Secrets of the Heart (4 page)

Millie smiled as he ticked the menu card and handed it back to her, then she said a polite goodbye to Annis and left the room.

`Charming
girl,' Bryn said. 'She's like a breath of fresh air.'

`You
said she's Madame Cecile's daughter who's Madame Cecile?'

Annis
asked.

`Oh,
haven't you met her yet? She runs the boutique in the new complex. She makes the most exquisite wedding gowns. Actually, she's a sort of cousin of mine at least, her late husband's father was my wife's cousin. Work that one out!'

`I'll
do my best,' Annis promised him, aware of how much store he set by his family, however distant the relationship.

`Now,
what did you want to see me about, Annis?' Bryn's blue eyes studied her keenly.

She
came straight to the point. 'I wondered how you'd feel about my staying on to help Sally for a week or two — on a voluntary basis, of course. I've got some leave to use up and . . .’ Bryn reached out and took her hands between his.

`Annis,
you're welcome to stay for as long as you want. You're like a member of my family too, and I'm delighted you've come to visit. I know things have changed since you were last here — not all of them for the better — but I haven't. Just you remember that, my dear. You must stay for as long as you wish, with my blessing! And if you want to move into the staff wing, then I'll arrange for a room to be made available whenever you say the word.'

She
thanked him and refused his offer of coffee, but stayed talking to him for a few more minutes. Before leaving, she reached across and added a few pieces to the large jigsaw puzzle on the table.

Bryn
chuckled. 'Come and see me again, lass, and don't work too hard. I know you of old, remember!'

Sally was busy at the computer when Annis went into the office.

`I've
just met Madame Cecile's daughter. What a pretty girl.'

`She
is, isn't she?' Sally smiled. 'She took Uncle Bryn's coffee up one day and chatted for a few minutes and now she's got into the habit of visiting. He's taken quite a shine to her. He looks upon her as the granddaughter he never had. Sometimes she takes a group of her young friends up to see him.' Sally leaned back in her chair.

`Actually,
there's quite a story attached to young Millie. She's still at school studying for her 'A' levels but she works here during the holidays and helps her mother in the boutique on her afternoon off. You haven't seen the boutique yet, have you? We'll take a look this afternoon. Madame Cecile makes the most gorgeous wedding gowns. They're absolutely out of this world. The thing is, Millie's a very talented dancer and really wants to work in the theatre, but her mother won't hear of it. She wants Millie to do an Art and Design course so that she can help her in the boutique when she qualifies.'

Annis's
eyes widened. ‘But surely, in this day and age . . . '

`Exactly
— and there's more. Millie is going out with one of the waiters. He's at university and works here in the holidays. He's doing a performing arts course and . . '

`And
I suppose Madame Cecile opposes the relationship?'

Sally
nodded. 'She certainly does, because it doesn't fit in with her ambitious plans for her daughter! The staff are very much on the side of the young couple. Dean's a nice lad and Millie works her socks off in the kitchen, getting the money together to take her to university.'

Annis
helped herself to some coffee and perched on Sally's desk.

`How
old is she? She must be around seventeen? She's able to make her own decisions, so why doesn't she stand up for herself?'

`Oh, she's very loyal to her mother. Madame Cecile's a widow and she's had quite a struggle to bring up Millie by herself. Millie obviously doesn't want to upset her. Anyway, she's got Uncle Bryn firmly on her side too, so we'll see. They're sort of related and you know how he feels about family.'

* * *

The first part of the morning was very pleasant. The two brides-to-be and their parents, although both delightful, were very different.

Money
seemed to be no object for the family of the first young lady, but the second family were obviously on an extremely tight budget.

After
both families had gone, Annis and Sally sat discussing them.

`So,
what are your first impressions, Annis?'

`Well,
they're both going to be challenging in their own way, aren't they? The first one because it has to be original and the second one because it's being done on a shoestring.'

