Christmas Park (Jane Austen Association #6)

PROLOGUE

Keely

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AS I CLIPPED MY PEARL earring to my lobe, I glanced at my reflection then up at Hugh. Standing behind me, he fidgeted, agitated and nervous.

It was our third night at Moon Manor, a magnificent manor house my friend Ayra and her husband Jai owned and also the very estate I had filmed a number of my Jane Austen films such as Pride and Prejudice, as well as Emma.

Although my husband Hugh and I lived in Bath, we had traveled to Moon Manor in Derbyshire to film our last Jane Austen film, Mansfield Park.

We’d spent two days readying the place for this very special night.

Although I’d given Ayra and Jai just a day’s notice of our arrival, they’d been welcoming and eager to help us prepare the house as we saw fit.

“What’s wrong?” I asked Hugh.

“Nothing,” he said, coming up behind me to grasp my shoulders and set a soft kiss on my cheek. “Just eager to see how the night plays out.”

“Looks more like nerves to me.”

“Yeah, I guess... a bit.”

“Miss Keely?” Meg called through the door. “Abbie and Gabriel Tillsbury have arrived as well as Penny and Cliff Healy.”

“Thank you, Meg.” I glanced back at Hugh again. “These are all people that we know, Hugh. Making this announcement shouldn’t make you nervous at all.”

I stood to take a last look at my reflection.

I’d opted for a deep green empire waist dress that was trimmed with lace just under the bustline.

The little puff sleeves were also trimmed in lace as was the hemline.

As an afterthought, I wrapped a large lace shawl over my shoulders, then quickly pulled my hair up into a loose bun. My makeup was minimal.

I looked very much the host of a Jane Austen Association gathering, the book club that Ayra and I had started in America, where we were both from.

Then we had an U.K. chapter headed by Abbie which had members such as Penny, Susan, and Holly.

All of them somehow one way or another became involved in my Jane Austen films as well.

“Come on,” I said, taking Hugh’s hand in mine. “I’m sure Susan and Holly will arrive any minute now.”

We headed out into the hall.

Moon Manor had an atmosphere that was both calm and busy. The Christmas holidays were approaching, and Ayra and Jai’s home glowed with many warm candles and was scented with cinnamon and clove.

Ayra had made it clear; this evening was mine. Her home was mine. She had let me do as I pleased with regard to the décor, and now I was to do as I pleased with the evening to come. Her staff were at my disposal, and Meg in particular had been given specific instructions to tend to my every need.

We reached the main floor just as Susan arrived with Bradley, followed by Holly and the Major.

“My apologies,” Holly said. “It’s my fault that we’re late. I couldn’t decide what to wear.”

“You’re not late at all,” I assured her. “And you look lovely.”

Her knee-length floral dress fitted her perfectly.

Susan, true to her demure self, wore a deep blue velvet skirt topped with a simple baby blue shirt.

“You can all leave your luggage here. I’ll have Jack and Mark bring everything up to your respective rooms.”

The newly arrived guests nodded as they ridded themselves of their coats. We then made our way to the drawing room where the others were waiting.

As trays of champagne were brought around the room, Hugh and I greeted everyone. There were so many hugs and kisses after such a long time apart.

“I wasn’t expecting such a festive décor,” Abbie said as she looked at the garlands that circled the room. In addition to the gold threading that embellished the garlands, there were large gold bows.

“Even if we are two weeks away from Christmas,” Ayra added with a smile, “we welcomed the holidays.”

“I was so very pleased to receive your invitation, Keely,” Penny said. “It’s always nice to spend the holidays with friends.”

I looked at them all. “You are all more than friends and co-workers. You’re family.

Some of you, like Ayra and Abbie, I’ve worked with from the very beginning, while Penny, Susan and Holly are more recent additions to the Jane Austen Association.

But you are all, in my heart, equally important not only to the movie making process, but to my peace of mind. ”

I raised my champagne flute to all of them. “To all of you, my cherished friends; my family.”

They all raised their glasses and sipped their bubbly.

Meg poked her head into the room. “The dining hall is ready, Miss Keely.”

“Thank you.” I looked at my family. “Come. We are to enjoy quite the feast.”

Hugh and I led the way to the dining hall. On entering, even I gasped as I saw the beautiful table setting.

“This is so pretty,” Susan said.

“Can I take a picture?” Holly asked.

“Sure. Go ahead.”

She took out her phone and took a quick picture.

