“How are things at the lab?” Hugh asked Loren once he and Berdie were seated at the table.
“Busy as ever.”
Berdie glanced at Lillie, to whom she had told the entire story of Loren’s dramatic work exit to go rescue the woman he loved. “All’s forgiven and forgotten?”
Lillie wore a coy little smile.
Loren leaned back in his chair. “Oh, yes. They would have never really sacked me. No one’s sacked when the place is short staffed. Everyone knows that.”
Berdie caught her breath as she watched Lillie frown. How could one man so sabotage his most weighty romantic gesture?
As if in divine timing, the flitting-about Elise Davies alighted at their table.
“Elise,” Berdie greeted, “everything is really lovely.”
“Thank you,” she said through a gracious smile. “We’ve had a slight tussle in catering, but overall it has gone very well.”
“My wife knows her onions,” Hugh declared. “She said you were just the right person to be the wedding planner for our parish offerings.”
Elise stood straight in her black skirt and top, clipboard in hand. “I’m enjoying it. And I appreciate the opportunity.”
“Even though it’s just part-time?” Berdie asked.
“It actually works perfectly. Cara, Rosalie, and I have found we operate quite well together. They’ve asked me to work any spare hours at the White Window Box doing displays, advertising, deliveries, event coordination, that kind of thing. No more House of Helensfield.”
“Splendid,” Berdie raved.
“We look forward to seeing you about the place.” Hugh was light.
Lillie still looked like a wet weekend.
“By the way, Lillie,” Elise spoke kindly, “your solo was stunning.”
“Here, here.” Loren lifted his glass.
A slight pink came to Lillie’s cheeks, and the soft corners of her lips curled upward. “Thank you. When your mother first asked me to sing for the wedding, I was a bit hesitant. I hadn’t soloed for donkey’s years. But, of course, I had to do it.”
“You and Mum weathered a difficult storm together.” Elise’s words held gratitude. “I know it meant a great deal to her that you agreed to sing, and especially that song, her favorite.”
Lillie nodded.
Berdie thought she spotted wet gathering in Lillie’s eye.
Loren put his arm around his love’s shoulder.
“Next in the queue for Albert Hall, our Lillie.” Hugh’s words held kindness that wrapped around Lillie.
“I shouldn’t hold my breath,” followed Lillie’s graceful chuckle. “But, thanks, all the same.”
“Yes. Well, I must see to the happy couple.” Elise bent close to Berdie. “Mum and I had a long conversation. Things aren’t perfect between us, but much improved. Thanks in part to you.”
“It’s your courage in stepping up that’s done it, Elise.”
“Gareth insists Myles and I are the sole beneficiaries of Mum’s estate, for obvious reasons.”
“I wouldn’t expect it to be any other way.”
Elise stood erect. “The groom, whom I’m told is a jolly good gardener, has asked to have a go at the Davies’s home front garden which is currently in shambles. So he’s already won the hearts of our family.”
All gave a gentle laugh, but Berdie knew whereof Elise spoke.
“Anyway, the food’s to be served momentarily. Would you offer up grace for it, please, Reverend Elliott?”
“Consider it done.” As Elise dashed off, Hugh stood and rattled his spoon against his glass quieting all present. “Let’s bless the food soon to arrive.” He lifted his hand. “The Lord be thanked for the provision of the food we are to about to share and may we partake with glad hearts. Amen.”
“Amen,” sprang forth from the tables all across the marquee.
In not more than a minute Berdie feasted upon the plate that arrived before her: spiced king prawns, artichoke salad with rocket and butter beans, and the anticipated tomato tapenade.
Hugh drove his fork into the dressed tomato chunks. “Please don’t repeat this, but I’m sure this meal didn’t come from the Upland Arms.”
Berdie tucked into one of the prawns. The zip of chili mixed with the sweet butter was an unexpected delight.
Food servers whisked around the tables, serving, pouring, and offering friendly assistance.
