‘So, you’re short of arrangers?’ said Patsy.
‘Yes, which is why I’m not asking you to help,’ said Di. ‘Flowers are not your forte. No offence.’
‘Absolutely none taken,’ said Patsy, who seemed excited, ‘but before you rush off, let me introduce you to Lizzie—’
‘Hello, lovely to meet you but—’
‘Lizzie is a flower genius!’ said Patsy. ‘We were at a very big event a little while ago and the florist cancelled at the last minute—’
‘She probably had a stomach bug!’
‘—and Lizzie stepped in. Honestly, the flowers were just glorious! She is your woman.’
Lizzie glanced at Patsy. She hadn’t known Patsy and Tim had been at the Lennox-Stanleys’ ball, but now she thought about it, of course they would have – they were old family friends. Now she looked at Di Baker who was looking back at her, doubt and hope fighting for ascendance.
‘Patsy is being very kind,’ she said, ‘and of course I had masses of lovely flowers then, but I used tohelp with church flowers a lot when I lived at home.’
‘Did you? Have you been sent from heaven?’ asked the vicar’s wife.
‘God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform,’ put in Patsy. ‘Lizzie, why don’t you go with Di and see what you can do to help? We can look at the house another time.’
‘The thing is, we won’t have amazing flowers,’ said Di, ‘we’ll only have what people have in their gardens. We don’t have a budget to buy flowers.’
‘That’s what I’m used to,’ said Lizzie. ‘I’d really love to help if I can.’
‘And we haven’t cut the flowers yet. We always like to get the flowers done by Friday afternoon, before the church is cleaned on Saturday. We haven’t a moment to lose!’
In spite of the need for hurry, the vicar’s wife was still dithering so Patsy took control. ‘Why don’t we start picking in this garden?’ she suggested. ‘There are some lovely things in there,’ she went on, looking at the little front garden, obviously unable to name any of the flowers. ‘And more round the back. Probably.’
‘That’s a good idea,’ said Lizzie, getting out of the car. ‘Have we got any secateurs?’
‘Always,’ said the vicar’s wife. She went back to her car and found them.
‘I really hope she’s as good as you say she is,’ Lizzie heard Di say as she began cutting anything remotely suitable, greenery or flowers, and putting them into an old bucket she’d found in the hedge. ‘I am desperate.’
‘Oh, she is,’ said Patsy. ‘And she’s such a sweet girl!’
Lizzie wondered if Di Baker would agree she was a sweet girl once she’d discovered she was getting married because she was pregnant.
Lizzie loved doing the flowers. She felt comfortable with the three older women on flower duty and was pleased to be given a large stand to do that would greet the congregation as they entered the church. It was generous, she thought, when no one knew if she had any idea what to do with a block of floral foam and crumpled chicken wire. Luckily the foam had been pre-soaked by Di, who didn’t take chances.
When she’d completed her arrangement (declared ‘unusual’ by her fellow florists), using most of what she’d brought herself, she filled watering cans, swept up and, when asked, went into the churchyard and pulled ivy off a tree for extra foliage.
By the end of it, the church looked stunning, with large displays, and vases of flowers on every windowsill. As it was a special occasion, one of her fellow florists had brought a rich fruit cake, so theycould all sustain themselves while drinking tea made with the aid of a gas ring in the vestry.
‘You’ve been an absolute brick,’ said Di as they travelled back together. ‘God bless Patsy for producing you just at the right moment. Now, would you like to go to Patsy’s? Or back to that little house in the woods? It has a Hansel and Gretel feel about it, I think.’
‘So do I. And if it’s not out of your way, I’d like to go back there. I’ve only seen it—’ She stopped herself telling Di she’d only seen inside it at night. It sounded too risqué. ‘I mean, I’d love to have a good look at it.’
‘After what you’ve done for us today, you can go anywhere you like. It’s not just that you work at twice the speed of some of our older guild members but that you cheered them all up, put a bit of heart into them! I can tell you’re going to be a real asset to the parish.’
‘It is a lovely church. It must be really quite old.’
‘Parts of it go back to the thirteenth century, so yes.’ Di shot her a glance. ‘I gather from Patsy that you want to get married there?’
‘I do,’ said Lizzie, not daring to look at Di while she said this. ‘Although I’m not really a “spinster of this parish”.’
‘Well, I think it’s much more important to the church that you’re going to be a “married woman of this parish”. I’ll talk to my husband. I’m surehe can sort something out. Although we must find a date for the wedding. You and your young man will have to go and see my husband as soon as possible. I’ll ring Patsy with some times when he’s free.’ She shot Lizzie a look. ‘Don’t worry, there are dates available but you’ll need to pick one quickly.’
