‘What is it you do?’ I quite like the sound of the perks, especially the villa in the south of France.
Archie scrunches up his nose. ‘Nothing as worthy as teaching, I’m afraid. I’m a management consultant.’
‘That sounds interesting.’
I have no idea what a management consultant is.
Archie laughs. ‘It really, really isn’t. I wish I’d been more like you and followed my dreams. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was younger. I’m fascinated by space and the possibilities of what’s out there.’ He lies back again, floating on the water so he can look up at the sky.
‘Why didn’t you say?’ Alice asks with a wide grin. ‘I’d have funded a one-way ticket into space for you.’
Archie laughs. ‘This is what I’ve missed most about you, Al – your ability to make me feel warm and loved.’
Alice opens her mouth to speak, but the heavy doors swing open behind us and we turn to see Carolyn wobbling precariously close to the edge of the pool in her heels. She’s fully dressed in the outfit she wore for dinner and the dancing afterwards.
‘Queen Carolyn!’ Archie starts to swim towards the edge of the pool. ‘Come and join us.’
I don’t think that’s a very good idea. Carolyn throws her hands up in the air, which causes her to wobble a bit more. She’s clearly sloshed and I can see her taking an unexpected dive into the water.
‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Alice.’ Carolyn jabs a finger in Alice’s general direction and stumbles forward, the toes of one shoe landing beyond the edge of the pool. To take herself away from the danger of taking a splash, she takes a couple of steps back, colliding with a sunlounger, and ends up in a half-sitting, half-lying position on Alice’s towel.
‘Are you okay?’ Alice is already swimming back towards the pool’s steps. ‘What’s happened?’
‘I’m fine.’ Carolyn attempts to sit up properly but can’t quite manage it. In the end, she sprawls out on the sunlounger until Alice emerges from the pool and helps her to sit up.
‘I just wanted to dance,’ Carolyn says as Alice manages to prise the towel from under her sister’s bum. ‘I wanted to practise for the wedding. For our first dance. That’s why I booked the band.’ Carolyn sighs. ‘But he wouldn’t dance with me.’
‘Piers wouldn’t?’ Alice wraps the towel around her middle as Carolyn shakes her head, over and over again. ‘Maybe you should have a little sleep. Get some rest ready for tomorrow.’
Carolyn shakes her head again, over and over. My head aches just watching her. ‘I don’t want to sleep. I want to snuggle up and watch a film with hot chocolates. Like we used to. Will you come with me?’
Alice looks from Carolyn to me, a small frown on her face.
‘It’s okay,’ I tell her. ‘You go with Carolyn. I’ll be fine here.’
‘Are you sure? I can put Carolyn to bed and come back.’
‘No bed!’ Carolyn throws her hands up again and the sudden movement sends her toppling back down onto the sunlounger.
‘It’s fine, really,’ I tell Alice. ‘Go and snuggle and watch your film. I’ll get out in a few minutes anyway.’
‘You’ll look after Emily, won’t you?’ Alice asks Archie, and I see a flash of mischief in her eyes.
‘Of course. I’ll personally escort the lady back to your room.’ Which is lucky as I don’t know my way around the castle yet and could easily find myself lost and wandering the corridors all night.
Alice grabs her kaftan, tucking it under one arm so both hands are free to haul Carolyn up from the sunlounger. She gives me one last look before guiding her sister out of the pool room, winking before she disappears out of the doors, leaving Archie and me alone.
Chapter Eleven
The heavy doors close with a thud, echoing around the room. I turn in the water, feeling a bit awkward now Archie and I are on our own. A late-night swim seemed like a fun distraction when it was the three of us, but now it feels too intimate. We are, after all, as near to being naked as you can get without actually getting your kit off.
‘So, you’re Alice’s best friend,’ Archie says, and I’m relieved to be on safe ground.
‘And housemate. We’ve lived together since the second year of uni.’
‘Is that where you met? At uni?’
I pull myself up onto the side of the pool, twisting so I can sit on the edge with my feet dangling in the water. I feel safer elevated up here. ‘We were on different courses – I was doing a history degree and Alice was doing French and Italian – but she had a bit of a crush on one of my tutors, so she hung around the history department a lot. We became friends and, when her old housemate moved out, she offered me the room.’
