Secrets of the Heart (6 page)

`You
just don't get it, do you, Sally? I've tried to move on, but now I'm actually here, it's as if I'm back where I started five years ago, on the day that I learned that Andrew wasn't in love with me after all! But at least then he was still alive . . . ' she added bitterly.

`I
feel dreadfully guilty.' Sally was visibly upset. 'I should never have asked you to come here. I knew it would be hard, but I hadn't realised quite how much . . . '

Sally
broke off as the internal phone rang. It was reception, with a message to say that her latest clients had arrived.

While
Sally went to fetch them, Annis poured herself a glass of water and tried to pull herself together. If she went to pieces it wouldn't help anyone. She had run away from this place once before, but now she was back and she didn't intend to let Stella, Ross or Tristan drive her away again -- at least, not until she'd had a chance to suss out what, if anything, was going on at Heathercote Mill that might put Sally out of a job.

* * *

After a busy morning, Annis was sorting out a pile of invoices and contemplating lunch when Tristan came into the office.

`Ah,
here you are!' he said. 'I was wondering if you're ready for something to eat?'

She
carried on with what she was doing. 'I'll ring through for some sandwiches in a minute.'

He
moved some papers and sat on the desk.

`Actually, I thought you might fancy going out for some lunch, to somewhere away from this place. Come on, you've been on the go all week. Where's Sally, by the way?' He asked her casually, but she sensed he was trying to catch Sally out.

`She's
with Mr Freeman. She wanted to discuss a new idea with him.’

Annis
looked up just in time to see a slight frown flicker across Tristan's face. `What new idea?' he asked.

She
shrugged. 'You'll have to ask Sally, and yes, I would like to go out for lunch, please.'

She
scribbled a note for Sally, popped the invoices that she'd been working on into a drawer, and fetched her jacket. She knew exactly what Sally was discussing with Bryn, but she had no intention of telling Tristan.

Sally
and Annis had an idea which they wanted to discuss with Madame Cecile that afternoon, but first Sally needed to OK it with Bryn.

Tristan
took Annis to The Royal Oak in Heronsbridge where they ordered chicken and chips in a basket. Tristan was much more down to earth than Ross, and Annis found him good company. He kept her amused with a series of anecdotes about some of the conferences.

`So
when did you come to work at the Mill?' Annis asked him casually.

`Soon
after my grandfather died.'

`Oh,
yes, of course it was a pity you didn't get to meet your Uncle Arnold while he was alive. He was a great character.'

`So
everyone keeps telling me, but he and my father didn't hit it off.'

Prudently
Annis changed the subject.

`So
you and Ross manage the conference centre between you? How do you find that works?'

`I
take it that's a tactful way of asking how we get on?' Tristan laughed. 'Well, we muddle along together — we beg to differ on a number of issues, but then, it takes all sorts. How about you? Why are you so keen to be here after all this time?'

`I've told you before, I haven't seen Sally, John or Bryn for a while, for one, and feel I need a change of direction. Sally needs a helping hand and we get on well together.'

`So
what do you make of it all?' Tristan looked at her keenly.

Annis
deliberately misunderstood him.

`I
like the new units, but I find the whole enterprise more impersonal than it used to be, which is a pity.'

`Actually
I meant what do you make of all the problems that the wedding side of the business keeps having? After all, I suspect that's why Sally really asked you down here, isn't it?'

`I've
only been here for a very short time so who am I to comment?'

`Oh,
come on, I'm sure you've noticed the mistakes too?'

Annis
paused. 'One or two, yes,' she said at last, 'but surely that's inevitable because of the way you both expect Sally to work?'

He
laid down his knife and fork, his eyes glinting. `Go on . . . '

`Well, she's constantly having to deal with interruptions from various quarters, and she's often called away to different parts of the building to attend meetings. She loses continuity, she can't help it.'

`Yes,
I see,' said Tristan. 'So what would you suggest to make things easier for her?'

`Well,
it seems to me that Sally isn't given a chance to concentrate on the wedding business. She should be allowed to get on with her work without so many disturbances.' She had a sudden inspiration. 'Perhaps she could do with a break from Heathercote Mill altogether. She works so hard. Aren't there any courses she could go on? That might help.'

