Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
Esme stood in front of the full-length mirror in her hotel suite. Her long dark curls were perfectly coiffed in an up-do with loose tendrils cascading from it and her lips were a stunning crimson red. All professionally executed by a very talented makeup artist, of course. She smoothed down the fabric of her long fitted red velvet dress and wondered if everyone would be able to see her heart hammering, because she had never been so terrified. All her life she had dreamed of a moment like this but now it was here all she wanted to do was run away. She felt how she imagined Julia Roberts’s character felt in Pretty Woman just before she was about to step into a world in which she didn’t belong. Because surely this wasn’t Esme’s world? However, even if just for one night, it was Della’s.
She was grateful that the film premiere event was being held in London because it had meant her parents and friends from the castle could attend. They had all been invited as a thank you for putting up with the filming anyway, but had each told her that she was the more important reason they were attending now. It felt good to have friends. She had missed out on this since losing touch with people she knew at school and had led quite an isolated life until she began working at Drumblair Castle; the place of shooting stars – in more ways than one – and its very own constellation called the tiny cactus. She smiled and shook her head at that particular memory.
The weeks leading up to the premiere had involved lots of shopping and fittings; and not only for her. She had accompanied her parents to Edinburgh where her dad had hired a suit from a swanky tailor. And then she had stood in Olivia’s studio while her mum was fitted with a stunning midnight-blue designer dress by Nina Picarro; thanks to Olivia’s connections, of course. ‘Only the best for our Esme,’ her parents had said when she had protested about the amount of money they had spent on hotels and travel. They had refused her offer to help. ‘Just let us, we’re so very proud of you.’
The only downside was that she had no one here to hold her hand and tell her it was all going to be okay. Her parents had done so, of course, but she longed to be enveloped in strong, loving arms, to be kissed and told she was beautiful. Because at this precise moment in time she didn’t recognise herself. In her mind she was playing another character, and this time it was Della Cassidy, movie star. She was looking forward to getting back to being Esme Cassidy, PA to Lady Olivia MacLeod.
Offers had flooded in from agents and producers since the trailer reel had been released but she was definitely not seeking the bright lights of fame and stardom any more. She was considering auditioning for some smaller TV roles within the UK simply because of her love for the craft but that was where the dream she had once held so dear had ended. She had witnessed Zach’s manic schedule and how hard it was for him to function in ‘real life’ without someone to keep his diary, someone to dress him, someone to tell him what to say, and had realised it just wasn’t for her. She knew she was in the minority for feeling this way and that most of her school contemporaries would be spitting chips if they knew she was on the verge of giving it all up, especially when she had only just achieved her dream.
There was a knock on the door. ‘It’s time,’ came a familiar voice and her heart skipped. Zach! She rushed to the door and opened it. There he stood in a black suit, looking as handsome as ever and every bit the man she had once fallen in love with as a teenager.
‘Wow! You look incredible!’ he said with a wide, heartfelt smile.
‘It’s not too much?’
He shook his head. ‘You could never be too much, Esme Cassidy. You’re stunning. And I’m honoured to be accompanying you.’
‘Thank you. You may have to hold me up because I could pass out at any given moment. I can say with all honesty that I have never been so scared in all my days on this earth.’
‘Take it from me, it doesn’t get easier. But you’re with me and this is going to be amazing. Come on, the car is waiting.’
‘Not a London cab then?’ Esme asked with a nervous laugh.
‘Absolutely not. We’re arriving in style. Shall we?’ He held out his elbow to her.
Esme grabbed her bag. ‘One second. I just need to check…’ She took out her phone but there were no messages. She sighed deeply. ‘Okay, I’m ready.’
The limousine pulled up outside the Odeon in Leicester Square and Esme peered out of the window at the number of press photographers already waiting.
Her heartrate increased and she gulped. ‘Zach, I can’t… I feel like an impostor. I don’t think I can…’
‘Of course you can. You have every right to be here. The driver will open the door, and I’ll get out first, offer you my hand and you’ll climb out, okay?’
‘But what if I fall flat on my face? What if my heel gets stuck in my dress and it rips?’
