The Dark Nights of Winter

Chapter 2 - Noelle

I found Ben sat crossed legged on the floor beside the radiator in the kitchen. He looked quite the picture. Nothing like the image he portrayed when he was in the palace. He was wearing an old and battered pair of camo combats, looking a little too comfortable in them. I made a mental note to ask him if he had served in a past life. I knew stress was taking its toll on him by the increase in grey streaking through his chestnut hair. Between the wrinkle lines on his forehead which had always been there and the simple grey t-shirt he was wearing, he looked much softer than usual.

His eyes twinkled as I stopped in front of him and stooped down and flashed a smile. Unlike before, it was warm and genuine. “How’s it going? You really are working too hard. I can call someone.”

He gave me a knowing stare. “We both know you can’t afford to do the work until the insurance money comes through. Much better for me to crack on and save you a penny or two. I don’t mind. It’s nice to be working with my hands.”

I pulled his head towards me, despite his slight struggles, and kissed his temple. “My hero, as always.” Releasing him just as quickly.

“I wouldn’t agree with that assessment, miss.” No, he wouldn’t. He was too good a man to give himself credit for his actions.

I dropped down onto my butt and watched as he got back to work after my distraction. It was obvious that he was good at that sort of thing. His hands moving deftly over the wall with some tool I didn’t know to smooth out the fresh plaster. “Anything I can help with?” I was tempted to argue with him. To remind him of the time, he broke the rules to sneak me back into Buckingham Palace just to stop me from getting into trouble for escaping through the hidden tunnel.

“I’m nearly finished. I will come back in a few days and touch up the paint, assuming you have any of the paint left?”

“Sorry, Ben, I don’t. I threw it out.”

“Miss, you should always keep any leftover paint for touching up afterwards. Even if it is just to cover scuff marks. If you pick out a colour, I will get the room repainted.” There was no judgement in his voice. He knew full well that I hadn’t had my father around to teach me such things. It was all said with the love of a father’s nature.

“How many times do I have to request you to call me Noelle before you listen to me? You don’t have to paint, Ben. There is no rush to get it done.” At his slight glare, I continued. “I enjoy painting, honestly.”

He started cleaning up his tools and packing them away. “If you insist. I can’t fix the hole in the ceiling, unfortunately. It’s beyond my expertise, I’m afraid.” I had actually been oddly lucky, really. The shop was of the Georgian era and a slightly crooked building. When the plumber had been evaluating the issue, he had said that there was a lean in the ceiling. It had meant that the water from the leak had travelled beneath the floorboards and pooled in the spare bedroom. That was where it had broken through the ceiling. Ben had assured me it was relatively safe to go into the spare room, but I didn’t want to risk it.

It did, however, mean that the flat was safe to be in again. The only reason I had stayed away so long was because there was no electricity or water, but both were back in supply. It was a relief because at least I had somewhere to put Alex. I knew if it hadn’t been turned back on, he would have suggested a hotel, but I didn’t want that. Living in some lifeless room with no meaning, it just wasn’t something I would be happy with. Staying with Ben and Agnes was different. There was meaning in it and love felt within their home’s walls. It felt like a home, not a room.

“I assume Alex found you?”

“He did. Thank you for telling him where I had gone.” I knew it was against his better judgement, but he had done it, anyway.

He finally stood up and straightened, stretching out his back and finally showing his age, even if it was just a hint of it. “I knew you were worried about him. I did it to reassure you, not him.”

“When are you going to forgive him, Ben?” I asked it tentatively, but I still saw the slight flinch from Ben as I spoke.

He turned away from me and gathered his tools together. Staying facing away from me while he answered me. “I haven’t not forgiven him. I just don’t trust him with something so precious. You are more special than you will ever appreciate, which is one of the reasons you are so unique.” I wondered what emotion I would have seen on his face if he had dared to let me. I suspected it would be grief. A wave of it as he thought of the daughter he lost that he would have given a similar speech to. I knew part of his pull to protect me was some sort of similarity to his Sarah that he saw in me. I couldn’t identify it. Physically, we were nothing alike. Sarah looked more like Alice, blonde, tall, beautiful, a shining light in a crowd. I, on the other hand with my slightly ratty chaotic mahogany curls, petite and the sort of face that had no features of significance. I was plain more than special. There was no denying it and I was happy enough in my own skin, regardless.

Ben finally turned towards me. “I am trying to at least give him a chance to earn my trust back. That’s the best I can do and I really hope he manages it because I see how you light up when he is around. I did right from the beginning, which is why I tried to keep you two apart.” I wrapped my arms around his waist, thankful that he couldn’t fight against my embrace because he had his hands full. Feeling his chin rest on the top of my head. As soon as I released him, he spoke again. “If that is all, miss.”

“Thank you, Benjamin.” He stiffened. If he insisted on calling me miss constantly, then I would continue calling him the name I knew annoyed him. “Say hello to Agnes for me.”

“I will. Should I assume that you will not be home tonight, miss?” It amused me how he could make one sentence both casual and formal at the same time.

“You assume correctly, Benjamin. Don’t worry, I won’t be a stranger.”

“Quite. Miss.” He nodded and walked past me and out of the door. I stood there for a second and listened carefully as his heavy booted feet echoed as he walked down the stairs. Hearing him utter his polite goodbyes to both Alice and Alex and smiling to myself. I knew he was trying to be civil to Alex, something he hadn’t even managed while he was in the palace despite his need to be professional. That seemed to mean so much more to me.

I knew I should go downstairs and rescue Alex from my continuously perky best friend, but he needed to get used to her, anyway. Crossing to the sink and tiptoeing so I could see out of the window to the street below. Holding the curtain back and evaluating it once more. Even from the familiar viewpoint, it didn’t look quite right.

A chill spread through me and I changed my focus to turning the heating on. The flat had been empty for too long. Between the emptiness and the excess of water, there was a dampness in the air. That was the reason for my chill. It had to be that and nothing more. Still, I couldn’t stop myself from looking back towards the window, my gaze lingering on it before I force my attention away once more.