Cruel Beauty

Cruella Christmas

Once again after the most delicious carnal activities the Baroness does not bring up what happened, at least she doesn't try to pay you again. Small mercies. The Baroness sits in her office working on a sketch to distract herself. She's failing miserably. The paper is ripped from the pad scrunched into a ball then tossed into the waste paper basket which is now overflowing. 'You've got a lunch today Baroness, we ought to be on our way.' The Baroness doesn't look up. 'Oh? Which lunch?' You step closer. 'Arthur Hawkright you were interviewing for lawyers.' Victoria frowns. 'Must've forgotten, have the car around.' You incline your head. 'Of course, your ladyship.' The car is brought around and you both walk through the snow to get to it. 'This better be gone by the time I return John.' she barks shaking snow off of her ankle boot. The car drives you off into the city, you want to talk to her to connect. But the truth is you don't know what to say. 'Why aren't we moving?' she demands. The traffic has come to a standstill, you hear cars honking. 'The traffic isn't moving Baroness.' the driver informs. 'Well I can see that.' she snaps. You smile looking out the window and see the beautiful fairground lights. 'Hyde Park.' you say more to yourself. You get out of the car. The Baroness double takes. 'Yn? Yn! Where are you going?' You smile back at her. 'Hyde Park.'

Leaving the car you walk through snow it crunches under your boots. The Baroness huffs and gets out walking through the jammed traffic to you. 'Yn! Get back to the car now, it's freezing you are going to catch your death.' You get to a little fence and hop over it. 'C'mon, it's an adventure.' she stares at you. 'You are mad.' You shrug and head forward. The Baroness struggles awkwardly in her pencil skirt but the fence is small enough for her to manage. She cries out as her heels slip on the ice luckily she falls into your arms halfway down the slope. 'We have got to stop meeting like this.' you grin down at her. The Baroness is panting, she has a firm grip on you as you hold her. Her cheeks and nose are a little red from the cold. 'Thank you.' A misty cloud of moisture comes from her lips when she speaks. You set her upright again and offer your arm to her. Victoria takes your arm following you into the Winter Wonderland.

You enter the open-air Christmas market and immediately sensory overload kicks in. You hear the buzz of the crowd, the smell of burning fire pits, the blinding bright Christmas lights. 'We should get back to the car.' Victoria bristles turning away. 'Why? Scared you might have some fun?' you wink. 'Come along.' you mock her accent and she glares after you she hates it when you do that. Spying the ice rink your eyes light up. 'We have to!' you grab her hand taking her up to the booth. 'Have to what? Oh, no, not a chance.' you hand her the set of ice-skating boots. She looks at the unfashionable footwear like she would rather use the blades on the end to cut her own feet off. 'No.' she says firmly. You are already putting your boots on. 'Fine, if you are too scared you can sit on the sidelines and watch.' You step onto the rink and stretch your arms then crack your neck you gracefully make your first stride. The Baroness rolls her eyes stepping up to the barrier and watching you glide across the rink in amongst the others. She peels her gloves off as she watches you.

You skate to the end of the ice rink then do a little twirl then skate backwards up to the other end of the rink doing another little twirl. Your moves are so slick and graceful people are starting to watch you, not that you care. The Christmas song that had been booming across the rink ends and you hear the familiar intro to a favourite song of yours start. You close your eyes spinning across the rink when you feel a hand grab yours. You spin out but the hand keeps you up. You tilt your head in surprise seeing the Baroness.

I feel so unsure

As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor

As the music dies, something in your eyes

Calls to mind a silver screen

And all its sad good-byes

Victoria skates toward you. 'What's the matter dear, scared of a little fun?' she smirks dropping your hand she skates around you. You smirk and give a little chuckle, then skate after her you grab her hand again. She grabs your other hand and moves backward and you forward, you take her in your arms. Most of the rink has cleared everyone is watching you both. You spin her out then back into your arms, she looks up into your eyes for a moment you move closer.