A Perfect Cornish Christmas. Phillipa Ashley

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СКАЧАТЬ Aaron.’ She pointed to the man carrying a tray of drinks from the bar to the committee table. Ellie’s eyes lit up. Aaron mouthed hello and nodded to the group, signalling that she and Ellie should join everyone.

      ‘Come on.’ Ellie led the way and all heads turned in their direction.

      Aaron put the tray on the table. ‘I’ve invited Ellie and her sister to meet everyone. If we’re nice to Scarlett, I thought we might have another new recruit for the festival team.’

      ‘Um. I’m not sure I’d be of any use …’ Scarlett began, trying not to live up to her name as she came face to face with her rescuers.

      People smiled and nods were exchanged. ‘Hello, Ellie. Hi, Scarlett.’ The chorus of greetings was warm and friendly.

      Troy, wearing his cap minus the tinsel, peered at her. ‘Eh. You’re the maid who wandered into the pub on Christmas Day. We were proper worried about you until Ellie came to take you home.’

      His wife nudged him. ‘Troy. That was ages ago, she won’t want to be reminded of that tonight. She was just having one of those days. We all do.’

      Evie was spot on. Scarlett summoned up the biggest grin she could find. ‘I’m fine now and you’ll be pleased to know I’m not wearing my bunny slippers.’

      Everyone burst out laughing.

      Troy chuckled. ‘Pleased to see you have a sense of humour, maid. It’ll stand you in good stead around here. Jude, stand up and give one of these ladies a seat.’

      ‘No need, because we have to go soon.’ Drew pulled out his chair.

      ‘It’s nothing personal. We promised to babysit my granddaughter,’ Chloe said. ‘Hopefully we’ll see you again soon, if you’ve moved into Porthmellow?’

      ‘I’m sure you will,’ Scarlett replied, keen not to wash any more of her dirty linen in public.

      Sam and Gabe began to chat to her. Sam was funny and kind, and being close to Gabe Mathias was no hardship, as he was even more gorgeous in the flesh than on the TV. Wait until her friends back in Brum heard about it … when she eventually returned there – if she did. Looking around the pub, surrounded by strangers – apart from her sister – she had a panicky moment. She hadn’t really thought of any plans beyond moving in with Ellie and hunting for her real father. It was ironic that before the momentous events of the previous Christmas, she’d been the queen of forward planning. The revelation about her parentage had changed that, and perhaps made her live for the moment more. Soon, the talk turned to the festival and Scarlett was very happy to have the focus shift away from her.

      As Aaron had briefly outlined, the event was to be a joint Christmas and solstice festival, which brought together the traditional and pagan elements of the season, celebrating the passing of the shortest day and the festivities to come. It was scheduled for the night of the twenty-first and Scarlett was surprised to hear that several thousand people were expected. She loved visiting the German Christmas market in her home city, and though this event was on a toy-town scale compared to that, it sounded charming. There would be street entertainers, a solstice parade with people in fancy dress led by fire-eaters. The town band would be playing festive music and stalls would sell gifts and seasonal food. Gabe was doing a cookery demo of festive grub.

      ‘We’re always looking for more volunteers,’ Evie said. ‘If you wanted to help.’

      Troy tutted. ‘Eh, don’t rope the girl in. We’ve only just met her.’

      ‘It’s OK. I’m not sure how I can help, but I’ll be happy to lend a hand if you like.’ Scarlett decided that this was another way to show she was prepared to be a good citizen. And probably also a good way to find out more about her father.

      ‘I’m sure we can find you something,’ Sam said. ‘When you’ve settled in, let Ellie know if you want to join in, or give one of us a call.’

      A few of the younger committee members went to the bar, and Troy vanished to the loo, leaving Scarlett next to Evie, while Aaron, Jude and Ellie chatted.

      Evie shuffled closer. ‘Are you feeling any better these days?’ she asked in a low voice. ‘Ellie’s told me that your mum and dad are still having a few problems, not that she’s shared the details – or that it’s any of my business.’

      Scarlett baulked at the open mention of their issues, however, Ellie had had to make some excuses for her behaviour the previous Christmas. Evie was so sweet and genuine that Scarlett didn’t mind too much. She was determined to be cheerful and show her festive meltdown had been a one-off, and besides, this was an opportunity to make a few enquiries of her own.

      ‘It’s OK, and you’re right, Mum and Dad are going through a difficult patch … um, do you know them well?’

      ‘Not very well. Obviously, your auntie Joan was a stalwart of the village. Such a clever lady. I loved her books.’ Evie winked. ‘She used to give me a signed copy when a new one came out, even the racy ones. Did you know about those?’

      ‘Joan didn’t think Ellie and I knew, but we found the copies hidden away even before she died.’

      ‘She was one of a kind, was Joan. So refined and ladylike but with a wicked sense of humour, and very open-minded.’

      ‘Hmm …’ Scarlett replied, wondering if it was an open secret that Joan had been having a relationship with her ‘handyman’. ‘We all loved her to bits and miss her a lot, especially my mum … she used to spend a lot of her time here, particularly when we were young.’

      ‘No wonder. Seaholly Manor is a beautiful place.’

      ‘Mum found it peaceful and soothing. With my dad working away such a lot, she liked to bring us here for holidays when we were little … and she used to come with Ellie before I was born.’ Scarlett felt like she was treading on wobbly stepping stones, not sure if she should venture any further. ‘Do you remember those days? Mum says they had a lot of fun.’

      ‘Gosh, I remember the parties, not that I went to any of the wilder ones. Me and Troy were too busy bringing up Aaron and Gemma. I was Joan’s age, so still a lot older than your mum, obviously.’

      ‘Wild parties?’ Scarlett gave a laugh. ‘That doesn’t sound like Auntie Joan,’ she joked, knowing her great-aunt had loved entertaining but intrigued to know what Evie meant by ‘wild’.

      ‘Oh, she had a few at the manor with her arty friends from London, authors and artists and such like. She’d host them and invite all and sundry from the village … I could have gone, but they weren’t Troy’s scene, as you can imagine. They went on late. Joan’s friend – Lawrence Guise, the gardener – said Joan would stay up until late but the younger ones would party ’til dawn on the beach in the summer.’

      ‘Sounds like a real blast.’

      ‘I do think some turned a bit on the lively side … you know, wacky baccy, skinny dipping and shenanigans in the dunes …’ Evie’s eyes glittered with mischief. ‘Like I say, I only heard the gossip. You should ask your mum about it all. I’m surprised she hasn’t told you more about it already.’

      ‘She probably didn’t want to be a bad influence on us,’ Scarlett replied, dying yet dreading to hear more of the juicy details.

      Evie СКАЧАТЬ