Chapter Twenty-Seven
Hattie would have preferred not to drive wearing a bias-cut silk gown when she could probably have changed in the hotel room, but she knew Mary was very keen to see her in all her finery.
Given that Mary had given her the dress (although Hattie considered it a loan) as well as the one she was wearing the next day, it was the least she could do.
‘So, what do you think?’ she asked, standing before Mary.
Hattie had been to the hairdresser to have her hair put up – just as Leonie had done it for Hattie’s party – and a large silk flower, exactly the colour of the dress, now sat behind her ear.
Around her neck was a string of pearls. In her ears were large baroque pearls that made more of a statement than those around her neck.
The dress had a matching stole and evening sandals, but Hattie had declined these, preferring to wear her own, slightly scruffy court shoes which no one would see in the folds of the dress and she knew she could spend all evening in.
There was also a matching clutch, but Hattie preferred not to take this either.
It would be so easy to leave somewhere. Instead, she had a tiny vintage silver beaded bag on a long strap that she could wear without it interfering with her look.
‘You look…’ Mary took a breath. ‘… so beautiful! And even without the matching bag and shoes, you look as if you should be in the pages of Vogue.’
‘A very old copy,’ said Hattie laughing.
‘You were so clever to find a flower that matched exactly.’
‘I have Rose to thank for that. Her shop has such lovely things. But you don’t think it’s too much?’
‘Don’t be silly! I love your earrings too.’
‘Also from Rose’s shop. I love that they’re not regular and really large. I don’t usually like dainty jewellery, so the pearls round my neck are a bit of a change for me.’
‘It’s perfect. Your neck and décolletage are lovely.’
Hattie looked at herself in the mirror again. ‘You don’t think I’m showing too much cleavage?’
‘I don’t think Luke will think so.’
‘Mary! Of course I want Luke to think I look nice. I want him to be proud of me on his arm, but I don’t want to look – you know…’
‘Slutty?’
For some reason, Hattie was shocked at hearing this word from Mary. ‘Well, yes.’
‘Sexy but not inappropriate,’ said Mary, possibly guessing that Hattie had found her frankness unnerving. ‘Now off you go. You don’t want to be late. Have you packed the car?’
Hattie nodded. ‘Absolutely. And I’ve got everything on my exhaustive list. The table plans, the big table plan so people can find their table.
The dietary needs, the place names. A list of people who’ve accepted for my parents – two copies – one each.
And some things my sister left behind when she was staying. ’
‘Then what are you waiting for? And do send pictures if you can. And don’t get stopped by the police on the journey. You may be arrested for being a runaway countess.’
Hattie rolled her eyes and then kissed her friend goodbye. ‘I’m wearing a jacket for the drive. And flat shoes.’
Hattie pulled into a layby to touch up her make-up and change her shoes. It was a warm day and she was pleased to take off her linen jacket. She pinned the flower in her hair more securely and decided she would have to do.
The hotel had once been the stately home of a local manufacturer. It had extensive grounds and a sweeping drive. The house itself was a fine example of Victorian splendour, with turrets and terrifying carved creatures.
She had parked the car and had just set off with her case on the path towards reception when Luke appeared. He took her case and kissed her cheek.
‘Hattie,’ he said. ‘You look absolutely amazing.’
Hattie looked at Luke. He looked amazing too, she realised.
She had never seen him in a suit, let alone a dinner jacket which showed off his broad shoulders and tall frame.
His hair was stylishly cut and he smelt of something delicious.
She was glad she’d used up the last of her Chanel No.
19 for the evening. She caught her breath but couldn’t speak. She was glad when he took her arm.
‘Come on,’ said Luke. ‘We’ll get your case sent up to the room and then everyone is very keen to meet you.’
‘I hope I pass muster,’ she said, suddenly nervous. Although Luke’s reaction told her that she did.
‘This is Hattie, everyone,’ said Luke to a circle of smartly dressed men and women who were drinking champagne in the foyer.
‘Hey! Luke!’ said one of the men. ‘No wonder you’ve been keeping her hidden away.’
His wife dug him in the ribs. ‘Jason! How rude!’ Then the woman smiled. ‘I’m Carole. Jason is my husband, the architect. I’d better do the introductions as Luke is terrible with names.’
Hattie smiled and nodded and repeated the names as Carole said them.
The men all looked a bit uncomfortable in their DJs but their wives had obviously enjoyed dressing up.
