Chapter 14
The grandfather clock in Eliza’s hallway chimed seven as she slipped through the gap in the hedge separating her cottage from Dan’s.
She’d spent the morning in a total panic over what to wear, FaceTiming Nancy until they’d finally agreed on her most flattering black trousers paired with her silky leopard-print blouse.
Her frantic Google searches had revealed that ‘safari supper’ had nothing to do with animal print, but she couldn’t resist staying on theme anyway.
Clutching a bottle of wine from the village shop – she’d nearly depleted Henry’s wine collection already – she knocked loudly on Dan’s door. It swung open almost immediately.
‘Eliza, my dear!’ Dan exclaimed, enveloping her in a very exuberant manner. ‘Last to arrive! Everyone else was so thirsty they turned up right on the dot. Come in, come in, I think by now you’ll know most of the faces.’
Stepping into the warmth of Dan’s living room, Eliza scanned the gathering: Mia, Vivi, Bill and Tom Stanley.
‘Nice gang!’ Eliza whispered to Dan, feeling instantly more at ease. ‘I had no idea what to expect, but this is a relief! I thought I might know no one.’
‘Personally, I never miss one of Dan’s safari suppers,’ Bill said, appearing next to her. ‘It’s the best way to catch up with everyone I like in the village without having to organise it myself. He always has the best guests . . .’
‘And I’m guessing, knowing Dan, the best gossip!’ said Eliza.
Calling for quiet, Dan stood in the centre of the room.
‘Now that you’re all here, we can begin properly.
Welcome to the Farmington Safari Supper Club, where the company is delightful, and the destinations a mystery!
The rules of the Safari Supper are simple – you enjoy drinks and nibbles here, then you’ll receive an envelope from me with your next destination for the main course.
After that, you’ll get another envelope for dessert.
It’s the perfect way to see inside everyone’s houses without being labelled a nosy parker! ’
‘Well, obviously we’re all very nosy,’ Vivi chimed in, looking radiant in a deep green jumpsuit. ‘But that’s half the fun!’
‘It’s true,’ Mia laughed, nibbling on a miniature quiche.
‘We’re taking bets on where we get to go next,’ she said, turning to Eliza.
‘I’m dying to see what’s growing in Marjorie’s garden, and to eat some of her delicious food.
She’s always the winning ticket at this event, so I’m hoping my envelope delivers! ’
‘Is Marjorie hosting tonight?’ Eliza asked, taking a sip of her champagne.
‘Now that would be telling,’ Dan teased. ‘The suspense is part of the charm.’
Tom Stanley raised his glass. ‘To curiosity,’ he toasted with a wink.
As they all clinked glasses, Eliza turned to study Tom more closely. She had only met him once at the ploughing competition, but she could see the resemblance to Luke immediately – they had the same strong jawline and swagger, but Tom was like a silver fox version, exuding charm and good looks.
‘So, Eliza,’ Tom said, leaning in slightly to get closer to her, ‘I hear you’ve been making quite an impression in Farmington. My daughter for one can’t stop singing your praises.’
‘Well, that’s kind of her, but your daughter is pretty amazing herself. And her wedding is coming together like a dream. But I have to say that everyone around here has been so helpful. I’m starting to see the benefits of living in such a tight-knit community!’
Tom swirled his champagne thoughtfully. ‘Small villages – wonderful for borrowing sugar, terrible for keeping secrets.’ His eyes crinkled at the corners.
‘Luke also mentioned you’ve convinced him to transform that dusty old barn of his into a wedding venue.
I nearly passed out when he told me! Luke doesn’t usually let anyone change his mind about anything. ’
Eliza took another sip of her champagne to try to cool the colour rising in her cheeks. ‘Well, it just seemed perfect. All that beautiful space going to waste, when it would be so ideal for the wedding. And in fact, just events in general – it’s crying out for some big parties!’
‘Nothing actually goes to waste with Luke,’ Tom replied thoughtfully.
‘He’s generally always working on some master plan!
’ He paused for a moment, then took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, which seemed to Eliza to hold a hint of sadness.
‘The thing is, Eliza, there’s not that much of the farm left to pass on to him, at least not compared to what we used to have.
So much was lost while he was growing up, while we were trying to keep our heads above water.
It often keeps me awake at night, all the worry with how he’ll be able to afford to keep the farm running once I’m gone.
Farming is simply not as easy as it used to be.
I don’t want to be handing him a poisoned chalice. ’
‘I don’t know Luke that well, but he seems pretty resilient to me,’ said Eliza, patting his arm in a way she hoped felt supportive.
