The last touches were put on the floral arch the morning of the wedding on January 5th. It would be lit up leading to the main door in the castle.
There was much activity going on with food and more flowers being delivered. Lucy’s beautiful cake was there; ready to put in pride of place. Anna took Freddie for a walk around the outside of the castle to keep him out of the way.
The weather had been dry these last days though very cold, bringing talk of snow.
‘I hope it will snow, then Benny and I could build a huge snowman,’ Freddie said in excitement, jumping round her.
‘Well they have it up north so it might come here,’ Anna said, thinking how pretty the castle would look surrounded by snow.
The plan Anna had made with Lucy was to take Freddie round for lunch, giving her time to get ready herself and be at the castle by four o’clock.
When they got back to the flat, Freddie did his own packing, but when Anna felt the weight of his rucksack she asked him whatever he’d put in it.
‘My things to take to Benny.’
She opened it and peered inside; almost every toy he’d brought here and had for Christmas, as well as his books and his pyjamas, were all packed. ‘You can’t take all this, and where’s your toothbrush and a change of pants and socks?’ she asked.
‘I forgot those,’ he said, going to fetch them, ‘but don’t take anything out, we need to play with them.’
They finally reached a compromise and Anna took him to Lucy’s house.
There was a lot of activity going on in the village to spruce it up after the flood and make sure there was an easy drive up to the castle from the church after the wedding.
‘You must tell us every detail about it,’ Lucy said, ‘what the bride wore, the flowers, food, everything. And can you take a photograph of my cake before everyone arrives? I haven’t had a chance to go up there today to do it, standing in one of those glorious rooms, but I like to have one of it before it’s cut.’ She handed her a small camera. ‘This is dead simple. I’ll show you how it works, or you could do it on your mobile if you’d rather,’ she said.
‘I have one the same,’ Anna said, taking it from her, ‘though I forgot to bring it. We’ll be there before the guests arrive so it should be easy, I’ll also take one on my mobile and send it straight to you.’
‘Only if you’ve time,’ Lucy said. ‘I like to keep a record of all the ones I’ve done, and it’s good to have pictures to help other people choose what kind of cake they want.’
Anna felt a little reluctant to leave this warm and noisy house and go back to the flat to get ready to go into the castle, but she knew the other people helping out, and with some sumptuous rooms shown at their best it would be a memorable occasion.
It was weddings she still found particularly hard, all that love and goodwill for the future, when hers and Gary’s had ended so abruptly.
‘Have a great time. I’m longing to hear all about it,’ Lucy hugged her.
‘I’ll be back to pick you up, and Benny if he wants to, in the morning,’ Anna kissed Freddie before going out to her car to head back up the hill to the castle.
As she passed, Anna noticed a few cars were making their way to the church. People had done their best to clean up after the flood but still there were puddles about and mud and such. The guests’ cars would be parked outside the quadrangle when they came up for the reception. Nell had told her that the bride and groom’s car would leave after they had been dropped off, as following the reception they were going away in their camper van, for a three-month honeymoon driving round Europe.
After a long soak, Anna washed and blow-dried her hair; the blonde highlights blending into the brown, which fell in soft curls, framing her oval face. She had more colour in her cheeks from the fresh air and her body, never fat, looked more toned from all the walking she’d done. But why was she worrying so much about what she looked like, she asked herself, when she was not a guest or in competition with the bride, only someone on duty, supposed to be almost invisible to make sure it all went well.
As planned, Anna joined Tessa and Nell at the door of their office and she was glad to go with them. Tessa was dressed in a wine-coloured silk suit, her hair newly done and rather too much make-up, while Nell wore a simpler royal blue dress and jacket and a thick cardigan over the top.
‘I’ll take this off when I get there,’ she said, ‘it will be even colder when we come home.’
‘I agree, I’m glad I’m in my coat, it is bitter,’ Anna said.
‘We’re only a step away,’ Tessa said, marching towards the arch of greenery close to the door of the castle, the other two following closely behind.
Simon and Luke were already there and Cathie, looking very pretty in a floaty top and trousers, came soon after.
Outside the main door of the castle, illuminated by a strong light, was a brand new camper van festooned in ribbons, and an old boot painted gold. Various messages had been stuck to it already, wishing the new couple luck and some spicy ones about keeping their eyes on the road.
‘They start off in the Alps as they both love skiing,’ Nell told her.
‘I think it’s a fabulous idea,’ Anna said, going closer to read some of the messages.
Those on duty met up in the hall, along with other people, mostly retired, who used to work on the estate and sometimes came in for events in the castle. Although most of them were old hands at the work, there was an air of excitement among them. They were all spruced up in their best suits and smart dresses waiting to take the coats, and obviously enjoying their day out. Nell introduced Anna to them as they took off their own coats and left them hanging on the rack.
Julius arrived dressed in a dark grey suit and a blue shirt and Anna did a double take when she saw how stunning he looked, reminding herself sharply not to make a fool of herself.