“These prawns have the flavor of an open flame, grilled perhaps?” Hugh munched, melted butter on his lip.
Lillie swallowed her bite of salad. “Flame. Berdie, I’ve been meaning to ask you.” She wiped her lips with a napkin. “The evening it was discovered Olivia had gone missing, and we went to her home with Linden, who called the fire brigade? We didn’t, nor Linden, nor Billie Finch.”
“Oh, Mr. Holmes did. Actually, he kept watch over the house, although he didn’t catch Sir Percival in his mischief.” Berdie scooped salad with her fork. “Do you remember when we checked Olivia’s garage and saw her car? It was a silver sedan.”
“Yes.”
“And do you remember that Mr. Holmes, whom we knew as Broadhouse, had his car parked in the drive of Swallow Gate? We commented on it at the time. Do you recall what it was?”
“A silver,” Lillie lifted her brows, “a silver sedan.”
“Both had the same year and model, although I didn’t pay attention to that fact at the time.” Berdie raised the forkful of food. “I saw Gareth’s vehicle at the Stanford house in the wee hours that morning…”
“Stanfords? What are you talking about?” Hugh’s brow knit. “What morning?”
Berdie realized the accidental leak about her early morning exploration of the dating agency had slipped from her lips. She hadn’t found the right moment to tell Hugh about it, and she certainly wouldn’t do it now. “Really. Here I am going on. You don’t want to listen to me ramble when we’ve got celebrating to do.”
“Celebrating,” Hugh said. “In lieu of a best man I’m to give the toast.”
Lillie, who knew from Berdie every detail about the whole agency-Goodnight adventure, mouthed “Well saved,” across the table and grinned.
Hugh took up his spoon to tap his glass again when a waiter stopped momentarily behind Berdie’s chair to adjust his tray raised high on one hand.
A waitress following, who paid more attention to the guests than where she was going, barged into him.
“Watch it,” the youthful fellow yelled at the young lady behind as he steadied his burden.
The girl spun, sprang her elbow in Berdie’s direction and caught the edge of Berdie’s hat, flinging it straightway to the floor.
“Oh my.” Berdie put her hands to her suddenly hatless head.
“I am so sorry, madam,” the distressed waitress wailed.
At the sound of her voice, the waiter spun on his heel. “Nancy, come along, girl.”
Berdie watched half in horror, half in delight as the fellow with his cumbersome tray stepped back and trod upon the hat, spun round, stepped back again to steady his burden, and trod upon it a second time.
Hugh’s gaze was upon the forlorn piece lying in disrepair on the ground. His face went pink. “Steady on lad, that’s my wife’s new hat.”
Loren was on his feet.
“So sorry Vicar, it was an accident,” the waiter offered. “But we must get on.”
“Sorry Vicar,” the young woman echoed. “So terribly sorry.”
“Yes, go.” Hugh waved his hand.
The two scurried off.
Loren rescued the crushed object from the ground and handed it to Berdie, creating a waterfall of brown sequins as he did. “It’s a bit done in, I’d say.”
Berdie stared at the once erect feathers that were now flat and shredded. She took the dead soldier from Loren’s hand and placed it in her lap. “Thank you, Loren.” Berdie wondered that the entire marquee didn’t go into thunderous applause for the brave young people who put an end to her fashion faux pas.
Hugh sighed.
Berdie put her hand on Hugh’s knee. “It’s just a hat, love.” She gave a small squeeze. “You gave it to me to show your appreciation, and that’s what meant the most to me. And I’ve still got that intact.”
Hugh nodded. He looked into Berdie’s eyes and perked. “I’ll get you another one.”
Lillie tried desperately not to laugh.
Not willing to linger on the thought of another one, Berdie gave Hugh a reminder. “You were about to make a toast.”
“Indeed.” Hugh tapped his spoon against his glass and a hush followed. He stood and lifted his flute. “Will you all be upstanding?”
The guests rose, glasses in hand.
