Page 22 of Escape to the Country

‘All the windows are new,’ said Annie. ‘And the fireplaces work too, thank goodness. It was so cold in here last winter.’

But the rest of the room was obviously still waiting to be refurbished.

On the opposite side of the corridor was Arthur’s study, which was a bit messy, although not as bad as the music room, which Sam was utilising for his work. That was covered in piles of paperwork. Both rooms also had new windows, but the remaining furniture looked ancient and there were still cracks in the plaster across the walls.

They carried on to the end of the corridor.

‘This is the ballroom,’ announced Annie as they entered the last room.

Eleanor’s mouth dropped open. ‘You have a ballroom?’

‘Doesn’t everyone?’ said Megan, with a grin.

Eleanor stared around in wonder. Despite the shabbiness and decay of the peeling and cracked ceiling, the double-aspect room was enormous, with new windows at the front and huge French doors at the back leading onto the garden. The walls were patterned with paintings, their frames gilded with what could have been gold many years ago. It was hard to tell under all the dust and grime of the years.

‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ said Annie, walking slowly around the room. ‘Apparently even members of the royal family used to come to the parties here. And this is where I’m going to have my wedding reception! Can you imagine? Me!’

Annie was so cheerful despite living in what appeared to be semi-derelict conditions.

‘Is it going to be cleaned up before the big day?’ asked Eleanor, wondering how quickly that was going to happen.

‘Of course,’ said Annie, waving a hand as if it were a small matter. ‘Phase three of the building work starts this autumn and it’s going to be all about the ballroom. And our wedding!’ Annie was positively giddy as she spun around to face them both. ‘Right. Now that we’refinallytogether for the first time since I got engaged, there’s something I want to ask you both. Will you be my bridesmaids?’

There was a collective shriek. ‘Oh my god! Of course!’ they both replied, rushing over for a teary group hug.

‘I can’t believe you’ve waited this long to ask us!’ moaned Megan.

‘I had to wait for Eleanor to be here so I could ask you face to face. I didn’t want to do something this important on the phone,’ Annie told her, before looking anxiously at Eleanor. ‘You will be here, won’t you? I mean, not just for the wedding but for some of the other stuff as well.’

‘Of course I will,’ Eleanor told her. ‘You know that.’

But it surprised her that Annie obviously didn’t know. That both she and Megan thought that there was even a possibility that she wouldn’t be there to support her best friend when she was getting married.

‘I always knew you’d ask us,’ said Megan. ‘After all, you were both my bridesmaids.’

‘We know,’ drawled Eleanor. ‘We still haven’t forgiven you for those bright pink meringues you made us wear.’

‘Don’t worry,’ said Annie, with a shudder. ‘This time it’s understated elegance all the way, I promise. Eleanor can help us out with that.’

‘Absolutely,’ said Eleanor, nodding.

‘And then we can repay the favour for when she gets married,’ said Megan.

Eleanor grimaced and quickly turned away. She had seen what marriage did to couples and was determined to hold off for as long as humanly possible if not forever. Besides, she was more worried about finding a job than a husband at the moment.

‘Come on,’ said Annie. ‘I’ll grab my handbag and then let’s go and get a drink. We’ve got so much to catch up on.’

They headed back along the corridor to the entrance hall.

‘What about upstairs?’ asked Eleanor, glancing up the wide stairwell.

‘I’ll show you up there next time,’ said Annie, still walking. ‘Besides, Tom’s still asleep and I don’t want to disturb him.’

‘Tom?’ said Eleanor, raising her eyebrows. ‘Is that Sam’s brother?’

‘No, that’s Will,’ said Megan, her eyes gleaming. ‘She means Tom as in Tommy King. In which case, I think we should definitely disturb him. Even I haven’t met wonder boy yet.’

‘Shush,’ said Annie, heading towards a corridor on the opposite side of the wide entrance hall.