I cut in as Lando considers. ‘Let’s leave that for another day.’
Nemmie calls, ‘Forget smugglers! Walking with Esme’s alpacas is way more current. We need to book in for that.’
We close the car door, wave them off, and it’s only as the tail lights disappear that I realise I’m hand in hand with Lando.
I have four hours left to stay out of trouble. Let’s hope I don’t stuff up spectacularly.
46
Nancarrow Castle, Nancarrow, Cornwall
Shaken not stirred
Saturday
‘Well done for keeping your cool in the face of abundance, Maevey.’
In the last couple of hours Lando and I have visited three more buffets and a myriad of cocktail bars, jumped around to noughties tunes in the dance marquee, and now we’re sitting in a light-festooned garden, getting our breath back and sipping something that’s making my head whirl, out of very tall glasses.
I have to laugh at this new side of Lando I’ve tuned into. ‘Today is like every blow-out wedding I’ve ever been to rolled into one.’
Lando laughs. ‘If you have any memory, they can’t have been that good.’ His smile widens. ‘It’s a relief you’re still talking to me, anyway.’
He looks so uncertain, there’s a twang in my chest. ‘After knowing you for so long, it’s a revelation to finally see where you come from, Lando.’ It’s more than that. ‘I feel very honoured that you’ve shown me.’
His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. ‘And are there any reactions you’d like to share?’
I owe him this at least. ‘I never imagined it being so big, but a lot of it is ordinary. I mean, your bedroom doesn’t even have a radiator.’
A smile lilts around his lips. ‘I was lucky to have electricity. Did you think I slept in a four poster?’
I’m trying to put my finger on it. ‘I was expecting bling, but nothing here is shiny.’
His smile lines deepen. ‘It’s old money, not new. The house sprawls but it’s never polished because they’d rather buy land than do bathroom upgrades. They spend on roof repairs not swimming pools.’
I’m trying to pinpoint the differences. ‘I see why you don’t do your own DIY.’
He rubs his thumb along his jaw. ‘When I came back from Australia there was a lot of pressure for me to take on a family role. It caused a rift, but that wasn’t who I am. After that, until I came back to sort out Sav’s takeovers, I went my own way and only saw the girls.’
I hadn’t understood the magnitude. ‘You speaking to your family again is one good thing that came out of Sav’s downfall.’
His lips twist into a grin. ‘There are other, even better ones.’
I raise an eyebrow. ‘Like Weddings at Windflowers?’
‘That too.’ He tilts his head. ‘While you’re here, I’ll show you the wilderness garden. It’s always been my favourite place to hide away.’
My eyes are shining. ‘Do I get to see the tree house?’
He stands up and pulls me to my feet. ‘We’ll save that for daylight, but if you’ve had enough of the party, there’s somewhere else you may like.’
Lando’s hand is strong around mine as he leads me into the darkness.
The dangling festoon lights run out, but I can still see shapes in the half-light as we walk along a grassy path, then we slip through a hole in a high hedge and step out into another space. I see the outline of a building and can’t hide my surprise.
‘You have your own beach hut!’
Lando gives a low laugh. ‘This far from the sea we call it a summer house.’ Two steps up and we’re on the verandah. There’s a flame in the dark and he bends to light fat candles in tall glass lanterns. ‘Oliver’s groom’s tools coming in handy.’
