I’ve never been inside the Forest View room before, although I often come to stroll around the arboretum, revelling in the seasonal changes. There’s something about the sense of peace that descends when nature so completely shuts out any sign of the outside world from view, and all you can see is a myriad of different shades of green.
As we stand on the large decked area with the wall of bifold doors open and the rolling lawns extending way into the distance, the sound of a gentle breeze amongst the leafy trees is wonderful. That intermittent little rushing, whooshing sound as a light summer breeze sends the birds fluttering away. And then they settle, squabbling over their preferred spot on a branch.
‘Mum, this is utterly gorgeous and the perfect location. Everything looks amazing.’ Gazing around, I take in the huge amount of effort she’s put into turning this room into an indoor garden. There’s still plenty of room for people to circulate and the kids to run around inside, or out.
‘Oh, it was really only a few phone calls,’ she leans in conspiratorially to whisper. ‘I can’t take the credit for this, although the instructions were rather explicit.’
‘Instructions? What did you say? “Empty the contents of the garden centre and bring it indoors, then turn the outside into a beautifully manicured setting for a garden party?” Which, give them their due, is exactly what they’ve done!’
Originally, I assumed it was going to be a rather more intimate party, but our extended family, friends and neighbours are still filtering in. There are three large circular buffet tables and tall metal planters filled with flowers everywhere you look.
Outside, just beyond the decking area, small bistro tables and chairs are set out within a large rectangular area, bordered by a line of potted bay trees. There is a central island with a collection of hollies, a multitude of shaped Buxus, neatly pruned fir trees and tall rosemary bushes; the smell is wonderful. They must have emptied the greenhouses and the nursery to turn a bland, although beautiful, expanse of grass into a classical little garden setting.
Behind me, the groaning buffet tables are covered in the most delightful array of canapés and the biggest cheeseboard I have ever seen. In the centre of each is a large, tiered, Perspex cake stand in the shape of a tree. It’s so cleverly designed and on each tier is an assortment of little cupcakes, tarts and choux buns. Pretty, tempting and utterly gorgeous.
‘I love the bunting and the bows. And the twinkly little—’
I stop talking and realise Mum hasn’t moved a muscle. She’s staring at me rather awkwardly.
‘You were only passing on the instructions, weren’t you?’ I mutter, my heart fluttering in my chest.
‘Yes,’ the solitary word comes from behind me, and I don’t give Ronan a chance to utter another syllable before I spin around and launch myself into his arms. My lips hungrily seek out his as I hug him fiercely to me. I can hardly believe he’s finally here and the waiting is over.
‘You… you… argh! I can’t believe you did this and kept it all quiet!’
I gaze around at everyone and you could literally hear a pin drop. I always thought that was such a stupid expression, but it’s true. Everyone was in on this, except me, and they’re all nervously awaiting my reaction.
‘You wonderful… family, you!’ I shriek – hardly the most eloquent of acknowledgements, but they have all taken my breath away.
Suddenly everyone is talking at the same time, but Ronan and I are just hugging each other, and we don’t want to let go. I’m speechless and so is he.
After a couple of minutes, Maisie rushes over, tugging at my sparkly new dress. The one I hesitated over buying that day Mum and I went to lunch but am so glad now that I did.
‘Auntie Lexie, is this Ronan?’
‘Yes, it is, my darling Maisie.’
Ronan has no choice but to pull away and he bends, putting out his hand to Maisie, who shakes it rather solemnly.
‘I’m going to be a bridesmaid,’ she announces. I burst out laughing, both mortified and charmed at the same time.
‘Um, that wasn’t quite what I said, Maisie, but—’
Ronan puts up his hand to stop me. ‘I have this, Lexie,’ he says, as he rests one knee on the oak floor so he can talk to Maisie on her level.
‘That’s a rather exciting thought, Maisie,’ he says, giving her a wink. ‘Could you do me a huge favour?’
We’re all listening intently, and I think it’s so cute that he’s humouring her.
‘You see the table over there and the big silver box? Could you bring it to me?’
She runs off, eager to please.
‘It isn’t as heavy as it looks,’ she whispers to him as she hands it over. ‘Mind you don’t drop it.’
He passes the box to me. I look at him, rather quizzically.
‘Just something I thought you might like. A little memento of our time at Versailles,’ he says, looking a little bashful as all eyes are firmly focused on us.
Opening it, all I can see is a mass of pale-pink, shredded tissue paper. Maisie stands on tiptoe and I lower it so she can look inside. Soon Jacob and Reece run over to join in the fun, not wanting to be left out. The circle of people around us begins to draw closer, as everyone is now curious.
‘What do you think it can be?’ I ask, as intrigued as the kids.
As little hands begin to tease out the wriggly strands of tissue paper, nestling at the very bottom is a little box and I gaze at Ronan, who is still crouched on one knee. He raises his eyebrows.
‘You need to open it,’ he declares.
I pass Maisie the big box and flip open the small lid to expose the most beautiful white gold ring, set with a square diamond.
‘Lexie Winters, will you do me the great honour of being my wife?’
As we both stand to hug and Ronan slips the ring on my finger, there isn’t a dry eye wherever I look.
‘I promised you a party full of love and romance; well, this is without doubt a room full of love and I have your wonderful mum to thank for delivering on what was a very detailed list of requirements. As long as we’re together we can always surround ourselves with beauty, and Versailles will always be there to remind us of our beginning.’
