‘I am so pleased that Leo was kind enough to take a few days out of his hectic schedule to give me a second opinion on the turnaround plans for Kingsmede Manor. I am really looking forward to hearing his ideas. So, over to you, Leo.’
‘Thank you, Aunt Arabella. It was my pleasure. And my delight. Kingsmede Manor is a beautiful property with enormous potential.’
Leo passed two copies of the dossier of his plans across the coffee table. Only his grandfather sat in disinterested silence while his aunt dived in with chuckles of delight and amazement.
‘I will leave you to read the detail about the two proposals on the table. The spa extension is a great idea but the design is too modern. After a few days at the hotel, I know one thing. It is the heritage and design history of the house which makes it unique. The Fenchurch family who built the Manor had stunning glasshouses, an orangery and a superb conservatory with the most amazing level of craftsmanship. We need to incorporate those elements in any spa design if we want to make this hotel so very special.’
He gestured towards the dossiers. ‘You can see that I have added a conservatory-style link building between the main house and the spa and changed the spa layout to resemble more closely the original concepts.’
His aunt responded by waving the folder towards him with a nod. ‘This is stunning, Leo. I cannot believe you came up with all of this work in a few days.’
‘I can’t claim all of the credit. At the turn of the century the owners hired a famous garden designer to landscape their grounds and create special glasshouses for the orchids they were passionate about. The designs in the second option came directly from that work. The orchid collection at Kingsmede Manor was so remarkable that they used to attract visitors from all over the country. Only a couple of the original orchid houses remain at the property but they are very special.’
‘How special?’ she replied, her eyebrows raised and eyes full of interest.
‘Special enough for me to make some preliminary enquiries with orchid organisations around the world. The market potential for specialist holidays is huge—and that was only scratching the surface.’
His aunt shook her head and turned from page to page of photographs.
‘I had no idea at all. Lady Fenchurch did not even mention this history of the Manor.’
‘A huge pity. There is so much potential here. For example, I would also like to recommend that we commission the creation of a new orchid variety in honour of the hotel. The Kingsmede Manor Orchid would have elegance, class, heritage and style—but with a perfume that is totally irresistible. It would be unique and exclusive to the hotel and to this hotel chain and could create a powerful symbol for the brand.’
‘An orchid? Well, that could certainly be very appealing to a niche clientele with discerning tastes.’ His aunt smiled, but then a very masculine voice with a strong accent growled out from the other sofa.
‘You must really care about this hotel very much to be so committed to the long-term future of this house and jeopardise your own reputation in the process? I thought Grainger Consulting were more professional than to engage in foolish sentimentality and connection to some vague idea of the past.’
Leo looked up at the most senior director on the Rizzi family board and one side of his mouth rose in a smile. ‘I do love this house. I love everything about it, but most of all I admire the spirit of the place and those who have loved it and cared for it over the generations to make it the building it is today. I arrived here as a guest only a few days ago for the very first time, and since then I have fallen in love with it as any other guest will do. It is a unique place.’
He shuffled forward onto the edge of the sofa and leant towards Paolo Rizzi. ‘I have spoken to one of the descendants of the late owner of the house and she has agreed to share the original designs for the gardens necessary to implement the restoration. If these plans go ahead this hotel will become one of the landmark boutique hotels in this part of England. What is more, a garden of this quality would attract gardeners and specialist groups to the hotel and create a perfect wedding setting and a luxury conference venue.’
Leo paused for dramatic effect before adding, ‘Kingsmede Manor could be the gem in your hotel collection.’
Arabella inhaled deeply and gave a gentle nod. ‘That is quite a claim. But I like the proposal, I like it a lot. Although I do have a question.’
Leo tilted his head towards his aunt even though he felt as though his grandfather’s eyes were trying to burn a hole in the centre of his forehead.
‘You said that we should commission an orchid. Was that simply a slip of the tongue or have I finally persuaded you to join the family business after all these years? Leo?’
He smiled back at her. ‘Many years ago I took the decision to leave the hotel trade and go into direct business management.’
He shrugged casually, then strolled to the back of his aunt’s sofa and rested one hand lightly on one of her shoulders and she immediately raised her hand and held his.
‘It was a hard decision to make after all you have done for me. I would not be standing here now if it was not for the opportunity you gave me. And now I have another opportunity to do something remarkable for myself and this time it concerns my whole family.’
His grandfather lifted his head and frowned at Leo. ‘What do you mean by that?’ he said.
‘Simply this. I do not want to spend the rest of my life trying to prove that I am worthy of being part of the Rizzi family. I know who I am and what I am capable of—but I think you already know that. What you don’t know is that I have decided to sell my consultancy business and retrain as an architect. It was the only thing I wanted to do as a boy.’
He glanced from the puzzled expression of his grandfather to the stunned face of his aunt. ‘These past few days at Kingsmede have shown me that I have a choice on how I live my life going forward—and who I spend my life with. It may take a while, but I would like to take the time to get to know my Rizzi family. If they want that.’
He smiled down at Arabella, who was looking up at him with tears in her eyes.
