by Georgia Hill
‘That I don’t know.’ His face clouded. ‘It’s a complex situation out there, Millie. I hope not. I really do.’
‘It really was James Bond stuff, wasn’t it?’
Jed grinned. ‘Like I said, it had its moments.’ His hold on her tightened. ‘I can’t tell you how glad I was to get out.’
‘Was it worth it?’
He blew out an enormous breath. ‘I think so. It’s not just the Fair Trade thing. Most of Blue Elephant’s customers don’t give a damn about that.’ He frowned. ‘There’s so much exploitation going on. Child workers, Millie, some as young as eight or nine, labouring when they should be in school getting an education. It’s wrong.’
‘And you think Blue Elephant were buying coffee from these plantations? The ones with the child workers?’
He nodded. ‘I know so. And can prove it.’
‘No wonder they were cross with you.’
‘Yeah.’ He laughed. ‘Probably a bit of an understatement there, but yes, I think you can say my time at Blue Elephant is well and truly over.’
‘Has that Gavin bloke sorted it all out for you?’
‘Let’s say he and the company came to an agreement. I’ve passed all the legal stuff onto him now, so it’s out of my hands. Thank goodness. Although I might have been tempted at one point by a life of espionage I think I’d just like to take it easy for a while. Let Gavin handle it.’
‘Good.’ Millie breathed out. ‘Oh Jed,’ she said impulsively. ‘It’s so good to have you back and safe.’
‘Is it, Millie? Is it?’
‘Of course it is,’ she answered briskly, wary of wading too far into the emotional depths.
‘I haven’t thanked you.’
‘Whatever for?’
‘For sorting everything out.’
‘I didn’t do anything, Jed. It was your brother and Gavin who got you away. I just rang Alex, as you asked.’
Jed stroked a thumb over the inside of her wrist. ‘But you put everything into motion and without you I’d still be stuck in that office block avoiding difficult questions.’ He stiffened. ‘And they fucking hurt you, Millie!’
She pulled a face. ‘Hardly. I helped the situation out enormously by falling over. Ruined my best pair of tights.’
‘They shoved you over, you mean. Are you sure you’re alright?’
‘I’m fine,’ she smiled at him. ‘Only my pride hurt. And my tights.’
‘I owe you a pair. God, I was so frustrated. I couldn’t get to you. Think I landed a kick in the groin for one of them, though.’ Jed’s eyes gleamed in satisfaction.
‘Rough at Eton, was it?’ Millie couldn’t resist poking fun. Relief at having him back, without any further threat of legal trouble, was making her giddy.
He shrugged. ‘The rugger training came in handy. Millie, I –.’
Coral chose that moment to bring in the tea tray. ‘Just pull up that table, will you now, Millie, and I’ll put it on there. There you are, the cup that cheers and never inebriates. A nice cuppa is just what the doctor ordered. None of this mucky coffee stuff.’ She looked at them as they dissolved into giggles. ‘Now, what did I say?’
Chapter 42
After sharing a pot of tea with them, Millie was chased out by Coral claiming her patient had to rest after all his excitement. Millie, with a reluctant glance at Jed, who she had to admit was beginning to look pinched with fatigue, got in her car and went to collect Trevor. Lacking the energy to update Tessa on everything that had happened, she was relieved when her friend was more interested in bitching about Zoe, who she claimed had just broken Sean’s heart. Millie sympathised halfheartedly, grabbed an overexcited and under-exercised dog and drove home.
Once in the flat, she was overcome with weariness. It felt as if she’d driven around half of Devon. She couldn’t believe it had been a few short hours since she’d left that morning.
She dropped onto the sofa. ‘Yes, you’ll have a long W.A.L.K in the morning, Trev,’ she said to a peevish dog. ‘I think we both need our beds. Oh bugger,’ she let her head flop back onto a cushion. ‘I’ve got a wedding meeting with Biddy tomorrow.’ She eyed Trevor gloomily. ‘That’s just what I need. Come on, bed. And just for once, you can sleep with me.’
Chapter 43
Biddy was in a cheerful mood when Millie arrived the following morning, even if she did greet her with an accusing, ‘You’re late. I’ve got some coffee on,’ she added, over Elvis’s vocal welcome. ‘No? Oh, suit yourself. Tea then?’