He directed his words toward Gareth and Olivia. “May God give you enough love to bind you forever together, wellsprings of forgiveness to pour upon one another, and a constant glowing ember to keep the cold at bay. We wish you the best. To Gareth and Olivia.”
“To Gareth and Olivia,” rose from the crowd and clinks of crystal resounded like wedding bells all round.
Being once again seated, Hugh lifted his glass in a private toast to the table. “To jeopardy resolved and the justice system that has the Stanfords and Morgan locked away.”
Loren raised his glass. “Here, here. And to returned treasure.” His warm brown eyes drank in Lillie’s face.
Lillie responded with her own glass. “To contentment in small things.”
Berdie wasn’t about to be left out. She hoisted her glass. “To God’s goodness, both now and in future opportunities.”
Hugh led, and the four touched their glasses together in unison.
While Hugh and Loren chatted, Lillie leaned toward Berdie. “And here’s to future opportunities together, wherever your nose may lead,” she said at the bottom of her voice.
Berdie smiled. “Really, Lillie? Do you think? After all you’ve been through?”
Lillie lowered her chin. “I should think you jolly well need a chaperone. I mean a vicar’s wife who breaks and enters,” she teased.
“Shh.” Berdie chuckled. “All in aid of my dearest friend.”
“To future opportunities.” Lillie touched her glass to Berdie’s.
“To future opportunities, Lillie.”
Author’s Note
Hymn for Ascension Day is cheerfully sung in Into the Clouds by the processing crowd from Saint Aidan of the Wood Church to the village green. This hymn was one of an estimated 6,000 that Charles Wesley (1707-88) wrote after being converted to what he called ‘vital religion.’ He was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, the eighteenth child in the family which included brother, John, who’s regarded as the father of Methodism. Though this hymn has been significantly rewritten since the 1800’s, its use is still popular in English churches. The original runs to ten verses, but I’ve included here only five.
Hail the day that sees Him rise,
Ravished from our wishful eyes!
Christ, awhile to mortals given,
Reascends His native heaven.
There the pompous triumph waits:
‘Lift your heads, eternal gates;
Wide unfold the radiant scene;
Take the King of glory in!’
Circled round with angel-powers,
Their triumphant Lord, and ours,
Conqueror over death and sin:
‘Take the King of glory in!’
Grant, though parted from our sight,
High above yon azure height,
Grant our hearts may thither rise,
Following Thee beyond the skies.
There we shall with Thee remain,
Partners of Thy endless reign,
There Thy face unclouded see,
Find our heaven of heavens in Thee.
Available Now
A Berdie Elliott
Advent Mystery
Candle for a Corpse
Who would guess that a simple Advent wreath would light the way to solving a Christmastide mystery in a small English village? Well, when Berdie Elliott—the local vicar’s wife and former investigative reporter—gets the scent, anything can happen. Though Berdie’s husband often disapproves, her divine gift of sorting truth from lies puts her in the stew.
Along with her best friend, Lillie, Berdie unwraps far more than Christmas presents when an Advent gathering at the vicarage goes awry, and murder rocks the village. Lively newcomers, secret identities, a clandestine wedding, and a dissenting constable add to the adventure of unraveling the mystery that Berdie—to the delight of the entire village—finally ties up like a bright Christmas bow. Tea and biscuits anyone?
Available Now
A Berdie Elliott
Lenten Mystery
Up from the Grave
A Lenten sod turning ceremony for a new water feature in the back garden of St. Aidan of the Wood Parish Church goes utterly pear-shaped when the upturned soil reveals a human skeleton. With Berdie Elliott at the helm, the whole of Aidan Kirkwood digs into the mystery.
When the bones held life, just who was this person? Who is the mysterious contessa who arrives on the garden scene? And what does the young and beautiful Robin Derbyshire's wedding have to do with the grave? Unearth the answers in this fun spring romp.
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May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG
Into the Clouds Page 24
