Katherine nodded. ‘Lily,’ she said. ‘She’s staying in the pub in the village.’
‘What’s she like?’ Robyn asked, pulling out a chair at the table for Katherine whilst she put the kettle on one of the Aga’s hotplates to boil. ‘I can’t wait to meet her.’
‘She’s an acquired taste,’ Katherine said with a wry smile.
‘Oh?’
‘She’s not like us,’ Katherine went on. ‘She hates novels and doesn’t believe in happy endings in life or in fiction.’
Robyn’s mouth gaped open in horror. ‘Hates novels? But novels are life!’
Katherine nodded. ‘I’m afraid it’s a hopeless case when it comes to Lily. Warwick’s not given up on her, of course, and posts her a copy of each novel he writes but I don’t think she ever reads them.’
Robyn’s face was full of anguish at such a declaration. ‘But to live in a world without novels-’
‘I know!’
‘And without believing in a happy ending!’
‘It’s unthinkable, isn’t it?’ Katherine said.
‘Has she tried Jane Austen?’
‘Warwick’s tried to convert her so many times. He bought her a box set of adaptations one Christmas but she posted them back to him with “Don’t do that again” written on a scrap of paper.’
‘Shocking!’ Robyn said, taking the kettle off the hotplate and making tea in two white mugs on which were written quotes from Pride and Prejudice. Robyn took the one which read, “In vain have I struggled” and gave Katherine the one which read, “How shall I bear such happiness!’
Placing a Regency-style sugar bowl and milk jug on the table, Robyn sat down next to Katherine.
‘It’s all Warwick could do to get Lily to come to the wedding,’ Katherine went on. ‘She’s been married and divorced twice and is quite opposed to weddings. In fact, she’s probably bending his ear about all that right now.’
‘Poor Warwick,’ Robyn said. ‘Maybe you’ll be able to convert her once you’re sisters-in-law.’
‘Well, miracles do happen,’ Katherine said.
Robyn nodded. ‘If there’s one thing Jane Austen has taught me it’s to believe in happy endings. I can’t bear the thought of somebody out there not having that optimism to lift their spirits.’
‘I know,’ Katherine said.
‘Anyway,’ Robyn said, ‘how are you?’
‘I’m fine,’ Katherine said, taking a sip of her tea.
‘Are you sure?’ Robyn asked, her head cocked to one side. ‘Because it isn’t long ago since my own wedding and I’ll never forget those nerves!’
‘You were nervous?’ Katherine asked in surprise.
‘Of course!’ Robyn said with a laugh. ‘Nervous that everything would go okay and that I wouldn’t fluff my lines. Nervous that Dan would turn up and not suddenly realise that he’d made a big mistake. Nervous that Jace might gallop up the aisle on a horse and disrupt everything! I think I was nervous in every way imaginable!’
‘But not nervous that you were making a mistake?’ Katherine said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Robyn shook her head. ‘No. I don’t think I was ever nervous about that.’
‘But how did you know – I mean, really know, that you were making the right decision?’
Robyn sat perfectly still for a moment, gazing into the middle distance. ‘I just knew,’ she said and then she caught Katherine’s gaze. ‘I’m sorry if that’s not very helpful but it was such a strong feeling that it completely vanquished the nerves in the end.’
Katherine smiled.
‘Katherine,’ Robyn began, ‘you’re not having second thoughts, are you?’
Katherine didn’t answer at first. She was staring into the sugar bowl as if it was the most important thing in the world. ‘No,’ she said at last. ‘Of course not.’
Robyn smiled and rested her hand on hers. ‘Good,’ she said. ‘I’ve never known a couple more suited than you and Warwick.’
‘Really?’
‘Really,’ Robyn said. ‘Why? Don’t you think you’re suited?’
‘Well, we’re just so different,’ she said. ‘Warwick’s so enthusiastic and demonstrative and I’m so – so –’
‘But you’re the same too,’ Robyn interrupted. ‘Your love of Jane Austen and books and writing and architecture.’
‘Yes,’ Katherine said and they smiled at each other.
‘Now,’ Robyn said. ‘Why don’t you go and settle in upstairs? Take a shower or go for a walk whilst I prepare lunch. There are some chairs out in the garden too if you just fancy sitting quietly. My favourite spot is under the apple tree near the hen run.’
