Epilogue
E leanor sat in the newly-painted morning room stirring her tea as Elizabeth watched her carefully. Two years, it had taken to completely finish the house, and Eleanor still wasn’t completely used to it being done. Parts of it still felt like someone else’s house.
“Not sure yellow would have been my first choice,” Elizabeth said.
“It’s sunshine yellow and perfectly appropriate for the room,” said Eleanor crisply. “And isn’t every room in your house painted white?”
“It makes it far easier to choose furniture,” said Elizabeth. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s wrong? You’ve been like a bear with a sore head all morning. It’s not like you to be so snappy. Are you bored because the house is done?”
“God, no,” said Eleanor, putting her tea down. “I’ve got about a million things to do, an estate doesn’t run itself. The farm is making us half self-sufficient and we’re looking into expanding, the grounds still need plenty of work. No, I’ve got enough to do for a lifetime.”
“So…?”
She sighed. “It’s Danni,” she admitted. “She’s been distant lately, distracted. I wondered if maybe she’d said anything to you?”
“Oh no,” said Elizabeth. “I don’t get between the two of you, you know that. I’ve got a blanket ban on keeping secrets from spouses. Anything you tell me goes to her and anything she says goes to you. It’s easier that way.”
“Not helpful,” Eleanor said.
“But less stressful,” said Elizabeth. “Any idea what it’s all about?”
For a second, Eleanor bit her lip, wondering whether to speak about anything so personal.
But this was Elizabeth. “I think it’s the IVF,” she said.
“The failed attempts have hit her hard, and even though she tries to act like she’s fine, I can tell she isn’t.
I’ve suggested stopping or taking a break, but…
” She hesitated, staring into her teacup. “I don’t know how to help her.”
Elizabeth raised a single eyebrow. “Considered asking her?”
“She just says she’s fine. But I know she’s keeping something from me,” Eleanor said.
Elizabeth set her cup down. “I see.”
“That’s all you’ve got?”
“It’s your marriage, Nor, I can’t get involved. All I can say is that I’m sure between the two of you, you’ll work things out.”
Eleanor groaned and flopped back against the cushions. “You are supremely unhelpful.”
*
“You’re sure it’s ready?” Danni asked, brushing a speck of dust off her best jacket as Samson wriggled uncomfortably in his tie.
“Keeping this whole thing secret from Her Majesty has been a bloody nightmare, but yes, it’s ready. Just don’t touch that last part of railing over there, the stain’s still a bit tacky.”
Danni looked over at the back railing of the gazebo. There were chairs in front of it, so it was unlikely that anyone would touch it. “It has to be perfect,” she said.
“We’re about to put the final decorative touches on,” Samson said. “Or we will be if you get out of our way.”
“I’m going, I’m going,” Danni said, looking at her watch. “I just hope everyone else does what they’re supposed to do on time.”
“You do know that Lady Eleanor is going to throttle you for keeping all this a secret?” Samson said.
“I know,” said Danni, eyebrows dancing devilishly. “But she’ll forgive me. We all get one grand gesture in life, and Eleanor’s already had hers. This is my turn.”
*
Eleanor had rather been hoping that Elizabeth would take her mind off things, would perhaps even suggest lunch. But she’d plead off, citing some sort of legal reason about court or something equally unimportant, and had scurried off after morning tea.
Leaving Eleanor uncharacteristically at a loose end. She tapped her mobile phone in her hand, wondering whether she should call Danni and demand a heart-to-heart. But she was probably busy at the farm. Talking would have to wait until later.
Instead, she called her grandmother.
Isabella answered on the third ring. “Eleanor.”
“Grandmama.”
“Is it something terribly important, my dear? I’m afraid I’m quite tied up at the moment.”
Eleanor frowned. “Um, no, not terribly.”
“Oh, good,” said Isabella. “In that case, if you don’t mind…?”
“No, no,” Eleanor said.
But Isabella had already hung up.
What on earth was going on? Was everyone in her life deserting her? All she wanted was someone to complain to. Perhaps that was the problem. Perhaps she needed to bear her own worries and frustrations, and not inflict them on others.
She was just wondering whether or not she should go on a long walk and try to forget that the rest of the world existed, when a knock sounded at the morning room door. She turned and saw Indi standing in the doorway, grinning .
“Let myself in,” Indi said airily. “There’s no security around here, did you know that? Big old door, just standing there unlocked. Honestly, if I weren’t such a law-abiding citizen, I could have stolen the family jewels by now.”
“What are you doing here?” Eleanor asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Girls’ afternoon,” Indi said, breezing past her into the room and dumping an armful of bags on the sofa.
“Girls’ afternoon doing what?” said Eleanor suspiciously.
Indi shrugged. “Trying on clothes, gossiping, drinking tea… or something stronger. Your choice.”
Eleanor crossed her arms. “Is this a setup?”
“Absolutely,” Indi grinned. “I’ve been working on a new dress, and I need a human model. There’s only so much I can do on a mannequin. And you seem to be at a loose end.” She held out a garment bag.
Eleanor sighed, but took the bag. Even Indi was better than a cross tromp through the countryside, she supposed.
*
Danni pulled up outside The Willows in her battered Land Rover, and Isabella was already standing on the porch and waiting.
“It’s about time,” Isabella grumbled, as she clambered up into the passenger seat. “And when are you going to get rid of this awful vehicle? Honestly, you’re a lady of the manor, surely you could drive something with a little more class.”
