Chapter 7
Sleep was still saturating her eyelids the way she felt them heavy when she opened her eyes by the bright sun filtering through her curtains. She stretched leisurely within the warmth of her bed, relishing it for a few minutes. Her eyes moved to the hands of the clock that stood next to her bed.
"Half nine...", she thought and shimmied further inside under the duvet.
"HALF NINE?!", she shouted and burst out of her bed like a jack-in-the-box.
"Be ready at ten...", she heard his voice in her head and rushed to the bathroom still within the haze of sleep.
She hit her small toe at the door. Angry swear words left her mouth in an undeciphered language.
A quarter later she emerged completely awake, wrapped into a towel, pacing frantically towards her room. She swang the doors of her wardrobe wide open with her eyes inspecting each of her outfits with a glance, pulling hangers on the side, disapproving most of them. Time was getting of the essence. She picked a knee-length vibrant blue shift dress with a drop waist and a pleated skirt. She got dressed and pulled a pair of sheer stockings over her legs, before slipping into her black mary-janes. She sat quickly in front of her dresser, lowered her head down and tussled her hair quickly before throwing them all back with a movement of her head.
It was ten exactly. The sound of the bell at her door found her slipping a hair band over her hair. Her eyes widened in panic. If she was to faint, that would be her perfect moment.
Her heart wanted to crawl out of her body, but had stuck for the now in her throat. She had a sip from her glass of water that stood on the dresser, passed a ruby red lipstick over her lips, spritzed some perfume on her wrists, and walked towards the front door while smoothing her dress down. She took a deep breath and opened it.
Christian was standing there in front of her, dark brown curls framing his face, wide smile and the sun shining inside his grey eyes, dressed in a sharp brown suit and crisp white shirt. Her sight just caught his breath. She was looking so different from that night inside the London Apprentice. Bright red lips on a pale clear gentle face and large eyes like moss green lakes. Freckles spread across the bridge of her nose and her cheeks had the colour of roses. They were framed by messed up blonde ringlets of hair that shone against the rays of the sun. He did wonder how old she was...she looked really young.
They stood without talking staring at each other, getting reacquainted since the last time they saw each other, until the words came onto Christian's lips.
"Good morning...Rose", he said with a smooth voice.
"Good morning Christian", she replied trying to calm down the drumbeat of her heart, hoping her face had not turned scarlet under his intense stare.
"I see you got my message...", he commented while looking at her being obviously dressed up for going out.
"I did...", Candy replied softly.
"And?", he said sounding almost hesitant to know the answer, feeling all of a sudden nervous next to her without being able to explain it.
"And...", Candy said back, "I want to know more". She smiled as soon as she finished her sentence.
"Perfect!", he said feeling relieved.
"Let me get my coat", she said nearly jumping at her words and disappearing into the house, leaving Christian alone on the stairs, lost for words but grateful for those few moments alone, to try gather his thoughts.
This girl had caught his attention from the minute she burst in front of him that Friday night, and her sight today managed to surprise him once more. She was completely different from the woman he had seen just a week ago walk in the pub so confident in her skin, attracting everyone's stares dressed in a man's tux. She was mesmerising in equal measures but in a different way, similar to a sun ray left free to roam alone the streets of London.
His eyes searched the long stretch of the street in front of her house for a sign of a cab. He saw one in the distance, signalling to the driver to stop, just as she closed the front door and hurried towards the car where Christian was holding the door open for her.
"Park Lane Hotel in Mayfair please", Christian ordered the cab driver.
They were going up the marble stairs and through the grand entrance of the hotel, walking together towards the dining room. Christian obviously knew his way around. When they arrived at the big crystal doors, Candy gasped at the sight of the place.
It wasn't a very big room, but its opulence was magnificent. The sun was casting soft orange hues of light the way it filtered through the coloured panelled glass ceiling, hitting the painted silk panels on the walls. Despite the luxury that was obvious throughout, the dining area was warm and inviting.