Katherine nodded. At that moment in her life, it sounded like the most perfect place in the world.
It was Dan who answered the door to Warwick and Lily.
‘Warwick!’ he said, clapping him on the back and ushering him inside. ‘And you must be Lily.’
Lily looked up at the tall, handsome man who was smiling like an Adonis and couldn’t help blushing. ‘Yes,’ she said, shaking his hand.
Warwick smiled. Even Lily wasn’t immune to the charms of Dan Harcourt.
‘Pammy’s upstairs with Cassandra,’ Dan said. ‘We’re to have a spot of lunch in the kitchen. Higgins has it all prepared and then the afternoon is yours to settle in and relax.’
Lily made a funny guttural noise and Dan turned, blinking in surprise.
‘Everything okay?’ he asked.
‘Relax!’ Lily scoffed. ‘How can I possibly relax when my brother’s about to-’
‘Become happily married,’ Warwick interrupted, taking her hand and patting it gently but firmly.
Dan looked at the pair quizzically but was too polite to ask what was going on. ‘So,’ he said at last, ‘let’s eat, shall we?’
Chapter 10
After a delicious ham salad with fresh baguette and a generous slice of Victoria Sandwich washed down with several cups of tea, Warwick drove Lily into the village so she could book into her room at the pub.
‘That Dan’s rather attractive,’ she said as Warwick helped her with her bags into her room.
‘And very married,’ Warwick said.
‘I didn’t say I was interested,’ Lily said, flicking her short dark hair in annoyance. ‘I was merely making an observation.’
Warwick smiled. ‘My dear sister, you will never be immune to the charms of the opposite sex no matter how much you protest to hate men.’
‘I never said I’ve sworn right off men,’ Lily said, ‘merely marrying the brutes!’ She flopped down on the bed and kicked off her heels.
‘Will you be okay here?’ Warwick asked. ‘You’re sure you don’t want to join us at the hall for dinner later?’
Lily shook her head. ‘You go back and enjoy your last night of freedom as a bachelor,’ she said, ‘unless you finally see sense and do a runner, that is.’
‘I’m not going to do a runner,’ he said.
‘Yes, well, there’s plenty of time to make your mind up yet.’
Warwick shook his head in despair at Lily and bent to kiss her cheek. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he told her. ‘I’ll be the one standing at the top of the aisle, waiting for my bride and not doing a runner.’
‘We’ll see,’ Lily said.
It was seven thirty that evening when Katherine and Robyn walked up the driveway to join everyone at Purley Hall. The afternoon had passed by in a blur of reading, chatting, drinking tea and walking through the village and Katherine now felt a little more relaxed than when she’d first arrived thanks to Robyn’s hospitality and sweetness.
Higgins answered the door, looking resplendent in a shiny green waistcoat covered in gold fleur de lys.
‘Dr Roberts, welcome,’ he said, taking her jacket.
‘Good evening, Higgins,’ Katherine said, happy to see her favourite butler again.
‘Hello, Higgins,’ Robyn said. ‘How’s Cassie?’
But Higgins didn’t get a chance to
reply because it was then that Dan walked into the hallway from the drawing room with a sleeping Cassandra in his arms.
‘She’s getting heavy,’ Dan said, bending to kiss Robyn.
Robyn stroked her daughter’s golden curls. ‘I hope she’s been a good girl for her Aunt Pammy?’
‘Certainly has,’ Dan said, just as his phone vibrated in his pocket. ‘Here,’ he said, passing Cassandra to Robyn.
‘My, she’s grown,’ Katherine said, stepping forward to admire the sleeping girl as she settled into Robyn’s arms.
‘Oh, yes!’ Robyn said, pride dancing in her eyes. ‘She’ll be dressing up and taking part in our Austen weekends before you know it.’ She looked up as Dan popped his phone in his pocket again. ‘Who was that?’
‘Oh, nothing important,’ he said but there was a look of anxiety in his eyes. ‘Hello, Katherine.’ He leant forward to kiss her. ‘How are you?’
‘Very well,’ she said.
‘All ready for the big day?’
