CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I stood in the corner by the fireplace, watching Anna as she chatted with Mark Mylow and a woman who appeared to be his date. Anna was listening intently as the woman said something that must have amused her. Her face broke into a smile, and I could hear her laugh from across the room. As usual, I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her warmth, the light that radiated from her encompassed everyone around her and seemed to brighten the entire room. Could everyone feel it, as I did? I watched, my eyes never leaving her, until something made her turn and glance in my direction. When she saw me watching, her eyes softened and held my gaze. My breath caught in my throat and I felt the flush start to creep up the back of my neck. She gave me a tiny wink and turned her attention back to the conversation.

'I just have one word for you, mate,' Roger Fenn commented at my side, his gravelly voice unmistakable. Until then, I hadn't noticed he was there. 'And that word is how?' I glanced at him and saw that he was surveying Anna just as I had been.

'What do you mean?' I asked, although I had a feeling I knew. He smirked at me.

'How did such a miserable bugger manage to win the heart of the fair maiden?' he replied with candor. It wasn't an insult, just a fair and honest observation. I shook my head slightly.

'I've been asking myself the same question.' Anna was talking to Louisa now, both of them holding glasses of champagne. 'I've no idea.'

'Well, you do have some redeeming qualities, I suppose,' he went on thoughtfully. 'You are one helluva good doctor. And a snappy dresser, I'll give you that. She could do a lot worse.' He shrugged, giving me a lopsided grin.

'Hmm. Yes, thank you…I think,' I muttered. 'Any other pithy remarks on the subject?'

Roger chuckled. 'Nope, that's all I've got,' he answered, giving me a few firm pats on the back. 'Just try not to muck it up too badly, mate.'

'Yes.'

I don't know whether Anna offered to play or if someone asked her to, but she moved to the piano then and sat down on the edge of the bench. Strangely, she reached down and removed her shoes one by one. Someone must have made a comment about her playing in her bare feet, because I saw her giggling. She adjusted the piano bench accordingly, and soon, a soft undercurrent of music was drifting around the room as everyone continued to talk to one another, drink, and mingle. Roger went to speak to someone else and I had a few moments to listen and observe without distraction.

A little while later, Louisa came to have a word. 'Hello, Martin,' she said, and handed me a glass and a chilled bottle of water. 'I figured you wouldn't be having any champagne, so I brought you this.'

I took them from her, giving her a nod. 'Uh, thank you.'

'I've just been getting to know Anna a bit more; she seems very sweet.'

'Yes,' I agreed.

'She's been helping Roger Fenn at the school, getting the pageant sorted…the children all adore her,' Louisa went on. 'She's fitting into the village very nicely, I think, don't you?'

I cleared my throat and gave her a tiny smile. 'Yes, I think so too.'

She paused and studied me, biting her lip. 'I can see she must be very special, Martin,' she murmured, her voice gentle. 'I can tell by the way you look at her. Your eyes…they sort of…well, melt a little.'

'Oh, don't be ridiculous…' I huffed, which elicited a chuckle.

'Well, they do,' she insisted, 'whether you think so or not.' I heaved an exasperated sigh. I saw Danny making his way toward us, and I groaned inwardly. I was hoping to avoid having a conversation with him. He put his arm around Louisa's waist, kissing her on the cheek.

'Ah, Martin…glad you could make it,' he said, flashing a wide smile. 'Can I get you anything? Food or champagne?'

'No.'

'We were just talking about Anna,' Louisa explained to him. I swallowed, uncomfortable.

'She plays beautifully; God has really blessed her with a great talent,' Danny pontificated. I was just about to offer a sarcastic reply when his mobile started ringing. He reached for it immediately and looked at the caller's number on the screen. 'Sorry, Lou, I have to take this,' he said in a rush, turning on his heels and heading toward the door. Louisa scowled.

'That bloody mobile phone…' she muttered darkly, very obviously irritated. When she saw me looking at her, eyebrows raised, she sighed. 'Sorry. He gets a lot of business phone calls. You'd think he could turn it off for his own engagement party…' She sighed again, shaking her head. 'Well. Never mind.'

Just then, Bert Large approached Anna at the piano and spoke to her. She nodded and quickly finished the song she was playing. Bert raised his voice over the din, 'Everyone, we're going to have a toast to the lovely couple in just a moment, so if you don't have a glass, get one, and if it's an empty one, we'll soon have that sorted.'

'Oh dear…I'd better go find Danny,' Louisa commented. Turning to me, she added, 'Thanks for coming, Martin. It means a lot to me, you being here.'