Zach chuckled. ‘You do worry about the most bizarre things. Come on. It’s show time!’
The door opened and suddenly there was a cacophony of shouting and an almost strobe effect of camera flashes.
‘Miss Cassidy, over here!’
‘This way, Della!’
‘Miss Cassidy, you look stunning!’
‘Are you and Zach finally an item?’
‘Mr Marchand, is it true you’ve proposed to Miss Cassidy?’
Esme’s legs felt weak under her long dress, but Zach held her hand as much as he could until the next photographer demanded a pose.
Eventually the next car pulled up and Esme and Zach were free to enter the cinema.
‘See, you handled that brilliantly. Like you’ve done it a million times before,’ Zach told her with a kiss to her cheek.
Esme breathed a huge sigh of relief. ‘Oh, my word. I don’t know how you do it and stay so calm. All the intrusive questions too.’
Zach laughed. ‘Yep, they ask ’em every time, even though they know they’re getting no answers. Crazy.’
For a while they chatted to their fellow actors, the director and members of the crew and the room kept on filling as more and more people arrived. Time seemed to pass in a blur.
‘Hi, pet!’ Esme’s dad said as he and her mum enveloped Esme in a hug. ‘How was it out there?’
‘Terrifying! Aww, you both look so wonderful,’ Esme replied, fighting back the emotions that were bubbling just beneath the surface.
‘We’re not supposed to have left our seats,’ her mum said in a dramatic whisper. ‘But we had to come and see you. We’re so proud of you, darling.’ Her mum dabbed at her watery eyes. ‘We’ll see you afterwards.’
Esme waved to her mum and dad and then looked back to Zach. ‘So, what happens now?’
‘Now, we grab some champagne before taking our seats for the excruciating part.’
Esme raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh, God, what excruciating part?’
Zach laughed. ‘The part where we watch ourselves on screen in front of hundreds of people. It’s second-hand embarrassment’s older, uglier brother.’
Esme chewed her lip. ‘Oh, heck, I’d actually forgotten about that part.’
‘Actually, before that, there’s something else you need to do.’
Esme’s mind whirred. What could possibly be left? There was a tap on her shoulder, and she turned around to see Judd standing there. She flung her arms around him. ‘You came! You said you couldn’t! But you did!’
He hugged her tightly and mumbled into her neck, ‘As if I’d actually miss it.’
She pulled back to look at him. He wore a three-piece navy suit and a white shirt. ‘You look gorgeous. So handsome,’ she said as butterflies danced in her stomach. Then she noticed his navy tie had tiny snowdrops printed on it.
He noticed her scrutinising them. ‘Ah, they’re snowdrops.’
She tilted her head and smiled, knowing there was more to the tie choice than met the eye. ‘Yes, I can see that. And their significance is…?’
‘A promise.’
She placed her hand over her heart. ‘Oh, that’s so lovely, Judd. But what are you promising?’
He reached into his inside pocket and pulled something out before lowering to one knee. ‘Esme Cassidy, I promise to love you with all my heart for as long as you’ll have me, and I’m sort of hoping that might be forever.’
Tears welled in her eyes and the whole room fell silent as everyone was focused on them. She covered her mouth to try and stop the threatening sob from escaping.
‘I’ve had a whole year of you. And we did say that if we were still single by the time the movie premiere came around we’d come together. Although I’m hoping you’ll marry me so that next time we can just come to these things as husband and wife. What do you think?’
She lowered herself to the ground to face him. ‘I think heck yes, I’ll marry you.’
Raucous applause rippled around the room and Judd stood, bringing Esme with him. ‘I love you so much,’ he told her.
‘And I love you too.’
Zach hugged them in turn. ‘I’m so happy for you both. Two of my best friends!’
Judd slapped his shoulder. ‘I’m guessing you’ll be happy to be my best man then?’
Zach’s chin trembled and he smiled. ‘Well, if the chief bridesmaid spot is taken I’m all yours!’
A voice boomed over a hidden speaker system. ‘Ladies and gentlemen! Please take your seats for the premiere of An Unlikely Inheritance !’
Judd took Esme’s hand. ‘It’s time.’
* * *