"No, you don"t have to return it. I already bought it. You could light it on fire and no one would care less. But, first we do need to take some photos."Although she felt it dampened the mood as they got into poses that the photographers started to point out. Ellie started to feel more ridiculous as her tenants came in. One of the elderly farm workers whom had been around since her father"s time pointed up at her with a beaming smile. Ellie quickly ran down to give him a hug while the shudder flashed.
"I"m so glad you could make it to my birthday. It"s been so long that I have been around the Lutterworth folk who raised me alongside my parents. You know they always say that childhood needs a village. You were always the best part of that crowd, Mr. phillips. I always enjoyed the cod that you taught me and Nolan how to fish when you"d come to draw your line next to my father."
Mr. Phillips laughed as he patted Ellie"s cheeks. "I am so honored to be invited back up to the big house. I"m glad after all the disrepairs that it"s getting sorted. The kids even used to say this place was great for haunted houses. But now it"ll be a place we"ll all come up for when the flowers bloom and to have a good spot of tea on the weekends. What your husband has planned for this place sounds mighty exciting if I do say so myself sir."
Ellie asn"t realized that Henry had come up behind her. He took her hand easily as he effortlessly slipped into his host guise. He was the businessman to after all. Being a CEO was a surprisingly good precursor to becoming a lord.
They spoke too about how the delights outside were a hit with the village children and towns folks, before they had to move on to greet the other guests. This main room also served as a spot for tea and refreshments that were a nice rest for the people who had come from the entertainments outside. After the room was lively and full, Henry drew Ellie into the ballroom where a party of another kind was begining to unfold.
"Henry what is this?" Ellie wondered as she watched women in evening dresses glide across the floor. Each dress glittered and complemented each partner perfectly as the duos twirled around in perfect synchronization.
Henry cleared his throat. "Well you know that you are the apple of my eye so since your the princess tonight I tried to think of what would delight you. I know you like to watch Dancing with the Stars as I have consulted some of your friends so I hired the local ballroom dancing troupe. There are quite a few professionals in the mix, but there are some elderly people who enjoy it as well in the middle. I covered their cla.s.s feed on your behalf as one of my gifts to you. I know that you enjoy seeing other people be happier than you do for yourself."
"I didn"t know you even noticed those things. Most of my prior boyfriends would mock my interests because they"re emasculating." She said softly.
"Dancing is a much more athletic endeavor than people realize. There is definitely an art to it, but it is highly gymnastic. Dancers sometimes can outdo athletes in endurance tests. There"s nothing less masculine than not understanding strength. I admire men who do it. Although it"s not something I partake myself often."
Ellie caught onto his last word. "Often? Oh are you telling me that there is something that Henry Wong can"t do?"
He seemed nervous as she pulled him onto the dance floor. People started to dance around them as Henry"s hands around her tightened. She could feel his hands grow cold as he was freezing in fear. She touched his face and pulled his face down so it was inches from hers.
Henry"s breath caught as her hands moved to put his arms around her waist. "Ellie, I can"t. So many people have told me formal dancing makes me look like a giraffe. I have no coordination. I can just do a club shuffle or you know things that older folks shouldn"t see me doing."
Ellie laughed at she put her hands around his neck and started to pull him into a box step. "Honey, you"ve spent way too much time in the city. We"re somewhere n.o.body cares. Yes this is our house, but if anyone makes fun of you I"ll just kick them out. I"ll fight in this dress."
Henry leaned into her and she felt his body move as he laughed. "You don"t need to fight anyone. It"s all right. I"ve already won by being with the most beautiful woman in the room. I can"t believe how you"re so comfortable with all these people around you. I"m smiling, but underneath I feel like I"m suffocating."
Ellie shook her head as he moved to kiss her softly. "It always feel that way at first, but you"ll forget about it as you know the people. Once the strangers become friends, what worry is there. You"re also the owner of this house as well, think of it as your own office. You are the boss here too. But you do now too Henry Wong is an excellent Baron. I could see you really making good change in the community if you really continued the work you started. People are already falling in love with you."
Henry pulled her off the dance floor and out the main door. As the full lightshow of the carnival hot her, Ellie lit up with a huge smile of wonder. Henry wanted to be around so he could watch her react to all the different things he could do for her. That real enjoyment was from one who had been without for a long time. As children came up to her with clumsy bows and flowers, Ellie made a chain of daisies into the beautiful basket braid that ran across her forehead. She was looking more ethereal with each pa.s.sing moment. The way she would glance at him through her long lashes made Henry shiver as she chatted with her people. Henry thought back to the wine cellar surprise she"d given him. She was radiant as the sun here as they made new traditions. Their mark on Stanford Hall . . .