They settled in Biddy’s bedroom. Millie looked about her in awe. It was sumptuous. She hadn’t known quite what to expect, but it wasn’t calming blues and greys and luxurious fabrics. She sat on the chaise longue (now that she had expected) and waited, as Biddy got changed into her wedding outfit in the adjoining dressing room.
‘Arthur rang this morning,’ she yelled through. ‘I’ve heard all about your excitement yesterday. I understand young Gavin Patel is handling it?’
‘Yes. It all seems under control now, thank goodness. He seems on the ball.’
‘Yes, he would be. Bright boy. Arthur’s furious at what that Blue Elephant place has got up to.’ Biddy’s voice went muffled, as if pulling something over her head. ‘Although I think all that stuff is a load of old nonsense and an excuse to charge folk more. Still, Arthur said it could have ruined the town’s Fair Trade bid. I see the place is still shut this morning, so maybe there’s some truth in what Jed said. Got to say, it’s changed my opinion of that young man. Quite the hero.’ Biddy emerged. ‘What do you think?’ she barked. ‘Of the outfit, I mean.’
If it hadn’t been Biddy, Millie would have said she sounded nervous.
She smoothed down the skirt and repeated. ‘Well, girl, what do you think? It’s a hard thing to get right when you’re my age.’
Millie took in the cream silk skirt and matching jacket. ‘It’s perfect, Biddy.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, absolutely perfect. I like the over-sized buttons.’
Biddy fiddled with one. ‘Thought they’d be a stylish addition.’
‘Did you make it yourself?’
‘Of course. I’ve made a goose down-trimmed cape to go over it in case it’s really cold.’ Biddy hesitated. ‘Can I let you into a secret?’
‘Of course you can.’ Millie wondered what was coming.
‘I’d always hoped to wear my mother’s wedding dress. I’ve kept it nice all these years but when I tried it on it looked all wrong.’ Biddy’s face crumpled. ‘Should have realised how silly I was being. Mother was nineteen when she got married, not an old codger like me, and big-boned to boot.’
Millie rose and went to her. ‘You’re the least old codger-type person I know. And you look fantastic. Really elegant. Arthur is going to be so proud of you.’
Biddy’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears. ‘Well yes, just as it should be,’ she huffed. Then she sighed. ‘Such a shame, though. Mother’s was a beautiful dress. She cast a hopeful glance at Millie. Would you like to see it?’
‘I’d love to.’
‘Let me get changed, then. Wouldn’t do to get this grubby, would it? Oh this is fun. It’s just like having one of my girls around. We used to have a gay old time.’
Millie sat back on the chaise, honoured that Biddy wanted to share the dress with her. Then she remembered who Biddy’s ‘girls’ were and giggled.
‘Arthur reckons they’ll pull out of town,’ Biddy shouted from the dressing room. ‘Scandal will be too much. And they certainly won’t be welcome.’
‘Who?’
‘Speak up, girl.’
‘I said, who will pull out?’
Biddy returned, dressed in a grey polo neck and matching slacks and carrying a navy dress bag. ‘Well, Blue Elephant, of course. Good riddance. Can’t abide places that aren’t dog-friendly. They made such a fuss about me taking Elvis in and he’s an assistance dog. It’s allowed. Made a stink about that, I can tell you. Used to know that Dougie Feniman. Born in a
bottle but never got further than the cork, they said about him. Liked the garden, especially the weeds, is all I’ll say.’ She tapped her nose. ‘Still, least said, soonest mended.’ She lay the dress bag on the bed and unzipped it. ‘Well, what do you think?’
Millie, mind reeling from the news that Blue Elephant might be no more and wondering what role Biddy might have had in its demise, tried to focus on her question.
‘I’ll hold it against you, then you can see it better. Hold still, girl, stop your fidgeting.’ Biddy tried the dress up against Millie, but sucked her teeth. ‘It’s no good. The best way to see it in all its glory is to try it on.’
‘Oh Biddy, I couldn’t.’
‘Stop your nonsense. Mother would have loved to see a pretty young thing like you wearing it. She waited fourteen years for me to come along and I still didn’t grace her with the mother of the bride role. Go on,’ Biddy thrust the dress into Millie’s hands and pushed her in the direction of the dressing room. ‘I’ll help you with the buttons. They run all the way down the back.’
