by Suzanne Snow
As there was no sign of him, she ran through to the hall and his office on the south side of the house. The door was open, and she peeped inside; his laptop was on his desk, but he had disappeared, and Flora carried on to the staircase, reaching the gallery moments later and finding it empty. The space was still waiting for new paintings and furniture to fill it, but for this evening the carpet had been rolled back and there would be games, as there had been before, another detail revealed in Rose’s journals. Flora checked Tamsin’s room, decorated in pink and purple, making sure that everything was ready for when she would arrive with her grandparents later.
Tamsin had quickly made herself at home in the house, soon after they had moved in, and she loved to spend time in the garden with Flora, helping her or racing around and having fun with the friends who came over to play. Flora and Mac both adored her, and they had talked early on about her future and what they could offer. When Doug and Moira had suggested that they become Tamsin’s legal guardians, they had immediately accepted. During the process, an idea had come to them which, eventually, tentatively, they had discussed with Tamsin’s grandparents, and the possibility of adoption was mentioned.
After much thought, discussion and with tears on both sides, it had been agreed. Doug and Moira were concerned about Tamsin’s future, given their age, and they wanted above all else for her to have a secure and loving family long after they were gone. It also meant they would be able to return to their role as grandparents and, once they got used to the idea, there was a great deal of relief.
Tamsin’s delight and excitement at the idea of living with them at Róisín had thrilled Mac and Flora; they had explained that they would become her new parents and it would make them a family of three. So sometime in the New Year, hopefully not too far away, Tamsin would join them permanently at Róisín as their daughter. There would be challenges ahead and a period of adjustment needed, given the changes over the past year, but Flora and Mac were prepared to do whatever necessary to begin their new lives together as a family.
Satisfied that Tamsin’s room was ready, Flora crossed the gallery to her and Mac’s bedroom. It was such a beautiful room and she loved it. Windows on the west wall and the huge, curved bay overlooking the south garden and the sea leant it masses of natural light. She could never enter it without being drawn to the view and staring outside. The pale walls, almost white, reflected the ever-changing landscape outside and she was glad that the fire was lit, adding to the beauty and comfort of the large room. There had been so much to do in the house; Flora was kept incredibly busy overseeing the renovations and working in the garden every spare minute she had.
She had left her job at Middlebrook and next year they were planning to renovate the outbuildings to offer working holidays, where she could teach garden history and restoration, as well as provide opportunities for students to begin their careers in the garden that Rose Campbell had loved so long ago. Rose and Archie’s story had also attracted the interest of a writer who was planning to produce a biography, and Flora and Mac were keen to explore the idea of an artist in residence, who would teach and encourage other young painters just starting out.
Flora looked out to the garden, hoping fervently that the weather would not worsen and prevent their guests from completing their journeys, some from many miles away. The door to their bathroom opened and she whirled around to see Mac emerge. Her heart flipped over; she was still hardly able to believe that it had already been over a month since they had got engaged.
He had surprised her one cold November evening, insisting that they sit outside on the terrace to watch a display of the Northern Lights. Flora had been enthralled: they’d wrapped up warm to huddle around a firepit, eating hot dogs and watching the night sky flashing above them. Before the display was over, he’d astonished her by going down on one knee and asking her to marry him. He had produced an exquisite sapphire and diamond ring that, he smilingly explained, he’d chosen because it reminded him of her eyes. Flora had accepted, laughing and crying all at once, and they’d opened a bottle of champagne, drinking it on the terrace where she had first seen the garden.
So Flora would have the wedding she had never expected, and her half-brother Liam would walk her down the aisle, so that Charlie could marry her and Mac. Liam and her mum had spent time at Róisín since Flora had moved here, and the idea had formed soon after she and Mac had got engaged. She was closer now to her younger brother and, in some strange way, she felt that the wedding would help to lay to rest all of the heartache of the past. Mac had approved, and she knew Charlie was pleased. Tamsin was ecstatic about the wedding and they had already chosen a lilac dress for her to wear as bridesmaid, along with one for Sam and a miniature one for Esther. Her two best friends were to be bridesmaids, too, and Sophie was helping Flora with the planning, applying her usual efficiency to every detail, for which Flora was grateful.