He went down the passage to the kitchen to check everything there and then came back and reminded everyone to mingle with the guests, to be unobtrusive yet vigilant. There was to be no drinking, he reminded them cheerfully to groans, but sandwiches would be on hand for them in the kitchen later, though they must not all leave their places at once and work it out among themselves who would eat when.
As they crossed the hall to the stairs, he was beside Anna. ‘You look wonderful,’ his eyes appraised her, ‘and it’s good of you to do this. But I think you’ll be pleased you did when you see the rooms in all their glory.’
There was a stone staircase going up into the long gallery and Anna was struck at how lovely it all was with all the lights on. They showed up the gleaming wooden floor, the huge pictures hanging in their gold frames. Anna recognised the work of some of the artists, Sargent, Constable and Turner, and was amazed until Julius leant close and said, ‘Sorry to disappoint you but they are all copies, good ones though.’
‘Well they fooled me, but then I’m not an expert like Daisy is,’ she said, and Julius smiled, told her to enjoy herself, before speeding away for a last-minute check before the wedding party arrived.
Anna looked about her, drinking it all in. It was dark outside and inside was lit by sparkling chandeliers, making the place she’d glimpsed before in plain light glow with beauty. Here and there against the walls stood fabulous pieces of furniture. The door to the dining room was open and she went in to admire the table laid with silver knives and forks and gleaming glasses. In the centre was a large silver bowl with an arrangement of dark leaves and deep crimson cyclamens; arranged on the wall was a collection of spears and a beautiful, ornate screen stood in the corner. On a table by the window at the end of the room stood Lucy’s cake in all its delicate beauty.
Anna took a few photos of it now, while the room was empty, before following the others into the drawing room with its sumptuous curtains, thick rich carpets, elegant furniture and more paintings. She stared round her with wonder, the room was almost empty, so she could see it as a whole and wander round to examine the pictures and the furniture before the room became humming with guests.
Julius, coming upon her and seeing her pleasure in her surroundings, joined her. ‘It gets you every time, the sheer magnificence and beauty of it all,’ he said. ‘Imagine living like this every day of your life, though I wonder if the family really noticed it or just took it for granted.’
‘Hard to know,’ she said. ’I suppose you’ve been to most of the weddings?’
‘Yes, quite a few over the years. The most we’ve had were six one year and we only allow weddings in the winter so we can open the castle for visitors during the summer. On a hot summer’s day these rooms would be wasted as people would want to be outside and we’d have to shut the rest of the castle to the public and that would be complicated.’ They were silent for a moment and then he said quietly, ‘I’m sorry you may find it hard being at a wedding after what happened to your husband.’
‘Yes, I do, but over the years I’ve had to come to terms with it. Just because I lost Gary so soon shouldn’t make me spoil other people’s happiness,’ she smiled at him. ‘Besides, this is different, I don’t know any of the people here and I’ve really come to see all the wonderful rooms and the setting.’
‘That’s a very brave way of looking at it,’ Julius smiled at her. ‘It may be unkind to say, but I think some people can put a dampener on other people’s happiness by trailing their own sorrows behind them.’
‘It can be very difficult sometimes, but grief gets better, I’ve found it so anyway, or maybe you just get used to it.’ She liked being close to him, she felt there was an affinity between them, but that was probably only her overworked imagination playing up being in such a romantic and beautiful place ready for a wedding.
He held her gaze a moment before saying, ‘Well, I hope that you can enjoy the day, Anna.’ He smiled before glancing at his watch, ‘They will be here in a moment, catch up later.’ He briefly touched her arm, before dashing off to check that everything was in order.
The guests began to arrive, goggling at the sheer beauty of the place, the pictures, the shining and sometimes gilded furniture and the magnificent stained-glass windows either end of the gallery, cleverly lit to show off their jewel-like colours.
When they had got their drinks, the guests were tactfully shepherded into the drawing room, equally rich in wonderful furniture and pictures, to mingle awhile until the dinner in the dining room next door was served. The door to that room was closed now, hiding another treat to be revealed at the sit-down dinner.
‘They look a nice crowd,’ Tessa said, coming up to Anna, ‘you can usually tell just by looking at them, and I love the bride’s dress.’
Anna studied the bride’s dress, pearl white with a lace bodice. She wore a little silk hat, which Mattie would have approved of, Anna thought.
The middle-aged bridegroom, his hair feathered with grey and wearing a colourful waistcoat under his morning coat, beamed with pride at his wife.
There were three grown-up bridesmaids dressed in blue and Tessa whispered to Anna that they were their daughters, ‘Not together of course, but it’s nice they seem to be quite friendly with one another.’
‘Everyone looks so happy and it’s certainly a wonderful venue, so romantic,’ Anna said, not liking to ask how much it must cost to rent for the day and probably half the night too – not that she’d ever have occasion to rent it herself, but it was lovely that other people could.