There were fake tans, fake lashes and a lot of cleavage.
Hattie felt her own decolletage was quite tasteful in comparison and she looked forward to reporting this to Mary.
And she couldn’t help noticing that they all looked at Luke with slight longing.
Hardly surprising, she decided. He was definitely the most attractive man in the group.
‘Here,’ said Luke, taking a glass from a passing tray. ‘Have some champagne.’
‘You’re a bit behind the rest of us,’ said one of the women. ‘When is it OK for us to get Hattie on her own and really find out about Luke? He’s always so mysterious!’
Hattie, who was still holding Luke’s arm, gave it a tiny squeeze.
‘Give the poor girl a chance to get to know everyone first,’ said Luke.
Hattie sipped her champagne. She didn’t want to overdo it – she had a very early start in the morning – but a glass of bubbles might make her feel less shy. She was never shy, she reflected. She could talk to anyone. Why did she feel so vulnerable and exposed now?
‘So, Hattie,’ said one of the women. ‘Where have you been hiding all this time? Why hasn’t Luke brought you down to Cornwall to meet us all before now?’
‘Obviously I can’t speak for Luke—’
‘I don’t know why not,’ said one of the woman. ‘I often speak for Charlie!’
Hattie smiled. ‘I do work rather a lot, and can’t easily take time off.’ This was a bit of an exaggeration.
‘They’re calling us in,’ said one of the men. ‘Has anyone found where we’re all sitting?’
‘I might pay a quick visit to the Ladies,’ said Hattie. ‘I don’t want to get hemmed in and have to squeeze past everyone.’
‘Good idea. I’ll come with you,’ said Carole.
‘So,’ she said as soon as they were away from the group. ‘How long have you and Luke known each other? We none of us thought he knew any women.’
She was about to say, ‘Years and years,’ when she realised she didn’t know what Luke had said about this. ‘I’ve known him from a distance for ages,’ she said. ‘But I’ve got to know him a bit better recently.’
‘Oh? Whenever the lads are working on the estate and chatting, Luke gives the impression you and he have been an item for a while.’
‘Oh,’ said Hattie, not sure what to do with this information. ‘So what do you do? If you’re on site with the lads? I’d love to hear about it.’
‘Actually, I am just going on what Jason said. Here’s the Ladies. Then we’d better get seated.’
Hattie took a moment to wonder how she should play the next few hours. She didn’t want to make Luke look silly but without knowing what he’d said, it was hard to know how she should behave. She’d have to find an opportunity to ask him.
Luke stood up as she reached the table and pulled her chair out.
She smiled her thanks and thought again how very attractive he looked.
It wasn’t, she realised, because the dinner jacket was so flattering, it was because she just wasn’t used to seeing Luke looking so different.
Perhaps he was seeing her in a new light too thanks to Mary’s dress?
Hattie was good at finding people interesting, but her abilities seemed to fade as everyone around her, apart from Luke, got more and more drunk.
They all knew each other well but probably didn’t often have the chance to relax and take advantage of free alcohol and food.
She was sure they didn’t mean to be rude, but she did feel a bit excluded.
She couldn’t tell if she’d have had more fun if she had been drinking herself.
But she didn’t dare have very much because she had to leave the hotel by seven at the latest, and had to be on top form to be the dutiful, helpful daughter for her parents’ big celebration.
‘So, what is it you do again?’ asked one of Luke’s fellow builders, slurring his words but trying to concentrate.
‘I find houses for people,’ Hattie had told him before, in more detail, but couldn’t be bothered to go through it all again.
‘But why can’t they go on Rightmove and find their own houses, for nothing?’
‘They can! But some people need a bit of help. They may not be local and can’t check out properties in real life. I also sometimes get to hear of properties before they go on the market.’
‘I wouldn’t bother if I was moving. I’d just find the house on Rightmove. Job done.’
Hattie smiled, to avoid saying something that would make her look as rude as she felt like being.
The awards seemed to take forever and, much to Hattie’s annoyance, Luke didn’t win his. In fact, no one on their table did. It didn’t prevent a lot of raucous applause and more drinks being ordered.
Hattie was wondering when Luke might want to leave when he got up. ‘Come and have a drink, Hattie,’ he said, putting his hand under her elbow.
Hattie stood up immediately. ‘That would be great.’ She ignored the comments and the ‘oohs!’ that followed them, and made her way as quickly through the tables as she could.