Persuade Me (28 page)

Epilogue

In The Lodge, Walter turns this way and that, admiring the cut of his new Ascot-grey morning coat in each of his reflections. This has become a daily ritual, even though it’s only late February and Lisa’s wedding is still some months off. The Lodge’s second bedroom is barely adequate as a dressing room – so cramped with all these mirrors – but downsizing is his contribution to the greater cause, Brides of Kellynch. Best of all, it gives Minty no ammunition to complain about his extravagances.

Minty, however, has bigger fish to fry. As financial controller for Brides of Kellynch, she has a budget that exceeds her wildest dreams – and the meddling power that goes with it. Up at the main house, she sits in her new office – handily situated to ensure a good view of both the front door and the tradesmen’s entrance – and prepares her weekly report for William and his idiot of an accountant. She occasionally stops mid-sentence to wonder aloud what dear Irina would think – but there is nobody around to listen.

Across the hall, Lisa harangues the architect about various plumbing problems at the spa complex in the west wing. She threatens to sue him if Select Spa isn’t ready in two weeks, reminding him that it is opening well ahead of the rest of the wedding venue as a private members’ club. Its manager, Mrs Clay, has worked day and night to deliver a very exclusive client list – all local dignitaries, eager to experience the beneficial effects of massage.

In the spa, behind locked doors, the conscientious Pat Clay is busy giving William a thorough … debriefing. Despite jet-black hair and a broad Somerset accent, she bears a startling resemblance to a certain Cléopatra Clé. Her future here is secure: as well as the private members’ club, the Brides of Kellynch brochure promises ‘a relaxing massage for the bride and groom, separately or as a couple’, so she is sure her Hands of Love won’t be idle.

Recovering from his one-to-one with Mrs Clay, William contemplates his good fortune. He has two women in his life who seem to have one purpose in theirs: making him happy, without forcing him to choose between them. Furthermore, his plans to sweat the Kellynch asset are on track. And, finally, his future father-in-law is extremely biddable, so William has no problem letting him out of The Lodge now and then. In a display of breathtaking audacity, he has even allowed him to meet Mrs Clay; but, as he explained to Lisa, given Walter’s poor eyesight and aversion to her ‘common’ accent, they can safely assume that William will one day inherit the title he’s already prone to using. Life couldn’t be sweeter, except ... But he is becoming more and more adept at blocking that pale, heart-shaped face from his thoughts.

Along the road at Farley’s Garden Centre, Sophie and Ed Croft have been up for hours. Business is slow but, despite Walter’s assurances to the contrary, they are building up a loyal following. And Sophie is relieved that they ended up living on the premises instead of moving into The Lodge – the rent on the greenhouses at Kellynch is prohibitive enough. Although she’s heard a rumour that Brides of Kellynch is seeking planning permission to turn them into something known as the Glass Garden, an alternative to the Bridal Bower on rainy days …

A little further away, in their magazine-strewn bedroom at Uppercross Manor, Mona complains to Charles that their wedding was really crappy by today’s standards. She thinks they should renew their vows, and she’s already made enquiries at Brides of Kellynch. Of course, once the Musgroves see how things really should be done, they will want
all
their family events at Kellynch, not just weddings. And it shouldn’t cost anything because, in return, Mona will offer her home-grown public relations services – Lisa doesn’t have a clue how to handle the press – and vet the list of prospective brides. One can’t be too careful when the family name is at stake.

But Mona ends up talking to an empty room. Charles storms downstairs, rounds up Ollie and Harry and makes for the sanctuary of the Great House. Here, his parents and sisters – with their partners – are having one of their frequent family get-togethers and Charles knows that, briefly, he will forget his troubles.

In Bath, Jenny and Tom are getting to know their new tenant, one of Rick’s colleagues at the University of Melbourne who’s over here on a two-year contract. Jenny has high hopes of pairing him off with Christina – only not just yet. She’s already lost the company of one very good friend in recent months.

On the other side of the world, somewhere off Kangaroo Island, a man and a woman sit on the deck of a boat watching the stars. It’s a time for reflecting on the past, dreaming of the future, and celebrating …

… the power of persuasion.

About the Author

Juliet describes herself as ‘a nineteenth-century mind in a 21st-century body – actually, some days it’s the other way round’. The youngest of four girls, she was born and bred in North-East England, where she met her future husband. Unlike Anne Elliot in Jane Austen’s
Persuasion
, she got married despite pressure to wait until she’d finished her degree, and emerged from the University of Nottingham with a First in French and Russian. Thirty years later she is still married, has two teenage children and lives in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

Her debut novel
The Importance of Being Emma
was shortlisted for the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance 2009.

Juliet’s stories are modernisations of Jane Austen’s novels.

www.julietarcher.com

www.twitter.com/julietarcher

More Choc Lit

From Juliet Archer

The Importance of Being Emma

A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s
Emma
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Mark Knightley – handsome, clever, rich – is used to women falling at his feet. Except Emma Woodhouse, who’s like part of the family – and the furniture. When their relationship changes dramatically, is it an ending or a new beginning?

Emma’s grown into a stunningly attractive young woman, full of ideas for modernising her family business. Then Mark gets involved and the sparks begin to fly. It’s just like the old days, except that now he’s seeing her through totally new eyes.

While Mark struggles to keep his feelings in check, Emma remains immune to the Knightley charm. She’s never forgotten that embarrassing moment when he discovered her teenage crush on him. He’s still pouring scorn on all her projects, especially her beautifully orchestrated campaign to find Mr Right for her ditzy PA. And finally, when the mysterious Flynn Churchill – the man of her dreams – turns up, how could she have eyes for anyone else?…

Visit
www.choc-lit.com
for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.