A Surprise Christmas Wedding - Phillipa Ashley Page 0,19
shame the decorations aren’t up, but as Shayla mentioned, that means we can discuss your own scheme and have it ready for your special day.’
She was fighting to keep the slightest trace of irony from her voice, terrified that Keegan would think she was being sarcastic – or worse, that Connor would. He was handling the situation by saying as little as possible, but Keegan was the opposite, raving about the architecture, the furnishings, the possibilities for photo opportunities.
It was agony for Lottie to have to extol Firholme’s virtues when she longed to claim it was a terrible place to get married; that it was draughty, had mice and the catering wasn’t up to scratch – and most of all that the events manager was incompetent and was wishing her bridal couple would vanish with a puff of smoke.
Instead she had to run through her sales patter of how marvellous it was, with its grand ballroom being perfect for the ceremony; the drawing room ideal for the pre-drinks; and suite of first-floor bedrooms wonderful for the bridal couple and their guests.
She threw open the double doors to the ballroom so that Keegan could walk in ahead.
‘Oh. My. God. What an incredible space!’ Keegan wandered into the centre of the room and turned in a circle, taking in the parquet floor, the walls and up to the wood-panelled ceiling with its ornate carvings and chandelier. ‘That ceiling. The panelling. Is this all original?’
‘Yes, we restored it back to its original state from 1906 when it was built …’
‘It’s undeniably impressive,’ he muttered, wandering towards the window, shoulders hunched and hands in his pockets.
‘No wonder your mother loves this place so much.’ Keegan returned her attention to the room, arching her neck to stare at the chandelier. ‘It’s every bit as gorgeous as you said.’
‘I’d forgotten how grand it was.’ Connor followed Keegan’s gaze. ‘Mum liked to bring us for afternoon tea when it was a hotel and we were younger. She hasn’t been able to visit since she was ill and it was being refurbished, but I know she wants to.’
Keegan looked around in wonder. ‘She’s going to freak out when she walks in here to find we’re actually getting married.’
‘You can say that again …’ Momentarily, Connor caught Lottie’s eye behind Keegan’s back and mouthed, ‘Sorry.’
Lottie glanced away, unable to respond. Sorry for what? Turning up out of the blue? Not knowing she worked there? Proposing to her, then saying he wasn’t sure that his love was strong enough to make a lifelong commitment? Finding someone he did love enough within a matter of months?
No matter how professional she tried to remain, the regrets and ‘what-ifs’ whirled around her head. It didn’t matter how many times she told herself she was better off without him and it wasn’t meant to be, it still hurt.
However, she had no time to gather her thoughts properly because Keegan had swooped on a small dais in the bay window. The sun had come out and the view over the gardens to the lake and snow-topped fells was to die for. How could Keegan not fall headlong in love with the place?
‘Is this it?’ Keegan was almost breathless with wonder. ‘Where we actually make our vows?’
‘Yes. This is where the registrar will conduct the ceremony,’ Lottie said. ‘We hold the wedding service in here and in the winter months we serve drinks in the drawing room while this space is rearranged for the reception.’ She glanced out of the window at the sun glinting off the lake. ‘In summer, we do drinks on the terrace; obviously, that’s not possible in December … But you can still have a wide choice of menus, or any kind of reception format – sit-down or buffet. As casual or formal as you wish.’ She reeled off the patter, still feeling as if someone else was saying the words.
‘Oh, I want a formal sit-down. I want silver service, little place names, a top table, speeches – the whole traditional English shebang.’ Keegan called to Connor who was at the window, with his back to them. ‘That’s what your mum’s always dreamed of, isn’t it, Connor? I know my folks will go nuts for it too.’
Connor’s face seemed to have turned pale under his tan. ‘Is there time to get them over here?’ he asked. ‘You know how busy the flights from Oz are at this time of year. Would it be better to delay