Even though they laughed amongst them Ellie could see above Henry"s head there was a whole rack dedicated to the strange birds stuffed into wine bottles. She looked from the petulant expression of one to the next of the eyeless petrified choices. She felt as if she was looking at a psychologists display of all seven emotions. Ellie balked for a minute at the display before looking to Henry. "I"m woefully ignorant of these type of things you know. Nolan got a chance to study in Italy while I had to stay for a practice run and conditioning. He is much more well-versed in alcohol than I. But, knowing my sisters luxurious tastes I know they would not choose to display anything that wasn"t impressive as I"d think. I"m sure if something catches you"re well trained eye it should be better than what I can choose. What do you see that pleases you?"Henry considered for a moment his finger tapping against his bottom lip. He looked petulant like a kid in a candy store. "I can"t really say for the life of me. All is wonderful. There are many things I would equally enjoy a taste of." Finally he settled and carefully took a bottle wrapped in a moist hand towel.
Ellie nodded in appraisal as she lit the table behind him while Henry grabbed the corkscrewed wine gla.s.ses. He stuck it to the top before twisting a hole into the cork. Henry looked around curiously as the gla.s.s began to fill with frothing champagne. The liquid oozed over the tim of the gla.s.s as he quickly took the second gla.s.s and filled it before taking the corkscrew out.
Seeing his look of abject horror as the champagne fell back into the bottle made Ellie burst out in laughter. She had found two regular gla.s.ses on a shelf and had filled her gla.s.s into the two. "It"s all right. I know the idea of a gla.s.s with a corkscrew is much more brilliant than the actual application of it. I had a plan B just in case it went awry. I"m sure Rightley would be peeved to see he had planned wrong, but take a drink. You win some you learn some."
"Well today it so happens that I learned some." Henry took his gla.s.s from her and joined her as she raised her gla.s.s.
Ellie leaned closer to him as she congratulated him. "I wish you a better year than it has been this previous. I hope you find the beautiful things you want and achieve all the things you set out to." Ellie clinked her gla.s.s against his before shooting the gla.s.s like she was at a bar. She did it quickly as an easy thought tugged at the peripheries of her mind. It was due to the trepidation of this day that she had gotten her chance to meet him and be his wife. If he had found another way she wouldn"t be standing here with him.
"Mmmm. Now that"s how it should have gone down in New York." Henry"s smile was relaxed as the high from the alcohol had brought a warm flush to his cheeks. "That was probably one of the most wonderful things I have tasted in a long time. This is good enough to come to England solely for."
"That would be such a strange reason to tell a counter attendant that you"re buying a ticket for. People usually go to France or Italy for wine." The highlights generated from the flashlight hitting the gla.s.ses made his cheekbones appear more prominently. There was a glistening on the side of his cheeks like dewdrops in the setting sun. There was an air conditioning unit turning on above them which quickly made her shiver and want to move closer to Henry. She wished that she had decided to wear something which would cover her arms. She could feel herself shivering as Henry seemed to not really mind the temperature at all. They were such opposites.
Ellie took Henry"s gla.s.s and she felt a little giddy so she poured them another serving. "You ever been to a party after a big exam in college? Maybe after final exams, where people dare each other to drink the whole serving of alcohol in one downing, sip? I think it could be interesting to try here in the middle of nowhere. It could be a good mood." Ellie sighed. "I"m sure it"s to maximize the effect of alcohol hazing their awareness. I would try to do proper shots but I don"t think we have the right gla.s.ses. We probably do, but I don"t want to go all the way upstairs and then down. It would ruin this moment."
"Yes, I did go to college, Ellie. I do know what you"re talking about." Henry put his arm over the column behind her head and Ellie felt she was under a magnification gla.s.s as his gaze was locked on her. The added height of his head looming over hers made her feel intimidated as she was much smaller. She looked at his adam"s apple which pulsated while he breathed and then slowly her eyes flicked up to his. He licked his lips before aiming his head down to her. "You are a lot shorter than my fraternity brothers."
"I can get a stool if it makes you feel a bit more comfortable." Ellie raised herself onto her tippy toes, before Henry shook his head. He arched his head forwards and her face was much more level to his. It was never really something Ellie had considered before this difference. He wasn"t that much taller than her. All she had to do was get on her toes to look directly into his face. Not that it felt strange to do so, she had never thought about it at all.
Her eyes were incredibly close to his. She could smell the fragrance that she always a.s.sociated with him. She tried not to appear affected as she whispered. "This is for you Mr Wong."