He was about to speak to the concierge about booking their favourite restaurant on the Sunday, when he heard a hum of excitement behind him. Turning with a smile on his face, Gabriel saw Mr and Mrs Johnson, arms linked, as they greeted the staff they’d come to know so well.
‘Wonderful to see you both again,’ Gabriel said, his hand outstretched to shake Mr Johnson’s before giving his wife a welcoming hug. ‘You’re both looking very well. I was sorry not to be here for your last visit to the Encore.’
‘My lady wife missed seeing you here,’ Mr Johnsonjoked.
She reddened and nudged him. ‘He’s such a naughty man, Gabriel,’ she said. ‘You take no notice of him.’
Joseph, the concierge, immediately appeared next to Gabriel, welcoming the guests and waving his assistant porter over to take their bags to their room.
‘Can I offer you a drink in the bar?’ Gabriel asked. ‘Or would you prefer to go to your room and settle in first.’
‘I think we’ll go to our room and take a shower,’ Mr Johnson said. ‘It’s blistering hot out there.’
‘No problem,’ Gabriel said. ‘I’ll see you a little later when you’re ready to come down.’
He waited for them to leave, followed by Joseph and his assistant, and then went to reception to see Fi. He was surprised when no one seemed to be there and was about to walk around behind the desk when Daisy popped up.
‘Oh, I didn’t know you were here,’ she said, eyes wide with surprise. ‘Did you want something?’
‘I was looking for Fi,’ he said. ‘I just wanted to be sure that everything had been covered for the Johnsons’ arrival.’
Daisy nodded. ‘All done,’ she said. ‘We double checked earlier. Our main priority now is the party that’s happening on the weekend. The family start to arrive tomorrow and the rest follow on the next day. I’ve told the host and hostess that you’ll go through everything with them. I hope that’s OK.’
‘It is,’ he nodded. He was used to these occasions, although this one promised to be a little different, but no doubt still fun. He preferred it when his mother or grandmother took over, if he was honest. ‘I’m more of an outdoor guy, but I enjoy seeing people having fun, even though I don’t seem to have the finesse that my mother or grandmother have for these events,’ he said. ‘I’ll do my best though. Do you have the list of everything I need to go through?’
She looked down at the desk and handed him a copy attached to a clipboard. ‘I’ve given you the checklist the hotel uses for weddings, but it should be similar enough, I think.’ She leaned over to him slightly and lowered her voice. ‘Is the decorating in the orangery complete now? Francesca said the reception will be held in there and she was concerned that Luke might not be able to finish everything in time.’
‘I’ve arranged to meet him there in half an hour,’ he said. ‘I’ll go through everything then.’
Fi came back to reception. ‘All OK?’ she said, with a glint in her dark blue eyes. She looked at Daisy. ‘If you want to go with Gabe and check through everything on the list, you know, for any future weddings you might have to arrange…?’
‘This isn’t for a wedding reception though, is it?’ Daisy asked.
He was glad she’d missed Fi’s point. Today wasn’t the day to be joking with Daisy about weddings.
Fi laughed. ‘No, it’s a Never-Going-to-Retire party.’
‘Seriously?’
Gabe understood Daisy’s confusion. He found it a little odd and he’d grown up with his parents holding parties for made-up occasions. ‘The couple have been acting for half a century,’ he explained. ‘They wanted to celebrate it in some way.’
Daisy smiled. ‘Does that mean we’ll meet some famous people, then?’
Fi nudged her. ‘You work for three of them,’ she said. ‘Don’t let Francesca ever hear you saying you’re excited about meeting other well-known people.’
Gabriel pulled a face at Fi. ‘Stop teasing her.’ He smiled, hoping Daisy would relax a little. ‘She’s joking, and yes you will meet people you recognise from the big and small screen.’
‘OK, then,’ Daisy said. ‘I’ll come with you and see theroutine. I suppose I should know how everything is set up for future reference.’ She looked up at Gabriel and he felt his stomach contract. Hell, he wanted to kiss her, he thought. ‘Is that OK with you, Gabe?’ she asked.
‘Sorry?’ He wasn’t sure to what she was referring and then noticed that both women were looking at him strangely.
‘Do you want Daisy to come with you to the orangery?’ Fi asked, shaking her head.
‘Sorry, yes, that’s a great idea,’ he said, irritated for acting like a teenage boy in front of them. ‘I’ll meet you outside the orangery in half an hour.’
Daisy checked her watch. He was late, but she supposed he must still be chatting to the Johnsons and couldn’t really get away. She spotted a tall man with untidy blond hair working inside the room, and by the look of his paint-smeared shorts doubted he could be one of the guests. She went inside to meet him.
‘Hi,’ she said holding out her hand. ‘I presume you must be Luke Thornton.’
