‘So we’d better get a move on. Get married. It’s not essential to be married to have children, of course, but I think your mum might prefer it.’
Helena wasn’t sure her mother would particularly care, but she was keen on the getting married idea. She nodded.
‘So, we’d better go ring shopping!’
‘What a good idea!’
‘Would tomorrow be too soon?’ said Jago. ‘Tell me if you feel rushed.’
‘Tomorrow would be perfect.’ She smiled. ‘This is a lovely ending to a rather medium day!’
‘It’s so kind of you to come over and help with the puddings,’ said Gilly the following week.
Helena hugged her. ‘It’s a tradition, us making puddings together. What are we doing?’ Helena had been delighted when Gilly had asked for her help with the ‘announcement’ lunch she and William were giving.
‘We’ll start with the amaretti cheesecake. Do take your ring off!’
Helena looked at her left hand with a sentimental smile. Her fourth finger was adorned with an antique topaz and diamond ring which she thought was the most beautiful ring ever. ‘I will. But I’ll put it in my bra so I don’t forget it.’
‘It is a lovely ring,’ said Gilly.
‘Jago wanted to buy me a socking great diamond it would take years to pay for. His previous fiancée had insisted on one of those. He was surprised and pleased when I just wanted something that I really loved and didn’t cost a fortune.’
Gilly, who obviously wanted to go on chatting about Helena’s love life, was on a mission to get the puddings done too. She handed her daughter an apron. ‘He had a bad time with her, then?’
‘Yes. When the whole scandal about the fire blew up she completely lost interest in him. Although to be fair it must have been horrible being doorstepped and having your picture all over the papers.’ Helena reached for a packet of digestive biscuits. ‘Do you want these blitzed or shall I just bash them?’
‘Bash, please. I want the food processor for the amaretti. They’re a bit harder.’
‘How many are we catering for?’ said Helena a little later.
‘About fifty, I think. You never quite know, do you?’
Helena knew she was thinking about Martin and Cressida and hoping they’d come although there had been no communication between them since that awful evening. ‘So that’s ten puddings? Five to a pud?’
‘Yes, I’m doing five kinds of pudding but doubling up.’
‘You’re not over-catering are you, Mum?’ This was said with a wry smile because Helena knew the answer.
‘Probably but you know what it’s like, if people don’t see much food they don’t dare eat it. Then there are leftovers, and your classic under-caterer gives even less the next time till it’s one nibble per person.’
Helena laughed. Her mother was very good at justifying her tendency to have too much food butshe did agree that everyone enjoyed having at least two helpings of something sweet and creamy.
Helena was folding mashed raspberries and strawberries into whipped cream when Gilly said, ‘Have you thought about your wedding, Helly?’
‘Yes. You can’t help it when you’re engaged, I’ve discovered.’
‘So what do you fancy?’
Helena looked at her mother. ‘What I’d really love – but only if you’re absolutely OK with it …’
‘Yes?’
Helena knew that her mother knew what she was going to say. ‘I’d love to have it here – in a marquee in the garden. Simple, not too expensive, flowers in jam jars, fairy lights in the trees.’
‘It sounds lovely! And I’d be thrilled to have it here. I’d be offended if you tried to have it anywhere else – but the fact is, the garden is a bit small.’
‘I’m sure it’s big enough. Jago hasn’t many relatives he still talks to and not so many friends.’ She paused. ‘Although I suppose there may be some he’d like to get back in touch with, now all the scandal and disruption is well over.’