I take one step back and wipe away my tears. ‘It’s perfect. You’re perfect and thank you, everyone, for being a part of one of the best evenings of my life.’
It’s a crazy night. Noisy, filled with introductions, laughter, and a real sense of new beginnings.
‘Eve and Frank couldn’t make it?’ I ask, when eventually we try discreetly to slip outside into the dusky night together. As we step into the shadows, gazing back at the Forest Room, the proliferation of flickering candles lends that perfect, romantic touch.
‘That’s entirely my fault, I’m afraid,’ he admits as we stroll hand in hand. ‘They’re in Portugal celebrating Frank’s sixtieth birthday and I’d totally forgotten about it. My mother was cross with me, but they are due back in a week’s time and are going to drive down to spend the weekend with us. Elliot has been taking copious amounts of photos, because I promised her that she wouldn’t miss out on a thing. She berated me because I changed the date suddenly at the last minute, but I couldn’t wait any longer. Did I do the right thing? You don’t feel I overstepped the mark by surprising you? I did ask your mum whether she thought you’d prefer to plan the party yourself if we had it a little later on.’
‘What did she say to that, out of interest?’
Ronan steers me over towards a wooden bench sheltered in the nook between a group of tall oak trees, part way between the decking and the old pond. Far enough away that we can hear the faint sounds of laughter and chatter on the breeze, but we can also savour the quiet of a summer’s evening in the semi-gloom.
‘She said that every woman secretly longs to be swept off her feet and I should go ahead and do whatever I thought was right. Mind you, she might have paled a little when I emailed her the vision. I went online to find the venue and it was perfect, but it really was teamwork. We had great fun and she sent me daily updates on how the arrangements were progressing. Lots of photos of plants and bunting and cakes—’
He sounds so happy and so relaxed.
‘And… close your eyes.’
I stare at him. ‘Why?’
‘Just close them. I’ll count down from five and when I get to one you can open them.’
I do as he asks, and he lifts my hands up to my face, wanting me to cover my eyes in case I get tempted. As the numbers decrease, I feel a little movement next to me on the bench. I have no idea what he’s doing.
‘Five… four… three… two… one!’
When I withdraw my hands, the lights in the grounds have been turned on and in the distance the pond that I’ve often stopped to admire has a cascade of water shooting up into the air in a flurry. The uplighters surrounding it create the most glorious chandelier-effect, as the droplets turn into little silver shards of light, glinting as they fall.
‘I had no idea the fountain even worked!’ I exclaim.
‘It didn’t. But it does now.’ Ronan reaches out for my hand and our fingers entwine.
Lapsing into silence for a short while, I just savour the moment. When I look back at the partygoers, everyone is gazing out across the grounds in awe.
‘No regrets, then,’ Ronan eventually murmurs. ‘And you approve of the ring?’ His voice is low, hesitant, and I can tell he wasn’t sure until he saw my reaction for himself.
‘I love the ring. I love you. I suppose my only regret is that I so wish the story had a happier ending for your grandfather, Ronan. It’s clear my grandma struggled to accept what I think she later saw as the inevitable outcome. I’m sure she carried a sense of guilt for that, throughout her entire life, and that’s why she could never bring herself to talk about it. She wasn’t one to give up on people and it would have hurt her so much to think of his suffering.’
Ronan extends his arm to draw me even closer and I shuffle up on the bench alongside him.
‘She did what she could and, most importantly, she cared. No wonder they all admired the Rose, and it’s those same qualities that made me fall in love with you, Lexie.’
I lean my head against Ronan’s shoulder.
He turns to place a soft kiss on my cheek, lingering for a moment before pulling away.
‘Versailles has always touched people’s hearts,’ he half whispers. ‘I keep remembering something I found amongst my grandfather’s personal effects. He wrote that “Nature is a reminder of the fundamental principles that are the fabric of life and sustainability. Cherish the habitat around you, for it is a healer for all.” I think what he meant wasn’t necessarily linked in with the effects of modern-day living, but he was talking about people’s mental well-being. He found his peace when he was alone, tending the plants; it was the only time he was able to truly relax – a little respite from the thoughts and fears that haunted him.’
I turn, touching Ronan’s cheek as our eyes meet.
‘We don’t live in a perfect world and that will always cause those who are visionaries to suffer. But without people like that, people who care so much that it becomes their reason for being, so much could be lost. Plants, trees, animals… you name it. People like your grandfather make us all stop and think, and ultimately that’s a good thing, Ronan.’
‘I know, but I’m done with the past. Now it’s all about us and the future.’
He adjusts his position to throw his arm around my shoulders and we both feel the promise of what’s to come.
Ronan leans in to kiss me so softly that when I close my eyes the touch tingles, like a spark of electricity arcing.
Staring down at my hand, I touch the shiny stone that glints back at me, reflecting shards of light from the floodlight situated behind the bench.
‘But Versailles will always be in our hearts, for good reason,’ Ronan continues. ‘And one day, we might even be whisking our child – children, even – off to show them where we met and fell in love.’
The legacy doesn’t end with the story contained within a poignant and beautifully written hardback book. It’s time for Ronan and I to begin the next part of the journey. I can’t wait to discover what the first chapter will hold, but I know the perfect man to help write the story, at some point in the future.
The story of us.