Secrets of the Heart (3 page)

`You
know, we
are
a bit short-staffed,' said Sally, winking surreptitiously at Annis. 'I'm sure you could lend someone a hand, Mrs Lawrence. Perhaps you could check the seating plan and put out the place cards? They're so pretty, aren't they?'

It
wasn't the first time they'd had to deal with an overwrought mother, and a pacified Mrs Lawrence went off in the direction of the marquee, much to the relief of Annis and Sally.

`We'll
have to remember to send her packing around twelve o'clock or she'll never be ready for the ceremony,' Sally said.

It
was around eleven o'clock when the office door was flung open and a stocky, sandy-haired young man entered. He pointedly ignored Annis and she suddenly remembered where she'd seen him before. It had been in the antiques shop the previous day; he'd ignored her then, too.

`There's
a woman wandering around by the marquee,' he said to Sally.

`It's
OK, it's the bride's mother. She's supposed to be there and she'll be going shortly. This is my good friend Annis Fuller by the way. She's helping me out for a week or two.'

As
if noticing her for the first time, the young man turned to look at Annis and raised his eyebrows.

`I'm
Tristan Marsden. I wasn't aware we'd taken on any new staff. Your name rings a bell.'

Annis
met his hazel eyes levelly. 'I used to be engaged to Andrew.'

There
was a silence for a moment or two as he digested this piece of information.

‘B
ut, of course — forgive me.' He stretched out a hand and she took it rather reluctantly.

`Annis
and I go back a long way,' said Sally, getting to her feet. 'I'll leave you to get acquainted while I check on the caterers.'

To
cover an awkward pause after Sally had gone, Annis said, 'It should be a good wedding. Everything's in hand and it's a glorious day.'

Tristan
perched on the desk and flicked through the wedding folder.

‘Mmn
has the cake arrived?'

`Yes,
about an hour ago. Everything's going like clockwork.'

`You're
nothing like I imagined,' he said suddenly.

Then
he grinned, making her feel uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

`We
all have preconceived ideas, don't we? Look, if you're going to be around here for a few days then perhaps we could have a meal together. After all, you might well have an axe to grind with my sister but that's no reason why we can't be friends.'

She
caught her breath at his audacity, but then realised it would be a golden opportunity to find out more about what, if anything, was going wrong at Heathercote Mill.

`OK,
thanks, I'd like that — and, just for the record, I don't bear Stella any grudge. We both loved the same man — it was no-one's fault.'

She
saw the undisguised look of surprise on Tristan's face and suspected that this was not what he had expected to hear from her.

He
got to his feet. 'Yes, well, I must get on. I'm always a bit wary when things appear to be going too smoothly. Let's hope the bridegroom turns up, eh?'

Annis
swallowed back a retort, hoping he wouldn't find out about the band, at least not until after they'd arrived and had a chance to perform.

* * *

Everything went like a dream. It was a church wedding and so there was a little more time to prepare than if the ceremony had taken place at the Mill. Once the reception was in full swing, Sally breathed a sigh of relief and she and Annis ate a late lunch in the office.

`There
used to be a time when I could leave someone else in charge for an hour or so and slip over to the staff restaurant, but I daren't do that these days, because you can bet that if I do, something will go wrong.'

‘
Not today, surely? It's all gone splendidly so far.'

Tristan
came in at that point. `Everyone seems fairly happy. Just one or two minor glitches.'

Sally
visibly paled and Annis found it difficult to believe her ears.

`What
glitches?' Sally asked.

`Well,
it seems the buttonholes weren't quite right, and although the Lawrences aren't aware of it, they've been served a more expensive champagne, so — since it's our mistake — we'll have to pick up the tab.'

Sally
looked stunned. She looked at the wedding folder and then turned to check the information on the computer screen. She frowned.

`There doesn't appear to be any discrepancy here. They both say the same and . . . '

Tristan
interrupted her. 'They may well do, but it's the wrong champagne and it came from a box with the name Lawrence on it. You must surely have signed for it before it went into the cellars? Anyway, it's too late to do anything about it now. I'll see you later.'

As
the door closed behind him, Sally pulled a face.

`However
do you put up with him?' Annis asked.

`Oh,
I'm used to him by now. Like I said, I only stay for Uncle Bryn's sake and because I can see something of John during the day,' Sally said, looking thoroughly miserable. 'All I've ever wanted was just to get on and do my job, but I don't seem to be able to do anything right as far as Tristan and Ross are concerned.'

Chapter Two

To
everyone's relief, the rest of the day passed off without any further hitches. The band had proved a great success, and the wedding had been thoroughly enjoyed by all concerned. Annis and Sally returned to the cottage feeling tired but pleased with themselves.

Sally
and John lived in a pretty cottage built of Kentish rag stone, with honeysuckle and roses climbing its walls.

`You
know,' said Annis, curled up on the sofa in the comfortable sitting-room, enjoying a cup of coffee, 'there are still a few things I've never understood. At the time, because of what happened between myself and Andrew, I didn't want to know the answers, but now . . . '

Sally
frowned. `Annis, you're the one not making sense now. Tell me what you don't understand.'

