They passed into and through the first dining car—plush velvet, crystal glasses, white-coated waiters—and into the next, which was just starting to fill with well-dressed patrons. And everywhere Christmas decorations had been discreetly tucked into unexpected corners and there was a muted background of carols playing.
Connor and Winsome were already there and Connor stood as she entered, tall, broadly jacketed, and austere as Wolfgang stopped beside their table.
Then her new friend turned and deserted her, or it felt like desertion, and she fought the urge to follow Wolfgang as Connor indicated she should take the seat next to him. She hadn’t expected that. She gulped.
Kelsie stiffened her spine and slid across to the window opposite Winsome, trying not to shrink away as her ex-fiancé sat back down beside her.
It was a good thing she didn’t have to look at him, a very good thing, but the warmth from his leg radiated heat her way even though he wasn’t actually touching her.
As the waiter flicked her serviette and floated it onto her lap in a stirring of air she could smell Connor’s aftershave, tangy and very masculine.
‘Thank you,’ she murmured to the man, fingering the fine linen in her lap nervously, and then looked across at Winsome. ‘Thank you for the invitation,’ she said politely, like a little girl and then inclined her head towards the fourth setting. ‘Is someone else joining us?’
The two exchanged a look but Winsome answered. ‘We’re not sure. Apparently the other single passenger is feeling unwell and may not join us for lunch.’
‘Oh. That’s a shame.’ Truly a shame. A bit of diversion to leaven the stolid silence at the table wouldn’t have gone astray.
‘And who is your travelling companion in your cabin?’ Winsome asked. ‘I always wondered what happened if you ended with someone terrible.’
She had to laugh at that. ‘I’m on my own. It’s lovely to stretch out.’
‘Oh. How fortunate. But if you get lonely just come and find us.’
Kelsie smiled and murmured her thanks, but along with Connor she didn’t comment on his grandmother’s invitation.
‘Would madam like a drink?’
How many hospitality staff were there? She hadn’t seen the waiter arrive and she declined after a glance at the embossed wine list and thought of the glasses of bubbles she’d already downed. ‘Water, please.’
‘Sir?’
Connor raised his dark brows. ‘Perhaps a glass of wine with lunch?’ He glanced at his grandmother. ‘We are celebrating your deferred birthday after all. Champagne?’
‘Absolutely. Thank you.’ Winsome obviously enjoyed the good life. ‘Surely you’ll share a glass with us, Kelsie.’ Her eyes twinkled. ‘It’s a very belated birthday and I hate waste.’
Kelsie inclined her head to the waiter. ‘One glass, then. Thank you.’ What the heck. She might just need it because the vibes coming off the man beside her and even Winsome seemed strained.
It was beginning to look like Connor hadn’t been too pleased after all with the invitation his grandmother had issued. She had the sudden horrible thought that maybe he hadn’t even known she was coming until she’d arrived.
A different waiter appeared and stood poised with pen over notepad as he took Winsome’s order and then turned to her. ‘Your preference for the meal, madam?’
Kelsie looked back at the menu in her hand. ‘The broiled lobster and potato and chive whirls, thank you. And the Christmas pudding.’ He nodded and lifted a brow at Connor. ‘Sir?’
Kelsie glanced to her left out the window and counted to ten, told herself to relax, breathe, as Connor gave his order, and almost envied the freedom of the tumbling stream that ran along beside the railway line. It looked freezing outside and every now and then they passed another house with a decorated Christmas tree in their window. The cold outside would almost be preferable to the stifling atmosphere inside.
Connor had ordered, the silence lengthened, and his leg seemed to be sending off waves of heat from beside hers, until finally she turned to his grandmother with a forced smile. ‘The countryside is lovely.’
Connor was at a loss. Damn his grandmother’s meddling. He felt unexpectedly blown away by the pulsing awareness he could feel just sitting next to Kelsie and that awareness was consuming him.
But as he watched her struggle for conversation, despite his own turmoil he could feel himself soften as she tried to carry the conversation by herself. She’d always been more of an enthusiastic listener. He’d probably bored her silly over the years. He should lighten up and help her out, if only for Gran.