women taking time out here.’ It’ll be just my luck if Elfinor’s a hot-shot tycoon who can’t ever be without her phone.
He looks at the ceiling then nods. ‘Okay, fine.’
Ivy’s smiling again. ‘In that case, I’ll show you the rest.’
We follow her through downstairs spaces as wide as galleries that are filled with velvet sofas and leather club chairs, catching glimpses through the windows to the sea and the distant curve of the bay. Then we move on to two more floors where the bedrooms all have simple framed four posters and sleek white bathrooms.
Then we come back to the ground floor again. I have to admit, Ivy had me with the scones and the towers. By the time we reach a stylish kitchen with a vast island unit, more sofas and floor-to-ceiling doors opening onto the paved hot tub area, I’m ecstatic. When I skim through the list of treatments on offer from the list she hands me, I’m beyond blown away.
I sigh to Ivy. ‘Imagine a hot stone massage with views of the beach. Followed by a pedi and a long, lazy afternoon in the hot tub with a glass of fizz, then a night of girly games by the fire.’ Obviously, due to the present company I miss out any reference to the obligatory downing of shots. As I turn to Nic I’m breathy, because it’s such a lucky break to be offered this. ‘Sleeps twenty, so that should be more than enough. If there’s less of them they can forget the top floor. All that’s left is to hope that Ivy’s free weekends coincide with your dates.’
Ivy’s eyes are wide. ‘I checked with Bill, he’s happy to offer you ten percent off.’
‘Better and better!’ I’m so excited I’m hugging myself.
I’m expecting Nic to whip out his phone to check his diary and commit before she changes her mind, but instead he hesitates. ‘Could we find the hens somewhere more compact – I’m sure they’d be fine with less space?’
Out of womanly solidarity, I’m going to make sure his hens get the best. ‘You cheapskating them into a mud run and a tenner behind the bar is not going to happen on my watch, Nic.’
His eyes flash in frustration. ‘You know I wouldn’t do that.’
Actually, I don’t, but I’m not going to argue. Ivy saw yesterday how easily Nic dismisses places. If he’s already crossed this off there’s no point prolonging the visit, we need to get the hell out of here. ‘If that’s a definite “no”, let’s not take up any more of Ivy’s afternoon.’ As I march towards the hall my heart is sinking. If he’s being this picky with the hens, what about the real venue? And it’s all extra time I’ll have to spend with him, when I’d rather not. I know the client’s always right, but I might need to remind him. ‘If you’re rejecting quality like this, Nic, you’re making the whole job impossible.’
I’ve stomped halfway across the very long wood plank floor before I realise he isn’t following. As I look over my shoulder, he narrows his eyes.
‘This isn’t a rejection.’
I’ve just about had enough. ‘I don’t know what intergalactic universe you’re flying through, Captain Kirk, but I think you just said the hens didn’t deserve anywhere this big.’
He clears his throat. ‘I don’t want to waste this on the hens because I want it for something else.’
Now I get it, and I’m fuming. ‘Nic Trendell, you are not stealing this for the stags!’
His lips are twitching. ‘You don’t think that’s a great idea?’
I’m bursting. ‘No, I bloody don’t!’
His eyes are twinkling. ‘No need to explode, I’m only winding you up. It’s way better than that, Milla Vanilla – you may just have found the perfect wedding venue.’
‘What?’
His mouth curves. ‘The spaces are fabulous, the feel is exactly what I’ve been looking for. We’re so close to the beach we can hear the waves breaking on the shore, we can see out across the whole bay. I told you I’d know it the minute I saw it – Cockle Shell Castle is the place.’
I’m swallowing my shock, trying to get to grips with this. Playing for time, thinking back to his pet hates. ‘There certainly aren’t any pesky cobbles or disgusting fields.’
His smile has spread to a grin. ‘Better still, the lawns are smooth and firm, the gravel paths are in excellent order, and the stone flags and circulation space inside couldn’t be better.’
‘I can’t argue with that.’ What is