"Oh, it is beautiful Christian!", she exclaimed, while he pushed the doors open.
"You haven't been here before?", he turned and asked her, entering the dining room.
"I don't tend to take my breakfast in luxury hotels", she said with a teasing tone in her voice.
"You're missing out", he responded, "It is one luxury I allow to myself, taking breakfast in style, it gives a brilliant kick to the day"
Before she managed to reply, the Maitre D' walked to them.
"Table for two please", Christian said.
"Certainly sir", he replied and led them to an empty table.
Candy was looking around, glancing at the people enjoying their meals. There weren't too many of them, the place wasn't even half full. Those people were most probably residents in the hotel, she thought. They sat down to a table at the bottom of the restaurant, further away from the other groups of people. The moment they did, the nervousness that lurked underneath the surface came back like a wave. It washed over her. In response she opened the menu and buried her head behind it, trying to concentrate to its content. Could not help noticing though the delicious dishes in it. Hunger was striking her empty stomach.
"Mmm...everything sounds delicious", she exclaimed, still keeping hidden behind the opened menu.
She felt a pull; Christian lowered slowly the menu she was holding, looking at her face.
"I recommend the poached eggs with salmon and asparagus", he said gently, cracking a wide smile to her.
"You do?", she asked and paused having decided to her choice. "OK, poached eggs with salmon and asparagus it is then!", she continued and reciprocated his smile with her own.
They ordered their food and a pot of coffee from the waiter who had come to take their order.
"I am really sorry for not contacting you earlier", he started saying while he filled her glass with water, staring at her eyes as he passed her the full glass.
"I must admit, I wondered what happened to you...", she said back, "but it's your business Christian", she continued. "You don't have to give me a reason"
"But I do!", he protested in earnest. "It was very impolite of me not contacting you since last week", he started explaining himself while his eyes stayed firmly on her face, "I don't want of you to think ill of me", he added.
The sincerity of his apology sank inside Candy's heart. She realised even though this was only the second time they met, there was no way of thinking ill of Christian. He may had been unpredictable but he was honest and this mattered more than anything else to her.
"Oh! Nonsense, Christian!" she commented with fervour. "I wasn't thinking ill of you!". Without thinking, her hand covered his. His eyes followed her movement. Her face felt on fire. She was certain it resembled a field of poppies. She pulled her hand back, laced her fingers on her lap and smiled.
"I may be getting my own exhibition"
The tone in his voice was a amalgam of excitement and apprehension together.
"Oh, my! But that is wond...", she exclaimed at once.
"I should be sounding happier", Christian added, stopping Candy's congratulatory remarks mid way, "but until I know for certain, I feel reserved...I wouldn't have said anything, but this is why I had disappeared all week"
"I understand Christian...", she replied with her heart and eyes warm, soft from hearing his reason for his absence, his worries, those of an artist, different from the rest, selfish but human at the same time.
"Thank you for sharing this with me..."
He had not expected her thanking him and raised his eyebrow in surprise.
"What?", she asked him with a smile.
"You keep surprising me Rose...that is all", he replied. This woman kept acting in such an unexpected manner.
Their food arrived with the pot of steaming hot coffee. She couldn't help but feel her stomach growling to the sight of the plate in front of her. She placed her towel on her lap and tucked in, taking a couple of generous forkfuls of her eggs.
"My...you warm the cockles of my heart...", Christian said in response to seeing her eat.
She looked at him surprised, swallowing quickly.
"Your what?!"
Christian saw her puzzled look and burst into a laugh.
"I meant that I feel nice inside seeing you eat. You eat like a normal person, almost like me", he explained while still laughing, "Not how the so called ladies eat...", he continued in contempt.
Candy was still looking at him.
"You don't think of me as a lady?", she challenged him.
Christian stared at her face, all bright and gentle, looking at him playfully.
"You?", he asked pulling his eyebrow up, smiling wickedly, "No", stated as a matter of fact and tucked into his plate, without elaborating any further.
He was winding her up. She placed her cutlery on her plate.