‘Well, I-’
Just then, Warwick emerged from the drawing room and, striding across the hallway, took Katherine in his arms and kissed her passionately.
Dame Pamela, who had followed him, laughed. ‘Save it for the wedding night!’ she cried and the five of them went into dinner together.
As usual, dinner at Purley was a treat and they all enjoyed a perfect summer menu of watercress soup, an asparagus risotto and the lightest of lemon sorbets for dessert.
‘That was absolutely delicious, Dame Pamela,’ Warwick said, dabbing his mouth with a white linen napkin once the meal was finished.
‘But it will be nothing compared to tomorrow’s fare,’ Dame Pamela said. ‘Your menu looks absolutely divine!’
‘And all Austen-inspired,’ Warwick said.
‘Like everything else!’ Robyn said.
‘Naturally,’ Dame Pamela said. ‘I really don’t see how anyone can choose anything else when it comes to a wedding. I mean, all these horrendous Disney-themed weddings or people dressing up as characters from Alice in Wonderland. It’s absolutely awful!’
‘Each to their own, I suppose,’ Warwick said.
‘Yes but nothing can top Jane Austen. She encapsulates the very essence of Englishness with the elegance of the dress, the sobriety of the language and the perfection of the manners.’
‘You sound like you’re reading from a script again, Pammy,’ Dan said and then his phone vibrated again. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I’ll switch it off.’ Robyn caught his eye as if to say, what’s going on but he cleared his throat and changed the subject. ‘So, will it be sunny skies tomorrow?’ he asked.
‘I have every faith in the weather,’ Dame Pamela said. ‘The stormy sky and rain was today and, no matter what the weathermen say, the sun will come out tomorrow. And, no, I’m not about to break into song.’
Robyn giggled. She was quite used to Dame Pamela’s occasional bursts into song in the office. Just a couple of days ago, her boss had worked her way through a medley from Cats, Evita and Sunset Boulevard. It always made Robyn smile although she had yet to pluck up the courage to join in herself.
‘So,’ Dame Pamela continued, ‘what an inspired idea to have your wedding in the year when we are celebrating the two hundredth birthday of Pride and Prejudice.’
‘Well, we couldn’t think of anything more romantic, could we, Katherine?’ Warwick said.
‘That’s right,’ she replied.
‘Every true Janeite will be celebrating this year and what better way to do that than by marrying your true love?’ Warwick said, his dark eyes sparkling in the candlelight.
‘Oh, how romantic!’ Dame Pamela said, clasping her hands to her chest.
‘Can you believe Pride and Prejudice is two hundred years old?’ Robyn said.
‘Mr Darcy is doing very well for his age,’ Dame Pamela said with a little chuckle. ‘Pleasing women for two centuries is no mean feat!’
Everybody laughed and Warwick proposed a toast. ‘Happy Birthday, Mr Darcy!’ he said and they all echoed his sentiments, clinking their glasses with each other as they did so.
‘Pammy – tell them about the mad American,’ Dan said.
Everybody fixed eager eyes on Dame Pamela.
‘Ah, yes!’ she said, drawing in a great breath as if she was about to give a great performance – which she probably was. ‘I had a telephone call from this American businessman. He’d heard about my first edition copy of Pride and Prejudice and wanted to make me an offer for it.’ She paused, glancing at her rapt audience around the table. ‘He offered me a million dollars.’
Katherine gasped. ‘You didn’t sell it, did you?’
Dame Pamela looked shocked. ‘Of course not! And I told him that I wouldn’t sell it even if he offered me ten million dollars.’
‘And what did he say?’ Warwick asked.
‘He said he wasn’t offering ten million dollars but he would go to five million.’
Warwick’s mouth dropped open and Katherine gave a nervous sort of laugh. ‘And you still refused?’ she said.
‘I most certainly did and I jolly well told him to go and find himself a first edition of The Great Gatsby or something American because Pride and Prejudice was not leaving England!’
Everybody applauded Dame Pamela and she blushed with pride.
‘Quite right, Dame Pamela, quite right!’ Warwick said.
‘Money can’t buy everything, you know,’ she said. ‘There are some things in this life that are priceless.’
Warwick caught Katherine’s eyes and winked at her.
