Heartbeats in Moonlight

Chapter 43

Ella and Peter never got up to dance. They sat at the table and talked. And that irritated the life out of David. How could Ella talk to her date when they had nothing in common? And why were they laughing, as if they were bosom friends!

Elise twitched when she heard David's quiet snarl.

"You ok?" She asked, looking around to see if she could understand why David was growling. He was normally a calm man. Happy. Carefree. Jovial. 

"Yeah, fine." David grumbled again and words tumbled out before he could stop, "Have you noticed that Ella was charming to that guy!" That was the trouble. She was good to that guy: Smiling, laughing, flirting.

"What?" Elise recoiled from David's question and tone.

His eyes narrowed as he watched Ella's interaction with her date. "You know Ella. You know her reputation." That was the trouble, he knew that Ella rarely engaged with anyone, let alone a date, in public.

"Yes, of course." Elise shrugged. "But she is here with that guy, so I guess she likes him."

"They spent a lot of time laughing!" David grumbled. What happened to Ella? It was as if she had taken a pill to change her personality! Fawning over that man, laughing at his jokes, smiling at him as if he was a charmer, David inhaled before he could go on about Ella's behaviour at this event.

Elise questioned, "Laughing?" She looked over at David, and saw his frown. "You mean Ella and her date?" 

David growled. She looked surprised at David's reaction to her question. 

Elise folded her arms, "Well, I guess, different humour for diverse people! They must have the same taste in humour."

David couldn't believe that he had spent most of this evening watching Ella from a distance. He had considered going over to her, he reasoned just to be courteous, but he vetoed that idea, because he was pretty sure that he would lose his rag. This was not his normal disposition. He was known for his laidback temperament. He could handle anything, anyone, any situation, without breaking into a sweat. Yet, here, tonight, he had to mop his forehead and banked his fury, repeatedly. This is ridiculous, he reasoned as his gaze wandered over to Ella's table, again.

Other people, like David acknowledged the fact that Ella was weaving an enchanting spell tonight.  From David's perspective, she really was an enchantress at this event.  From the time she stepped into the hall her behaviour mesmerised David. Rattled, really rattled by her and her date's behaviour.

Elise said to confirm her view, "Perhaps they like the same style of humour."

David forced himself to pay attention to his date, "Sorry, Elise." He smiled. Elise smiled in return, and thought, great, David was back: the same light-hearted, funny, laidback guy " I have been a poor companion tonight." He offered a paltry smile.

But his mind, and his eyes, returned to Ella and her date.

That light-hearted, funny, laidback guy changed again. Elise nearly scoffed when she noticed that David was still focusing on Ella's table and instead she said calmly, "I can understand your bafflement."

"Really?" He added silently, I don't understand it, at all. He pinched the bridge of his nose as if he was about to cry! This is ridiculous, he thought. Seeing Ella enjoying a date shouldn't affect his mood, after all he was an adult with decent experiences and he was not a quaking teenager. But at this moment, he knew he felt like a teenager with a crush on someone who doesn't reciprocal his feelings.

"Well, yes," Elise said as if she knew what she was talking about, "I mean, everyone who knows Ella, knows she is a bit aloof, well, actually an icicle. But tonight," She shrugged. "Ella has pulled out all stops. Smiling and laughing! Probably trying to get attention."

David skimmed Ella's face, no, he thought, if she wanted attention she could have used her beauty. David watched Ella's face and then looked over at her share-milker! He heard the penny drop: She wasn't smiling or laughing for her audience, she was doing it to settle her date's anxiety. She wasn't the one making the witty statements. She was reacting to her date's witty comments, to support him.

"Sorry, Elise. I think you are wrong." David corrected. "Ella isn't drawing attention to her. I think she is trying to put him at ease." He looked across at Elise. "Ella doesn't look around to see if anyone is taking any notice of her antics." He returned his attention to Ella and her partner, and David shook his head. "She isn't drawing attention to her. She is trying to make him comfortable. In fact, from the time they arrived this evening, I remember thinking that he looked pensive, I thought at that time that it was because he was with Ella. But now, I think he was worried about receiving this award. Probably not good with public stuff. In any case, she has spent most of this evening, reassuring him." His thoughts raced through his mind: She has that innate trait where she could make anyone feel special. But she put it in storage for the last two years, David acknowledged. David looked over at the couple, "He looks more relaxed. More comfortable in his skin." David recognised that, and it reminded him about his interaction with her, ten years ago. David mumbled, "That is down to Ella."

David was right. Ella was determined to ensure that Peter had a good time at this event. Peter had a droll sense of humour and she enjoyed his sharp, funny comments. She couldn't understand why a man who was handsome, with a droll humour, and knew how to treat his date, was still single! Just a shame that his shy trait trumped his best qualities!

The fact that Ella and Peter made a lovely couple, and the fact they talked, smiled and laughed often, resulted in people reaching erroneous conclusions about their relationship.

Rumours began to circulate. Ella ignored them, even though she caught faint whispers.

"I guess I've ruined your reputation." Peter said quietly as he heard another rumour about Ella and him.

"Probably. But I doubt you mean it in the way most people would mean it!" She smiled at him.

He laughed. "The icicle. No one will believe you are an icicle."

"Oh yes they will. They'll just think that you've thawed me, temporarily!" Ella told him and Peter chuckled. "Then when we aren't seen out together again, they'll think you dumped me because you got frostbite from me, the icicle!"

He looked mortified. Which just made Ella burst out laughing. Which drew even more attention their way.

Ella eventually stopped laughing. "Don't worry Peter, I am used to this rubbish. The last two years have been interesting. I got a reputation, and to be fair, I am an icicle!"

"No, you aren't." Peter shook his head. He looked around as people got to their feet, "If you want to dance with anyone, go ahead ok? I wont take offence." He told her earnestly as he watched the couples on the dance floor.

She tipped her head to the side, "Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"No. I just figured you must be bored, what with me not dancing."

"You are not boring and I like sitting here, talking to you. You are a lovely guy."

"You're easy to talk to." Once again she hooted. He squirmed, rolled his eyes. "And I am foolish" He shrugged. "Sorry."

"Peter, this is a lovely event. And I am really pleased to be here with you."

"Thanks." He shrugged. " Er, and you are very kind. And you're easy to talk to."

"Thank you." She finally said and smiled at him, which drew attention to their table.

Ella thought if Peter put himself forward, just a bit, he'd be snowed with women keen to go out with him. And she'd told him as much. Which just embarrassed him.

Though they didn't dance the evening passed very quickly, because strangely enough Ella found that she really did like the man. He was straight and without any pretence. She really liked him, but this evening also showed her there was a big difference between liking and loving, and it also showed that you can't chose who you love.