'Er…yes, you're welcome, Louisa.' She gave me a smile and then rushed out of the room to retrieve her fiancé.

'Right…now then, everyone ready? Where are the two lovebirds?' Bert scanned the room, and the rest of the crowd began to look around. Anna joined me and slipped her hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. A moment later, Louisa and Danny arrived back in the room. 'Ah, here they are! Come on up here, you two.'

I glanced down at Anna and noticed her cheeks were a bit flushed. Out of sheer habit, I touched the back of my hand to her forehead, checking for fever. She did feel a bit warm.

'What are you doing?' She looked at me askance.

'Is everything all right? Are you feeling well?' I asked her. I cupped her cheeks with my hands and studied her eyes, then felt her glands for signs of swelling. Her brow furrowed.

'I just have a bit of a headache, that's all…probably from the champagne,' she answered.

'How much did you drink?' I inquired with concern. 'A woman of your height and weight should be very conscientious about alcohol consumption; even a seemingly small amount could lead to alcohol poisoning…'

'Martin, relax.' She placed her palms on my chest. 'I only had one glass. I am well aware that I am a lightweight, don't worry. I'm fine. Anyway, I thought you were off duty, Doctor Ellingham?' She grinned at me, teasing.

'I'm only making sure you are not ill,' I clarified, a bit defensively.

'I know, and I appreciate your concern.' She stood on tiptoe to kiss me on the cheek and then took my hand again, turning her attention to Bert, who was ready to make his toast. He cleared his throat loudly and began.

'As you all know, we are celebrating the engagement of Louisa and Danny. I've known them both since they were tykes; why, Louisa used to babysit my Al when he was just a tiny thing! I remember this one time, I had to take a trip to Delabole and Louisa came over to stay with Al; oh, did he ever give her the devil, had the house torn to pieces by the time I got home,' he chuckled.

'Dad, just get on with the toast!' Al piped up.

'All in good time, my boy,' Bert replied calmly. 'Louisa and Danny, I want to wish you all the best, and a very happy life together for many years to come. Let's all raise our glasses to the lovely couple!' Just as everyone began to hold their glasses aloft, Danny's mobile phone began to ring again. He made to reach for it, but Louisa gave him a look that could kill.

'Leave it,' she hissed at him through clenched teeth. He did as he was told and it rang three more times before finally quieting. By this time, the guests were shuffling about uncomfortably, murmuring under their breath to each other. Bert's toast had fallen flat, awkward and unfinished. Beside me, Anna shook her head in disbelief.

'You have got to be kidding me!' she muttered. 'Surely he is not so important that he needs to answer the phone in the middle of his own engagement toast…'

I smirked. 'I'm sure he thinks he is,' I said dryly.

It wasn't very long after the toast that Anna and I said our goodbyes, but not before speaking to Aunty Joan for a few minutes. 'Anna, you look lovely,' she said, giving her a warm hug. 'Marty, doesn't she look lovely?'

'Yes,' I agreed, and in my head I added, 'always'.

'Thank you, but I do have a confession to make, Martin: you were right. These shoes were the worst idea ever. My feet are killing me,' Anna exclaimed.

'Yes, well, they would be, wouldn't they?' I admonished. She pulled a face at me.

Joan laughed. 'Don't encourage him, Anna; if you agree with him too often, he'll become completely insufferable.'

Outside, the weather had turned nasty, with drizzly rain and a cold wind that seemed to cut right to the bone. Even wearing a coat, Anna shivered in the passenger's seat, and I turned the heat up to the highest setting. 'How are you feeling—do you still have a headache?' I asked her as we made our way back to her cottage.

'It's still sort of lingering,' she admitted, 'but nothing a good night's sleep won't cure, I'm sure. Did you enjoy the party?'

'Not in the slightest.'

'Hmm. Well, you endured it…and I'm sure fulfilled your quota of social gatherings for the next several months, so at least that's something.' She yawned, and absentmindedly rubbed her forehead.

After walking Anna to her door, she immediately pulled off her shoes. 'These are going straight into the bin,' she announced, tossing them aside. She put her arms around me, and I pulled her close.

'Get some sleep, and if your headache isn't gone by morning, call me,' I told her. 'All right?'

She nodded. 'Yes, doctor.' We shared a slow, comfortable kiss that went a long way in keeping us warm while the cold wind blew around us.

Many thanks to all the friends who have said such nice things about the story so far. I appreciate you all!