Meet Me at Willow Hall: A perfectly charming romance for 2019!

‘What will you be offering this room for? Wedding breakfasts?’

‘Yes. Well, eventually, anyway. It’s not ready, as you can see. This is next on our list.’

‘It’s a pity you couldn’t get it ready for today. A lot of people would have liked to have seen it,’ I said, staring up at a huge oil painting of a man riding a horse. It looked like it had been painted centuries ago, but with the bright-blue eyes and chiselled features the man’s resemblance to Anthony and Julian was uncanny. I was just about to say something about it when the door swung open and Anthony stalked in.

‘Ah, here you are,’ he said to his brother. ‘What are you doing in here? I thought we weren’t showing anybody in here today.’

‘I know, but I’m trying to convince Elena that she wants to get married here this summer.’

Anthony pulled a face and glanced disdainfully around the room. ‘By showing her this horrible, creepy room?’

‘It’s beautiful!’ Elena said, spinning round as though she were a Disney princess. ‘You can really see the possibilities this place has.’

‘It would be great for a winter wedding,’ I said, pleased when my voice didn’t squeak or tremble with nerves. I took a few steps forward, feeling awkward, and clasped my shaking hands behind my back.

‘I suppose so,’ Anthony said, stiffly. ‘We haven’t used this room for years and years, have we, Jules?’

‘No. I can barely remember using it, to be honest. I expect that’s because I’m younger than you by a good few years, though, isn’t that right, Anthony?’ He grinned cheekily at his brother and Anthony laughed.

‘Only by three years. Let’s not exaggerate.’

Julian chuckled. ‘Apparently we used to have family parties in here at Christmastime. It’s a bit big really for general family use, don’t you think? I think we’d all lose each other.’

Anthony shivered slightly. ‘It gives me the creeps.’

‘That’s because it’s so dark. If you pulled open the curtains and uncovered the furniture it would be lovely. Especially with a big Christmas tree and roaring fire.’

Anthony dipped his head. ‘If you like that sort of thing.’

I felt guilty then. I knew very well that Anthony hated Christmas because his father had died at Christmastime when he was fourteen. The last thing he needed was me trying to make his childhood home look like a scene from a Christmas card.

‘Well, even a bit of sunlight would make all the difference. Just look at these amazing family portraits. Do you know who they all are? This one looks just like you two.’

Julian laughed. ‘Yes, that’s our great-grandfather. He made his fortune in the shipping business.’

‘Oh, really? So you’re not dukes or earls or whatever?’

‘No. We don’t have titles.’

‘Thank God,’ Anthony muttered. ‘So are you having a winter wedding, Rachel?’ he asked.

‘I… no, we don’t have a date yet.’

Anthony looked surprised. ‘And yet you’re trying on wedding dresses?’

I blushed. ‘We’re here for Elena today. I was looking for a bridesmaid dress but they didn’t have any in that style.’

Elena shot me a look as if to say I should be making up loads of wedding details, but I ignored her. I didn’t want to get involved in some elaborate lie. I was uncomfortable enough about the Jayjay thing as it was.

‘But I thought you had everything sorted already, Elena?’ Julian said. ‘Are you addicted to wedding fairs or something?’

‘Pretty much!’ Elena laughed. ‘We have everything except Rachel’s dress, but I think we’ve got that sorted now, thanks to today. Besides, Rachel’s only just got engaged. It’s all about my wedding right now. We’ll think about Rachel’s after my honeymoon.’ She laughed to show she was joking.

Anthony smiled. ‘How is Daniel? Well, I hope?’

‘He’s great, thanks!’ Elena beamed. ‘We’ve moved into our house together and it’s lovely.’

‘Oh, it’s finished then? That’s great!’

‘Yes, just a few bits here and there to finish off, but it’s wonderful to be in our own house at last.’

‘Excellent! Give him my best wishes. I always liked Daniel.’

‘He liked you too. He was gutted when you and Rachel broke up.’

I felt my cheeks flare and Anthony looked away, obviously uncomfortable with the subject. Julian laughed and slapped his brother on the arm.

‘If you and Daniel had such a bromance going, you should have no trouble persuading him to get married here instead of his local golf club.’

Anthony shrugged. ‘Are you actually thinking about it, Elena? Would you move your wedding to here?’

‘I’d love to but I’m not sure how practical it would be. It’s a bit late to reorganise everything now. All the invitations have gone out and it’s a bit cheeky to change the venue on the guests, especially when it’s an hour away.’

‘It’s your wedding,’ Anthony said. ‘You should be able to get married wherever you like.’

‘Well, I doubt we’d be able to afford it anyway. A place like this must cost a fortune!’

‘Not if we do you a deal,’ Julian said. ‘How about you get married here this summer and be our first marriage. If you agree to be photographed and videoed for our website and perhaps featured in a magazine, we could offer the venue for free.’

‘For free?’ Elena blinked at him in amazement. ‘Why would you do that?’

‘To get publicity, of course. We’re just starting out and we’re pretty desperate to get this up and running. Honestly, you’d be helping us enormously. You’d need to pay for catering and your flowers and stuff like that, but we wouldn’t charge for the use of the hall.’

My mouth fell open in disbelief. It was an unbelievably generous offer, and I almost wished I really did have a fiancé so I could be their first wedding. It was ironic that my commitment-phobic ex-boyfriend’s family home was now the wedding venue of my dreams.

Elena laughed. ‘Wow! That’s a good offer.’

Julian’s eyes lit up. ‘What would you lose? Your deposit? I bet it would still work out cheaper in the long run.’

Elena grew serious again, chewing her lip. ‘It’s still a bit far for all my guests, though.’

‘It’s only an hour from Chester!’ Anthony said over his shoulder. ‘Besides, they could stay over. We have plenty of rooms in the hall and we’re converting the stable block into accommodation.’

‘Would it be ready in time, though?’ I looked pointedly around the dusty hall. ‘Elena’s wedding is only four months away. That’s a lot of work.’

‘It will be finished by then,’ Julian said. ‘We’re looking at the beginning of July for completion so it would fit nicely with an August wedding. So, as long as you don’t want to get married in this room here, Elena, you’ll be all set.’

‘How many guests can you accommodate? Surely not eighty?’