Tristan
looked thoughtful.

`It's
a coincidence but, as it happens, there's one next week. I'm booked on it, but if Sally agreed, then I'm sure I could arrange for her to go in my place. That's if you're prepared to stay and cover for her, of course.'

He wasn't to know that Sally had already mentioned the course rather wistfully to Annis, and had said that she hadn't been given the opportunity to go on it.

`That
sounds like a good idea,' Annis said. 'And of course I'll stay.'

As
they left the pub, Tristan took Annis's arm in a friendly manner and, in spite of his relationship to Stella, she found herself warming to him.

* * *

To Annis's relief, Sally was delighted at the prospect of going away on the course.

`I've
no idea how you managed it, Annis. You've obviously used your charm on Tristan. It'll be wonderful to have a few days away from this place and to know that the business has been left in safe hands. Thank you so much for persuading Tristan to let me go.'

`It
wasn't difficult — he came up with the idea himself after I'd put it into his head.' Annis laughed. 'Anyway, you've as much right as anyone else to go on a course. You're letting the others trample all over you. You need to be more assertive.'

`I
know, but it's difficult . . . If only you'd come to work here on a permanent basis again, then perhaps we could get things back on an even keel and I'd do things differently.'

Bryn
had given the go-ahead for the idea that Sally had consulted him about that morning, and so, presently, the two girls went along to the boutique to see Madame Cecile.

`Hats,'
Madame Cecile mused. 'You know, that's a very good idea. After all, it can be quite difficult to find the exact hat to match an outfit There's no reason why we shouldn't give it a try in a small way, to begin with. We already hire out top hats for gentlemen.' Madame Cecile was obviously enthusiastic, and Sally and Annis exchanged delighted glances.

`Of
course, I'm far too busy with the dressmaking to get too involved with millinery as a side line,' she told them, `but in a few years' time when my daughter, Camille, is fully trained, that might be an area she would like to specialise in. It would also be a good use for the empty unit next door, because we don't have the storage space here.'

`I've
met your daughter, Madame,' Annis told her. 'She's quite charming.'

Madame
Cecile glowed with pride.

The
three women discussed hats for a little while and then stopped to admire the gown that Madame was working on. It was in oyster-coloured satin with a scooped neckline. Madame was in the process of adding the finishing touches, a trail of silver embroidery with the merest suggestion of peach here and there.

‘
It's one of your loveliest creations yet,' Sally complimented her. 'What about the veil?'

Madame
smiled and her entire face was transformed, so that Annis could see that she was much younger than she had at first thought.

`The
veil is to be made from antique lace, a family heirloom, apparently. I'll show you the sketch. Camille designed it. She's so artistic!'

Annis
and Sally stayed to have coffee with Madame Cecile and Lara. Lara served it in minute bone china cups with thin almond biscuits, and Annis observed that while Lara rarely added anything to the conversation, she took in everything that was being said, her dark eyes darting constantly from one person to another.

Presently
the girls made their way back to the office.

`Well,
that went better than I expected,' Sally said. 'Madame Cecile has been known to oppose new ideas in the past. What did you make of Lara?'

`She
didn't have much to say for herself, did she? And she seems kind of miserable. Perhaps she doesn't enjoy her work.'

`You've
summed her up pretty well. Actually, I don't really know much about her. She only works part-time. Her husband runs that antiques shop in the village.'

`Really?
Then I've met him it was when I went into Heronsbridge the day I arrived. He seems a surly sort of individual,' she remarked.

`Yes,
I think he probably is,' agreed Sally. ‘But I wonder what Tristan was doing there? Maybe he'd just dropped in to see Vicki. You'll have met Vicki the blonde girl who works here in reception very attractive. She's Lara's older daughter.'

`Vicki
is?' Annis was frankly amazed. ‘Well, it just goes to show!'

`Actually,
it was Vicki's younger sister who came to work here for a short while after Zoe left, but it just didn't work out . . . She's not a bit like Vicki.'