Archie starts a leisurely crawl towards the side of the pool. ‘Did anything ever happen with the tutor?’
I shake my head. ‘Unfortunately not. All that eyelash fluttering and hair flicking was a waste of time.’
Archie hauls himself out of the pool. He has an amazing body; toned without being overly muscly, lightly tanned. I wonder if he’s being making use of the company villa in the south of France…
‘I always thought Alice would be married with kids by now.’
I cross my arms, and my feet, which I’ve been idly swishing through the water, still as I turn to Archie. ‘She isn’t even thirty yet. There’s plenty of time for all that.’
Archie nods profusely. ‘Oh, absolutely. It’s just that Alice was always a bit of a romantic when we were growing up.’ He laughs and shakes his head. ‘She hated being at that all-girls school she and Carolyn were sent to because – and I think I’m directly quoting here – there was no chance in hell of finding a boyfriend, unless she wanted to snog the headmaster and cause a huge scandal.’
I think of my tutor and the way Alice would flirt outrageously with him at every opportunity. She wasn’t so fussed about causing a scandal then.
‘I’m sure she’ll find the right guy, though,’ Archie says. ‘Someone who’s worthy of her.’
I think of Kevin, who worships Alice. Who’s willing to stay behind and babysit our cat while we have a whale of a time without him. But of course I can’t tell Archie about him, no matter how much Alice trusts him. Kevin isn’t my secret to tell.
‘And what about you?’ Archie has grabbed my towel from the sunlounger and is draping it around my shoulders. ‘Are you single too?’
I pull the towel around my body, holding it tight with one hand while I somehow clamber up onto my feet with the aid of the other. I wish I’d gone with Alice and Carolyn now; if it’s acceptable to gatecrash her wedding, I’m sure Carolyn wouldn’t have minded me huddling up with them on the sofa for a movie night. Archie’s question is still hanging in the air as the door creaks open and I almost slump down onto the nearest sunlounger with relief. Alice must have convinced Carolyn to climb into bed after all and has returned to rescue me.
‘Ah, there you are.’ It isn’t Alice. It’s Francelia – The Goblin – standing in the doorway, with her hands planted on her hips. ‘I’ve been looking absolutely everywhere for you. An old friend of Roderick wanted a quick word with you, about his greetings card business. He’s worried about the impact of Brexit and wanted a bit of advice. Shall I pop him in the parlour? You can change and meet him there in, say, ten minutes?’ Francelia beams at her nephew, not bothering to wait for a reply. ‘Fantastic! You’re such a good boy.’
And then she’s gone, the heavy door slamming shut behind her.
‘Great.’ Archie’s shoulders slump. ‘Just great. I’m going to be lumbered with these boring old farts all week, aren’t I?’ He covers his face with his hands and groans. ‘I wanted a few days off, to catch up with everybody, but I can’t seem to escape work.’
‘It’s because you’re such a good boy.’ I can’t help teasing Archie. I honestly thought Francelia was either going to pinch his cheeks or pat him on the head when she’d said it.
Archie groans again. ‘Don’t. It’s so embarrassi
ng. She thinks I’m this angelic little boy, but I’m really not.’
‘Really?’ I can’t mask the scepticism in my voice. ‘But you are going to do as you’re told and help that guy out, aren’t you?’
‘I suppose I have to. Or…’ A grin spreads across Archie’s face. ‘We could hide. Get out of here before she comes back.’
‘What, like hide and seek?’
‘More like hide and stay out of the way for as long as possible. Please don’t make me go and talk business with that guy.’ Archie shoots me a pleading look, his eyebrows pulled down low.
‘But where would we go?’
Archie holds out a hand and I find myself taking it. ‘I know the perfect place.’