Chapter 44
It was the most beautiful dress Millie had ever worn. Staring at her reflection in the long mirror in Biddy’s walk-in wardrobe, she couldn’t get over the transformation. Gone was the leggy, slightly quirky girl in striped woolly tights and flippy skirt. Instead, what she saw in front of her was a bride.
The dress was cut on the bias, making it skim every curve. It was made of a deep- cream velvet and had long sleeves and a cowl neck. With her dark hair cut in its long bob and falling over one eye, Millie thought she looked like a film star. A tear traced its way down her cheek and she hurriedly scrubbed it off. She was near tears too often these days. Once, she had hoped to marry Jed in a dress as splendid as this. Now, her relationship with him was in ashes.
She was hardly aware of Biddy coming in until she heard the woman suck in a breath behind her. ‘Oh, my dear. It could have been made for you. Here, let me do up the buttons and we’ll see if it really fits. You’ve lost weight, girl, so it should be perfect.’
Millie sniffed. ‘I’ve been on the misery diet.’
Biddy concentrated on the line of buttons, which reached from neck to the curve of Millie’s bottom. ‘Mother got married in 1939,’ she mumbled. ‘Just before the war started. That’s why she had to wait for me. Dad was out in the desert for the duration. Reckon he could have had leave but he never did.’ She put her hands on the girl’s shoulders and stared at their joint reflection. ‘There. Fits you like a glove. Oh, Millie don’t cry.’ She hurried off. ‘Here, let me get you a tissue.’
‘I don’t want to mess up the dress,’ Millie sobbed, taking one from her.
‘Nonsense. As if that mattered a jot.’ Biddy waited, handing over tissues until Millie’s tears were spent. ‘There, there. Blow your nose, now. Better out than in, I always say.’
Millie did so, hiccoughing. ‘Sorry, Biddy. Don’t know what came over me. I’m always crying over something at the moment.’
‘Don’t you?’ The older woman gave her a shrewd look. ‘Here’s me blathering on about my mother, who’s long gone, when a young thing like you hasn’t got one to see you looking so beautiful in that frock.’
Millie stared at her reflection, with its reddened nose and tear-stained face. That her mother would never be there for her wedding day overwhelmed her with sadness. In all her misery over Jed, it hadn’t occurred to her. ‘No chance of me getting married, Biddy.’ A fresh wave of sobs erupted.
Biddy found a new box of tissues and handed more out. ‘Go on with you, of course you will. And your mother would have been so proud, my dear. Of you. Of everything you’ve achieved.’
‘Would she?’ Millie looked hopefully at Biddy. ‘That’s good.’ She sniffed. ‘I’d better take this off. It’s a truly beautiful dress, Biddy. Thank you for letting me try it on.’ A little teary gulp came out. ‘It’s just a shame I’ll never have a reason to wear something like it.’
She drove home deep in thought. Grief for her parents tugged at her. The loss compounded with her sadness over Jed and nearly overwhelmed her. She was exhausted through crying so much, washed out with the emotions of the morning. Well, she decided, as she coerced a reluctant gearbox into third and forced herself to be more positive; if she wasn’t to have a happy ever after, maybe she could help another couple achieve it.
Chapter 45
Eleri threw her rucksack into the back of Alf’s taxi. It was parked up in the usual spot at Axminster station.
‘Davey’s place, my lovely?’
She hesitated. ‘No. Take me to The Lord of the Manor hotel first.’
Alf’s eyebrows rose. ‘Going up in the world, are we?’
‘Maybe, Alf. Just maybe.’
As Alf’s taxi ate up the miles on the journey to the hotel, Eleri gazed out of the window, watching the familiar landscape speed past. Alf had the heating on full and she wished she was outside. It was hovering around freezing again, but today had been blessed with a clear blue sky. It made her feel cautiously hopeful. Was Millie telling the truth when she’d said Alex was in bits? That he was in love with her? Could it be true? The cards were telling her the same – that misunderstandings abounded but happiness could be theirs. She should have trusted them. She believed in them for other people, so why had she ignored their message when it came to herself and Alex?