“Sentimental attachment,” Danni said. “Besides, sheep don’t fit in the back of the Rolls, so it’s not exactly practical.”
Isabella laughed. “Is everything ready?”
“Ready as it’ll ever be,” said Danni, pulling out of the driveway. “We’ve just got to stop by the big farm and then we’ll be on our way.”
“Has Eleanor guessed anything yet?” Isabella asked as they drove.
“Don’t think so. But you know her, she’s a dark horse. There’s every chance that she knows it all and just hasn’t said anything about it.”
“She did call me this morning,” said Isabella. “I told her I was busy.”
For a while they chatted about the farm, Isabella showing shrewd interest in Danni’s new planting policies. And then they were bumping over the cobblestones into the big farmyard. Hector was already pacing around, looking far from happy in his suit and tie.
“I hate suits,” he said as he opened the door and climbed into the back seat. “And you’d better make sure you keep that Elizabeth away from me. She’s a maneater.”
Isabella rolled her eyes. “She’s a lawyer, not a lion.”
“Same thing,” Hector said darkly.
There was the sound of high heels on the cobblestones and Danni looked in the rearview mirror to see her mother tottering toward the car.
“She’ll be on her best behavior,” Hector said, catching Danni’s glance.
“She’s promised to teach me poker,” Isabella said.
“Oh God,” said Danni.
“She’s pleased to be invited,” said Hector. “Honestly, Dan. You’ve made her year.”
“Yeah, well, she’s my mum,” said Danni. She started the engine as her mother climbed into the car.
“Drink for the journey?” asked her mum, rattling a bag that seemed to be filled with airport miniatures.
“Oh, yes, please,” said Isabella, accepting a tiny bottle of gin.
*
Eleanor smoothed down the beautiful blue dress that Indi had practically sewn her into and admired herself in the mirror .
“Just put your hair up like this,” Indi said, sticking a few pins in. Then she stood back, nodding.
The dress was undeniably stunning, Indi was a talented girl. Eleanor took a second to really appreciate it before turning back to Indi. “You’ve done a wonderful job here,” she said. “It looks fantastic. But if you could just get the zip for me.”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Indi said.
“Yeah, probably not wise, Your Maj,” Samson said, standing in the doorway.
He was wearing a full suit and had flowers in his buttonhole. He was also holding out his arm as though he was going to escort Eleanor.
She looked from Samson to Indi and back again. “What’s going on?”
Indi grinned. “You’ll see. Go on.”
Extremely suspicious, and more than slightly nervous, Eleanor allowed Samson to take her arm and lead her down the stairs and out into the grounds. She immediately saw what had changed.
“It’s finished?” she gasped. The old gazebo had been surrounded by scaffolding for months now.
“Oh, just you wait,” laughed Samson.
As they got closer, Eleanor could see flowers adorning every surface, fairy lights twinkling like stars up in the beams, and rows of chairs that seemed to be filled with people. And there, right at the front, stood Danni.
“But… but we’re already married,” was all Eleanor could think of to say.
Danni thanked Samson and took Eleanor’s arm herself. “Yeah, but you did sort of propose twice, so I figured two weddings was just in keeping with the theme,” she said. “That and I thought that maybe we should do this properly this time. For real.”
Eleanor stopped. “It’s always been real,” she said softly.
“I know,” said Danni. Music started playing inside the gazebo. “You ready for this?”
Eleanor laughed. “Me? I was born ready.”
*
Later, as they danced on the lawn beneath the stars, Eleanor’s head on her shoulder, Danni didn’t think she’d ever been so happy.
“You know, I thought you were keeping secrets,” Eleanor said.
“Oh, I was,” said Danni.
“Yes, that’s relatively clear now,” said Eleanor, looking up. “But now you’ve had your big gesture, so no more making a scene, okay?”
“Says the person that proposed in a crowded pub,” said Danni.
“A one off.”
“So was this,” Danni said. She took a breath. This was the part that she was stupidly nervous about. Nervous with no real cause. It was what they both wanted. “So the other secret that I was keeping, that’s just for us.”
“Another secret?” Eleanor said. Danni looked at her and Eleanor stopped dancing, just stared at her, her face a mixture of fear and excitement. “Are you sure?” she whispered.
“A little prince of princess for Brewster Manor,” said Danni. “Aren’t you glad you didn’t sell the place now?”
Tears were streaking down Eleanor’s face and Danni reached up to wipe them away with her thumbs. “I’d be anywhere with you. Anywhere with us.”
“If you keep crying, then people might guess our secret,” Danni said, pulling her in close.
“They’ll guess soon enough,” laughed Eleanor.
“Well, I think we can keep it to ourselves just for tonight,” Danni said. “Just me and you and… whatever this is. Kylie? Kevin? Josephat?”
“Oh Lord, how are we going to decide on names?”
“We’ll let Sam decide,” Danni said solemnly. “He’s the smartest one of us all.”
“He’s a horse. ”
“We can’t all be perfect,” said Danni.
Eleanor raised an eyebrow. “Are you implying that I’m imperfect?”
Danni grinned. “Never, Princess.” And she bent to catch Eleanor’s lips with her own as the music played on and the stars shone above and the two most mismatched people in the village, perhaps the universe, sealed their love with a kiss that was as perfect as two perfectly imperfect people can be.