He even reprimanded her for telling Maryanne how many pounds of butter to use in a New York cheesecake recipe when the British measured in grams. Louisa retorted she never measured in grams in her life. Noah said it was her job to do research and get it right for the television audience.
She tried to make it up to him by letting the stylist at Taylor Taylor do whatever he liked with her hair. She didn’t complain when she had to sit for an hour under a plastic shower cap, or when the girl washing her hair got her neck stuck in the sink.
She had to admit her new haircut was lovely! It fell just under her chin and framed her face. Her eyes seemed larger and the uneven ends were smooth and glossy. She thought Noah would be pleased, but he grumbled it had taken too long and they were behind schedule.
From the hair salon they went to Daniel Galvin’s and after lunch they visited Liberty Department Store in the West End. The windows were decorated like a life-sized dollhouse and Louisa had never seen anything so pretty. A child’s room had a sleigh bed overflowing with presents and a stuffed giraffe and pink-canopied bed. There was a drawing room with a white Christmas tree and a library filled with Peter Rabbit books.
The interior of the store was so enchanting: glass cases filled with soft gloves and leather purses and elegant hats. Louisa tried on a red Philip Treacy hat and Noah scowled and said she’d spent hours getting her hair done, and now she messed it up.
They stopped in Kitchen Accessories, and Louisa was dying to buy a sterling silver spoon rest or nut splitter for Ellie for Christmas. But Noah tapped at his watch and Louisa bit her lip and agreed to come back on her own time.
It was when they reached the women’s department that Louisa knew something was wrong. She was determined to do what Kate asked and buy a festive scarf. Noah said he had to make a phone call and she had to pick one by herself. When she showed him the Liberty London scarf she chose, he said snowflakes danced on television and made her return it and get something else.
Now she looked up at the David Hockney landscape and pretended she had never seen anything more interesting.
“You’re standing on the wrong side of the painting,” Noah said. “And you could be more enthusiastic. You look like a schoolgirl on a very boring field trip.”
“I was excited when we spent twenty minutes at the Turner exhibit and I looked happy when I strolled along the Thames in the freezing cold. And I looked delighted when I stood in the middle of Piccadilly Circus even though I was terrified of being hit by a double-decker bus.” She glowered. “But now my feet ache and I haven’t eaten a thing since lunch. Please get your shot so I can take a break.”
“I would never put you in danger, the light was red and the cars weren’t moving,” Noah retorted. “This is what television is about. It looks glamorous but it can be as tiresome as watching a baseball game from nosebleed seats.”
“I don’t mind any of it, but you found fault with everything I did,” she fumed. “You criticized my performance on the breakfast show, and you didn’t like my haircut and I chose the wrong scarf. I can’t even admire a painting to your satisfaction.”
“Your haircut is lovely though I do miss your long hair. And Kate was very happy with your appearance on BBC One,” Noah said, stumbling. “It’s just…”
“Just what?” Louisa asked.
“Yesterday I couldn’t get you to try on a dress. You blew off your makeup appointment to buy French butter at Harrods Food Hall. Then you were gone from Claridge’s for so long, I thought you’d been kidnapped or run over by a bus.” His voice rose. “When actually you’d decided to visit Buckingham Palace!”
“I apologized,” Louisa said stiffly. “I was jet-lagged and everything was brand new.”
“I forgave you. But today you didn’t mind sitting still while Daniel Galvin applied powder and lipstick and you swooned over your new haircut like a fashion model.” He stopped. “And it’s all because Digby Bunting invited you to Winter Wonderland.”
“What did you say?” Louisa demanded.
“The minute Kate said his name, your ears pricked up like a puppy with a new ball,” he said.
“I am excited to see Digby Bunting. He has been my idol since I baked my first Pavlova,” Louisa interjected. “But what does that have to do with my hair and makeup? I’m only interested in his raspberry trifle and tapioca pudding.”
“I watched him at the cocktail reception. He’s one of those men who spends half his time looking at women and the other half gazing at his reflection in the mirror,” Noah snapped. “His assistant probably creates his recipes and he shows up to sign books. You said yourself you’re not a famous chef. The only reason he wants to be with you is so he can rub knees on the Christmas Coaster.”
“I don’t know why you are being cruel,” Louisa gasped. “Digby Bunting is a professional and so am I. If you are quite finished, I’m going to meet him at Winter Wonderland.” She waved at the painting and strode to the exit. “I never liked David Hockney anyway, his colors are washed out.”
“You can’t just leave.” Noah ran after her. “What good will it do if you arrive without a camera crew? The point is to film a segment of Baking with Bianca.”
Louisa hopped into a taxi and slammed the door. She rolled down the window and glared at Noah.
“Then I suggest you get in a taxi and follow me.”
Louisa leaned against the vinyl and tried to stop shaking. She had been about to tell Noah she had her hair styled and her makeup done because Kate said Noah was worried about his job. But then Noah implied Digby wasn’t interested in her culinary skills, and she was so angry, she didn’t say anything at all.
The taxi deposited her at the entrance of Winter Wonderland and she entered the park. It was like a small city with a giant Christmas tree and booths selling toys and sweets. There was a circus and a train that rode through Santa Land.
Louisa searched for Digby but couldn’t find him. The traffic had been terrible and now it was after 6:00 p.m. What if he’d gotten tired of waiting and left?
A man in a leather jacket walked toward her and she recognized Noah.
“Put this on.” He handed her his jacket. “Your lips are blue and you’re shivering.”
“No, thank you,” she said sharply. “Digby will be here any minute and your crew can start filming. It wouldn’t look professional if I’m wearing a leather jacket on television.”
“We’re not filming,” Noah said. “Digby isn’t coming.”
“If you called him and told him it was a bad idea, Kate will be furious,” Louisa warned him.