`You
said she wasn't suited to the job — so what happened?'

`Well,
I usually get on with most people, wouldn't you say?' Annis nodded, intrigued. 'Well, Kelly just didn't fit in. In the beginning she seemed fine, but after a short while she seemed to lose interest — in fact, to be honest, she was extremely uncooperative and used to criticise everything that I did. Sometimes she was downright rude.'

‘
Wow!' Annis stared at her friend. `If she rubbed you up the wrong way then she must have been difficult! You've always been such an easy person to work with.'

`Thanks
for that vote of confidence,' Sally grinned. ‘But I'm not sure if everyone around here would agree with you.'

`Then
they must be the awkward ones. So, I suppose you had no alternative but to fire Kelly?'

`It
didn't actually come to that. One day she told me she wasn't coming back because it wasn't working out for her either. I asked her if she'd be interested in having another job at the Mill — I won't repeat what she said to that!'

`Poor you,' Annis sympathised. 'It sounds as if it was all rather unpleasant.'

`It's
certainly an episode I'd rather draw a line under. I suspect that's why Lara doesn't say much when I go over to the boutique.'

`Surely
she doesn't hold it against you?'

`Who
can say? She's never mentioned the subject.'

Sally
waved to John who was busy in the distance.

`Well,
let's see what's next on the agenda for today.'

Chapter Five

It
was a beautiful evening and Annis decided to take a walk in the grounds before going up to her room. She strolled down to the lake and sat on one of the benches, watching the water fowl. The shadows were deepening, and as she looked across the water she suddenly made out several life-like shapes on the opposite shore. They looked like statues and she was surprised that she hadn't noticed them before. She resolved to ask Sally about them in the morning. They had an ethereal quality about them, blending in with the greenery.

Suddenly,
though, as she watched, they began to move. She blinked in disbelief, but there was no doubt about it — they were weaving to and fro. Next second, she distinctly heard the sound of distant music.

She jumped at the sound of a deep chuckle behind her. Spinning round, she saw Ross Hadley laughing down at her.

`Your
face is an absolute picture! They're quite real you're not dreaming, I can assure you.'

`Who
are they?' she breathed. `Members of a local youth theatre and dance group, rehearsing for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' a modern open-air version. They hadn't anywhere to put on the show, partly because they're working on a shoestring, so when Bryn heard about them he said they could come here.'

He
sat down beside her on the bench. 'They have to rehearse as and when it fits in with our schedule, of course, and it's on the strict understanding that they don't interfere with other activities. Madame Cecile's daughter, Millie, is in the group and so is her boyfriend he's a waiter here for the summer.'

`How
will the play fit in around all the weddings that are due to take place?'

`Ah,
the actual performances are going to be over the bank holiday weekend. The Friday evening's free for the dress rehearsal and then there's Sunday afternoon and Monday evening. Bryn's all for supporting the young folk. It's given him an added interest.'

`That's
good,' she said approvingly. They sat for a while longer watching the players.

`Have
you seen the staff garden yet?' Ross asked her. 'John's making a superb job of it.'

She
shook her head. 'Not properly. I've only caught glimpses of it from Bryn's flat.'

`Come
on — I'll show you.'

She
followed Ross across the grass and through the archway leading to the rear of the Mill. He unlocked a gate in the wall, and as she went through, Annis gasped in surprise.

`It's
amazing! When I worked here before, this was a vegetable garden.'

`The
kitchen garden's through there now,' he said, indicating another gate. `This new part of the garden is for all the staff, but it's mostly for Bryn's benefit. On a sunny day he can sit out here when he feels like it.'

The
garden was charming. Brick paths meandered here and there between an abundance of flowering shrubs, and there was a small lawn with an attractive water feature. Roses scrambled up a pergola and a wonderful perfume of honeysuckle and nicotiana filled the evening air.

Ross
also took her to see the new, neatly laid out kitchen garden and the recently restored tennis courts which had been in a poor condition when Annis had been there last.

Peaches
still clung to the garden walls, however, and she shook her head, trying to shake off the sudden memory of Andrew picking them for her. Even now she could see his laughing face.