`And
I bet I know which one you'd prefer . . . ' Sally trailed off, looking awkward, and Annis, who could read her friend like a book, said, ‘It's OK, Sal, I've put the past behind me. There's no need to tread softly. I'll always miss Andrew and it'll be a long time before I get romantically involved with anyone else, but that doesn't mean I can't take an interest in other people's wedding arrangements.'

The
door was suddenly and unceremoniously flung open and Ross Hadley stood there, a frown furrowing his handsome brow.

`Here
you are, Sally. Have you forgotten our meeting?'

Sally
jumped to her feet, looking flustered.

`Is
it that time already? Of course I haven't forgotten, Ross, but our clients have only just gone. Both families made firm bookings, by the way.'

`Good!
That's how it should be.'

Then he noticed Annis.

`What
are you still doing here, Miss Fuller? I thought you'd gone back to London?'

Annis
fixed him with an innocent stare from her long-lashed eyes.

`Mr
Freeman has invited me to stay for as long as I choose. If you have any objection to that, Mr Hadley, then I suggest you raise the issue with him.' Ross's face darkened. 'Well, we'll see about that,' he said icily. 'I'm just about to speak with Mr Freeman. Now, Sally five minutes — no longer, please!'

`Well,
he's charming this morning, isn't he?' Annis commented, as the door closed behind him.

`I'm
so sorry, Annis.' Sally looked miserable. 'It can't be very pleasant for you, all this bad feeling.'

‘
It's not your problem, Sal. Anyway, while you're away, how about I go through all the information you've put on the computer this morning and check it against what you've written in the book. I think it would be a good idea if I start double-checking everything over the course of the next couple of weeks or so?'

`Would
you, Annis?' Sally looked relieved. 'It would take a great weight off my mind. Hopefully you can pick up on any errors before it's too late. Anyway, I'd better fly, before I get into trouble again!'

Chapter Three

For
the next forty-five minutes, Annis systematically checked the files against the computer. Bryn had always insisted that the information should be in two places as he had never trusted computers, and Annis was glad to see that this practice was still being maintained.

After
going through all the entries for that day's clients, and not coming across a single mistake, she leafed through the entry book again.

A
big conference was being held during the week and so only one wedding was listed for that Saturday, and Sally had told Annis that while Ross and Tristan usually dealt with the conferences themselves, she would sometimes help them out if she were free.

Suddenly
the office door crashed open and Ross Hadley came storming in to stand towering over Annis with a face like thunder.

`What
on earth's going on here? Why are you sitting at Sally's desk, using her computer?'

`Sally
has far too much work and I'm giving her a hand. She's my friend and I care about her, even if you don't,' she replied coldly.

His
brown eyes swept over her.

`Tell
me, Miss Fuller — exactly why did you come back here?'

`I
came to see Sally, John and Bryn,' she replied reasonably, resolving to remain outwardly calm, even though she didn't feel it.

‘B
ut why now? After all this time?' he persisted.

`I
have rather a lot of leave to use up and thought it was high time I paid my friends a visit. Actually, I've had a bit of a problem plucking up the courage to return before now.'

A
flash of sympathy passed across his face.

`Yes,
I can appreciate that. It must have been a difficult time for you — as indeed it was for all of us. We were all affected, but we've had to move on.'

She
nodded. 'Yes, and I think I've done just that.'

He
pulled up a chair. 'Mr Freeman tells me you've offered to act as some kind of assistant to Sally in a voluntary capacity . . . Why would you want to do that?'

`I
would have thought that was obvious.' She glared at him. 'Sally is overworked and so I'm lending a hand until she's caught up with the backlog; it's as simple as that.' She watched his face as she added. 'Also, she seems to have been having a lot of problems lately, and I thought I might just be able to help sort out any glitches before they manifested themselves.'

`Act
as a trouble-shooter, you mean?' His eyes narrowed. 'So you're prepared to accept that your friend has been making a lot of mistakes lately?'

`Is
anyone infallible, Mr Hadley? Sally and I go back a long way. It's obvious she's been under a lot of pressure lately and so, if I can help her to get back on her feet, then I will.'