Mac had a towel around his waist and was using another to rub his hair, and his face lit up when he saw Flora. She still couldn’t look at him without a rush of delight and she hurried over, curling her cold body around his.
‘Have you been outside again?’ he asked her, amused, sliding the towel in his hand around her neck and holding her close. Flora laughed, her lips tantalisingly brushing his cheek as she spoke.
‘Just to check that the heaters in the greenhouse haven’t switched off. I’m back now; I must have a shower, Annie and Jon are—’
But she couldn’t finish her reply, as he lowered his head to kiss her, and her shower was very rushed indeed, when she eventually managed to take it. They darted downstairs together, barely five minutes before their first guests, Annie and Jon Beresford, arrived. They were shaking the snow from their hair as they stomped inside, bearing gifts and compliments about the house, and were quickly followed by Doug and Moira, with Tamsin. The first party in this home for many, many years was about to begin, and Hogmanay was the perfect day to celebrate their engagement and bring the house and its lost garden back to life.
Acknowledgements
This book was a joy to write, not least because Flora and I share a passion for plants and a belief that gardens are good for you. Researching the Arts & Crafts period and its properties has made such places a favourite and I hope to visit more in the future. I stand in awe of those whose skill and vision first brought these gardens to life. Thank you to all horticulturists who continue to care for gardens both past and present, and ensure that they reflect their history whilst looking to the future.
Thank you to Audrey and Andrea, good friends and writers, who are always there to offer encouragement, support and much laughter. Zoom is brilliant but bring on the champagne in the garden!
Thank you to Susan Yearwood, Emily Bedford and the team at Canelo, and Katrina Power. Your insight, support and guidance makes all the difference. Everything that looks beautiful on my website and social media was designed by Katie Birks; thank you for your vision, creativity and skill, I so appreciate the work you do. Anna Caig has taught me much and is a brilliant advocate for writers. Thank you, I can’t wait to read your book!
Thank you to Irene, Becca and Jen, wonderful betas once again, for being so enthusiastic about this book and Mac especially! Having readers who enjoy my characters and their stories is such a pleasure, and I’m thankful for each one.
So many thanks to Clare, who increased my plant knowledge considerably and shared your own so readily. For every garden you designed, there are more plants and trees in the world and that’s a wonderful legacy. To Kev and Dave, whose different skills are renowned and complement one another brilliantly. Thank you both, you quite literally made my job so much easier and a whole lot funnier. Flora would love to have you on her team!
To my mum Irene, a gardener for as long as I can remember. Wherever we went, you were always able to create a garden, however unpromising the plot, and I appreciated even then the pleasure to be found amongst it. More than I realised has filtered down over the years!
> To Stewart and Fin, thank you both, as ever. To Stewart especially for that wonderful, surprise, 600-mile round trip to Scotland. I loved every moment and the insight it brought to my research, as well as the understanding of two very special properties and their period of design.
To paraphrase Flora in the book, it doesn’t matter about the size of the space you have to grow plants or create a garden. Whether it’s a balcony or a courtyard, a windowsill or a wall, a huge plot or something in between. What really matters is what you do with it and how it makes you feel to be amongst it. Setting out on a journey with plants and a garden is a wonderful thing, and I hope that doing so may bring you much pleasure and peace.
Welcome to Thorndale
The Cottage of New Beginnings
The Garden of Little Rose
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About the Author
Suzanne Snow writes contemporary, romantic and uplifting fiction with a strong sense of setting and community connecting the lives of her characters. Previously, she worked in financial services and was a stay-at-home mum before retraining as a horticulturist and planting re-designed gardens.
Living in Lancashire and appreciating the landscape around her always provides inspiration and when she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found in a garden or reading.
Also by Suzanne Snow
Welcome to Thorndale
The Cottage of New Beginnings
The Garden of Little Rose
First published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by Canelo
Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
31 Helen Road
Oxford OX2 0DF
United Kingdom
Copyright © Suzanne Snow, 2021
The moral right of Suzanne Snow to be identified as the creator of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Ebook ISBN 9781800321199
Print ISBN 9781800322912
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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