‘Ah, Luke’s resourceful, always has been. And stubborn as a mule when he sets his mind to something!’
‘I’ve noticed that!’ Eliza said wryly. ‘He doesn’t seem to take no for an answer.’
‘Gets that from his mother,’ Tom chuckled, the melancholy lifting from his face. ‘But he’s also never been one to burden others with his troubles. He’s always been that way, even as a boy.’
Eliza nodded, everything she knew about Luke reshuffling in her mind. ‘Yes, he likes to hold his cards close to his chest.’
‘He’s always been a very private person, so don’t take it personally, but I trust him to make the right decisions.
But then, I would say that!’ Tom threw his head back with a bark of laughter.
‘Anyway, enough about family finances! This is supposed to be a fun evening! And for now, I’m just happy to see my son more like himself again. ’
Eliza was desperate to ask what he meant by that, but Vivi suddenly appeared at Eliza’s elbow, interrupting their chat.
‘Are you monopolising our lovely Eliza, Tom?’
‘Absolutely, she’s a delight!’ responded Tom, his eyes sparkling with a familiar charm, before moving off in search of a refill.
‘Where’s Jean Pierre tonight?’ asked Eliza.
‘Oh, he’s in the village somewhere!’ Vivi trilled.
‘Well, in that case, I can’t believe he’s let you out of his sight looking this gorgeous!’
‘Oh, I have no doubt that Dan planned this group exactly to his liking,’ giggled Vivi, ‘but this is actually perfect – Jean Pierre and I wanted to ask you something and I thought it might be best for me to float the idea. You can always say no, though I do hope you won’t.’
Eliza laughed. ‘Oh, now I’m intrigued – do you need someone to join your in-house Pilates class again? If so, I’m in!’
‘No, no.’ Vivi swallowed and then grasped Eliza’s arm a little tightly.
‘Okay, here goes. Would you be up for helping us come up with the PR launch for our newest heritage sparkling wine?’ Before Eliza could even speak, Vivi rushed on, ‘We have a broker and all of that already, although I must admit he’s quite useless, but this wine means so much to Jean Pierre and I just want it to fly!
It would mean the world to us if you could help us bring it to market.
You’ve got so many great ideas and ways of breathing life into your projects – we can see that with everything you’re doing for Fenella.
Oh, please say you’ll do it. And before you say anything, we are absolutely paying you! ’
Eliza’s mind was whirring. They trusted her with their heritage sparkling? ‘Oh, Vivi! Yes, I’d love to help you – thank you for thinking of me.’
Squealing, Vivi rushed in to hug her tight, spilling a few drops of champagne in her excitement. ‘Jean Pierre will be so thrilled! Thank you, Eliza, we just wanted to work with someone we trust, and then you came along – it’s like fate!’
Eliza was still glowing from the job offer, when Tom appeared from the kitchen, glass refilled. ‘I expect JP’s regaling everyone with stories at The Bush by now, Vivi,’ he said with a knowing smile.
‘How did you know? That’s exactly where he said he was starting tonight,’ Vivi replied smiling
Bill chimed in, joining their circle, ‘Ten pounds says he’s three pints deep already.’
Vivi rolled her eyes, but her smile remained. ‘The bartender has even engraved his name on a brass plaque above his usual stool.’
‘Eliza, can I grab you for a second?’ called Dan from the kitchen. ‘I need a helping hand!’
She quickly excused herself and went straight through to help him, still on cloud nine after Vivi’s request. ‘Dan, what can I do? The kitchen isn’t really my forte, but I’ll do my best. Really you need Marjorie here – she’d sort all this out in a second.
In fact, can’t you two just get together?
’ chirped Eliza. ‘It would be great for my fledgling career as a wedding planner to have another one in the pipeline!’
‘Perhaps you could plan your own wedding rather than worrying about mine,’ retorted Dan, as he sliced some lemons. ‘You and Luke seem to be getting pretty cosy.’
‘I think that’s what they would call a shotgun wedding, Dan – I only met him six weeks ago!
’ Taking a sip of her champagne and plating up the blinis, Eliza smiled at this easy domesticity.
‘It’s crazy really if I think about it. I left London a sobbing heartbroken mess, and now here I am, dating, or should I say shagging, the hottest specimen I’ve ever seen.
A lot has happened since Phil rescued me from the side of the road. ’
‘Phil rescued you? How did I miss that part?’
‘Yup, I got a flat tyre, and he turned up like a guardian angel to change it, but that was of course before I met the tricky Bella!’
‘Well, I’m not so sure that Phil isn’t just as tricky as his wife. He’s just a pro at playing the charm card when it suits him.’