“I did nothing of the sort.” He showed her his phone. “Kate forwarded me Digby’s text. Something came up and he had to reschedule.”
“I see.” She glanced at the text and wondered why she felt deflated. “You must be glad, you have the evening off. You can ask the Theatre Desk at Claridge’s whether they have a ticket to Phantom of the Opera. I’m going to buy a snow globe for Ellie’s daughter.” She walked toward the Christmas markets. “I’ll see you later.”
“Louisa!” Noah ran after her and handed her his jacket. “It’s freezing, you should have brought the coat we bought at Harrods. Take this. If you catch pneumonia, we can’t film tomorrow. And if you insist on staying, I’ll join you,” he said. “Kate said I’m not allowed to leave your side until I return you safely to the hotel each evening.”
“I left my coat in the taxi by accident. I’ll call the cab company when I return to the hotel.” She accepted his jacket. “You want to explore Winter Wonderland together?”
“Why not?” He shrugged. “I never have time to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center or go ice-skating in Central Park. It’ll be fun.”
They examined fragrant candles and colorful trinkets in the Fairies Market. They drank mulled wine in the Ice Bar and marveled at the tables and chairs made of solid ice. They stood in line to see Sooty’s Children’s Show and shared a bag of caramel toffees.
Noah suggested they ride the Giant Observation Wheel and they squeezed onto the hard seats. It stopped at the top and all of London lay before them. Big Ben sparkled with a thousand silver lights and she could see London Bridge and Westminster Abbey.
“Oh, it’s gorgeous,” Louisa breathed. “I thought London was like a Dickens novel, but it’s the most beautiful place I’ve seen. Buckingham Palace is a fairy-tale castle and Harrods looks like the top of a wedding cake and there’s Kensington Gardens and Park Lane.”
“I’m sorry that Digby didn’t show up.” Noah rubbed his hands. “I know you were looking forward to it.”
“Meeting Digby Bunting was one of the reasons I came to London,” she agreed. “But he’s not why I got my nails done or spent ages choosing the right scarf.” She looked at Noah. “This morning Kate said if the network isn’t happy with me, you could lose your job. I promised I was going to do whatever anyone asked.”
“It’s my turn to apologize,” Noah said. “You handed two trays of cinnamon rolls to a complete stranger and didn’t ask for anything for yourself in return. You agreed to fly to London at Christmas when I’m sure you had plans. Today, you were led around London like a pony at a children’s birthday party and didn’t complain.” He looked at Louisa. “I was just afraid you would be swept up by Digby’s charm and forget why you are here.”
“Why am I here?” Louisa suddenly felt unsteady.
“Because when viewers see you on Baking with Bianca, your restaurant is going to be a huge success,” he urged. “And because it’s Christmas and what better place to spend it than Claridge’s? You deserve heated marble floors and a sideboard set with nuts and cheeses.”
“Whose turn is it?” she asked.
“Whose turn is it for what?” he wondered.
“When I gave you the cinnamon rolls you kissed me on the cheek to thank me for saving the show. When I agreed to fill in for Bianca, you kissed me on the cheek again,” she replied. “When we arrived at Claridge’s, I kissed you on the cheek because I’d never been anywhere so fabulous.” She looked at Noah. “Whose turn is it to kiss the other person on the cheek?”
“I guess it’s mine.” Noah brushed her cheek and then his lips found her mouth. He tasted warm and sweet and they jumped apart.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” Noah said hurriedly. “It’s so beautiful up here and I got carried away. It didn’t mean anything.”
“Of course it didn’t.” Louisa put her hand to her mouth.
The wheel tilted and Winter Wonderland tipped toward them like an airport landing strip. The attractions were strung with glittering lights and the Christmas booths were a row of toy houses.
They stepped off the ride and Louisa felt strangely unsettled, like when she went on Space Mountain at Disneyland as a child. She hadn’t thought she was frightened, until the ride ended and her legs were wobbly and her stomach felt queasy.
“What would you like to do next?” Noah asked. “We could see the Nutcracker on Ice or search for polar bears in the Magic Ice Kingdom. If we find a bear, we can take our picture with it.”
The air smelled of spun sugar and all around her people were sipping hot cider and carrying oversized Christmas bears. The unsettled feeling disappeared and was replaced by a wonderful lightness.
“We have to visit the Ice Kingdom,” she laughed. “I’ve always wanted to have my picture taken with a polar bear.”
* * *
When they returned to Claridge’s it was 10:00 p.m. and Noah went to check on the film footage. Louisa entered her suite and sank onto a red satin love seat. The lights were dim and there was a tray of scones with honey and strawberry butter.
It really had been a lovely evening. The Winter Wonderland was dazzling and entering Claridge’s lobby was like returning to an elegant cocoon. Men wore white dinner jackets and women were dressed in chiffon gowns and there was the scent of pine needles and expensive perfume.
Noah had the whole day tomorrow scheduled: They would start at St Paul’s Cathedral, at the highest point of the city. Then they would visit the Tower of London and see the crown jewels. Just the thought of being so close to the eight-hundred-year-old Coronation Spoon and one-hundred-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond was thrilling.
In the afternoon, the chefs would gather in Claridge’s kitchen to go over the menu. Louisa would see Digby and could ask him all her questions: How did he achieve the consistency in his rice pudding and what flavor jam did he use in a roly-poly?
Noah had said such unkind things about Digby; it wasn’t like him at all. And Digby couldn’t be interested in Louisa; they barely talked to each other. She remembered Noah’s kiss on the Giant Observation Wheel and had a funny feeling, as if she’d entered a cinema halfway through a movie.
A fire crackled in the fireplace and the air smelled of lemon polish. She was sitting in a suite at Claridge’s six days before Christmas. A smile crossed her face and she wondered if she was dreaming.