PROLOGUE
Keely
––––––––
AS I CLIPPED MY PEARLearring to my lobe, I glanced at my reflection then up at Hugh. Standing behind me, he fidgeted, agitated and nervous.
It was our third night at Moon Manor, a magnificent manor house my friend Ayra and her husband Jai owned and also the very estate I had filmed a number of my Jane Austen films such asPride and Prejudice, as well asEmma.Although my husband Hugh and I lived in Bath, we had traveled to Moon Manor in Derbyshire to film our last Jane Austen film,Mansfield Park.We’d spent two days readying the place for this very special night. Although I’d given Ayra and Jai just a day’s notice of our arrival, they’d been welcoming and eager to help us prepare the house as we saw fit.
“What’s wrong?”I asked Hugh.
“Nothing,” he said, coming up behind me to grasp my shoulders and set a soft kiss on my cheek. “Just eager to see how the night plays out.”
“Looks more like nerves to me.”
“Yeah, I guess...a bit.”
“Miss Keely?”Meg called through the door. “Abbie and Gabriel Tillsbury have arrived as well as Penny and Cliff Healy.”
“Thank you, Meg.” I glanced back at Hugh again. “These are all people that we know, Hugh. Making this announcement shouldn’t make you nervous at all.”
I stood to take a last look at my reflection. I’d opted for a deep green empire waist dress that was trimmed with lace just under the bustline. The little puff sleeves were also trimmed in lace as was the hemline. As an afterthought, I wrapped a large lace shawl over my shoulders, then quickly pulled my hair up into a loose bun. My makeup was minimal.
I looked very much the host of a Jane Austen Association gathering, the book club that Ayra and I had started in America, where we were both from.Then we had an U.K.chapter headed by Abbie which had members such as Penny, Susan, and Holly.All of them somehow one way or another became involved in my Jane Austen films as well.
“Come on,” I said, taking Hugh’s hand in mine. “I’m sure Susan and Holly will arrive any minute now.”
We headed out into the hall.
Moon Manor had an atmosphere that was both calm and busy. The Christmas holidays were approaching, and Ayra and Jai’s home glowed with many warm candles and was scented with cinnamon and clove.
Ayra had made it clear; this evening was mine. Her home was mine. She had let me do as I pleased with regard to the décor, and now I was to do as I pleased with the evening to come. Her staff were at my disposal, and Meg in particular had been given specific instructions to tend to my every need.
We reached the main floor just as Susan arrived with Bradley, followed by Holly and the Major.
“My apologies,” Holly said. “It’s my fault that we’re late. I couldn’t decide what to wear.”
“You’re not late at all,” I assured her. “And you look lovely.”
Her knee-length floral dress fitted her perfectly.
Susan, true to her demure self, wore a deep blue velvet skirt topped with a simple baby blue shirt.
“You can all leave your luggage here. I’ll have Jack and Mark bring everything up to your respective rooms.”
The newly arrived guests nodded as they ridded themselves of their coats.We then made our way to the drawing room where the others were waiting.
As trays of champagne were brought around the room, Hugh and I greeted everyone. There were so many hugs and kisses after such a long time apart.
“I wasn’t expecting such a festive décor,” Abbie said as she looked at the garlands that circled the room. In addition to the gold threading that embellished the garlands, there were large gold bows.
“Even if we are two weeks away from Christmas,” Ayra added with a smile, “we welcomed the holidays.”
“I was so very pleased to receive your invitation, Keely,” Penny said. “It’s always nice to spend the holidays with friends.”
I looked at them all. “You are all more than friends and co-workers. You’re family. Some of you, like Ayra and Abbie, I’ve worked with from the very beginning, while Penny, Susan and Holly are more recent additions to the Jane Austen Association. But you are all, in my heart, equally important not only to the movie making process, but to my peace of mind.”
I raised my champagne flute to all of them. “To all of you, my cherished friends; my family.”
