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“Unfortunately not,” Sophie replied. “I only had the information for the bakery and had originally booked it with Alice, but Lord Hugo informed me otherwise and introduced me to Kellie.” She adjusted some papers. “This is the final design we came up during the meeting, and I cancelled the original booking with Alice and took full responsibility for the hiccup.”
Mum’s brows briefly pulled together before she schooled her expression into one of interest. “These things do happen. As long as it’s righted.” She examined the paper. “This is a beautiful cake.”
“Kellie said you can contact her with any changes.”
She shook her head. “None for this. I trust her implicitly. What else have you achieved during my absence?”
“The guest list was finalised, and invitations sent out. This is a copy of the seating plan for dinner that Lord Hugo and I worked on.” Sophie gave her another sheet of paper. “Amendments can be made, of course, but he assured me this is a suitable plan.”
“Mhmm.” Mum set it down. “I’ll look that over later today. What of the menu?”
Sophie took a deep breath. “That was… difficult.”
“What was difficult? Evelyn had to choose between four different set menus.”
“She made her own,” I said, interjecting so I’d be the one to take the heat. “Grandma didn’t like any of the menus, so she created her own.”
Mum’s nostrils flared. “That wasn’t the deal.” She looked at Sophie. “Could you not talk her into one of the approved menus?”
Sophie shook her head.
“She was with her for four hours,” I said calmly. “Grandma was particularly stubborn about this. She’s to hold no blame for Grandma’s behaviour regarding it. She even told her that there was little to no chance her menu would be approved.”
Mum shifted uncomfortably and rolled one of her shoulders. “Show me it.”
Sophie handed it over.
Mum scanned it. “Absolutely not. This is all four of the menus put together, and she’s added her own dessert. The chefs simply cannot do this at such short notice.”
“I did explain that,” Sophie said, fidgeting. “But she wouldn’t listen and insisted upon this.”
“Absolutely not.” Mum shook her head. “I cannot have these menus changed this close to the event. What version went to the guests for the RSVP? We were already unacceptably late sending that out due to the delayed decision about the party.”
I looked at Sophie.
All the colour had drained from her face.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “After we confirmed the guest list and the design, I didn’t see them again.”
Mum tilted her head to the side, inclining it slightly in interest, then turned to me. “Hugo?”
I nodded in agreement. “I didn’t see it, either. Whoever is on the seating plan is the final invitations, with the exception of The Countess of Anglesey.”
“She just gave birth, did she not?”
“Yes. I believe Matthew will bring his mother in Eva’s place if she doesn’t feel up to travelling.”
“Understandable.” Mum let out a rather stressed breath and looked at Sophie. “I’ll confirm the menu designation. That will have to be the one regardless of what my mother-in-law chose.”
“No bloody menu went out,” Grandma said, joining the meeting. “I told that fancy pain in the arse of yours that it’ll be ordered on the day.”
Oh, Jesus.
Mum snapped her head around to look at Sophie again. “Were you aware of this?”
“No, Your Grace,” Sophie replied, looking more than a little terrified. “I handed the guest list and invitations to Nancy and that was the last I had control of, per my emails with Nancy.”
Mum pinched the bridge of her nose. “Menu three needs to be distributed to the guests as a matter of urgency.”
