Secrets of the Heart (16 page)

`I'll
put my thinking cap on,' she promised.

They shared another pot of tea and played a couple of games of Scrabble before Annis went to her room to get ready for supper. Her heart was heavy, but she knew she had burnt her boats. In a fortnight's time she would be returning here for good, so she would just have to get used to seeing Ross and Stella together.

Sally
was back to her normal cheerful self the next day. She had decided not to tell Lara what her daughter had done.

`You
know, it explains why Kelly changed so rapidly. She was so enthusiastic when she first came here. Obviously her head was full of the glamour of weddings, but then when her boyfriend 'dumped' her, as Vicki put it, things changed and that was when she seemed to lose interest.’

`Well,
Lara's got enough worries and I don't see the point in giving her any more. Anyway, although we're still going to have to double check each wedding even more carefully than usual for the next few weeks, I really think things are looking up for me at last.'

The
two girls got down to the business of the day, feeling satisfied that things were running smoothly once more. Just to prove it, both the weddings went like clockwork, with no hitches.

On
Sunday, everyone helped to prepare for that morning's wedding celebration. Soon after twelve o'clock the bride and groom arrived for the reception in a horse-drawn carriage, and, much to everyone's relief, everything went off without any further problems.

The
bride was radiant, and the dress made by Madame Cecile was a sensation in white silk and lace. As the happy couple embraced, Annis felt a lump in her throat and wondered if she would ever make it up the aisle herself.

Once
the wedding was over, Annis decided to go and watch the play rehearsal, which had been rescheduled for early evening. The improvement was amazing, and when Millie came across and sat beside her on the bank, she told her so.

`You
are coming to see the whole thing next week, aren't you?' Millie asked her anxiously.

`Yes,
of course — Sally and John and myself will be watching on Sunday afternoon,' she promised. 'Is your mother coming?'

`I'm
not sure I hope so.' Millie frowned. 'She helped me with my costume, anyway.'

`Then
I'm sure she'll be there,' Annis told her.

* * *

Yet again, Annis found the following week a trial. She was still covering for the same girl, and although the work was easy enough, she found it frustrating. Part of her wanted to be in Heronsbridge, although she was also very apprehensive about the future.

On
Wednesday, her mother rang her. Her parents had been staying with Annis's aunt in Scotland, so, apart from very brief chats and postcards, she hadn't heard much from them for a while.

`Annis;
her mother said. 'It's been such a long time since we caught up with each other, so your father and I are thinking of coming to London over the bank holiday weekend to see you. We can go to a show — do some shopping . . . '

‘B
ut I won't be around!' Annis interrupted her mother and filled her in on what had been happening in her life recently. Her mother sounded so disappointed, to say nothing of incredulous at what Annis was doing, but Annis had a sudden flash of inspiration.

`Look,
why don't you come down to Heronsbridge? I'm sure everyone there would be pleased to see you. Besides, there's a play on at the Mill over the weekend — it's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' and I've promised to be around to see it.'

And so it was arranged that Mr and Mrs Fuller would drive to Kent on Saturday morning and stay with Sally's parents for the weekend.

When
Annis arrived back at the Mill on Friday afternoon it was to find a much happier Sally.

`There's
no wedding today, Annis, so how about a spot of retail therapy at the designer outlet at Ashford?'

`Great,
but there's something I need to do first and, Sally, I'm going to need your support.'

* * *

Madame Cecile was putting the finishing touches to Millie's costume for the play and she looked up with a brief smile as Sally and Annis entered the boutique.

`Is
that Millie's costume?' Annis asked. 'She's a very talented girl, isn't she? I've watched a couple of the rehearsals and her dance routine is beautiful.'

Madame Cecile frowned. 'I wish not to encourage her in that direction. I agree she's good at dancing, very agile and as it's Shakespeare, I'm making an exception, but for my daughter to go into the theatre full-time is unthinkable.'

`Why?'
Annis asked, at the risk of incurring her wrath.

Madame's
petite frame bristled with indignation.

`I'm
surprised you ask that question, Miss Fuller. It's so difficult for young people to find jobs these days and it would be better for her to stop filling her head with nonsense and come here, where she would have a worthwhile career.'

‘B
ut if her heart isn't in the dressmaking business, then it wouldn't be right to make her do it, would it?' Sally pointed out carefully.

Madame
Cecile glared at her.

`We
can't all do what we would choose in life, Mrs Barnes. Has Millie been talking to you? Please don't encourage her. She's young and impressionable and rather immature for her age, and her head's been turned by that young man, Dean. I do not approve of their friendship, but I cannot watch over her twenty-four hours a day.'

