‘So that’s how things work here, in a nutshell,’ Matt said as Jude tuned back into his spiel. ‘Several highly picturesque locations are on offer for the various stages of the day, and we can host up to one hundred and sixty guests as an absolute maximum.’
‘We’re already up to one hundred and forty-six,’ Hannah said, directing this information at Joe. ‘That includes the space reserved for your mum.’
‘Understood,’ Joe answered. ‘And catering is additional?’
‘It is,’ Matt confirmed. ‘The in-house team that runs the restaurant and tearoom can provide whatever service you’d like, or you can outsource it. Use of the kitchen facilities and cleaning are included in your package, but no food, drinks or menu design.’
Hannah nodded. ‘I suggest we discuss that separately. I have a preferred caterer, and I know she’d love the job.’
‘That would be fine, of course,’ Matt said. ‘I’m sure anyone you’re willing to partner with is exceptional.’
Hannah turned to smile at him, and Jude bit back an irritated groan. Did the manhaveto be such a shameless suck-up?
‘Are we ready for a stroll?’ Matt asked.
‘Definitely,’ Ed said, resembling nothing so strongly as a Labrador puppy desperately in need of a walk. ‘Let’s go.’
Matt was a master of his craft, Jude could give him that. He led Ed and Joe to the various parts of the mansion they’d have access to, should they book it – but he didn’t overexplain or answer questions they hadn’t asked. Instead, he allowed the spectacular painted hall to speak for itself, and was smart enough to let them glimpse the courtyard while today’s wedding guests were still milling around in it, nibbling classy-looking canapés and quaffing champagne. He, Hannah and Jude hung back, allowing the grooms to digest and discuss all that they were seeing.
As they made their way to the carriage house – the space dedicated for formal, sit-down wedding feasts at Renfrew – Hannah said: ‘I can’t believe anyone would let this place go. It’s too beautiful.’ She turned to Matt and asked quietly, ‘Was the original wedding cancelled? I hope nothing awful happened.’
‘It’s a mad story, actually,’ Matt said, slightly under his breath. He was using a conspiratorial tone that Jude found he didn’t enjoy.
‘Mad how?’ Hannah said.
‘I wouldn’t normally divulge this, but since it’s you .?.?.’ Matt said. ‘The bride got word from a friend that her groom wasn’t behaving as a soon-to-be-married man should.’
‘He was cheating in the run-up to his wedding?’ Hannah’s disgust was evident, as was Matt’s delight in telling this story to a rapt listener.
‘Notquite .?.?.’ he said. The dramatic pause that followed was long enough for Jude to roll his eyes and puff out an exasperated breath, but neither Matt nor Hannah noticed. They were inside the reception space, now. Ed and Joe had made their way to the far end of the large room that had been set up with beautifully laid tables, all topped with crisp white linens, gleaming silverware and arrangements of bright pink peonies.
‘He was on OnlyFans,’ Matt whispered, and Hannah gasped.
‘What?’
‘Sharing photos of body parts that his fiancée felt she had, er,exclusive rights to see,’ Matt went on. ‘He was coining it in, apparently – but as his ex-fiancée told him, you can’t put a price on honesty.’
‘God,’ Hannah murmured, ‘what a story. And they must have lost thousands, cancelling everything only two months out from the day. I can understand it, though – when someone breaks your trust badly enough, they break everything.’
Jude felt a sudden pang of shame when she said this. The sensation hit him unexpectedly, and hard – like someone had just chucked a basketball at his chest with no warning. She hadn’t been talking aboutthem. Hadn’t meant it as a dig .?.?. and it wasn’t like he’d ever lied to her about anything as significant as a secret sideline in nude photos. Regardless, the sad wistfulness in her voice made him want to crawl out of his skin.
‘In any case,’ Matt said, ‘it might work out to your brother’s advantage. And that man’s loss will be another’s gain, in the end – though reports are that, for now, he’s quite happy with the Porsche his penis pics have bought him.’
‘Bloody hell.’ Hannah covered her mouth, giggling, as Joe and Ed reappeared before them, hand in hand. Ed was aglow, visibly excited, and – with an entirely unfair sinking feeling – Jude realised this wouldn’t be the last he’d see of Matt Hughes this summer.
‘I think we’re ready to sign some paperwork,’ Joe said, unable to stop the total sincerity of his smile from showing.
‘Great news,’ Matt answered. ‘If you’d like to follow me .?.?.’
Jude and Hannah wandered to the far end of the grounds. She’d been here many times, he supposed, and had seemed familiar with the features Matt had pointed out during their tour – but the stunning colours of the flower gardenand the majesty of Renfrew’s cascading water feature had genuinely moved Jude. Against the dramatic backdrop of the peaks, and beneath the wild blue summer sky, the artful beauty of this place was compelling. He could understand why people paid exorbitant sums to make memories here.
They set up camp beneath a beech tree while they waited for their brothers to reappear. As Hannah flopped down on the grass – still lush and green, despite a run of days without rain – Hannah sighed with relief. ‘Thank god for Matt,’ she said. ‘Between you and me, I was genuinely starting to panic about where the hell we could hold this wedding.’
Jude was torn between feeling thrilled at the words ‘between you and me’ and aggravated that Matt had cast himself as her saviour.
‘You’re still good friends with him, then?’ he asked, before he could stop himself.
‘I guess so,’ Hannah said, a little spikily. She tipped her head on one side, scrutinising him, like she was trying to decide whether to say what came next. ‘Some people are better than others at keeping in touch,’ she said, lightly enough that it didn’t wound him – but pointedly enough that the words felt like a rap across the knuckles. It was a clear reminder that Jude didn’t have the privileges required to rib her, let alone complain about her staying friendly with an old colleague; not when he hadn’t returned her calls or texts after he left for Australia. He couldn’t dispute the justice of this, and simply nodded in sheepish understanding. He reminded himself that they’d agreed to keep things cordial, too; bellyaching about Matt was not only unreasonable, it was decidedly counter-productive.
