Keegan.
Keegan got off the bed and Lottie opened a door off to the side of the bedroom. The bathroom was reached through a vestibule lined with wardrobes on both sides.
‘There’s a full en suite and a dressing area, and we’ll provide fizz and flowers in your room.’
‘And a claw-foot bathtub big enough for two,’ Keegan said. ‘How romantic.’
‘I’m glad you like it.’ Lottie’s forced smile was beginning to hurt her jaw. ‘Would you like to see the other guest rooms now?’
‘Yes, please although I could run a bath right now, fill it with bubbles and sink into it. I’m exhausted, with the jet lag and all the excitement and secrecy. We love a nice soak in the tub together.’
‘How lovely,’ Lottie murmured, unable to avoid picturing Keegan and Connor in the massive tub, toasting each other.
She moved back into the bedroom. ‘Now, as part of your package you get the rooms exclusively of course and we deliver a champagne breakfast for the um … the day after, and provide flowers for all the guest rooms …’ She reeled off the list of services and extra touches that were part of the package she’d put together for her first Firholme wedding, trying not to dwell on the idea of Keegan and Connor in the tub. Not that she’d ever been a bath-sharing kind of person – and come to think of it, neither had Connor. Not that their bath in their little house would have accommodated the pair of them at once.
She steered the conversation onto who would be staying in which room, which seemed like safe territory.
‘We’ve plenty of room for your bridal party. The best man, parents and bridesmaids …’ she realised that unusually, they hadn’t been mentioned. ‘Are you having any attendants?’
‘Just Alicia – Connor’s sister,’ Keegan said. ‘I expect you might remember her?’
‘Yes, we’ve – er – met a few times,’ Lottie said.
‘You certainly couldn’t forget her,’ Keegan said. ‘Between us, I mainly asked her because I wanted to include her in the main bridal party. None of my friends could get here at such short notice but that’s a sacrifice I’m prepared to make.’
Lottie smiled and continued to show Keegan the rooms where her bridesmaid – Connor’s sister – could stay over after the wedding party. She couldn’t help remembering Alicia. She was definitely a character and never afraid to speak her mind.
After Keegan had inspected the guest rooms, Lottie led the way down the grand staircase.
Keegan ran her hand along the polished handrail. ‘My mum’s so stoked about the idea of staying here,’ she said. ‘She’s never been to Europe so they’re making the wedding part of a longer trip.’
‘That sounds exciting,’ Lottie said, relieved to be on ground she felt more comfortable with.
Downstairs, Connor had finished his call and was back in the ballroom. He seemed to be lost in thought when Lottie and Keegan walked in. She thanked her lucky stars he hadn’t been in the bridal suite when Keegan was relating their bathtub tales.
She made some more notes about the logistics of the day, to double-check she knew where and when everyone was supposed to be at the agreed times and found she’d relaxed a little now; organising was her forte.
‘Dad’s transporting Mum, but we’ll be bringing his wedding suit here because Mum definitely would be suspicious if she spotted him in a suit and tie for a family lunch,’ Connor said. ‘Dad normally only wears suits under duress.’
‘Good idea,’ said Lottie, nodding. ‘He’s far happier in his gardening clothes or cycle jersey, I bet.’
Keegan gave them both a hard stare. ‘What do you mean? His cycle jersey?’
Connor’s expression contorted.
‘I um … meant like most fathers. They don’t like dressing up and er … I know Connor’s dad loves cycling. He marshalled one of the races round the lake a while ago. I saw it in the local paper …’ Lottie babbled.
‘Yes, I have mentioned it to you, Keegan. Dad loves his bike.’
‘Oh, yes. Maybe you have.’ Keegan smiled. ‘It will be an even bigger surprise for your mum when she sees him in a formal suit, then.’
‘Yes, it will,’ said Connor, avoiding Lottie’s eye.
Keegan’s phone rang. ‘It’s the dressmaker. I have to take this. I’ll be back shortly.’
After she’d gone, Lottie heaved a sigh of relief. ‘I’m sorry about that, Connor. The cycling, I mean.’
He sighed. ‘Don’t be. Keeping two lots of secrets is harder than I thought.’
‘I did warn you.’
‘It’s too late now,’ he replied with a sigh. ‘Keegan really