`She
always seems very responsible,' Annis ventured. 'I'm sure you'll be very proud of her when you see her perform.'

`I'm
not at all sure that I shall be there,' Madame Cecile said, tight-lipped.

`Well,
we're all coming to support her on Sunday. Mr Freeman will be there as well, and no doubt Mr Hadley and Mr Marsden, too. Are you going to be there, Lara?'

Lara
gave a sudden unexpected smile.

`Oh,
yes, Vicki's taking me. I know she would collect you too if you wanted to go, Madame.'

`You
see, everyone thinks so highly of young Millie,' Sally said. 'But the one person she would really want to be there for her is you.'

A
slight colour tinged Madame Cecile's cheeks.

`Well
— I will see . . . ' she said, still non-committal, and they had to be content with that.

* * *

After two hours of shopping, during which Annis and Sally both bought a number of bargains, Sally drove them home.

`You're
good for me, Annis. I haven't done this in a while and it's just what I needed.'

`Then
we must see that you do it more often,' Annis told her.

As
Sally dropped Annis off at the Mill, she gave her a mischievous grin.

`I've
been dying to tell you something, but I'm going to have to wait a bit longer. Uncle Bryn wants to have a word with you.'

Full
of curiosity, Annis went to see Bryn Freeman after supper.

`There's something I want to tell you, Annis come and sit down,' he said.

`The
millinery business should be up and running in two or three months' time, so I'm ready now to consider a new proposal from Tristan. Actually, he's had a humdinger of an idea.'

He
saw her expression and chuckled.

‘
Now, don't look like that! I know he's had some hare-brained schemes in the past, but this is one that he and Stella have dreamed up between them. You see, Annis, Tristan, Stella and Ross have always had a wider vision for the Mill, but I needed to be very sure before I was prepared to go along with any of their projects. Anyway, I've run this idea past all three of them, and now I want to sound you out.'

He
leaned forward, eyes alight with enthusiasm.

`I've
always told Tristan that should he have an idea that encompasses the whole business, and isn't just a whim like a miniature railway or leisure centre then he should come to me and I would give it serious consideration. Well, I've considered this idea of his and I like it very much. I think I'd like to give him a chance to show what he can do with it.'

`So
what is it?' Annis asked, trying to be patient.

`He's
suggested that we have an artist in residence who has a studio in the grounds, and puts on exhibitions and so on.'

Annis
was pleasantly surprised as she thought about it.

`It's
certainly an attractive idea, but how would it relate to the rest of the enterprise?'

`Ah,
well, the conference centre could be used for painting classes and the artist would be on hand to do sketches at weddings, or portraits before and after the event. What do you think?'

`I
think it's got distinct possibilities,' she said, with a sigh of relief, and she found herself telling him all about her worries concerning the wedding business.

`So you see, I was so convinced that Stella, Tristan and Ross were planning to close down 'Something Borrowed, Something Blue' to make way for some other major project like oh, I don't know, a casino or a huge sports and leisure complex, or something like that.' Bryn took her hands.

`Annis,
I would never allow anything to interfere with 'Something Borrowed, Something Blue'. Sally has also expressed her concerns, but I had no idea that the pair of you were feeling so insecure about things. Whatever I choose to do in the future must and will fit round our present ventures. There does that reassure you?'

She
nodded, her eyes shining as she realised that all her doubts were totally unfounded and that everything was going to be all right from now on.

`We
didn't want to bother you with all our problems, Bryn.'

He
sighed.

`I've
been neglecting my responsibilities, haven't I, young Annis? Since you've been here, you've shown me that. Well, all that's at an end. In future, if ever you, Sally, or any of my other staff have any worries, you're to come to me. After all, that's what I'm here for and I'm definitely not ready to be put out to pasture quite yet!

`Now,
while you're here you can help me complete yesterday's crossword puzzle. It was an absolute stinker!'

Chapter Ten

Annis's
parents arrived late on Saturday morning, just as the first wedding reception of the day was getting underway. Annis took them across to see Bryn, who was expecting them for lunch.

Bryn
had Ross with him. It was the first time Annis had seen him in a fortnight and she felt her heartbeat quicken.

He
was his usual charming self as she introduced him to her parents

`Ross
is staying for lunch and you, too, Annis,' Bryn told her.

‘B
ut I'm helping Sally with the weddings,' she protested.

`There'll
be plenty more,' Bryn said firmly. 'Don't argue, lass, it's all arranged. Stella's lending a hand, in any case, so you can spare an hour or so.'

Annis
knew when she was beaten.

She
glanced at her mother, and saw the expression on her face as she looked at Ross.

‘
It's uncanny, isn't it, how much Ross resembles Andrew?' Annis remarked.

