The next morning, Lucy brought Benny with her to the flat to put the last finishing touches to the wedding cake, arranging the flowers around the trelliswork. The boys had promised not to go into the kitchen to disturb her and they played happily in the living room with Freddie’s Lego.
‘Your cake’s just beautiful,’ Anna was full of admiration for Lucy’s skill, two gleaming white tiers of cake scattered with coloured sugar flowers twisted through the icing latticework as if they were growing there.
‘Hope so, it took long enough,’ Lucy said. ‘I’ll have it out of here and stored in the castle by tomorrow,’ she smiled at her, ‘give you back your kitchen table.’
‘Don’t worry, it’s been inspirational watching you work,’ Anna said, ‘not that I’m planning to try it anytime soon. Have you been to a wedding in the castle… I don’t mean as a guest, but just to hover about?’ Anna went on, ‘Only Julius asked if I’d like to do it as Sidney and Philly do, though I’d have to ask if you could have Freddie for the night. There’s no pressure on me having to be there, so if it’s not possible, don’t worry about it. I feel I owe you masses of play dates which I’m determined to make up.’
‘Don’t be silly, Benny’s loved having Freddie around. And, sure, we can have him,’ Lucy said, ‘you must go while you’re here and have the chance.’
‘Thanks so much, Simon showed me the dining room when I went with him and Marian to find rooms during the flood, so I can imagine how wonderful it looks with the table laid up and everything.’
‘I haven’t been to a wedding, but I’ve seen how spectacular the main rooms look,’ Lucy said. ‘Benny would love to have Freddie to stay again, they’ve really hit it off, haven’t they, so there’s no problem there.’
‘Thanks. So do most of the people who work here go to keep an eye out for any trouble?’ Anna asked.
‘Quite a few do, but apparently this couple are older, and it’s the second time around for both of them, so it might be a less raucous affair, but who knows?’ Lucy giggled. ‘Rather a sweet story really, they fell in love at university, then drifted apart, married other people which didn’t work out and then by chance met up again. So I don’t expect anything terrible will happen.’
‘Have terrible things happened?’ Anna was intrigued.
‘Over the years, yes, people drunk falling against things, flicking stuff at the pictures, throwing up even. Small, precious things are put away in case someone lifts them. You just have to watch people don’t go upstairs, roam about, I suppose,’ she said. ‘But I’m sure it will be fine, and you’ll have a great time.’
‘I’ll tell Julius that I’ll do it then, but promise to let me know if something else comes up and you can’t have Freddie. I’m sure Julius would understand if I couldn’t do it at the last minute,’ Anna said, feeling a little excited now.
‘Don’t worry, nothing much happens in January, it will be fine,’ Lucy said. ‘Well, better get home to bake the last few of those Gateaux des Rois, nearly done them all now, it’s too late for any more orders,’ she said. ‘So, are you sure it’s all right to leave the wedding cake so it will be really dry before I take it into the castle tomorrow?’ She got up and rinsed her mug before putting it in the dishwasher. ‘And keep Benny a while longer?’
‘Of course, he can stay as long as he likes,’ she said.
‘If you can keep him until after tea that would be great,’ Lucy said, going into the living room to tell him.
*
It was near seven when Anna and the boys went out to the car to drop Benny home. Freddie wanted him to stay the night, but as they hadn’t got his night things, Anna said they’d arrange to do it another time. She bundled them into the car and was about to get in herself when she saw Nell, dressed in her coat and scarf, coming towards them.
‘Good timing, I’m on my way home and was about to knock on your door to see you about the wedding,’ Nell said. ‘Julius said you might do it and I’m sussing out numbers to be sure we have enough people to be there.’
‘Yes, I’d love to do it, Freddie can stay with Benny, it’s all arranged.’
Nell laid her hand on her arm, ‘I’m so glad you’re coming, Anna, we’ll all be there and it’s so splendid, the rooms shown off as they should be, full of people enjoying themselves.’
‘I look forward to it, what time am I needed?’
‘The church service is at four. I don’t know if they will have photographs outside the church as it will be so dark then, unless they put up special lights which they sometimes do,’ Nell said, ‘So I would aim to be here at four or half past, I’ll let you know for sure, but I promise you won’t regret it.’ She lifted her arm in a farewell, going back to her car where Tessa was sat in the driver’s seat waiting for her.
Anna got into her car and Freddie thrust her mobile at her. ‘It’s Daisy, she wants to talk to you.’
‘Thanks.’ She took the mobile from him and stood outside the car to talk to her. ‘Daisy, are you all right?’ she asked brightly. ‘Back home or still with your parents?’
‘Still in Scotland, I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m fine, you OK?’
‘Of course, why shouldn’t I be?’ Anna suspected that Daisy had not rung to discuss her well-being; she was fishing for something. Should she say she’d seen Simon on New Year’s Eve and as far as she knew he did not have some glamorous woman about him; except for Cathie of course. Though he might well have someone away from here; he had a little daughter for a start.
‘Just wondered. Francy’s just back and she’s about to ring you and see if you met anyone special at your New Year’s party,’ she said.
Anna sighed, no doubt Daisy also wanted to know if she’d found a possible father for Freddie.
‘There are lots of lovely people around,’ she said, feeling a surge of warmth as she remembered Julius’s kiss on New Year’s night. A New Year’s kiss, she reminded herself firmly, that stood for nothing but goodwill. ‘Look, I’ll talk later, I’ve got to go and drop back a friend’s child.’
‘OK, I’ll let you go then,’ Daisy said reluctantly, before adding in a rush, ‘Were there people you knew at the party on New Year’s Eve? Julius, Luke and…’
‘Yes, they were all there; Julius saw me and Freddie home. He was on his way to another party,’ she said, guessing that Daisy really wanted to find out if Simon had brought someone special with him, but there wasn’t the time now. ‘Look, ring me later, we’ll have a catch-up then.’ The boys had started to fight, a friendly fight, but it was an excuse to ring off and she was freezing to death out here.
She started the car and drove slowly down the hill to the village, thinking of Julius’s kiss. She must not build it up too much, they’d both had a little to drink and were in party mood; it was a warm and loving kiss, and it had awakened feelings in her she had supressed all this time, but it would be embarrassing and foolish to make anything of it. Though as her friends were pointing out, she was still young, was she really going to live the rest of her life alone? Julius’s kiss had stirred her emotions making her feel that perhaps one day she would find love again.