My feet are still damp and sliding about uncomfortably in my flip-flops, and my cover-up is sticking to my wet body like a second skin, but Archie insisted there was no time to dry off properly. We scurry around the perimeter of the pool until we reach a door that leads out onto a vast lawn at the back of the property, ensuring we don’t run into Francelia inside the castle. I feel an instant chill on my damp body as we step outside, but there’s no chance to complain as we’re off, tearing across the lawn towards a little wood in the distance. I’m gasping for breath long before we reach the first tree and disappear into the canopy of leaves.
‘Excuse me while I lay down and die, right here,’ I say between raspy breaths once it feels safe to stop. My hands are on my knees, my shoulders heaving with the effort of putting oxygen into my unfit body.
‘Sorry,’ Archie says, and I’m disconcerted to hear the lack of near-to-death wheezing. ‘It’s not much further.’
What? We’re not going to stop here?
‘I don’t think Francelia’s going to come all the way out here.’ She’s probably in the pool room right now, wondering where we’ve disappeared to, but I doubt her first thoughts are going to turn to the wooded area three gazillion miles away.
‘I’m not taking any chances. Would you like me to carry you the rest of the way?’
I give a snort of derision. ‘Absolutely not. I have legs, thank you very much.’ Even if they have turned to jelly.
‘You like to assert your independence,’ Archie says as we set off again. It’s pretty much pitch-black under the trees, with only tiny slivers of moonlight finding their way through the foliage, but he seems to know where he’s going anyway.
‘Don’t you?’
There’s a small pause while Archie ponders my question. ‘Fair point. But do you mind if I hold your hand?’
‘Are you afraid the big, bad wolves are going to find us?’ I’m teasing, but I manage to scare myself a little bit. I hope there aren’t actually any wolves out here. Do wolves live in Cheshire villages?
‘I was thinking more of your safety,’ Archie says. ‘I know where I’m going but it’s dark and unfamiliar to you. Plus, you’re wearing a pair of flimsy flip-flops.’
He isn’t wrong. I’ve nearly tripped over twigs and tree roots a couple of times (though I won’t admit this to Archie after the whole asserting my independence thing). I reach out and take Archie’s proffered hand, hating the instant relief I feel at having an anchor.
‘Where are we going?’ I ask as we take a sharp turn around the wide trunk of a tree.
‘To the umbrella tree.’ Archie guides me slowly forward, our steps careful as we navigate the uneven carpet of old twigs, leaves and mulch.
‘The what?’ I jump at the sound of a twig snapping underfoot but manage not to yelp.
‘Didn’t Alice ever tell you about the umbrella tree?’
Archie veers to the left and I follow. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
‘This.’ Archie stops so suddenly, I almost careen into the back of him. ‘Welcome to the umbrella tree.’
The tree before us is at odds with its neighbours. Rather than its leaves spreading up towards the sun (or moon at this moment in time), this tree’s branches sweep down towards the ground.
‘It isn’t in bloom at the moment, but it’s actually a weeping cherry blossom,’ Archie says as he sweeps aside the branches so we can step underneath. ‘In the spring, when it’s full of blossom, the branches create a perfect dome to shelter under, which is why we used to call it the umbrella tree.’
It’s so quiet and peaceful in the woods, with only the faint sound of a trickling stream nearby. The ground is soft and spongy underneath the canopy, and it’s even darker. More intimate. I feel a shiver and hope it’s due to the fact I’m still wearing a damp swimsuit underneath my thin cover-up, my hair still wet from the pool.
‘We used to hang out here as kids,’ Archie says, his voice barely above a whisper for some reason. ‘It was the perfect hideaway. We’d spend hours under here; plotting pranks, gossiping, playing truth or dare. Alice really never mentioned it?’
I shake my head, though I’m not sure Archie can see it. ‘Nope. She never said a thing about an umbrella tree. She never really spoke about her time here at the castle.’ Because of Francelia and that stupid necklace, I add to myself.
‘I used to love spending my summers and Christmases here with the others.’
We’re still holding hands, I realise, and gently remove mine, covering up the extrication by wandering over to one of the branches and running my finger over the bumpy surface.
‘It sounds like the perfect place to spend your childhood.’