Her
mother looked startled, as if she had read her mind.

`Well,
yes, but Ross has broader shoulders and his hair is a darker colour and I think his feet . . . '

Annis
looked at Ross and they both dissolved into laughter.

`My
mother always notices people's feet,' Annis said.

`Honestly,
Annis!' scolded Mollie Fuller, looking embarrassed.

`Well,
that's where my brains are,' Ross told her and winked.

Sally's
father was soon involved in a conversation with Ross about his travels in America, while Bryn, Annis and her mother chatted about what changes they had noticed in Heronsbridge and at Heathercote Mill itself.

The meal passed all too quickly and the Fullers, anxious not to wear our Bryn, took the hint when Ross and Annis got up to go, and left at the same time, saying that they would sit the garden a while before leaving.

Both of the wedding receptions were finished by early evening and Annis and Sally drove over to Sally’s parents bungalow for supper.

The two girls spent a thoroughly enjoyable time with both sets of parents, watching some old family videos that Sally’s father had filmed years ago.

As Annis was ready to leave her mother drew her to one side.

‘Annis, that nice cousin of Andrew’s, I was wondering, is there anything going on between the two of you?’

‘No Mum, we hardly know each other,’ Annis told her mother firmly, but, judging by the quizzical look on her face, she doubted she believed her.

* * *

On Sunday morning, Annis went for a swim and found Ross already in the pool. He waved to her and her heart raced, but then she thought of Stella, who she had seen the previous day, looking more elegant than ever and smiling as if she were the cat that had got the cream.

`We
could have our breakfast outside,' Ross told Annis as they climbed out of the pool a half-hour later. 'See you on the terrace in fifteen minutes!'

It
was quiet on the terrace for it was still early and there weren't many people about.

`I
love this time of day, before all the rush starts,' Annis commented.

`So
do I, even though it's a bit of an effort to get up sometimes.' Ross smiled at her. 'Vicki tells me you were quite right about her sister causing problems for the wedding business.'

`Yes.
It's just a pity that no-one believed Sally. She's very hurt.'

He had the grace to look chastened. `Would you believe me if I told you how sorry I am?'

`It's
Sally you should be apologising to,' she told him, buttering a croissant.

`And
I will, I can assure you. You've made me think seriously about the way things operate here, and from now on I intend to make sure that everyone gets a fair hearing and that we all pull together as a team.'

He
paused.

`I'm
sorry I wasn't around last weekend,' he added.

`Did
you enjoy your time with your family and Stella?' she asked and he shot her a surprised look.

`Yes,
I did, thanks. I don't get to see them very often. I thought your parents were delightful, by the way. When are they coming to see the play? This afternoon or tomorrow?'

`This
afternoon,' she told him.

They
ate in silence for a few moments and then some impulse made her say, 'Stella looks happy.'

Ross's expression didn't change. `Yes, she is. She's had a lot on her mind, lately a lot to think about. But she's made a decision and I feel sure it's the right one, although it wasn't easy for her — after Andrew . . . '

He
broke off as one of the staff came to look for him with a message about a phone call, and, with a muttered excuse, he drained his coffee cup and went indoors, leaving Annis to stare after him, wondering what else he had been about to say.

* * *

The performance of the play was to be at two o'clock, and all the friends and family of the cast had been invited to Sunday lunch beforehand in the conference centre dining-room.

It
was a cheerful throng that made its way down to the lake-side.

To
Annis's delight, Madame Cecile was there after all, seated with Vicki, Lara and Tristan. For once the little lady was dressed in a vibrant dark red rather than her usual sombre black. Someone had obviously been taking her in hand.

The
play was a triumph. Afterwards, the applause was deafening and Millie was called upon to do an encore of her dance.

Annis
shot a glance in Madame's direction and saw that she was beaming and clapping as enthusiastically as everyone else.

Eventually,
as the actors and audience departed, Millie ran to her mother and hugged her, and then turned to Dean, who was silently standing at her side, and drew him forward.

`Well
done, Annis!' Sally whispered.

`Oh,
it wasn't just me,' Annis told her.

Both
Sally's and Annis's parents had thoroughly enjoyed the production.

`That
young girl, Millie she's very talented, isn't she?' commented Annis's father.

`We
think so,' Annis told him. 'Now, there are refreshments in the conference centre, or shall we go to a restaurant for a meal and a natter?'

`A
restaurant would be nice, darling,' said her mother. 'We're thinking of going into Canterbury with Sally's parents tomorrow. We want to take them out for lunch to repay them for their hospitality. Will you be able to join us?'

`I'd
love to, but there's a wedding in the morning, and the last performance of the play after that, and I've promised Millie I'll be there. We'll meet up in the evening, though.'