`Very
commendable!' He glanced at the computer screen. 'And have you discovered any mistakes?'

Annis
was aware that he was trying to catch her off guard and said coolly, 'It would be disloyal to discuss that with anyone apart from Sally, don't you think?'

He
gave a little laugh. 'What I think is that you're an interfering female with time on her hands. Don't you have a life of your own?'

He
saw her pained expression and realised that he had touched a raw nerve.

`I'm
sorry, that was unforgivable. Look, if you're going to stay around for a bit, then I suppose we should make an effort to get on with one another.'

He
held out his hand and she took it reluctantly. She was totally unprepared for the frisson that shot down her spine at the contact and let go as if she'd been stung.

He
shot her a look of irritation.

`OK,
there's no need to make it so clear that you dislike me. Perhaps the feeling's mutual, but we'll just have to make the best of it, won't we?'

Annoyed
with herself for reacting in the way she had, Annis turned her attention back to the computer.

In
order to discover if there were any future plans for the Mill that didn't include Sally, she realised that she would need to befriend both Ross and Tristan. She decided that she would have to let them think she believed that Sally was capable of making the mistakes. Perhaps then they would admit that they were trying to get rid of Sally.

Glancing
up, she found Ross looking at her intently, head on one side, as if he couldn't quite sum her up. She made a supreme effort.

`I'm
sorry, Mr Hadley. I think we've got off on the wrong footing. I'm rather hungry and that always makes me irritable. any chance I could get some lunch?'

Ross
immediately looked contrite. `Actually I haven't eaten either. I'll ring the kitchen.' He picked up the phone.

`So,
where's Sally?' Annis asked, when he'd finished the call.

`Oh,
didn't I say? She's had to relieve one of the staff on reception. Emergency dental appointment. These things happen from time to time, and Sally steps in. Actually I came to collect some invoices. They're on her desk, she said.'

He
leaned across and rummaged in the tray, and she was again aware of his closeness.

`Ah,
here they are!' He straightened up. `So what's on the agenda for this afternoon? Has Sally put you in the picture?'

`It's
all in here.' Annis indicated the diary. 'We were planning to start setting up the two weddings that were booked this morning. And Sally wants to take me to the shopping complex to show me around the dressmaker's. We're going to book fittings appointments for one of our brides while we're there.'

Ross
glanced at the diary. 'So what's wrong with e-mail and the phone?'

`Nothing.
Sally just thought I'd like to see the boutique for myself and to be introduced to Madame Cecile.'

`Yes,
I see. OK, you can go ahead and do that, then. How far have you got with the details of the new bookings?'

She
showed him the list and he ran his eye over it.

`Yes,
that seems in order. So far so good. There is just one thing, Miss Fuller. I was checking through some invoices with Mr Freeman this morning and came across one from the band that was used for Saturday's wedding. I don't recognise the name. You wouldn't know what happened to the original group that were booked, by any chance?'

She
had been waiting for this and was prepared.

`They
let us down at the eleventh hour,' she replied, not meeting his gaze. `We had difficulty finding a replacement, but this group was very good and there were plenty of compliments.'

`I
see, and apparently they were cheaper. Were you instrumental in arranging them?'

She
couldn't help laughing at the unintentional pun and he joined in.

`Yes,
as a matter of fact, I did recommend them.'

`Right,
so you bailed Sally out. I hope she was grateful.'

Annis
felt the anger rising in her. `Why should Sally need to be grateful? How could it be her fault if the original band let her down?'

`She's
in charge of this department, so if anything goes wrong she has to take responsibility. However, thanks to you, it seems we managed to avoid yet another crisis.'

This
man was unbelievable! No wonder Sally was having such a hard time of it, if this was what she had to contend with.

Annis bit back a sharp retort and turned her attention back to the computer. Fortunately, there was a knock on the door at that point and Millie appeared with a covered tray.

`Thanks,
Millie, you're a star!' Ross cleared a space on the desk and took it from her with a smile. 'Tuck in, Miss Fuller, there's quite a good selection probably leftovers from Saturday's wedding. What do you take in your tea?'