She thought she knew why. Deep down, part of her wondered if what he had inferred was true. That she wasn’t good enough for him. She’d said as much to Millie during their phone call last night. Eleri smiled as she recalled Millie’s robust response. She’d never heard her friend swear so much. As the taxi approached the hotel, Eleri repeated her beloved mantra.
As she got out and paid Alf, she looked up at the imposing, ivy-covered walls. The scaffolding had finally come down, she observed. The building’s true majesty had been revealed. It would be incredibly hard work, but she knew Alex would make a success of the hotel; she’d read it in the cards. She’d like to share it with him, knew she was right for the task. But was she really good enough for him? More importantly, would he accept her for what she was? She straightened her shoulders. There was only one way to find out.
Chapter 46
The foyer was deserted. From somewhere in the depths of the building she could hear a man and woman quarrelling. An enormous tree had been erected in the hall and someone had begun to decorate it. Boxes of red and green baubles lay abandoned and a heap of red tinsel was spilling off the chair in the corner. Some was draped over the elderly stag’s head. His disdainful expression made it clear that he thought all this frippery was utter nonsense.
‘Eleri! Thank the good Lord for all things holy.’ Alex appeared from the office. He hurried over and grasped her hands in his. ‘Don’t ever do that to me again,’ he said, urgently. Nodding to the raised voices, he explained. ‘Jed and Mother having words. We’ll leave them to it, shall we? Put your luggage there and come with me.’
Eleri, amused at his description of her battered but beloved rucksack, left her hand in his and followed him. She was surprised to feel nervous.
He took her to the old stable block. ‘Do you remember we discussed converting it into self-catering accommodation? Finished this week,’ Alex said. ‘I rather wanted your opinion.’
The building had been partitioned into units, each with its original stable door intact. He unlocked the door of the first, labelled Star, presumably after a one-time occupant, and led her in.
‘I didn’t come here to discuss interior design, Alex.’
Alex viewed her, gravely. ‘I know, but I’d like to hear it anyway.’
Eleri took in the pale wood of the kitchenette, the aqua walls with the subtle silver and green highlights, the king-size bed with its canopy. Sleeping underneath its shimmering green and blue drapes would be like swimming, she thought. It was all as she’d suggested. But she’d just outlined ideas, made a few mood boards, drawn up some sketches. Alex had made them a reality.
She whirled around in delight and faced him. ‘It’s wonderful,’ she whispered. ‘Everything I could have hoped for.’
‘All your ideas, Ri. I just got people in to create it.’ He took a step closer and feathered the lightest of touches down her cheek, as if hardly believing she was real. ‘Please, please don’t leave me again. I couldn’t bear it. I’ve been an utter fool. Can you ever forgive me?’ He kissed her very lightly. I love you, Eleri cariad.’
She smiled a little at the Welsh endearment on his very English lips. ‘Despite what I was?’
‘Because of who you are. Someone so far superior to me that I couldn’t recognise it.’
They kissed, exploring one another, making magic.
Alex broke away. ‘There are rumours,’ he said, with a smile.
‘Rumours?’ Eleri tensed.
‘That you are descended from a mermaid.’
‘Oh that.’ She relaxed.
‘Are you?’
‘What do you think?’ She reached up and smoothed back a lock of his hair, luxuriating in being able to touch him.
‘I’m a man of science,’ he said, as an answer. ‘Of numbers and logic.’ His face contorted, as if trying to get his head around it. Reaching into his pocket, he brought out her misshapen bangle.
Eleri’s eyes lit up. ‘Duw, so that’s where it was,’ she cried. ‘It’s my favourite. It was my great-grandmother’s.’ She took it off him, eyeing it curiously. ‘However did it get into this state?’
Alex’s face fell. ‘I’m so sorry. I did that to it.’ He cleared his throat, embarrassed. ‘It was in my hand when I overheard your conversation with Zoe.’
‘Ah.’
‘I’m not proud of my reaction, Ri. I had no right to feel as I did.’ His ears pinked. ‘Put it down to the old green-eyed monster. I intend to do everything I can to make it up to you.’
Eleri shook her head. ‘Nothing to forgive. I should have stayed around, talked it through with you. I just got frightened and running off was the easier thing to do.’ She kissed him.