"And what am I then?", she asked him acting all serious.
He stopped eating, and stared at her silently, thinking for a few seconds.
"No one needs labels. Gentle demeanour comes from within; you don't need to be a lady to possess that. In effect, you are...you. Rose...", he said and his eyes smiled.
She was left speechless and impressed at the same time. She didn't know how to respond. She shifted on her chair, uncrossing her legs, briefly grazing his while she did it. To her move, her heart jumped and blood rushed to her cheeks painting them red once again. She purposely ignored the flushing feeling of her face and engaged with her food with renewed interest.
He didn't say anything; acted as if nothing happened and kept his feet where they were, despite almost jumping from his chair himself. He liked those careless movements of hers. He felt his attraction for her growing all the same. Deep down she was shy, regardless of the cool and easy going attitude she had adopted.
"You haven't told me anything about you Christian", he heard her saying, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Ask me, what do you want to know?", he said and wiped his mouth on the cotton towel, pouring coffee to their cups.
"You're a painter...", she started, "How is it being a painter? What are your themes?"
"Hmm...how is it being a painter...", he repeated her question, "It's easy and it's tough. I love painting, it's my life you know...I always wanted to do that. But...you need to live at the same time...your work is judged constantly. They don't say that someone is struggling for their art with no good reason...thankfully I'm doing ok, even though as an artist, I always feel that there is room for artistic improvement", he said finishing his sentence with a tone of slight flair, and sipped from his coffee.
"True...most people consider artists as being glamorous or insane, or both! And many have died poor and unrecognised...so I guess the truth lies somewhere within that realm", she commented.
Christian laughed with her statement, and his eyes dived into hers.
"I hope you don't consider me insane Rose!", he said with a smile, "But you are right too! Artists can be mysteries to many, you need to be one or live next to one, to realise what it entails...", he said still keeping the deep green eyes of hers into his.
Candy felt a sweet chill climbing up her spine to the sound of his words. She cleared her throat.
"And what are your subjects? What do you mostly draw?"
"Depends on my mood, whatever inspires me really...of course I need to do portraits that I get commissions for, but my best work is nudes mostly", he continued.
Candy was sipping her coffee while he talked, his last words causing her to burn her tongue.
"Oh! I see...", she said back.
He chuckled softly, kind of figuring out her thoughts at that moment. They went on chatting, gradually feeling more at ease with each other, finally remaining the last people in the dining room.
Candy noticed the big clock that stood on the wall. It was midday already. Her shift at the charity centre in Camden would start in half an hour. She looked at Christian, feeling sorry that her date with him had to end.
"I have to go Christian", she said sounding almost apologetic about it.
"Do you have another engagement?", he asked.
"Well, it's not exactly an engagement, it's my volunteer work for the Good Samaritans at their centre in Camden", she explained.
To her words, he burst into a hearty laugh.
"You volunteer for the Good Samaritans?", he asked her while laughing.
"I do yes!", she said sounding miffed.
"I have to say, my idea of the women working there was somewhat different...but even the Good Samaritans may have changed to a fun place...so much so I'm thinking of paying them a visit myself!", he continued and laughed even harder.
"Ohhh stop it!", she said and threw him her towel quickly, repaying him his teasing. "Didn't think that you would find the Good Samaritans so fascinating!", she added while chuckling herself now.
"I guess now they are...", he commented with a gleam in his eyes, looking at her, still holding the towel she threw him a few seconds ago.
Candy felt her face blushing wildly once more, pulling her eyes away, searching for the waiter.
"Let me...", he said and signalled to the waiter. He paid for their breakfast, and they stood up.
"Do you mind if I escort you to your work Rose?", he asked her, feeling that the time spent with her was not enough.
"I'd like that...", she replied, while they were on their way out, "On one condition...", she added.
"Name it"
"Don't tease me!", she almost shouted.
"As you wish, my Lady!", he said and chuckled as they were going down the stairs of the hotel.