The long table was set with large red charger plates trimmed in gold on which sat white plates also trimmed in gold.

On each plate was a linen napkin held by a red and gold napkin ring.

Bouquets of beautiful white Christmas roses and holly lined the center of the table.

In the very center of the table was an arrangement of poinsettias.

Ayra and Jai had really gone all out to help me create the festive mood I wanted for this special evening.

Hugh and I took our seats at either end of the long table while each couple sat one across from the other.

“I assume you brought us all here to discuss the upcoming movie a bit,” Abbie ventured as we enjoyed our first course of smoked salmon.

“That is a large part of the reason,” I said, deliberately vague.

“As always, there’s so much to talk about.

The cast, working here at Moon Manor, the necessary changes to be made and of course re-working the script.

After all, Mansfield Park is a difficult book to bring to life.

Though Fanny Price is the main character, she tends to take a backseat to much of the happenings in the book. ”

“Do you have an actress in mind for Fanny Price?” Penny said.

I simply smiled but then sucked in a heavy sigh.

“What is it?” Ayra said.

“I wanted to wait until after our meal.”

“Wait for what?” Abbie said.

“I have a little announcement to make.”

“I knew it,” Ayra said, her eyes filled with concern. “I knew there was more to this dinner than a pre-Christmas celebration.”

I looked across the expanse of the table to lock eyes with my husband. With only the slightest nod as indication that I needed him, he understood and quickly got up to walk the length of the table and come stand behind me.

Everyone set their silverware down and looked at me, their eyes wide with anticipation.

“You’re making me nervous,” Holly said.

“This is indeed a major announcement,” Hugh began. He put his hand to my shoulder, and I reached up to grasp it.

“Are you cancelling the production?” Ayra said.

“First things first,” I said. “As I’ve said, you are all like family to me and it was important for me to celebrate the upcoming holidays with you.”

After a dramatic pause, I stood up, shrugged off the long lace shawl I’d draped over my shoulders and pressed the fabric of my ample empire dress against the slight bulge of my belly.

“Oh, my God,” Abbie instantly cried as she jumped out of her seat.

A second passed before the other women all exclaimed with words of surprise and congratulations.

“When are you due?” Penny said. “You look to be what? Five months? Six?”

“Actually, it’s eight,” I said.

“Eight?” Susan said. “But you’re hardly showing.”

“Eight?” Holly said. “That means that you’ll be due within...”

“Within the next month,” I finished for her. “Yes.”

“But you barely have a bump,” Ayra said. “How did you manage to keep this hidden from me? You’ve been here so many times these past months. And these past days... I’ve been with you all the time and...”

“I do apologize for being so secretive. I guess, in part, I didn’t want to jinx it. And then, as the due date approached, as the holidays approached and as the complications regarding the upcoming production seemed inevitable, I knew it was time to talk to all of you.”

“That certainly explains the ample dress,” Holly said. “I mean, I get it... empire waist... Jane Austen era... yadda, yadda, yadda. But... whoosh. What an unexpected surprise.”

“Yes. My belly might not be all that large, but I’ve begun to swell everywhere else. You should see my ankles.” I laughed.

“When you say complications regarding the production, what do you mean exactly?” Abbie said.

“I’m afraid we may have to delay filming of Mansfield Park.

While I would be more than happy to start two to three months from now, I’m afraid others may not.

For one thing, most of the actors will most likely no longer be available by then.

But, more importantly, I risk losing the financial backing I have already secured.

Ayra and Abbie looked at one another. I knew those two enough to instantly know what they were thinking.

“You already have your cast, don’t you?” Abbie said.

“With the exception of one or two roles, yes.”

“And Moon Manor has been altered to take the place of Mansfield Park, right?” Ayra added.

“Yes, but...”

“Let’s get on it right away,” Abbie cut in. “Instead of waiting until after the holidays to start filming, why not start now... like... tomorrow?”

I shook my head and stammered, looking for an argument. Finally, I found my voice. “Two weeks. Are you two claiming that we can get this movie in the can in two weeks?”

“What’s missing?” Abbie said. “You know that I’ll be there for hair and makeup.”

“Yeah,” Ayra said. “What’s stopping us from getting started? I already have much of the music planned out in my head.”

“The screenplay needs a little more work,” I argued.

“I thought you told me that you already had someone working on that,” Ayra said. “You said she was brilliant, and she worked fast. How much of the script remains to be written?”