The Perfect Retreat Page 0,119

was nervous to meet them on their home turf, but they were just grateful that Kitty had managed to tame Ivo.

‘This is a wonderful house,’ Kitty had said, wondering if she should call it a castle.

‘Yes, Casselton Hall has been in the family since forever,’ said Evelyn easily, gesturing to the stunning Palladian architecture.

‘Now, the wedding will be here of course,’ said Evelyn. She had already planned the day in her mind, and she flung open the doors in front of them.

Kitty had gasped at the ornate room, three times the size of the ballroom at Middlemist.

‘The Great Hall,’ said Evelyn. ‘We haven’t had a wedding here for one hundred years, and now is the time I think. Don’t you think Perry?’

Ivo’s father had rocked back and forth on his feet. ‘Now Evelyn, it is their life. They must choose where they will be married.’ Ivo shot his father a look of appreciation, and Perry and he had shared a moment of mutual understanding.

Kitty turned to Ivo. ‘I don’t care where we marry, as long as we do,’ she had said, and Evelyn wiped away a little tear.

‘The future Marquess and Marchioness of Casselton deserve a proper wedding, Peregrine.’

‘What?’ asked Kitty, not believing her ears.

Ivo looked down. ‘I was going to get to that.’

‘Why yes dear, when Perry pops his clogs then Ivo inherits. Once you are married, Kitty, you will be Lady Kitty Casselton. Ivo is already titled,’ she said, looking at her son and wondering why on earth he hadn’t mentioned this earlier. Part of Perry’s appeal had been his title when she had met him thirty years before at Annabel’s.

Kitty had held Ivo’s hand as she wandered through the stunning gardens after lunch.

‘Why didn’t you tell me you had a fancypants name and title?’ she had asked.

Ivo looked ahead. ‘Because it’s a pain in the arse and I hated it growing up. It’s a hell of a house to have on your shoulders,’ he said.

‘It’s very beautiful,’ said Kitty, looking back at the view.

‘But it’s not a home,’ said Ivo.

‘It could be,’ Kitty had said. ‘A home is about love, Ivo, and we have loads of that. Anyway your parents aren’t – what did your mother say? – “popping their clogs” anytime soon, so we can stay in our lovely home courtesy of darling Harold.’

Ivo and Kitty would be married in September, and besides Kitty finding a dress – Temperley London, if you must know; white silk, goddess-style with Clementina’s lover’s eye necklace and an armful of white irises – the rest Evelyn had organised, perfectly and tastefully with a hint of tradition. Willow was to be a bridesmaid and Merritt best man.

Two weeks after Willow arrived at Middlemist unannounced, Merritt had proposed. He had asked Poppy and Lucian for their mother’s hand in marriage that morning.

Poppy, to her credit, had managed to keep Merritt’s intentions secret. It was Lucian who had insisted on asking Willow if she still had her hand on, and he had kept checking regularly.

Willow realised something was up when she went downstairs from her bath – in her perfect bathroom – and found Merritt nervously trying to light a fire, even though it was spring. The house was quiet. Too quiet. ‘Where are the children?’ she had asked.

‘Kitty and Ivo have taken them out for the evening,’ said Merritt.

Willow, in her fluffy towelling robe and socks, looked at him. ‘Are you OK?’ she asked, and he took her hand and led her to the orangery. It was dark but the full moon lit up the sky, throwing shadows into the glass room.

‘Look,’ said Merritt, pointing.

The humidity felt lovely against her face. Willow looked at Merritt. ‘What am I looking at? The moon?’ She looked up at the glass ceiling. ‘What is that smell?’ she asked, looking around. ‘It’s incredible.’

Merritt led her over to a plant with a huge white bloom. Willow put her face into it and inhaled. ‘My god, that’s incredible.’

‘It’s the Queen of the Night flower,’ said Merritt. ‘I got a sample from Venezuela. I didn’t know whether it would bloom here because it’s so cold, but it has. It usually comes out a bit later in May, but it must know you are going to Cannes soon and wanted to be open for you.’

Willow looked at the large flower in amazement.

‘I read in Clementina’s diaries that they used to have one of these in the house, and they would throw lawn parties and everyone would get drunk and wait