Un-pejoratively Beautiful [All Creatures Great and Small]

Un-pejoratively Beautiful

"How is he?"

Any other housekeeper would only want in on the drama to fuel their gossip addiction. Not Audrey. Never once had he questioned the sincerity of her concern.

"Time will tell," he said breezily. As sorry as he felt for the poor creature, Tricki had ruined his Christmas Eve enough. "Hang on a minute, you've changed." He'd noticed it immediately when she'd brought drinks into surgery, but ceasing to comfort a distraught client to inquire about it wasn't exactly good practice. Now he had a minute, now he could ask.

Though the heat in her cheeks made him wonder if that had been such a good idea. Just like earlier. What had he said? You look... different, with the hasty addition of, I mean that in a pleasant, not a pejorative, sense. Pejorative! God, he probably couldn't even spell pejorative. He'd probably been the one to drive her to change.

And she had looked so beautiful too with that sparkling, black dress over her maroon shift. Like the Christmas sky at the very first hints of dawn. And her hair down and pinned, framing her face in perfect spirals. Maybe it was that she'd looked dazzling or that she was standing under mistletoe (yes, she was taking it down, but it counted to him) or that she looked so calm. Always calm in the chaos of it all. He'd been dumbfounded by her.

He often was, but he managed to get over it quickly enough. He was her employer, she considered herself married, she kept his house, he griped to her about his brother and work and the general state of the world. There were lines he refused to cross. But there she had been today, on Christmas Eve of all days, dressed stunningly and he'd had to maintain his professionalism when all he'd wanted to say was, I've never met a woman as amazing as you. Instead he'd said pejorative.

Audrey smoothed her hands down the skirt of her new dress. It was a royal blue with a white flower pattern and a lace collar. Still gorgeous, still stunning. As she grasped for an explanation, he grasped for a way to backtrack. Maybe say he liked this dress more than the other? It would be a blatant lie that neither of them believed and probably just offend her further since he did not have the courage, energy, or blood to alcohol ratio to convince her. To tell her the truth of how he really felt. He could ask about the party. Yes, change the subject, roll right through-

"Look out, Audrey. I think Gerald is trying to make off with the crystal."

At Diana's words, Audrey turned around to gaze down the hall. A man with a mustache and small spectacles carrying a tray of crystal glasses in various states of completeness passed by the intersection of the hallway. "Gerald?" Audrey called, pursuing him. Right, him.

Diana stepped closer and he turned his attention to her. This was the first time he'd seen her all night. This was the first time he'd thought of her all night. He'd been so distracted with Tricki and Audrey and Mrs. Pumphrey. Guilt twisted in his stomach. "I'm so sorry, Diana, I've been rather tied up."

She smiled up at him. Even in heels she was a good deal shorter than him. "No need to apologize. I've had a tremendous time."

Apparently Audrey had pulled off another fantastic party despite his absence as host. He wasn't surprised, but his guilt renewed. "Have you? I mean, good. Uh... pleased to hear it." A group of people passed, headed for the door, and he was distantly aware of himself wishing them a good night and a merry Christmas. The thought of hosting made him remember Christmas lunch. The Christmas lunch Audrey had encouraged him to invite Diana to. "Mrs. Hall tells me you're alone at Christmas," he said when the guests were out of the way.

"And rather relishing the prospect, I must say," she said wistfully.

Diana must not really mean it. "It does seem a shame this time of year to not be around other people." As much as he loved his work, he certainly wished he hadn't spent the entire party in surgery. Even then it was celebrating with Tristan, James, and Audrey that he was really missing. And Diana. He should've included Diana in that list. He should ask her for Christmas lunch like Audrey said.