`Just
milk, please?

She
studied him as he poured the tea and wondered how she could ever have thought he was like Andrew. Yes, there was a striking similarity in looks, but there the resemblance ended. His manner and nature were totally different. Andrew had been charming with a wonderful sense of humour, whereas Ross Hadley was arrogant, impersonal, and coolly polite.

He
passed her tea and gave her a sharp look, as if she had spoken her thoughts aloud.

`There
have been a number of necessary changes since you last worked here, Miss Fuller. I think you'll find we're more upmarket nowadays. We run a much tighter ship and we don't have room for negligent personnel. We have a reputation to uphold. Now, help yourself to the food and tell me a bit about yourself.'

Annis
bit into a chicken sandwich hungrily.

`I
would have thought you'd have found out all you need to know already. There's really very little to tell,' she said coolly.

`Maybe
you could fill in some gaps for me then. You're very good friends with Sally. How did that come about? Did you live in Heronsbridge at one time?'

`No,
Sally and I met at boarding school. My parents worked abroad a lot of the time and during the holidays I would either come here to stay with Sally and her parents, or else Sally would come out to Africa with me to visit my family. We've been friends ever since. We went to different colleges and met up from time to time, and then Sally came here to work for her Uncle Bryn after she qualified. I joined her shortly afterwards.'

Ross
finished his sandwiches and reached for an apple.

`And
whose idea was it to hold weddings here?' he asked.

`Bryn's
initially, but it was me who came up with the idea of having a complete package, and then Sally and I worked out a plan which both Bryn and Arnold approved. Why?'

He
shrugged. 'No particular reason I'm just curious to know how it came about.'

In
a lightning flash, Annis suddenly realised why Tristan and Ross might not be so keen for the wedding business to prosper. If 'Something Borrowed, Something Blue' was bringing in more money than the conference centre, then the two ambitious young men might not be happy for Sally to steal their thunder.

`So, are you planning to change things?' Annis asked.

`Why
on earth would I want to do that — even if it were in my power to do so?' He gave her a keen look.

She
shrugged, realising that she would have to tread carefully. 'I have the feeling that even though they bring in a lot of revenue for the hotel, organizing weddings is not your cup of tea.'

He
smiled. 'I'll admit it's hardly my forte and it's certainly not Tristan's, but we're quite happy to run the conference centre — which is also fairly lucrative and leave the weddings for Sally to sort out.'

Annis
wasn't convinced, but was determined not to let him see this.

`That's
OK then. I suppose weddings are more a woman's thing — at least, as far as the organization of them is concerned.'

Ross
got to his feet and scooped up the invoices.

`You
could be right. Well, if you're ready, shall we go and take a look at the new complex? It looks as if Sally's going to be detained for a bit longer and I've got a spot of free time just now.'

He
opened the door for her and, as she swept past, she caught the scent of his cologne- fresh and woody.

* * *

The new complex, situated at the rear of the Mill, was comprised of a series of separate units. Madame Cecile's boutique was one of these units and was light and spacious with deep-pink carpets and pearly-grey walls.

`Good
afternoon, Madame, I've brought Miss Annis Fuller to see you. She's a friend of Sally Barnes and is helping her out for a week or two.'

Madame
Cecile was a small, birdlike woman of indeterminate age, dressed in black with her dark hair scraped back in a chignon. She greeted Annis politely and showed her proudly around the shop, introducing her to her assistant, Lara Henderson.

Madame
Cecile gave Lara the new appointments to write into the diary while Annis admired a beautiful, ivory satin gown with a scattering of rosebuds and tiny teardrop pearls.

Then
Annis followed Madame Cecile into an adjoining room where there were a variety of bridal gowns and bridesmaids' dresses, both for hire and for sale.

In
a smaller room there were rows of gentlemen's suits, waistcoats, cravats and top hats, also for sale or for hire.

The
quality of workmanship was exceptional, and Annis was very impressed.