But, before anyone could answer, there was a strange clanking noise from outside the window and Leo glanced out to see a very familiar off-white electric delivery van called Mitzi clatter its way into the circular drive outside the Manor and stop directly behind his grandfather’s Bentley.
The wheels had scarcely come to a halt before the driver’s door was flung open and a short-haired girl in a bright yellow T-shirt and flower-patterned capri pants jumped out and ran to the back of the van.
Sara! What on earth was she doing here?
Leo shook his head and grinned. The cavalry had arrived.
‘You are so like your mother I cannot tell you,’ his aunt whispered with a glint in her eyes.
‘Thank you. I take that as a very great compliment,’ Leo replied.
‘You should. She was a remarkable woman I was proud to call my daughter, and it looks like she had a son with a good head on his shoulders. Orchids.’ His grandfather sniffed. ‘Might work. And it is a lot more interesting than another boring swimming pool that nobody uses.’
And with one nod the decision was made. ‘Let’s do it. And you—’ and he pointed one finger at Leo ‘—I could use an architect on the team. Come to see me when you’re ready to start that training. This is a family business, so let’s keep it that way.’
But, before he could say another word, the door to the suite burst open and a slim brunette staggered through with a huge picture in her arms. It was so large that her fingers could hardly stretch to grasp the ornate gilt edges and it was in great danger of falling at any second.
‘I found it,’ Sara gasped as Leo took the weight and lowered the map onto the table, then gave a wave around the room. ‘Hi everybody.’
‘So I see.’ He grinned in reply, then gestured across the coffee table. ‘Here is someone I would like you both to meet. My friend Sara Fenchurch used to live at Kingsmede
Manor.’ And then he paused long enough to take Sara’s hand. ‘Sara is also the woman I am in love with. Who just happens to run the orchid nursery just across the lane.’
‘Ah-ha. So this change of plan was not entirely business-driven after all?’
‘The plan stands on its own merits, Grandfather. But yes, it was Sara who first told me about the remarkable garden designs which could make this house a unique tourist attraction. It was my decision to do more research into the profitability of a niche market. My recommendation stands. It’s the right choice.’
‘He is in love with me,’ she said in a stunned voice as she grinned back at Leo. ‘Well, fancy that. I suppose I have to marry him now and make an honest man of him. Good thing I am totally in love with you too, Leo. And I know the perfect wedding location.’
‘Wait a minute. Are you asking me to marry you? In front of all my family?’ Leo said, his mouth half-open in shock.
Sara nodded. ‘Best way. My mother will be here in about an hour to make sure that you are the kind of man who is suitable for her daughter. Character references may be required. But, as far as I am concerned, you are the only man I could ever marry. The only man I want as my husband and the father of my children. And I am saying that in front of your family and proud to do so. Marry me, Leonardo Reginald. Marry me and make me the happiest woman alive!’
His answer was to gather her up into his arms, lifting her off her feet as they both laughed and squealed with happiness before Leo kissed her with such passion and love that they were both breathless and exhilarated when they came back down to earth.
There was a low growl from the sofa and Leo’s grandfather heaved himself to his feet.
‘I’ve seen and heard enough. Arabella, my dear. Let’s find out if this hotel has any good champagne. I need a drink and it looks like this family has something to celebrate. It is about time.’
EPILOGUE
‘AND for the second year running the award for Businesswoman of the Year goes to…Sara Grainger of Kingsmede Heritage Orchids!’
The ballroom of the prestigious London hotel exploded into a riot of cheering and wild applause and hoots of laughter.
Someone planted a kiss in the vague direction of her cheek and Sara knew that she was being hugged by someone fragrant—probably Arabella or her mother, but she was so bedazzled and dizzy from the flashing camera lights that she did not see who or where.
Blinking several times, Sara turned back to the table. Helen and Caspar, Leo and his aunt and her own mother were on their feet cheering and applauding and giddy with delight and love—so much love, she felt carried aloft to the podium and the smiling regional organiser who handed her the prestigious award.
‘Many congratulations, Sara,’ he said. ‘The judges were extremely impressed by your remarkable work on the restoration of the Kingsmede Manor gardens. How does it feel to know that your family’s heritage will live on in such a wonderful way?’
Sara looked out across the sea of faces until she found Leo, who was smiling back at her with such pride and happiness that she thought her heart would burst with love enough to last a lifetime.
‘I have enjoyed every minute of this project,’ she replied. ‘Grainger Consulting has put together a wonderful team of architects and garden designers. But we could not have done any of the work without the wonderful support of the Rizzi family and so many friends who have invested in the future of this remarkable hotel that I used to call home. This award belongs to them and the whole team and I’m so grateful for their passion and their time and the opportunity they gave me. Thank you all for making my dream a reality.’
The applause was still echoing around her as she made her way down from the platform in her stunning designer eveningwear until she was back in the embrace of the man who had made everything possible and the two families he had brought together.
Her husband, the trainee architect and garden designer.
And at that moment, as she smiled back at the man she loved, she was a winner all over again and could ask for no greater reward.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1571-9
BLIND DATE RIVALS
First North American Publication 2011
Copyright © 2011 by Nina Harrington
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