I know Alice craved the attention of her father growing up and often felt pushed aside and foisted upon her grandparents during the holidays, but there were worse places to be, surely. My great aunt’s house springs to mind. There was no umbrella tree in Great Aunt Dorothy’s postage stamp-sized garden. There were no games of truth or dare, and any pranks would have been severely punished. And it wasn’t much more fun staying at home with Mum and her myriad boyfriends. I never knew whose face was going to greet me in the mornings, though I knew they wouldn’t stick around for long.
‘I’ve never been happier than the times I spent here growing up.’ Archie’s voice is low and wistful. He feels very close all of a sudden, as though the branches of the umbrella tree are closing in and squeezing us together.
‘Doesn’t the sound of that stream make you want to pee?’
Archie laughs, and whatever spell has been cast over us is broken. Archie takes a step away, sweeping back the branches. ‘Maybe we should get back. Alice might be wondering where you are.’
I allow Archie to lead the way out of the umbrella tree and I’m relieved when he doesn’t offer me his hand this time, even though it’s eerily dark in the woods. We chat as we carefully make our way around the obstacles, and I’m recounting a tale of mine and Alice’s first Christmas in our shared house when I realise I’m alone. I stop, my eyes widening in an effort to see more clearly, but it’s useless.
‘Archie?’ I reach out my hands, fumbling for contact with anything other than the rough bark of a tree, but find nothing. ‘Archie!’ My voice is sharper now, cracking with panic. I’m in the woods, alone, in pitch-black, and I have no idea what’s happened to my companion or how to get the hell out of here.
Chapter Twelve
I’m telling myself not to panic, but my body isn’t listening. My breathing is too fast, too loud, so I’m struggling to make out any sounds. Archie could be calling my name and I wouldn’t hear over my gasping. I can’t even hear the stream any more.
I don’t know how long I’ve been wandering aimlessly around the woods, but it feels like an awfully long time and I’ve given up calling Archie’s name. I should have stayed put and waited for him to retrace his steps once he realised we’d somehow become separated. He obviously knows his way around the woods, but I’ve made his job harder by ambling around. Should I stop now? Stay where I am and hope he locates me?
I stop, crying out as I hear a loud snap over my roaring breaths. My breathing becomes even more erratic, my pulse a booming beat in my ears even as I realise it was just a large twig snapping underfoot. I place a
hand on my chest as I force myself to take deep, calming breaths. I’m really not an outdoorsy type and I’m not particularly keen on the dark right now.
‘Archie?’ I try again, calling his name loud and clear, my ears straining for a response.
Nothing.
What if Archie isn’t even in the woods any more? He could have made his way back to the castle, assuming I’d done the same. He’ll come back for me, though. He’ll get help. Right? I’m sure he will. Alice says he’s a gentleman and I haven’t seen anything to suggest otherwise (apart from ditching Francelia and the bloke wanting business advice, but that was understandable under the circumstances).
My breathing starts to calm. Archie will come back for me. He will find me. He’ll bring help if necessary. But now my breathing is at a more normal rate, I can hear something else. A rapid, rhythmic clicking sound. My arms wrap themselves around my body and I realise what the sound is; it’s me. I’m producing the clicking sounds as my teeth chatter together. I am, I realise, bloody freezing. My hair is still wet and I’m wearing nothing but a damp swimsuit under a thin cover-up. If Archie doesn’t hurry, he’ll find me frozen to the spot, though at least I’ll have an actual purpose at Carolyn’s wedding in the form of an ice sculpture.
‘Archie?’ My throat stings as I cry out as loudly as I possibly can. I listen intently. Nothing.
I can’t wait here, wet and shivering and welcoming hypothermia. I need to find my own way out of the woods. Pick a direction and keep moving until I emerge from the trees. Once I’m in the clearing, I’ll be able to find the castle easily – it’s enormous and difficult to miss, even in the dark.
I step gingerly, my hands held out in front of me, eyes bulging in an attempt to see better. It’s hard to tell if I’m going in a straight line, but I take it slowly, concentrating. One foot in front of the other, only stepping off course when I encounter tree trunks or large roots. My jaw is aching from the chattering, but I try to put it to the back of my mind. The sooner I’m out of the woods, the sooner I can warm up.
The Wedding that Changed Everything Page 8