Page 21 of Not So Very Sensible

“Right?” The light in his eyes faded. “But I’m glad to have those memories now.”

“Because?”

“She died two years ago,” he said softly.

Her heart panged. Poor man. He obviously loved and missed his mother very much. “I’m so sorry.” She touched his arm.

A frisson of energy pulsed up his arm at her touch. Ethan shivered, his eyes holding hers. Something that might be stars but was probably candlelight reflected in her sparkling pale blue eyes, a feature accentuated by her dark lashes and hair. Who was this glorious creature he’d been seated beside? Suddenly, the fact he’d been forced here against his will didn’t seem so bad.

He glanced at her place card. “So, Ellie. What brings you here tonight?”

“My grandmother in England bought my sister and me a weekend here to celebrate my recent birthday and Katie’s graduation.”

“Happy birthday.” He lifted his water glass.

“Thanks.” Her cheeks pinked. “How about you?”

Hmm. How to explain? “A friend insisted I come, then was sick at the last minute and couldn’t come.” He gestured to the empty seat beside him where Lucinda was meant to be. “I figured I needed a break anyway, and seeing I’d already paid and it was too late to cancel and get a refund, I decided to come alone.”

“Are you a fan of murder mysteries?”

“I’ve enjoyed a few. I liked Knives Out when that was on TV. How about you?”

“I enjoyed that more than the Glass Onion sequel. But I like Agatha Christie. And even a few of the Georgette Heyer mysteries.”

“A Georgette Heyer fan, huh?”

“You know her?”

“My mum had a million of her books, and I recall a few of the mysteries.”

“I love Georgette Heyer,” she confided. “I’m on a hunt for one last book in her Regency collection. The Nonesuch is such a fun story, and I love the old covers, so I want the complete collection.”

He nodded. He was pretty sure his mum had several of those books amongst hers. “So you’re a reader too.”

“You like books?”

At his nod, they swapped favourite authors. Then the conversation swiftly turned to art appreciation, and he learned she’d studied graphic design, and that her final year’s major work had been inspired by the animation of Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.

Seriously. What were the chances? He smiled. “I figured you were artsy, seeing you’ve got the most striking dress here tonight. But didn’t figure I’d be sitting next to a fellow Studio Ghibli fan.”

Her eyes widened. “You too?”

“I’d love to visit the Ghibli museum in Japan.”

“What about the theme park?”

“Don’t tempt me.” He grinned. “So, you like Japanese animation, huh?”

“Very niche, I know. But obviously not so niche that I should just so happen to be sitting next to the only other person I’ve met in five years who knows about the Ghibli theme park.”

“Obviously not everyone is as cultured as us.”

“Obviously.”

Her smile sank into his bones, and even though she was about as opposite as Lucinda as possible, he found himself drawn to her so much more. Maybe it was the way light danced in her eyes. Or maybe it was the way she kept checking on her sister. Or the way their conversation and banter suggested an instant ease he found rare.

There was none of the tension he usually felt with Lucinda. None of the snarky comments and criticism he’d grown used to expecting from her. Instead, so many of Ellie’s interests matched his, and with her Austen and Heyer appreciation, he bet even his mum would have approved.