Coffee and biscuits were served in the drawing room as the last light faded from the western sky in a show of violet and rose, and conversation moved easily from subject to subject until the lantern clock on the sideboard chimed ten o’clock and Katherine sprang to her feet.
‘Goodness! How late it is,’ she said. ‘Dame Pamela – thank you so much for a lovely dinner.’
‘It was my pleasure,’ she said, standing up and embracing her guest. ‘Have a good night’s sleep, my darling.’ She kissed Katherine on both cheeks, her diamond drop earrings swinging like pendulums.
‘Goodnight, everyone,’ Robyn said, standing up.
‘Do you want an escort?’ Dan asked.
‘No, we’ll be fine. My eyes have finally adjusted to life in the country,’ she told Katherine. ‘There are no street lights between here and our cottage but there is a bit of a moon around so we should be okay.’
The men, who were staying at the hall, escorted the ladies to the front door.
‘Dan, who was that on the phone during dinner?’ Robyn asked.
‘It was nobody,’ he said rather unconvincingly.
‘Well, it must have been something important for them to keep ringing you over and over like that.’
‘It wasn’t anything to worry about.’
Robyn’s face fell into an expression that clearly said she was worried. ‘And you’ll be all right with Cassie?’ she asked, having already checked on her daughter several times since dinner.
‘Of course,’ he said, ‘and I know where you are if we need anything!’
She smiled. ‘It’s going to be funny not having you both at the cottage.’
‘It’s just for one night,’ he said.
‘I know.’
They kissed and said goodnight and then it was Katherine and Warwick’s turn. They were standing a little apart from Robyn and Dan and their foreheads were pressed together.
‘Feels strange, doesn’t it?’ Warwick said to Katherine, taking her hand and squeezing it.
She nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘The next time we see each other, it’ll be to say “I do”.’
Katherine took a deep breath and sighed it out slowly. ‘Yes,’ she said again.
Warwick leaned back and tipped his head to one side. ‘You okay? You were very quiet at dinner.’
‘I was just thinking,’ she told him.
‘We’d better get going,’
Robyn said, ‘before those great clouds hide the moon.’
Warwick bent forward and kissed Katherine. ‘I love you, Miss Roberts.’
‘Dr Roberts!’ she said with a little smile.
‘I love her too,’ Warwick said and they kissed again.
Katherine and Robyn then left the hall and walked down the driveway. It had turned into a world of silhouettes and shadows and the air was soft and cool. The moon was bright and guided them back to Horseshoe Cottage and a tawny owl provided a haunting soundtrack as they walked.
Katherine went straight up to the guest bedroom.
‘I’m sorry it’s so small,’ Robyn said as she stood in the doorway to say goodnight. There was a pretty single bed with an ornate white metal frame, a bedside chair and a tiny dressing table on which had been placed a sea-green jug filled with white roses.
‘It’s perfect,’ Katherine said.
‘Do you have everything you need?’
‘I think so.’
‘Well, I’m just next door if you do need anything,’ Robyn told her.
‘Thank you,’ Katherine said. ‘It’s so kind of you to let me stay.’
‘It’s my pleasure. I’m so excited about tomorrow.’
‘Are you getting up early?’ Katherine asked.
‘I usually do but only since having Cassandra. My sleep is all over the place these days but please don’t feel that you have to get up at the crack of dawn. Just take your time. The carriage isn’t arriving until quarter to four.’
‘Now, there’s a sentence a girl doesn’t hear every day,’ Katherine said with a grin.
Robyn laughed. ‘You’re going to feel like Cinderella!’
‘I hope not. I much prefer Jane Austen’s heroines to those insipid ones in fairy tales,’ Katherine said.
‘You’re going to look perfect, I just know it!’ Robyn said. ‘You’ll be Elizabeth Bennet and Cinderella all rolled into one!’
Katherine couldn’t help but laugh at that.
‘Good night,’ Robyn said with a smile before shutting the door.
Katherine closed her eyes for a moment, savouring the peace. When would she next have a quiet moment to herself, she wondered? Tomorrow would be one big whirl of activity and noise. What was that lovely bit she adored so much in Northanger Abbey when poor Catherine Morland is finding the Upper Rooms in Bath so daunting?
Happy Birthday, Mr Darcy Page 5