The Complete #LoveLondon Collection

'Hi again to you too,' she rose slowly, watching as Jasper started skating rings around them. 'So how did you manage that?'

Noel eyed the boy warily, extending his arms slightly to balance. 'I asked nicely and made him an offer he couldn't refuse.'

'Did it by any chance include a certain fast food chain?' she teased, thinking of her sister's favourite bribe for her sons.

'I couldn't possibly comment,' he shot back, 'except to say that I used all the charm and patience at my disposal-'

She pulled a face.

'Hey!' Noel protested, 'I know I was a bit grouchy about the whole Christmas thing, but-'

'’Ncle Noel bought me a Happy Meal yesterday, Holly,' the boy trilled as he slid past.

She laughed at the look of consternation on Noel's face. 'Busted!'

He burst into laughter. 'Oh well, it was worth a shot! Anyway, I think Matt should make it, he's been working pretty hard the last few days, so he kind of promised Jasper he'd be here. If you can show the kid a few things, I'd appreciate it…' he went quiet, a funny expression stealing over his face, 'And I'm sorry if anything I said yesterday made you feel awkward-'

'Oh, not at all,' she said quickly, 'why would you think that?'

'Just the way you left so suddenly.'

'I didn't want to be late back from my break, that's all. I love this job.' Nice save, Holly.

'Clearly,' he paused, 'still, would you mind sparing us a few minutes of your break later on? Jasper is keen to have a look around the rest of Somerset House and although I know the layout of the four main wings and the new one, I probably can't make it come to life for him like you can.'

Holly frowned, biting her lip. It was an innocent enough request, and she didn't have an issue giving up part of her break or spending time with Jasper, it was his godfather she wasn't sure about spending more time with. Noel made her feel so unsettled. She'd almost called one of her best friends, Carly, to talk it through last night. But what would she have said? I met a guy but he's closed off and sensible and hates Christmas and I don't want to get involved with anyone anyway. What a waste of breath that would have been.

'Don't worry,' Noel dismissed, turning his focus on Jasper. 'It was just an idea.' His body language and tone said casual, but a red tinge started creeping up the back of his neck between his collar and hat.

'No, it's okay,' she scrambled for an excuse, feeling bad for hesitating. And after all, what could it hurt? 'I'd be happy to do it, it's just I'm not that qualified. I don't really know about any of the art stuff in the North Wing, or the history of the place. I only really know parts of the South and East Wings. But I could walk you around those and show you my favourite things if you want. I was thinking about timings too. I could be free in an hour or so?'

'Great,' he beamed at her, and it was such an open, happy expression compared to the scowls of yesterday he looked like a different guy.

'Okaayyy,' she said slowly, 'I'll tell you when. In the meantime, do you need any help?'

'No, thanks, I'm still not interested in learning to skate. But I am wearing plasters and extra thick socks. I've got blisters the size of the London Eye,' he joked.

'Poor baby,' she replied before she could censor herself. 'I'm thinking that may be a slight exaggeration though.' Stop flirting. He's not your type, remember. You've got other more important things to be focusing on.

'It's possible. So, what about you? Don't you get blisters, skating around all day?'

'I was a professional figure-skater, my heels are rock solid.' Wow, that sounded so attractive.

'You were?' he looked confused.

'I told Jasper yesterday. Weren't you listening?'

'Obviously not,' he said sheepishly, 'sorry. So what were you, regional?'

'International, medal-winning,' she enjoyed seeing the shock on his face, 'I had sponsorship deals and everything.' Now it sounded like she was showing off, when all she was doing was stating facts.

'You did? I don't remember you.'

'It was a few years ago,' she glanced down at the ice, digging a toe-pick into it, a nervous habit from her childhood, 'and if you didn't follow the sport, it's not surprising you wouldn't know who I was.'

'Is it classified as a sport? I always thought it was just dancing,' he spun a finger round in a circle, 'on ice.'

'Figure-skating takes stamina, athleticism and agility, not to mention being fearless,' she flared, old sensitivities rising, 'it was the first winter sport included in the Olympics in the early 1900's. Have you ever had the ice whistling past your head while doing a death spiral? Until you've tried it, don't tell me it's not a sport.'

'Hey, I didn't mean to cause offence,' Noel held up both hands, 'I'm really sorry. Genuinely. I just don't know about this kind of stuff. It's ignorance, nothing else.'

Holly took a deep breath, seeing the sincerity in his chestnut brown eyes. 'I'm sorry for snapping. I'm just so used to some people not getting it…'

'That's okay. We all have our things, the ones that catch us on the raw, like me and Christmas. But I have nothing but respect for skaters in terms of the danger involved; when I've caught it in passing on TV the sight of people being twirled and thrown around in the air, and those razor sharp skates skimming past people's ears …' he shuddered. 'The health and safety side of me goes on full alert. There must be an incredible amount of injuries every year.'

'Oh, loads,' she agreed, 'in terms of minor ones; banged knees, scraped skin, sprained ankles and wrists. Fortunately there aren't that many serious ones, involving heads and backs. But then, it's not always the major ones you have to worry about.' She dug her toe-pick deeper into the ice, working a dent into it.

'Is that what happened to you?' Noel asked softly. 'I assume you don't figure-skate professionally any more.'

She frowned.

'You said was, in the past tense.'

'I'd rather not talk about it, but in short, yes that's what happened. It doesn't matter though,' she forced a smile, 'I have other plans now.'

'Good for you.'

'Yes.'

There was a silence as they gazed at each other.

'I'd better-' Noel broke eye contact and scanned the ice for Jasper. 'Where's he gone?' he muttered.

'Yes, I need to,' Holly caught a sharp glance from a manager who was walking past with a stack of pale blue SKATE flyers, 'get back to work.' How had she neglected her duties for so long? 'Do you see him?'

'Yes,' Noel huffed with relief, 'he's weaving around that group over there.' He pointed to the other side of the rink. 'Stay there Jay, I'm coming!' he yelled, then raised an eyebrow at Holly. 'Thank god I didn't lose him. That would be awful.'

'Yes, losing people is pretty brutal,' she agreed, sure that they were talking about more than a four year old boy going walkabout when a darkness settled over Noel's face.

'Anyway,' he turned and picked his way carefully over to the plastic wall, starting to pull himself around the edge of the rink towards Jasper, 'I'll see you later.'

'See you later,' Holly echoed, as Noel stop-started away, his broad-shouldered, long-legged body somehow looking forlorn. She had a mad urge to skate after him and hug him, though they hardly knew each other.

Weird. Unexpected. Scary.

'So, you've been in the Fortnum's Lodge in the West Wing, and you know there are shops in the Christmas Arcade too?' Holly turned to Noel as he and Jasper trailed along behind her.

'Yes,' Noel nodded, hooking a quick hand into the hood of Jasper's coat as he made to dance off somewhere. 'We had a quick look as we left yesterday.'