Chapter Fourteen

 

 

Work at the lab ran smoothly for the next month and by early December everything had gone according to her plans for the research, but Jenna was a nervous wreck. She’d seen Stefan almost daily at the lab and each time he smiled or spoke to her in his cultured accent, or touched her in any way, she felt a little more at risk of falling for him. She was a scientist, for crying out loud. She knew how things worked and knew that rational thought and common sense should really rule, but for some reason her heart kept telling secrets to her mind and her mind was getting too soft to quiet that traitorous heart completely.

Everything was moving so fast all of a sudden. She only had one more week with Kelly before her roommate had to return to her life back home. They’d spent Thanksgiving together making a traditional turkey dinner and pie, though neither of them were any good at cooking, but they had a ton of laughs and Jenna was so happy Kelly had given up her time with her family to stay there with her. For Christmas, Jenna would be in Durham alone.

Jenna looked out of the car as Andrew took her for her last appointment with Nanna Grace. The weather had turned cold and the city seemed a little darker to her. Though holiday decorations had begun to sprout up around all of Castlebridge. The sights of familiar lights and colors helped give Jenna a sense of normalcy, but, as she thought about it, Durham was beginning to feel a little like home.

She stepped out of the car and turned to her driver. “Thank you, Andrew.”

He nodded and closed her door as she looked up at Nanna Grace’s home. She would have one more dance lesson before the ball on Saturday night. One more chance to master those steps before making a fool of herself in front of all the high-and-mighties she’d have to try to convince to fund the research.

Jenna took a deep breath and walked as smoothly as she could in the newly fallen snow. It was only a light dusting, so the snow didn’t bother her, but she had become more self-aware of the way she moved. Walking like a more refined lady had taken some getting used to. She’d always walked with purpose, more of a trudge than a glide, but Nanna Grace had given her pointers on how to walk more elegantly and she’d begun to try it out when she thought of it.

At least in the lab she could still be the same old Jenna she’d always been.

When she reached the front door, Nanna Grace opened it, and from behind her, Jenna saw Oliver standing in the room. He smiled warmly and Jenna returned the smile. She’d always been comfortable with him.

“It’s good to see you, Oliver,” Jenna said.

“My pleasure,” Oliver said, bowing slightly. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m here to practice the dances with you.”

“Really?” Jenna asked. “That would be wonderful. But I’m warning you, I still kinda stink at most of them.”

“I’m sure you are better than you think.”

Nanna Grace nodded her agreement. “Jenna, you have been a quick study. You’ll do fine and again, if your partner is no good, then it will be all his shame, and none of yours.”

“Way to put the pressure on me,” Oliver said with a chuckle.

“You know you’re good, Oliver, so just get to it, will you?”

Oliver moved over to stand face to face with Jenna. “Milady, would you do me the honor of joining me for this dance?”

Jenna curtsied as instructed and spoke. “I would love to.”

Oliver offered his hand, and placed the other one on her waist. They moved through the dance steps with ease and he talked to her about anything and everything making the dance fly by. When it was over, she was surprised at how easy it had been. He was almost as good a dancer as Stefan.

She smiled up at him. “You are really good at this.”

Oliver smiled. “I have a talented partner. You have mastered the steps quite well. How long have you been practicing with Nanna Grace? I came here expecting a more challenging partner, but you are great.”

“She’s come to about eight,” Nanna Grace said.

“Well, the two of you have done a marvelous job,” Oliver said. “Shall we try another?”

Jenna nodded. “Hopefully you won’t change your mind after this one.”

They danced each one on the list of expected dances that might come up and Jenna felt more at ease than she had since she learned she’d be expected to dance.

Nanna Grace clapped and turned the stereo off. “Excellent work you two. If you’ll give me just a moment, you can join me in the kitchen for a light tea.” She left the room without waiting for a response.

Jenna turned to Oliver. “Thank you for your help, Oliver. It has been so nerve-wracking to learn something new like this. Something so far out of my normal. Now I just have to figure out my manners.”

“I’m glad I could be of assistance. Though you really have a lot of innate grace, it didn’t take much to lead you through the steps. You’ll be just fine. And don’t worry anything about the manners. You are completely charming. I’m sure you’ll have everyone begging you to take their money for your research.”

Jenna smiled. “Thank you.”

“Shall we join Nanna Grace for tea?” Oliver asked. “She makes the best biscuits, hands down.”

“I’d love to. I’ve been lucky enough to try her cooking before. I would never pass up a chance to have her treats.”

“She’s a genius in the kitchen for sure.” Oliver opened the door leading out of the room where they’d practiced the dances and allowed her to walk through first. He joined her at her side as they walked through the hall to the small dining area. They reached the room just as Nanna Grace set down the last item in her hand.

“Perfect timing,” Nanna Grace said. “Please be seated and enjoy. I snacked on enough as I made them earlier, I’m plenty full. I’ll be back in a few to check on you, but I’ve got a couple things to do upstairs, if you don’t mind.”

“Thank you, Nanna Grace. You’re an angel.” Oliver looked up at the woman and she bent down to kiss his forehead.

Jenna felt an incredible fondness for the woman and completely at home with her. A longing for her own parents surfaced and Jenna tried to distract herself from the loneliness by picking up a cup of tea and a cookie. She took a sip of the tea, loving the way Nanna Grace had blended it so perfectly with just the right amount of sweetness and flavor.

Jenna made a little sigh of pleasure and when Oliver caught her eye, she smiled. “She really is amazing. I never liked tea before meeting her, now I think I’m hooked. Of course, I doubt I’ll be able to make it taste anything like this when I go home.”

“You plan to leave Durham?” Oliver asked.

“Yes, once I get the lab all set up and we get the funding needed to keep the scientists here fully supplied with all the equipment, chemicals, and reagents needed, I’ll return to Dr. Holland and keep working with him. He’s the one who knows the most on this process. For me to have a chance of actually finding a cure, I need to keep studying under his direction.”

“Well, that’s too bad for us. But I suppose America does need a chance to shine on occasion.”

“Hey,” Jenna chuckled. “Be nice.”

“Of course,” Oliver said. “But I do understand. It must be hard coming all the way across the ocean so far from home. And you were on the west coast, is that correct?”

“Washington,” Jenna said.

“Stefan said the area was stunning. It would be nice to visit there some day.”

“It is beautiful. I love the trees and the forests. So peaceful. And that cabin Stefan rented while he stayed, that was in one of my favorite areas. But I think Durham also has its charms.” She couldn’t help thinking of Stefan as she said that.

“You met Stefan at his cabin?” Oliver said.

Jenna’s eyes widened at Oliver’s question. “Not like that,” Jenna quickly clarified. “I was hiking that area and got caught in a rainstorm. Stefan and Nanna Grace and the others rescued me.”

“Well now, I haven’t heard this story. I’d love to know what Cavel and Brooks did. Those two are some of the strictest bodyguards the palace employs.”

Jenna chuckled. “Yeah, they didn’t seem to like me much. I’m not sure, but I think one of them might have been pointing a gun at me when I first approached the cabin.”

Oliver busted out laughing. “I can imagine that so clearly. Tell me more.”

As Jenna recounted her first meeting of Prince Stefan and his guards, all the memories and instant attraction she’d felt toward him bubbled up to the surface and though she didn’t tell Oliver about their kisses in the back yard of the cabin, she couldn’t help thinking of them and wishing she could try it again, at least once more before she went home to America.