Katie Fforde - Wedding Season

‘Oh no, but Hugo made me eat syrup sponge and custard after an already huge lunch.'

‘With cream,' added Hugo.

Everyone laughed and the others began to chat about various friends and acquaintances while Sarah itched for the tour she'd been promised.

‘So what are your plans for the house?' asked Sarah, as soon as there was a break in the chat about what old So-and-so was up to now.

‘Mainly to keep it from falling down,' said Rupert. 'Any suggestions that will help us do that will be gratefully received.'

‘It would be a perfect venue for weddings,' said Sarah. 'Is it licensed?’

Fenella and Rupert looked at each other. 'We've applied. We haven't had an answer yet. We're quite hopeful.'

‘It would be a really beautiful setting. You could charge a huge amount of money per wedding.’

Now her hosts were looking at Sarah. 'How much, do you think?'

‘Obviously it would depend on what you could offer, how many rooms could be used. If the wedding party could all stay over and party on until the night, it could be several thousand.'

‘What, per wedding?' Fenella seemed doubtful.

Sarah nodded. 'You may not be quite ready to offer the total package just at the moment, but it would be something to aim for.'

‘And if you also offered it for magazine shoots, with accommodation, that's another nice little earner,' said Hugo.

‘Have you got the most enormous mortgage?' asked Sarah. 'Sorry! That was terribly rude. It's nothing to do with me.’

Rupert dismissed her apology. 'We were frightfully lucky. I inherited it, but there wasn't a bean to go with it, so keeping it standing-'

‘Getting it standing, more like,' put in Fenella.

‘Is a major headache. It's too far from London for me to be able to commute, and if I had to stay in London that would cost even more money.'

‘And I don't want to be here on my own,' went on Fenella, 'especially in the state it's in.'

‘I completely understand,' said Sarah. 'It's too big a house to be alone in.'

‘We're renting out the land,' said Rupert, 'but that doesn't earn all that much.'

‘I do some bits and pieces locally,' said Fenella. 'But I can't earn anything like enough.'

‘Don't worry,' said Hugo. 'Between us, Sarah and I will make the house earn its own living. Won't we?'

‘We'll certainly do our best,' agreed Sarah.

‘Well, that's really kind,' said Rupert.

There was a contented pause. Sarah felt warm and happy at the thought of helping this nice couple and theirwonderful house. Hugo smiled across at her as he cradled his coffee mug. They really did make a good team. 'Oh, Hugo,' said Rupert suddenly. 'I meant to ask earlier – what's this I hear about you and Electra getting engaged?’

Sarah felt the breath leave her body and her strength drain out of her. It was as well she was sitting down, she thought as she concentrated on looking normal. She hadn't realised, until that moment, quite how much her feelings for Hugo had changed that day. From feeling edgy and unsure about him she had come to see that not only was she more than passingly attracted to him, but she liked and trusted him. It was an emotion she hadn't felt in years. And now this.

‘Er – well,' said Hugo, clearly rather thrown.

Sarah was aware that he was looking at her but kept her eyes on a small puddle of coffee that had been left by someone's teaspoon. When she thought of what happened after Ashlyn's wedding, even if it was only kissing, it made her feel sick. If he was engaged he must have been in a committed relationship when he not only kissed her but asked her out. Was he hedging his bets? She couldn't believe how she'd let herself be taken in. At least she could congratulate herself on not agreeing to go out with him and certainly not actively encouraging him to ask again.

‘I heard she was mad to marry you,' said Rupert teasingly.

‘I think Sarah would say she would indeed be mad to marry me,' Hugo agreed amicably.

It took Sarah every ounce of determination to meet his eyes. She had to compose herself. She'd had a shock, that was all. She'd allowed herself to hope, but the others need never know what was going on inside her at that moment. 'Oh yes. I'd definitely say that.’

For a moment they looked directly at each other. Sarah thought she might have seen a hint of apology in Hugo's expression – an attempt at an explanation – but it didn't make her feel one iota better. What sort of woman did he think she was? Another conquest?

‘Sarah's very cynical for a wedding planner,' went on Hugo. Maybe she'd imagined that look. He didn't sound at all contrite.

Feeling she was being mocked was the jolt she needed. She wouldn't let this affect her. She was strong, capable and above all a consummate professional. And it was his life – what did she really care? she told herself firmly. 'Not too cynical – just cynical enough.’

Fenella laughed, apparently unaware of the shock Sarah had received in the past two minutes. 'You're so sensible. My parents complain that people don't stick at marriage these days and give up at the first sign of trouble. But why should you stick together for ever if you're not happy? Luckily Rupes and I are two of a kind. We fit.' She smiled fondly at her husband.

‘You're very lucky,' said Sarah, 'but on the whole I think it's better not to get married in the first place. But please don't tell anyone. It would be very bad for business.' Everyone laughed. 'Could I have my tour now?’

Chairs scraped on the stone-flagged floor as everyone got up and Sarah wondered if Electra (what a name!) was the girl she'd seen Hugo with in London. Despite all her lectures to herself, how had she let her guard down enough to think he might genuinely like her? How could she have been such a fool? Still, they had to work together and her professionalism would get her through.

‘So,' said Fenella. 'Shall I do the tour guide bit? Or shall you?' she said to her husband.

‘Let's all go,' said Hugo. 'I want to see it too and Fen might not be able to answer all my technical questions.'

‘You are unbearably sexist, Hugo,' complained Fenella good-naturedly.

Hugo gave his friend a lazy smile that would have made any girl's stomach clench, Sarah acknowledged – but not hers, not now. She was never going to be so silly as to even think about him again. Thank goodness she hadn't let her guard down too much before! She felt she'd had a narrow escape. If you can kiss a girl like he'd kissed her when you're engaged to someone else, you are a low-down, dirty, rotten scoundrel and not to be trusted. However charming you were.

‘Do you mind hanging on while I get my camera?' he asked. 'Some pictures could be really useful.'

‘For the "before", do you mean?' asked Rupert.

He smiled. 'I thought Sarah could use them. She has a top celebrity client who might be interested in using Somerby as a venue.’

Hugo went and Fenella said to Sarah, 'So who's your client? Or can't you say?'

‘I can't say, I'm afraid, but I'd love it if she chose to come here. Is the house very dilapidated? Oh, sorry, was that rude?'

‘Rude but understandable. Come on,' said Fenella, 'I'll show you. In fact it's not too bad structurally, as far as you can tell. The roof is mostly sound and it's not too dreadfully damp. There's woodworm but no dry rot that we've discovered. We did have a jolly thorough survey before we moved in.' She made a face. 'My parents insisted. They wanted us to sell it and buy somewhere sensible. We're getting a roof expert in tomorrow for the bit that Rupert's worried about. That did fail the test. Rupert, can you and Hugo find us when he comes back?’

The two women left the huge kitchen and went through the green baize door to the hallway. Sarah stopped and noticed that the ceiling was dark with centuries of grime but the floor was parquet and in good order. Sarah couldn't decide just then if she thought it would benefit from several coats of paint, or was more picturesque as it was.