`You
work too hard, darling, and so does Sally. Her mother is quite worried about her. Now tell me, who's that glamorous-looking woman talking to Ross?'

Annis
looked across to where Ross was chatting with Stella Freeman. She was wearing a strappy, coral-pink dress and had her hand firmly on his arm. She looked radiant.

Annis
swallowed.

`That's Stella Freeman,' she told her mother. 'She and Ross well, as you can see — they're very good friends. I wouldn't be surprised if — if . . . '

Her
mother looked at her sympathetically.

`I
see. I suppose I ought to have guessed that's who it is, because she's exactly how I imagined her to be . . . Never mind, darling, your knight in shining armour will come along eventually.'

Annis
and her parents spent a relaxing evening, just the three of them, in a pleasant restaurant on the outskirts of Ashford, catching up with each other's news.

But
Annis kept thinking of Stella, and seeing again the way she had gazed at Ross with starry eyes. It was obvious that she was in love with him and it was surely only a matter of time before the pair made an announcement.

`You're
looking a bit peaky, Annis,' her father said. 'Burning the candle at both ends, I shouldn't wonder. Not much of a holiday you've had, by the sounds of it!'

`It's
been great being back in Heronsbridge with Sally and Bryn,' she said, 'and I'm feeling just fine.'

* * *

Tristan came to find her the following morning, his arm around Vicki.

`Annis,
I kept missing you yesterday. I want you to be one of the first to know that Vicki and I are engaged.'

Vicki
smiled, and held out her hand for Annis to inspect her sparkling diamond engagement ring.

Annis
congratulated them and was genuinely pleased, though she hoped Tristan would treat Vicki well and stop acting like a playboy from now on.

Tristan
winked at Annis and gave her a roguish smile.

`I
was determined to pip my sister to the post, because I guess it's only a matter of time before she makes an announcement herself. You've only got to look at her to see that she's madly in love!'

Annis
mumbled a reply and left them to enjoy their walk.

She
suddenly acknowledged something that she hadn't been prepared to admit, even to herself, until now: she was in love with Ross.

It
was all like a bad dream one from which she wished she could awaken. Why did it have to be Ross that she had fallen for when it was so apparent that he was involved with Stella? Why was it that every relationship she entered into seemed to end in disaster?

The
final performance of 'The Dream' was, if anything, even better than the previous day's, and at the end, bouquets were presented. Millie came to join Annis, clutching hers.

`I've
had the most brilliant time, Miss Fuller, and guess what? My mother has actually invited Dean for dinner this evening! He'd better not wear his jeans with the rips in them or she'll be sewing them up!'

Millie
giggled and, eyes sparkling, danced away to find him.

Watching
her enviously, Annis sighed. It seemed that everyone was finding happiness except for herself.

Presently
she went to find her parents, whom she'd arranged to meet in reception after they'd said goodbye to Bryn.

They
were chatting to Ross.

`Ah,
there you are, Annis. We've had a lovely day,' Mollie Fuller announced. `We'll tell you all about it over supper. Sally's cooking it for us — I don't know how that girl does it. She works so hard. Now, you're not to worry about getting yourself to London tomorrow morning. I feel like doing a bit of shopping and Dad wants to look up one of his old pals, so we've decided to stay in London ourselves for a couple of nights. We'll be able to give you a lift there tomorrow, and we can collect the rest of your things from the flat and drop them off here on the way back.'

Ross raised his eyebrows. 'Goodness, Annis, how much more stuff have you got? You've been lugging cases back here for the past three weeks! Anyway, I've got a much better idea. I'm going to London myself at the end of the week, so why don't I bring you and your possessions back with me? That way your parents won't need to interrupt their journey.'

It
was the last thing Annis wanted, but she couldn't very well refuse, so she murmured polite thanks, wishing that things could be different between her and Ross.

* * *

It was drizzling the next morning and Annis and her parents got stuck in traffic, making Annis late for work. Fortunately she was given a much more interesting workload for the remaining few days of her notice period.

It
was good to be able to see her parents over the next couple of evenings, and on Wednesday she joined them for the theatre

`You
take care of yourself now,' her father said as they parted.

`I
hope you'll be down to see us before too long, darling,' her mother added.

Annis's
friends at the flat took her out for an Indian meal on Thursday evening and, much to her surprise, on Friday she was showered with gifts by her colleagues, so that when she finally emerged from the office building she was clutching armfuls of flowers, bottles of wine, chocolates, and several good luck cards and gift tokens.

Ross
was leaning against the Mercedes.

`Goodness,
I can hardly see you under that lot!' He opened the boot to stow her presents away.