Chapter Eight #2
‘I don’t mind at all. I think they look brilliant up there. Almost real.’ She laughed.
‘The kids will absolutely love it.’
‘Phew. I’m pleased it’s worked out. Don’t worry, I haven’t tinkered with any of your other designs.’
All along the trail, the garden statues were aglow with coloured lights. At the formal gardens, the pond and central fountain were illuminated and accompanied by dramatic classical music.
‘Pretty impressive, eh? The music really elevates the effect. I hear you chose it.’
Lara could only nod, dumbstruck by the spectacular beauty of the light display and the stirring music rising to a crescendo.
They moved on through the children’s play area adorned with glowing figures of the woodland creatures that often visited the estate: red squirrels, badgers and foxes. There was also an interactive floor area where the children could set off a video of fish swimming through a pond.
‘This might be my favourite,’ Flynn said, leading the way to the Great Oak, one of the estate’s oldest trees. Bright beams played over its trunk and lit up the canopy and the branches like skeletal fingers reaching for the night sky.
A shuttered cabin nearby would be aglow once they opened, selling hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows and mulled wine – as would the Castle Café.
They hadn’t even reached the courtyard, where projections of giant snowflakes would circle the castle walls, or had a chance to take in the dramatic green and purple lights highlighting the tower.
‘Imagine everywhere full of excited kids, and with the choir singing carols in the courtyard,’ Flynn said wistfully.
‘It’s … lovely …’ Lara managed, too full of emotions to speak much. Embarrassingly, she felt a tear threatening to escape.
‘Hey,’ Flynn said, turning to her with a concerned frown. ‘Are you OK? What’s up? You’re not … disappointed, are you?’
‘No, no,’ she insisted. ‘The opposite. It’s just such a relief to see everything in place and looking so much better than I even dreamed. Planning and organising it has been such a long slog and, at times, I wondered if it would actually happen, let alone be this good.’
‘Well, it is, and that’s down to you.’
She shrugged off the praise even though she secretly liked it. ‘And the designers and techies at Wizard. They worked really hard, even if, up until a week ago, I was worried it would never come together.’
‘Your vision and ideas started it and brought it to this point. I only took over at the very last moment.’
‘Maybe, but Henry and Fiona have put their faith in me.’
‘From what I hear from the staff, it seems as if everyone has been waiting to see the castle illuminated. This is a moment to take a breath and pat yourself on the back.’
‘Hmm. I might do that when it’s all over after New Year. You’ve done a lot in a couple of days, and I’m not sure we’d have been ready to open on time without you being here. Now Fiona and Henry can’t be as involved, I don’t think I could have juggled everything.’
‘We haven’t opened yet and I’ve only helped project-manage the final stages, but I’m glad I turned up too, even if you weren’t too sure when I first appeared.’
‘It was a shock. I’d expected to be …’
‘Consulted? I promise you there was no plan to keep you in the dark. Look, we both need a break. Why don’t we get off site and decompress and get to know each other properly? Is there somewhere we could go for coffee or a lunch later this week?’
‘I ought to stay here …’ Lara said. ‘But I agree that a few hours away from the castle would do me good, especially after all that’s happened.’
His eyes lit with pleasure in a way that made Lara tingle with excitement.
‘Where do you suggest?’ he asked.
‘A new café opened in the village a couple of months ago but I haven’t had the chance to try it yet. We could meet there?’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Flynn said, digging his buzzing phone out of his pocket with an apologetic grimace. ‘Sorry. Need to take this. I’ll message you about coffee.’
Lara went back to her own office to make some calls and answer more emails – and agree on a time to meet Flynn at the Waterwheel Café later in the week.
With the Christmas programme ramping up and her employers out of action for a while, she’d have precious few moments to herself and she sorely needed the café outing to look forward to.
It wasn’t a date, so it didn’t break any of her rules.
After all, what could possibly happen over a cup of coffee and a slice of cake?
The following morning, Lara was keen to see how Henry was when Fiona brought him home from the hospital. She found him sitting in his favourite armchair with a tartan rug over his legs and a cup of tea at his side.
‘I’m hugely relieved to be home, even if I’m on a cocktail of painkillers and antibiotics,’ he told Lara.
‘And strict instructions about his diet!’ Fiona declared. ‘Low-fat healthy eating from now on. No port, cheese or rich sauces.’
‘It’s the privation that hurts the most.’ Henry grasped his wife’s hand. ‘Seriously, I’m grateful it wasn’t my ticker.’
‘You need to look after that too,’ Fiona said.
‘I know, my dear. I’ll be a veritable saint from now on.’
‘Glad to see you still have your sense of humour,’ Fiona said wryly.
Lara was glad he had too, but she was also dismayed to see that Henry had aged years overnight, which was no wonder when he’d been in pain and wasn’t able to eat properly. Under his smile, he was a worried man, and Fiona’s face was grey with exhaustion.
‘We’re both going upstairs for a nap,’ Fiona said, before turning a sympathetic eye to Lara. ‘And how are you coping, my dear? I am so sorry to leave you in the lurch. How is the planning for the Winter Spectacular going?’
‘You mean, our own version of Blackpool Illuminations?’ Henry declared with a chortle that turned into a cough and a wince.
Lara smiled. ‘Not quite on such a grand scale, but I think you’ll be pleased when you have the chance to see them.’
‘And how’s Flynn getting on?’ Fiona asked. ‘He’s been thrown into the deep end.’
‘Don’t worry. I introduced him to the team and he seems to be getting on fine with them and the contractors. We did a walkthrough yesterday evening and they truly are spectacular. I don’t think the visitors will be disappointed.’
Fiona’s shoulders visibly relaxed. ‘That’s a huge weight lifted. I shall go and see them for myself tonight. I don’t know what we’d do without you.’
Lara managed a smile. ‘I only want the best for Ravendale.’
She had to hold off with any more shocks until after the New Year celebrations, and she only hoped Henry would feel up to those. He’d certainly be out of action for quite a time as far as work was concerned, and Fiona would be busy looking after him.
‘I know and it’s such a hectic time …’
‘Especially with us oldies being hors de combat,’ Henry chirped up.
‘Quite, although I’m not sure I’d describe myself as an oldie yet, Henry.’ Fiona shared a knowing look with Lara. ‘Please make sure you have a break too. I know what an added burden you now have.’
‘It’s OK. Flynn being here and taking charge technically is a load off my mind.’
‘Good. I’m still sorry we didn’t warn you before he turned up, but I’m glad it’s working out well.’
With a cheery nod for an answer, and hoping that her employers would be able to properly relax at last, Lara left them, thinking of her praise for Flynn.
On her way back to her office, she kept thinking that Flynn was working out almost too well. He had taken charge very quickly and seemed extremely competent. As for her reaction to him, it alarmed her how much she was looking forward to spending a few hours with him at the coffee shop.
It must not turn into anything even resembling a date. It was more important than ever to do a good job with the Winter Spectacular, because, she reasoned, the more indispensable she became, the more likely the Penhaligons would be to forgive her.