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‘No! No, it’s fine. Thank you for thinking of us.’
‘I often think of you.’ He coughed and then ran a hand through his unruly hair which, like Grace’s plait, seemed to want to go wild.
Grace wasn’t sure what he had meant by that remark and decided it was better not to ask.
‘I haven’t got all day!’ Bianca’s voice boomed out.
‘After you,’ Griff said, indicating Grace should go before him.
‘Are you being polite? Or are you sending me into the lion’s den first? Oh gosh! Sorry. I was forgetting she’s your mum.’
‘She’s not,’ Griff said, tensing visibly and his voice was suddenly cold.
‘Of course not. Sorry. I … I think I’m having one of those days. I meant to say your step mum.’
Griff’s tone and stance softened. ‘Don’t worry about it, Grace. We’d better get in there before Bianca has an apoplexy.’
Grace had been in the morning room a few times over the years, yet she still marvelled at its beauty. Now that the rain had stopped, the sun was breaking through the clouds and rays of sunlight filtered through the branches of a few tall trees set close to this side of the house and danced on the pale lemon and white walls. The furniture was mainly antique, made from yew and elm wood, but there was a modern and exceedingly expensive looking pale lemon sofa and two matching chairs placed in front of, and either side of, the large and intricately carved white marble mantlepiece.
Although the room was stunning, Grace realised something was missing.
‘Isn’t this room decorated?’ she asked, taking the seat on the sofa that Bianca had pointed her towards.
‘What’s wrong with the décor?’ Bianca’s voice was raised in astonishment as she sat bolt upright in her armchair.
‘I meant Christmas decorations,’ Grace said. ‘The décor is beautiful, but it’s only just over two weeks till Christmas.’
‘Isn’t that why you’re here?’
Bianca glowered at her, and a furrow formed between Griff’s brows as he sat at the other end of the long sofa.
‘Oh. I thought we were organising the Mistletoe Dance and dressing the Great Hall and the dining room for that. Are you saying there are other rooms we need to decorate?’
The Great Hall was where the actual dance was held and the refreshments were served in the dining room, both of which were exceptionally large with high ceilings.
‘Of course there are!’ Bianca narrowed her eyes and stared at Griff. ‘I think this was a mistake.’
‘I think perhaps we haven’t explained what was required,’ Griff said, meeting Bianca’s cold stare, before looking directly at Grace. ‘For several years, Betancourt has been decorated for Christmas by the company that organised the Mistletoe Dance. We haven’t hung our own decorations since … the Christmas before Mum died.’
Grace gasped in horror. ‘You … you mean you want us to do it all? Everything? From the lights on the outside to the stockings hanging on the fireplaces?’
‘We don’t have stockings hanging on fireplaces.’ Bianca curled her lip in distaste. ‘But yes of course. Everything. I thought I’d made that clear.’
‘Erm. No.’ Grace remembered that she hadn’t been present during Bianca’s call. Perhaps Bianca had told the others this teensy-weensy nightmarish problem and they had failed to pass on the monumental news to Grace.
‘Are you telling us you can’t do that? Are you wasting our time?’
‘Bianca!’ Griff snapped. ‘There is no need to be rude.’
‘No! Of course we can do it.’ Grace tried to stifle her rising panic. ‘It simply means we’ll need to rethink the timings. And we’ll require more help. This isn’t just an event you’re asking us to organise. It’s also the festive staging of a stately home. And that takes time, and a mountain of decorations, and a lot of pairs of hands. It’s only two weeks till Christmas and it’s our busiest time of year.’
‘So you keep saying,’ said Bianca, getting to her feet. ‘I knew this was way beyond you.’
‘It isnot way beyond us.’ Grace stood too. ‘But we are a local business with limited manpower and only so much stock, most of which is already set aside for our regular clients. We’ll need to hire help. We’ll need to purchase or hire more decorations. And that will increase the cost substantially. But frankly, Bianca, it’s either us, or you do it yourselves. That’s entirely up to you.’
Grace was shaking, mainly with shock but partly with anger as she and Bianca glared at one another and Griff got to his feet and towered over both of them, but his tone was calm and collected.
‘We’re happy for you to do anything you need to in order to get this done, Grace, no matter what the cost. We realise we’re asking for a minor miracle but the Mistletoe Dance is important, not just to me and my family, but to the village. We really need your help. As for manpower, hire however many people you require. We have a small staff here who would be keen to assist, I’m sure. And I’m here, ready, willing, and able. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it. Russell will be home next week, or perhaps sooner if necessary.’
