When The Ducks Fly In

To Julia Summers, England had always been a land of kings and queens, castles and fairy tales, and tonight was not letting her down.  A soft flurry of snow began to fall.  In her hotel room in London, Julia sat by the window enjoying the Christmassy scene.  When the concierge rang her to announce that her car and driver had arrived, Julia proceeded to the lift with her small clutch, in which she had hidden a tiny, but pricey, vial of exquisite Parisian perfume to give Patrice Shearling, the diva who had invited her on this holiday.  Tonight, everything was a question mark, and the mystery was tantalizing.  The door pinged open, and Julia stepped out.

“Julia?” a tall slender man asked.

“Yes, Julia Summers.”

With a strange look on his face, he gazed into her eyes and appeared to be speechless for a moment.  Perhaps he thought he recognized her.  “I’m Gregory Hudson, at your service.  Shall we?”

Julia took his outstretched arm.  “Yes.”

At this point, for all Julia knew, Gregory Hudson might be a butler, a chauffeur, a hired escort, a friend of Patrice’s, or anyone at all.  Even so, since Patrice had sent him, she trusted that he was all right.  They walked very formally out to a metallic-black Aston Martin, and he helped her in. 

“Thank you,” Julia said, glancing up at him.

“My pleasure,” Gregory said with a smile.

The Christmas decorations in London were especially beautiful, with lights outlining the spires, and gorgeous wreaths on lamp poles everywhere.  A winter wonderland.  “Are you a friend of Patrice’s?” Julia asked casually.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret,” Gregory said, which turned Julia’s head to look at him.  “My brother Harry and Patrice will announce their engagement tonight.  I am her future brother-in-law.  Have you known Patrice long?”

Gregory’s voice had a pleasing tone, and he had a marvelously proper British dialect.  “I first met her three years ago when she appeared at the Met in New York,” Julia told him.  “We are more just acquaintances than close friends, I suppose.  Her invitation to come to London was a delightful surprise.  I haven’t been here in years.”

By now, Julia had deduced that because Gregory was British, they would probably never see each other again, and she forwent further questions, but he seemed more curious.

“I had hoped you might be able to tell me more about Patrice,” Gregory said.

“I can tell you only that she has large green eyes, very beautiful, and one of the most glorious operatic voices I’ve ever heard.  She is also spontaneous, friendly, and very generous, and she has the memory of an elephant.  I would have thought she had forgotten me by now, but when she called, it was as if we had talked only the day before.  She insisted that I had to come and made me believe it.  So I guess I can add that she is also very persuasive, to my delight.  I needed to get away.”

They took a turn toward tall buildings, and the architecture almost took Julia’s breath.  Even knowing how cold and drafty these ancient buildings were, the scene still looked like a magic fairyland.

“Then I suppose Patrice told you nothing about me,” Gregory said.

“No, only that someone would come for me.  I had thought maybe a chauffeur, but I can see that you’re not.  Did she tell you about me?”

“Only that I was to collect a beautiful woman at the Kensington on my way.  I am surprised to find that you are American.”

Julia thought perhaps she detected a bit of snobbery in the word American.  “Oh dear.”  On a soft laugh, Julia said, “Well, Gregory, my eternal thanks for collecting me, but I won’t put you out any further.  I will take a taxi back tonight.  I really have no idea what to expect.  This will be my first English party.”

Gregory stopped in front of the Metro, and the doorman came to the car with a large umbrella and took Julia inside.  She waited for Gregory, hoping at least to get directions to the ballroom.  He joined her shortly, took her arm, and steered her into the lift.  As elegant as the old English architecture was, the elevators always seemed creaky.  After a bumpy start, they rode up to the top and entered a ballroom that was straight from a fairy tale.  Under a tall ornate ceiling, there were tables with elegant holiday centerpieces, where people sat with drinks and chatted while soft music played in the background.  At either end of the room were crackling fireplaces with arrangements of settees and tables before them.  Waiters were on the prowl with trays of drinks for those standing and mingling.  For all its largess, the ballroom achieved a sense of intimacy.

Gregory paused with her long enough for her to take in the scene before he propelled her to a table where Patrice sat with a crowd of admirers, laughing and accepting kisses on her hands and cheeks.  Wearing a silver lame gown and a diamond tiara, she was gorgeous.  When she looked up and saw Julia, her eyes flicked to Gregory and back to Julia, and a broad smile lit her face.

“Julia!”  Patrice got to her f