`Well,
how was it that Stella was invited to Uncle Arnie's party in the first place? I never knew how anyone managed to track her down.'

`It
was Ross who invited her. They were childhood friends. The whole family had originally come from up north, remember?'

Annis
nodded, listening intently to what her friend had to say.

`Uncle
Arnie and Uncle Bryn didn't move to Heronsbridge until they both became widowers. They'd been involved in business ventures before, but nothing like the Mill.

`When
Uncle Arnie's son, Kevin, and his wife split up, Stella and Tristan were still at school. It made sense for them to finish their schooling in England, but afterwards they chose to join their father in Canada. Who could blame them? It was a new and exciting life.'

`Go
on,' Annis urged as Sally paused to sip her coffee.

`Ross
always had a soft spot for Stella and kept in touch. Uncle Arnie had fallen out with Kevin, as you know, but he longed for a reconciliation with his family before he died, and so when his seventy-fifth birthday party was being planned, Ross contacted Stella who was back in England by then. He told her how ill her grandfather was and so she came to see him.'

`So
why didn't she come sooner?' Annis asked.

`I
don't know, you'd have to ask her that. But remember, Annis, her father had prejudiced her against her grandfather.'

`So
what about Tristan? Did he manage to see Arnold before he died?'

Sally
shook her head. 'Sadly, no. He didn't put in an appearance until afterwards.'

Sally's
ginger cat, George, jumped on to Annis's lap, purring loudly and she stroked him absently.

`So
Tristan wasn't even at Stella and Andrew's wedding?'

`No,
he was travelling around the world at the time. And before you ask, no, Kevin wasn't there either. But Stella's mother, Audrey, was. She's a very nice lady.'

`I
see.' Annis helped herself to a biscuit. There were suddenly so many unanswered questions, and so much to think about.

`And
what about Kevin Marsden? I'm surprised he didn't come back here to claim his rightful inheritance after his father died.'

Sally
leaned back in her chair, pleased that at last Annis was showing an interest in the situation at Heathercote Mill.

`Well,
he'd just remarried — and his new wife was a wealthy widow by all accounts. Anyway, he was hardly cut off without a brass farthing. From what I can gather, although Kevin wasn't given a share of the Mill, Uncle Arnold left him some property in Yorkshire. Arnold also left a generous trust fund for Stella and Tristan. Like the rest of us, they've also got shares in the company, although, of course, Uncle Bryn inherited the lion's share.'

Annis
mulled all this over.

Presently,
she helped Sally prepare supper and, as they sat over a leisurely lasagne and salad, she wondered if Sally really knew all that had been going on over the past few years.

`There
is something else I've been wondering about. What about Ross? In all the years I stayed in Heronsbridge, I didn't once see Ross. How come he suddenly appeared on the scene when he did? Why had he never been to visit Bryn before?'

`Annis,
there's nothing shady about Ross,' said Sally. 'What you've got to realise is that both he and Stella are a few years older than us. They were both through school and university, and out into the big wide world, living overseas, when we stayed here. On the other hand, Andrew was living in London, so when Uncle Arnold became ill, he was the obvious choice to help Uncle Bryn run the company.'

Annis nodded. 'Yes, I realise all that. Andrew didn't mention the others much. He was a bit younger than them, wasn't he?'

`Three
years younger than Ross, who's around thirty-five, and about eighteen months younger than Stella. That's why you saw Andrew at Heronsbridge when you stayed, of course, because his family lived abroad by then and he came here for his holidays, like you did. More lasagne?'

Annis
passed her plate. Sally was a good cook and the meal was delicious.

There
was a lot to think about and they fell silent for a time. Annis wondered if somewhere, in all this, there was a clue to all the problems that Sally had encountered recently.

Presently,
Sally got to her feet and began to collect up the dishes.

`Well,
I think I've told you most things now. Ready for dessert?'

The
conversation turned to lighter topics and Sally visibly relaxed, but Annis was still worried about her. There were dark smudges under her eyes and she wasn't her usual cheerful self.

`You've
no idea how much better I feel now that you're here, Annis,' Sally told her. 'If anyone can get to the bottom of what's going on around here, you can. I've missed you so much these past few years and it doesn't sound to me as if things are working out for you in London.'

Annis
grimaced. 'I used to love my job, but a change of management has altered all that.' She caught Sally's sympathetic glance and suddenly burst out laughing. 'What a pair we are both having problems with our jobs and letting it get to us. Well, it's high time we did something about it. Let's begin with yours. You know how I like a challenge and we've always worked well together in the past, so I'm sure if the two of us put our heads together we can sort out whatever's wrong here.'

Annis
had decided that sorting out things at Heathercote Mill would certainly be a challenge, but not beyond her capabilities. Sally had every confidence in her ability to tackle the problem and Annis didn't want to let her friend down.

