She only agreed to do it as a favour to her sister -- but HE more than made up for the inconvenience...
*
Izzy didn't stir until Mrs Coats shook her gently awake. "Come on now love it'll soon be time for dinner," she said softly.
Izzy's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled up at the little woman, who was hovering over her so anxiously.
"Hello Mrs Coats... how are you today?" she said dreamily.
"I'm good my dear and I've bought you a nice cup of tea just like Mr Daniel asked me to," she told her.
Izzy sat up and started to sip the drink. "I could really get used to this tea in bed thing," she laughed lightly.
"Dinner's in an hour or so love," Mrs Coats said as she left her in peace.
Izzy sat sipping the tea, and thinking about what she would wear that evening. She mulled over her wardrobe thinking that she would like to wear something pretty tonight. She went for a shower, and then settled down in front of her mirror to apply a little more make up than she usually bothered with. She pulled out a long gypsy style skirt and a loosely woven white jumper which fell off her shoulders and flared out into wide bat wings. She teamed this with high heeled shoes, to try to kill the illusion of, 'tiny and useless', which Richard had referred to.
She hooked long dangling earrings into her lobes, and then picked up the matching necklace. She rarely bothered with it because the clasp was so awkward but she'd always thought it to be so pretty.
She sat fiddling with it for about five minutes before rising with a grunt of frustration. Izzy walked from her bedroom straight into her sisters. "Jess could you just..." she began still fiddling with the thing.
Jessie's room was empty.
"Richard decided to take your sister out for the evening," Daniel said from behind her.
Izzy spun around in surprise. "What?"
"Jessie was feeling restless, so Richard told her to doll herself up -- and then he took her down to London to see a show." He raised his brow. "What's the problem?" he asked indicating the necklace she was still fiddling with.
"Oh I was just going to ask her to fasten my necklace for me."
Daniel moved into the room. "Turn around" he ordered huskily. Izzy turned and allowed him to take the two ends of the chain. "Move your hair for me."
Mutely Izzy did as she was told. She lifted her arms and raised her hair exposing her neck to him.
She felt Daniel's knuckles brush the back of her neck and a shudder ran through her.
"Izz?" Daniel said softly turning her to face him.
She looked up at him with huge eyes; as Daniel gazed down at her, searching.
"Oh Daniel!" Izzy whispered.
His head lowered, his mouth moving towards hers, and Izzy allowed her eyelids to drift down, as his lips touched hers. Softly, oh so softly!
"If someone doesn't eat this food soon it's going to spoil!" Mrs Coats could be heard saying loudly in the hall.
Daniel swore softly and pushed Izzy gently away from him. He rested his forehead against hers and looked at her with regret.
"Later Izzy," he promised quietly, before leading her from Jessie's bedroom and down the stairs.
Izzy sat opposite Daniel, eating whatever was put in front of her. Her mind was blank, empty of any thought -- other than Daniel, and what his eyes promised her.
Rosie cleared the table and disappeared to go home for the night, and shortly after, Mrs Coats brought their coffee in and stood hovering uncertainly.
"Is there a problem Mrs Coats?" Daniel asked, as he became aware of her still standing behind him.
"I just wanted to say goodnight sir... and I thought you might like to know that it's started to snow."
They both looked at her in surprise for a moment, before Izzy ran to the window.
"It doesn't look too bad," she said turning to Mrs Coats.
"They've said it might get worse."
"Well then you should get home, don't you think Mrs Coats?" Daniel told her impatiently
"Good night Miss Izzy. Good night Mr Daniel." She left the room clearly not happy -- but not feeling able to say anything more.
A few moments later they heard the front door slam, and Izzy suddenly realised that she was all alone in the house with Daniel. She licked her lips nervously, and realised that his gaze was fixed on her.
"Shall we settle in the living room Izzy?" he asked her lazily, although his eyes bright... a little too bright for her comfort.
She looked at him as though he had just said something outrageous to her, and something in Daniels eyes seemed to die.
"It's alright Izzy..." he said mockingly, "I'm not going to force myself on you."
"I didn't... I never said..." she flushed painfully, looking away miserably.
Daniel watched her in silence for a moment, before taking pity on her.
"It really is alright," his tone was more reassuring that mocking this time. "I just thought that since it's such a terrible night outside... that it would be nice to curl up in front of my nice, 'piece of pointless ostentation.'"
Izzy looked up at him sharply, to see that he was laughing quietly and inviting her to join him in the joke.
She grinned sheepishly. "It is a perfect night for that sort of thing, isn't it?"
"Indeed it is Izzy," Daniel said quietly, his face open and friendly, said one thing; while his voice and his tone said something very different; and Izzy wasn't sure which one to believe... indeed she wasn't certain which one she wanted to believe!
"Come on." He stood and held his hand out to her as she still hesitated.
In the drawing room Izzy was surprised again, when instead of sitting in his chair he joined her on the sofa, he sat side on so the he could look at her, and draped his arm across the back so that it snaked behind her.
He spent the next hour or so making light conversation; and making her smile a good deal.
He would occasionally run a finger down her arm, or as he would try to emphasise a point he would tap her on the wrist, or the back of her hand.
On one occasion he reached across to touch the ear ring that dangled down. "These are pretty," he murmured, allowing the back of his hand to brush against her ear and her cheek.
Every time he touched her, Izzy felt a little tremor run through her.
And Daniel...Daniel knew exactly the effect he was having on her. She could tell that he knew, because every time she reacted; he would give a little smirk of satisfaction. By about ten o'clock, her nerves were in shreds, and she had had enough. She leapt up suddenly taking him by surprise. "Right then... I think I'll turn in for the night... Goodnight Daniel!" And she bolted for the door.
She was little, but she was fast. Daniel was big, and he was faster -- when he wanted to be. His hand stopped the door from opening as she tugged on the handle. She froze to the spot her head bent, as Daniel's arm stretched over and past her.
"Look at me Izzy," he demanded huskily.
