than a cough that hasn't even got a syllable"
"You always have to win don't you"
"Dempsey can we just do the shopping?"
Dempsey read the floors "let's start at the top and work down" Dempsey had a go at every toy that was being demonstrated, Harry kept pointing out that none of her cousins children were the correct age or sex for some of them but never the less he persisted. A wry smile crept across Harry's face.
They chose the toys and then made their way to Oxford Street. Dempsey had insisted they carry the bags of toys with them and the bags bashed Harry's legs several times. She scowled at him. "At least we could have had them delivered"
"I want the whole shopping experience"
"I could live without it"
Dempsey deliberately guided Makepeace straight through the huge perfumery that dominated the entrance to Selfridges and towards the Christmas gift section.
"Now look at this" he said with satisfaction "boys toys for grown ups"
He handled and fiddled with nearly everything; digital and l.e.d. were the things. Finally Harry gave up and asked him what he thought would make good presents and he choose items for the men. He relented and let Harry go back to the perfumery and accessories to choose the women's presents and wandered off himself saying he was sure a place this big would have a partridge in a pear tree.
He found her still browsing the scents, he came up behind her and sniffed her neck "You smell gorgeous to me" Harry jumped "Dempsey" she started to scold
But ignoring her Dempsey continued "What do you say to a drink partner?"
"Make mine a double Vodka"
"Good job we didn't drive in then"
"I am never going back in that tube in rush hour, I couldn't breathe – I'm surprised more pockets don't get picked."
As they made their way back to Carnaby Street and found a wine bar Harry admitted that, now the crowds had thinned out a quite a bit, the Christmas atmosphere was more fun.
"So did you find what you were looking for?" Harry asked out of the blue
"What?"
Harry burst out laughing "I think that word's been overused tonight. Did you find your partridge and pear tree?"
Dempsey wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulder again and spoke into her ear "No but I bet you have both at your castle"
************
Dempsey was looking at Harry and grinning, their shopping stacked to the side against a wall; they had ordered some food and a bottle of wine. Dempsey was just pouring a glass each "Well that's the legwork done" he commented and Harry looked up with a frown "My fifty percent" he clarified
"And I was... not doing legwork?" Harry asked with great confusion
"Harry you do the deskwork - we split everything 50/50 remember"
Harry was just about to remonstrate when Chas and his wife Alice walked in. Harry nudged Dempsey "Looks like our night out is over anyway"
"Well it was kind of me to help you with your shopping DS Makepeace" Dempsey postulated
"Huh, if it was just my shopping it would have been Harrods"
"Well it certainly… Hi Chas, Hi Alice, come and join us" Dempsey interrupted himself as he noticed Chas clock them in the corner. "You want some wine?" he called the waiter for two glasses and another bottle.
Alice was holding half a dozen bags and she looked to put them down, spotting others against the wall she placed hers there also.
"Hamleys" Alice read the bags out loud
"My cousins children" Harry explained
"They demonstrate all the toys in there" Dempsey piped up, there's a guy there who does the Rubics cube in a minute flat
"I took a child with me" Harry eye pointed to Dempsey as she explained their joint presence.
"I think we've got one of those at home" Chas looked at Alice for confirmation but it wasn't forth coming - her and Harry seemed to have started one of their women conversations.