* * *

Sunday was a pleasant day. Sally and Annis went to visit Sally's parents who now lived in a small town about six miles away from Heronsbridge. After joining them for the morning service at the local church, Sally and Annis went back with them for lunch at their bungalow.

Sally's
mother was Bryn's cousin, but was a great deal younger than him. A plump, round-faced little woman with grey hair and a ready smile, Mrs Morrison had been like a second mother to Annis during the time that her own parents had been abroad. They had a lot of catching up to do and they chatted away as they ate excellent roast lamb followed by apple pie.

It
was late afternoon before Sally and Annis returned to Heronsbridge and they sat out in the colourful little cottage garden, enjoying the sunshine. Annis had dreaded coming back, but realised that after the smoke of the city, it was good to be in the Kentish countryside again. She inhaled the perfume from a multitude of blooms and sighed contentedly. John was a talented gardener and was in charge of the grounds at Heathercote Mill.

`OK,
so fill me in,' she said presently, as they drank yet more cups of tea. 'If I'm going to work with you, I'll need to know every last detail about the day-to-day running of the Mill. Update me. I need to get my head round things and quickly, if I'm to be of any use to you at all tomorrow.'

Sally
stretched out on the sun lounger and thought about this.

`Well,
I suppose it isn't that much different since you were here last, but there have been some changes, as you would expect. I'll run through the main things when we're in the office.'

`And you'd better explain the roles Tristan and Ross play.'

`Oh,
that's pretty straightforward. They handle the finances and marketing and generally keep their fingers on the pulse. Although, in the main, they're based in the conference centre, they oversee the day-to-day running of the entire enterprise. Everything has to be approved by one or the other, but Uncle Bryn is still at the helm. Anything major still has to be authorised by him, and he can and does veto things if necessary.'

Annis
was a little surprised that Sally was taking such a back seat.

`Sounds
as if you have a lot less responsibility than before,' she commented now, watching for Sally's reaction, but Sally's expression gave nothing away.

`Well,
yes, but sometimes that's a good thing,' she said.

Annis
bent down to stroke George, who was lying beside her on the grass. She chose her words carefully.

`Has it ever occurred to you that someone might be deliberately setting out to make life difficult for you?' she asked.

Sally's
eyes widened. 'What possible motive could they have? No, I'm sure you're wrong there,' she said, reaching for her cardigan. 'Now, I think we ought to arrive at work early tomorrow and make sure we've got Uncle Bryn's blessing for you to begin work before the others get wind of what's happening. Actually, come to think of it, it'll only be Ross on duty because Tristan's got the day off.'

`OK,
we'll see how it goes, shall we?' said Annis, nodding and making a rapid decision. 'And I'll see if I can figure out what if anything — is going on. But I'm only prepared to give it ten days' trial, Sally. If I don't feel any more welcome by the end of that time, then I'll have no alternative but to return to London. Remember, officially I'm only on leave!'

Sally
nodded, aware that her friend would do her best to help her.

`That's
fair enough.' She scrambled to her feet. It's getting chilly. Shall we go inside? There's a DVD I thought you might like to watch after supper.'

* * *

Monday dawned bright and clear, and Annis got up deciding to enjoy herself, regardless of what might happen. Determined to make a good impression, she dressed in a neat black suit and a crisp white blouse, securing her hair with a slide.

`This
morning should be quite straightforward,' Sally told her over breakfast. 'Two lots of parents to be interviewed with their daughters. In other words, the hard sell. The first meeting isn't until ten though, so there will be plenty of time for you to see Uncle Bryn before then, while I catch up on some paperwork.'

`And
what services do you offer nowadays?' Annis helped herself to toast and marmalade.

`There
are around ten different packages available, with various permutations. And for any cancellations, there's a returnable amount on a sliding scale for up to a month before the wedding.'

`And
what if it's a very late cancellation?'

Sally
shrugged. 'Zilch, I'm afraid, unless there are extenuating circumstances. We've got to think about overheads. It's a hard-line tactic, I know, but after all, we are a business and . . . '

`There's
no sentiment in business. What a pity! It's not how it used to be in the old days.'

Annis
was disappointed that 'Something Borrowed, Something Blue' had apparently turned into such an impersonal and mercenary enterprise during her absence.

`OK,'
she said. 'So how about if I sit in on the interviews, take a few notes and generally try to get the feel of things. How would that be?'

`Sounds
good to me. I'll just feed George, and then, when you're ready, we'll be off.'

When
Annis went to see Bryn Freeman there was a young girl sitting on a footstool, chatting to him while he drank his coffee. It was the same girl who had brought Annis her tea on Friday. She got to her feet as Annis entered the room. She was petite and extremely pretty with dark hair and expressive brown eyes.

`Hello,
Annis — this is Camille, Madame Cecile's daughter. She's helping in the kitchen during the holidays and has brought me my coffee. Millie, this is Annis Fuller — a friend of Sally Barnes.'

They
exchanged greetings and then Millie said, 'I'm supposed to find out what you want for your lunch, Mr Freeman, before I go back to the kitchen.'

`Well,
I'd better tell you then, else Chef will not be pleased!'