‘Oh, that sounds fun,’ said Nessa. ‘Can I come too? We could be bridesmaids together.’
Patsy balanced an inordinate amount of marmalade on to a corner of toast. ‘Well, I don’t mind, and as the bride Lizzie can do what she likes. But wouldn’t your esteemed papa think it rather odd if his daughter doesn’t make an appearance at breakfast?’
Vanessa shook her head. ‘I don’t suppose Daddy would notice if I was at the table if I turned up wearing a suit of armour. He certainly wouldn’t care if I wasn’t there.’
‘Oh,’ said Patsy. ‘In which case, do go. As long as you promise me faithfully you won’t be back late. I need you here on the dot of twelve if not a bit before.’
‘I’m sure it can’t take that long to put on a dress—’ Lizzie began.
‘It’s not just a dress and it can take ages,’ said Patsy. ‘Besides, your mother is coming at twelve and we don’t want to spoil her day by giving her conniptions, do we?’
Lizzie agreed. ‘She’s been looking forward to this day since she first knew her baby was a girl. We won’t be late back.’
‘Then off you go. Give my love to your bridesmaids. They’re great girls.’ Patsy smiled, possibly glad to have two fewer people to feel responsible for.
‘But before we go,’ said Lizzie, ‘would you mind if I made a phone call? Just local? I just want to telephone David about something.’
‘Oh, David? Lovely chap. Please do. Use the office. The local telephone directory is in there.’
Vanessa ran up the stairs to borrow her mother’s address book without Patsy noticing while Lizzie made her call. When the hotel receptionist was putting her through to David’s room she realised it was still early. The clock on the wall of the office said it was only ten past eight.
David was very good-natured about being woken by a frantic phone call but after he’d heard Lizzie’s tale of woe he said, ‘Lizzie, I can’t do it. I’d love to help you, but the church has had a panic with the flower rota. They didn’t have enough people to decorate it for your wedding, so they roped me in.’
‘David! How did the church flower people even know you existed?’
‘I went over last evening. As an usher I thought I ought to check the venue and it’s a lovely church. There was a woman, Diana …’
‘Diana Baker. She’s the vicar’s wife.’
‘She was there with another woman and they were wringing their hands. I naturally asked them what the problem was. They told me, and I felt I couldn’t let you or that beautiful church down. So I told them I was an actor, but when I started out in rep as an ASM, I’d had to create more than one Birnham Wood for the Scottish Play and offered my services. They were delighted.’
‘I’m impressed they knew what an ASM was. I’m not sure I did, before I met you.’
‘I did have to explain it meant dogsbody and you had to turn your hand to anything. But anyway, I’m committed.’
‘That’s so kind of you to offer to help. I’m surprised Patsy didn’t say anything about there being a problem with decorating the church.’
‘Diana was trying to avoid telling her. She said she had enough on.’ He paused. ‘I could lend you the car. I know you can’t drive but Alexandra can. I could drop the car off the moment I’ve had breakfast.’
‘That’s so kind, David,’ said Lizzie, biting back her request for him to drop the car off before breakfast. ‘Thank you so much. And I’ll see you later.’
Vanessa joined Lizzie in the office, bearing her mother’s little black book. ‘Absolutely dead to the world, she was. So, let’s see where Simon lives.’
She found the address quite quickly, and they wrote down that and the telephone number. ‘We just have to hope he didn’t rent out his house when he went away and we find out that he and Hugo are staying somewhere else.’
Lizzie shuddered at the thought.
‘This is all a bit crazy. Are you sure you still want to go?’ Vanessa was looking a bit worried. ‘We could go off on a wild goose chase and not find them when we get there.’
Lizzie bit her lip and thought hard. Was it crazy? She pictured herself at the church, waiting for the music to start and for a man she didn’t know running up with a message from Hugo. She closed her eyes and the picture was so vivid, it was almost as if it had actually happened. ‘If you’re willing to come, I do want to see Hugo. Although if you’d rather not, I could just go with Alexandra. She could talk to Simon for me.’
Vanessa’s eyes widened. ‘No, that’s all right. I’ll come. I really like Alexandra but I’m not having her stealing Simon before I’ve had a chance.’
‘Good. And to avoid the wild goose chase, we’ll ring Simon first – at least you will – to make sure they’re there.’
Vanessa pretended to be someone from the local council although it was only eight thirty in the morning. Having confirmed that Simon was in the house, she rang off.
‘You did that so well!’ said Lizzie. ‘And Simon must have beautiful manners not to shout at you, considering how early it is.’
