Page 95 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

‘We’re in the country, ain’t we?’ said Mick.

Alex rolled his eyes again. ‘I mean, let’s dress the place up in a country theme. Can’t you see it? A huge marquee.’

‘We won’t need it,’ said Will. ‘We can use the barn. Far more country, anyway.’

‘Absolutely,’ said Alex. ‘And we’ll have hay bales. Bunting. Wooden signs.’

‘I had one of my best ever nights rolling around in a hay loft,’ said Mick, his eyes gleaming at the memory.

Alex waved him away with his hand. ‘I don’t need to hear about your sex life now. I’m talking soft country. Cute. Oh, it’s going to be so pretty! A Willow Tree Hall country theme.’

‘We can reuse some of the stuff from the summer fete as well,’ said Will.

‘What about food and drink?’ asked Sam.

‘Barbeque,’ said Will, decisively. ‘It’s easy and who wants all those little canapes, anyway? Journalists will eat anything if it’s free. I’m sure they’d relish some decent food.’

‘Why don’t we invite their families,’ said Rose, looking around the room. ‘I mean, it’s being held at the weekend, isn’t it? Let’s make it a country thing, like our fete. They can relax and so can you.’

‘So the food’s sorted,’ said Sam, nodding. ‘Beer?’

‘And moonshine!’ Mick grinned.

‘No moonshine,’ said Sam in a warning tone. ‘But I agree it would be nice to have something homemade to serve them.’

‘Apples,’ blurted out Lily.

Everyone turned to look at her. ‘Say that again?’ said Mick.

‘The orchard.’ She turned to look at Arthur. ‘Are the apples edible?’

‘Oh, yes,’ said Arthur, nodding and smiling. ‘That’s a splendid idea.’

‘What are we talking about?’ asked Alex.

‘The old apple orchard at the back of the vegetable garden,’ Arthur told him. ‘It has a very rare variety of apples, apparently. Not that we’ve harvested them for years, of course.’

‘Can we make some cider?’ asked Mick, his eyes gleaming.

Jack shook his head. ‘Not in a fortnight. You’d need to give it a bit longer to brew, I think.’

‘Worth a go, though,’ urged Mick.

‘And we do have the old apple presses somewhere,’ said Arthur, thoughtfully.

‘Perhaps we could press and pulp some of them to use in cocktails,’ said Lily. ‘Like apple martinis or apple margaritas. Apple, elderflower and gin is nice as well.’

Everyone burst into life as they nodded in agreement.

‘Great idea!’ said Mick, above the clamour.

‘What about the pulping and all that? Because I haven’t got time for all that,’ said Will.

‘I can give it a go, if you want,’ said Jack. ‘I’ve always wanted my own little artisan brewery. Maybe this could be the start of something.’

Mick looked Lily over once more. ‘Good idea, love. And I’ll enjoy helping you with the hay bales.’

Lily blushed, feeling Jack’s icy stare at them both.