`It'll
get better, trust me time heals,'

Ross
said, in a surprisingly gentle tone.

`Does it?' she asked bitterly. 'I haven't noticed.'

For
a while, they sat there in companionable silence beneath an arbour of roses, then Ross's mobile phone rang and, after a brief conversation, he got to his feet.

`I'm
sorry duty calls. One of the bar staff hasn't turned up. No-one else is available, so I'll have to lend a hand.'

`You
will?' She gaped at him.

`Yes,
is that so surprising? I'm quite a dab hand with a cocktail shaker. I always knew my student days working as a barman would pay off. D' you fancy a nightcap?'

She
shook her head. 'I think I'll just sit here a bit longer — it's so soothing. But thanks, Ross. The garden's great and I'll be sure to tell John what a wonderful job he's done here.'

`He'll
appreciate that. I'll wish you goodnight then.'

She
sat in the garden, deep in her thoughts, for a while longer. It was a tranquil spot and the scent from the roses was intoxicating. Ross had proved a pleasant companion and she realised she'd seen a more sympathetic side to him that evening.

Presently,
she heard the sound of voices and muffled laughter from the other side of the wall. Annis assumed that some of the younger members of staff were taking a stroll around the garden.

Eventually
she decided to return to her room because it was getting chilly, but when she reached the gate she found that it had been locked. Muttering in irritation, she rummaged in her bag for her mobile, but it wasn't there and she realised she'd left it in her room. She had no choice but to trail back along the paths to look for another way out.

To
her relief, she encountered two figures from the play, still dressed in their eerie green costumes, and looking as startled as she must have done. It took her a moment or two to realise it was Millie and Dean.

`Can you tell me how to get out of the garden? I don't have a key and someone's locked the gate.'

They
looked a bit sheepish. 'Well, actually we don't have a key either. We — er — nipped over the wall. I climbed on to Dean's shoulders and . . . '

Annis
laughed. 'I get the general idea. Well, if you managed to climb in here, you must have some way to get out again?'

`There
are a few crates behind the shed,' Dean explained.

After
a few moments the three of them landed on the other side of the wall, dusted themselves down and strolled back in the direction of the main entrance.

`Thanks,
guys — and I won't tell if you don't,' Annis promised, giving them a conspiratorial wink. 'By the way, I'm looking forward to the production of `The Dream'. It must be a lot of hard work.'

Millie
nodded. 'It is, but it's great fun. To be honest, acting is what I want to do, but my mother wants me to do an Art and Design course — she says there's no future in the theatre.'

`I
expect she's just concerned that you won't get a secure job,' Annis told her. 'You know, you could always compromise . . . '

`How
do you mean?' Millie asked, dark eyes alight with interest.

`Lots
of people do more than one degree nowadays. Why don't you go for the Art and Design course but carry on with dance and theatre as a hobby. And then . . . '

‘B
ut it'd take for ever, and once I was qualified my mother would expect me to come back here and work with her. I'd never have any space to do my own thing,' Millie protested.

`Sometimes
doing your own thing doesn't work out quite how you'd expect it to,' Annis said softly. 'Have you tried talking to your mother telling her exactly how you feel about things?'

Dean
took Millie's hand.

`She won't listen!' he said. 'She just won't believe that Millie doesn't want to join her in the boutique. She thinks I'm a bad influence on you, doesn't she, Millie?'

`My
mother loves her work, Miss Fuller, and can't understand why I want to do something so completely different,' Millie said with a sigh. 'She thinks my love for the theatre is just a passing phase.'

Annis
sympathised with the girl, but she knew she couldn't interfere too much. Millie was going to have to learn to stand up to her mother, who seemed very domineering.

The
two young people linked arms and Annis parted company with them at the entrance to the Mill.

* * *

The following day was hectic from start to finish. There was a conference taking place which wound up at lunchtime and then it was all hands on deck to get everything ready for a big society wedding, due to take place the following day. The bride, Megan Smythe, was the daughter of an influential local businessman who had a bevy of daughters, and Megan was the first of them to marry.