Candy opened her eyes to the faint morning light with a smile in her face, still basking in the happy feelings the wonderful day that passed had left in her. She had found out that apart from his appearance, Christian was such a refreshing and intriguing company, very much different to everyone else she had met up to now. She got up, undressed, put her robe on and went to have a shower, her head filled with scenes from their date, whistling a merry tune.
She turned the tap, feeling the warm water soaking slowly her hair, trickling down her body, letting her mind to travel freely.
"Finally they had arrived outside the charity centre in Camden Town.
"Well...that's it...", she said and looked at the big stone building that housed the Good Samaritans, before turning to look at him.
"Hmmm...I might come in to check out the other volunteers...", he said, his eyes shining mischievously.
Candy's face took a serious look but her eyes were smiling.
"Christian! You promised...", she said with a wide smile, pointing her finger to him.
"I know, I know", he apologised to her, burying his hand through his hair pushing them back. "I can't help teasing you Rose"
For a few moments, they stood there staring at each other, reluctant to break away. Candy begun first.
"I had a great time Christian...you were right! Taking breakfast in style is totally worth it! Thank you...", she said to him, feeling all nervous again.
"The pleasure was all mine Rose. I had a great time too", he admitted.
He grabbed gently the end of her fingers just, keeping her there.
"So much so, I'd like to see you again...dinner this time...a week from now?", he asked hesitantly looking hopeful.
She felt her heart swelling with excitement.
"I would like to be able to see you much sooner...tonight if that was possible...but I need to be prepared for the exhibition...", he burst before she had the time to answer to his question.
"You don't need to explain yourself, I'd like to have dinner with you in a week's time", she replied, her eyes lighting up.
"That's great! I'll pick you up at 7pm?", he asked with enthusiasm.
"I'll be waiting", she replied once again, feeling all warm inside.
"I'll be there", he said softly.
"Well, goodbye then Christian, for now"
"Goodbye Rose, see you soon", he said while he was about to start walking away from her.
Each turned to their own direction, walking away, both turning their heads back to stare unbeknown to each other, finally Candy entering the building, feeling a sensation of lightness filling her inside."
A while later, she came out of the bathroom, wrapped up in her thick robe. She was going towards her front door, to pick up the morning paper, when the doorbell rung. She opened the door, coming face to face with a young guy that was standing there with a deep red velvet rose and a card.
"Miss Rose White?", he asked her.
"Yes"
"These are for you", he continued, and gave her the rose and the card.
Candy thanked him, picked them from his hand and he left, leaving her staring at him as he walked away. She picked up the newspaper that lay in front of her feet, and closed her door. She left the paper on the kitchen table, inhaled the heady aroma of the rose, a smile rising on her lips. She read the card.
Loved your company...
Till we meet again
Christian
She chuckled and put the kettle on for a pot of English breakfast tea, placed some scones on a plate with butter, and sat down picking up the newspaper, waiting for the water to boil. It was yesterday's circulation.
"Ohhh...it's this guy again!", she exclaimed.
She started reading the front page with great interest while munching on a scone.
The Raven Strikes Again
One more London mansion fell prey of the Raven last night, according to the Metropolitan police reports. The mansion of Lord George Lloyd was broken into by the mysterious thief, while Lord Lloyd and her Ladyship Mildred Lloyd were away to their countryside residence. Their daughter was the one who discovered the burglary, having come back from a night out. Close to the family sources have commented that she is pretty shaken up. The latest burglary follows a string of break ins in mansions belonging mostly to aristocracy, seemingly carried out by this man whom the media have named as the "Raven", taking their cue from the raven feather he leaves always as a token inside the empty safes. Led by Detective Constable Robert Shaw, the police are searching for possible leads. Despite Raven's popularity within London's working class people, police officers warn Londoners that they are dealing with a dangerous individual still loose in London and they ask for any help possible by the public.
"Oh! Good grief!", she sounded startled. "That was Bea's house!"
She got up on the spot and rushed to the telephone. She had to check up on her friend right away.