This
time it was the bride's father who was determined to make his presence felt. In the run up to the wedding, Mr Smythe had been on the phone countless times to check the arrangements, and had turned up unexpectedly on several occasions. Now, the day before the wedding, here he was in the office yet again.

He
was a big man and seemed to fill the room.

`I
want to see the chef, to go over the catering arrangements.'

`Everything's
in hand, Mr Smythe,' Sally told him reassuringly. 'They're very busy in the kitchen at the moment because a conference party has only just left, but I can assure you that Chef and his team have everything under control for tomorrow.'

At
Mr Smythe's insistence, Sally rang through to see if Luis could be persuaded to leave his kitchen to talk to him but, as she had anticipated, Luis refused point blank. He did, however, concede to speak to Mr Smythe for a minute or two on the phone. It was a compromise that Mr Smythe had to be content with.

Then
Mr Smythe decided that he needed to inspect the marquee that had been assembled that morning, and immediately found fault with the arrangement of the tables, even though he himself had approved the seating plan.

By
the time he had gone, Sally was a nervous wreck. Annis poured her a coffee and made her sit down for a few moments.

After
that, everything else seemed to go swimmingly until Sally contacted the bakers and discovered a problem with the cake.

She
came off the phone ashen-faced.

‘It's happened again!'

`What
has? Whatever's the matter, Sally?'

Sally
was looking in her book. 'The cake should be three tiers — two fruit and one sponge. That's what I ordered. But the bakers have made two tiers one fruit and one chocolate!'

`Let's
look.' Annis checked the records on the computer and frowned. `Yes, the notes on here are the same as in your book. And I double-checked the entry at the beginning of the week, so it's got to be the baker's mistake.'

Sally
looked as if she were ready to weep. 'No, they say we changed the order from the original a few weeks ago but I don't have any recollection of doing so at all.'

Annis
was as puzzled as Sally, but she tried to think sensibly.

`Look,
it's no good wasting time speculating as to how it happened. We've got to try to put it right. Is it the same baker that we used to use Sam Wallis?'

`Yes, but it'll be too late to do anything at this stage.' Sally blew her nose. `Sam's always so reliable, and I only phoned him to check on delivery times because Mr Smythe wants the cake here an hour earlier than previously arranged. Otherwise I wouldn't have discovered the mistake until the cake actually arrived! Whatever are we going to do?'

`Don't
despair just you get on with whatever else needs doing. I'm going to see if I can sort this out with Sam right now. No-one will miss me.'

Annis
rummaged in her bag and produced a bus timetable.

`I
knew this would come in handy if I hurry, I'll be able to catch the bus. Expect me when you see me, Sal!' She snatched up her jacket, ran down the drive, and was just in time for the hourly bus.

At
any other time, Annis would have enjoyed the bus trip along leafy sun-dappled lanes, but she was far too preoccupied. If Sally's suspicion that someone was deliberately setting out to cause problems for her was confirmed, then Annis would need to confront Ross and Tristan.

* * *

The baker's shop was in the middle of a village that was four miles from Heronsbridge. Baker Sam Wallis was both delighted and astonished to see Annis again after so many years.

She
came straight to the point, explaining their predicament.

Sam
rubbed his chin thoughtfully. 'I know folk change their mind, but it does make it difficult if it's at the last minute like this, especially as the order's already been changed once. It shouldn't be too hard to sort this one out, mind you, but I wouldn't do it for everyone.'

He
leaned on the counter and thumbed through his order book.

`It
just so happens that I'm ahead of myself with the orders and there's another round fruit cake the right size, all marzipanned ready for another wedding. I can easily decorate that. And I've got a sponge cake iced ready for a wedding anniversary. I can easily adapt that and no-one will be any the wiser. Yes, if I set to directly I can have the whole thing ready for delivery tomorrow morning, as arranged. I might need to add on a bit to the cost, mark you, but only if I can't sell the chocolate one. Now, have a cup of tea and I'll run you back to Heronsbridge in the delivery van. I've got another cake to deliver over there for a twenty-first birthday.'