We can hear Jade’s voice from the garden gate of the cottage. The front door is open and she has her back to us ranting at some unfortunate person but the moment she catches sight of Lily, she rushes out and squeezes her until Lily almost gasps for air.
‘You silly girl! We thought you’d fallen off a cliff!’
‘I didn’t,’ says Harry.
‘You, shut up! Call yourself a bodyguard? Lily could have been kidnapped or fallen down one of those holes. Yes,’ she says to me, ‘I heard that you were almost killed last autumn. Your PA told me!’
Thanks, Polly, I think but Jade has moved on. ‘Why didn’t you call? Why didn’t you ask me, or even Harry, to come with you if you were that desperate for some fresh air?’
‘I should have phoned you, I know, but there was no signal. I wanted to be alone for a while.’
Jade takes Lily’s arm and her voice is smooth as butter. ‘Yes, but you’re not Greta Garbo, now are you, darling?’
‘It’s Lily’s life and she’s fine,’ Harry says.
Jade rounds on him, her eyes flashing fury. ‘You are paid to make sure that she’s safe, not to have an opinion. After this fiasco and the sea incident, you’ll be lucky if we keep you on. I’d hire someone else if it wasn’t Lily’s wedding morning, but you can pack your bags after today.’
‘Leave Harry alone! I decide who works for me and that goes for you too, Jade,’ Lily snaps back with a passion I haven’t seen before. ‘Now, I’m going to have a nice relaxing bath and then I’m going to get ready for my wedding in my own time and neither you nor anyone else is going to spoil today. And you do not ever speak to me like that again. Is that clear?’
Leaving Jade gulping like a stranded fish on the beach, Lily stomps upstairs. Harry rushes to the foot of the steps but Jade clamps her fingers on his arm. ‘Leave her alone. This is your doing. She would never have turned on me like that if you hadn’t let her escape. She’s had far too much time to think.’
Harry glares down at her as if she were a cockroach. ‘Escape? What kind of a word is that? You’re spouting absolute bollocks, Jade, and you know it. If anyone’s upset her, it’s you and Wonderboy Addison, you grasping pair of leeches.’
Jade’s eyes widen. ‘Right. That’s it. You can get out of this dump right now. I’ll look after Lily from now on.’
Harry folds his arms and his huge biceps bulge. ‘I’m not leaving until I know Lily’s in safe hands and I consider yours to be about as safe as Lady Macbeth’s. You and Addison are complete parasites. I’ll be outside the cottage, briefing the security team, and I won’t be letting Lily out of my sight for the rest of the day.’
I wouldn’t say that Harry flounces off, because I don’t think it’s possible, but he strides out of the door and shuts it very firmly. Jade is left in his wake, like a stranded goldfish.
‘Can I do anything to help?’ I ask, standing well clear in case she decides to lash out.
‘Actually, you can. You can sort out the fact that Lily’s hairstylist is going ballistic because Lily’s not even had a bath yet, and the fact that her friends are getting pissed on the free Krug and it’s not even ten a.m. and you can find out where that cunning minx Mawgan Cade has got to. And you can find someone who can get all three bridesmaids looking like they belong at a celebrity wedding, not a circus. I’m going to my car to do some mindfulness and centre myself but I tell you this, if Lily Craig so much as crosses the threshold of this cottage before it’s time for the ceremony, I’ll blacken the name of this shitty little hole from here to Timbuktu.’
With that, she storms off, slamming the door of the cottage so hard the frame shakes.
It’s probably a good job Cal isn’t here because I don’t think he’d have been much help with what’s happened. He might have thrown Jade out himself. I don’t give a toss about Jade’s threats; I’m more worried about Lily and Harry and the way Jade treats them. She and Mawgan would make a wonderful pair. No, forget it: the world doesn’t deserve that kind of drama.
There’s silence for a few seconds while I regain my breath. Then, from the kitchen, a girl with a large bag emerges. ‘Is it safe to come out?’
‘Yes. I think so.’
She lets out a long breath. ‘Thank God for that. I’m Carmel, Lily’s hairstylist. Contrary to what Jade said, I wasn’t going ballistic, I was only taking cover from Jade. There’s also plenty of time to get Lily ready, I’m well prepared for glitches like this. All brides are twitchy on their wedding morning and Lily’s always late anyway.’
‘Really?’ I’m not so sure there is plenty of time, despite what Carmel claims, but she does know Lily a lot better than I do.
‘It’ll be fine in the end, I’m sure, although I think Harry’s been given his marching orders for real this time.’
‘Has she sacked him before, then?’
Carmel laughs. ‘Jade’s sacked everyone at some point but I’ve never heard Harry go for the jugular before. There’s no going back from that, though I don’t blame him. If I didn’t love Lily to bits, for all her foibles, I’d have quit too. Jade is a grade-A bitch and a parasite, as Harry says. Addison isn’t quite so bad but he’s pathetic and under Jade’s thumb.’
‘Poor Lily, though I was relieved to see her stand up to Jade.’
‘Me too,’ Carmel replies. ‘But there is something I haven’t told Jade or Lily that could be another issue. Jade would have totally lost it if I had.’
My heart sinks. ‘Oh, no. What now?’
‘Don’t panic. It’s not the complete end of the world but Lily’s make-up artist isn’t going to make it. She’s gone down with food poisoning from the hotel they stayed in. Her assistant’s gone down with it too. They texted me while Jade was ranting.’
‘No make-up people? Can you do it?’
‘Sort of. I’m trained and I can manage Lily as well as her hair but I’ll need help with the bridesmaids. God knows how we’re going to get someone decent up here at this short notice, even if they know its Lily Craig’s wedding.’
My brain makes the leap and I sigh in relief. ‘That’s one thing I can help you with.’
Carmel stares at me. ‘Are you a trained beautician?’
‘No, but I know a woman who is. My friend Tamsin’s coming over to do mine and Polly’s make-up but I’m sure she could switch to the bridal party. I’ll call her.’
‘Do you think she’ll mind?’
Finally I find something to smile about amid the chaos. ‘Oh, I think she can cope.’
Five minutes later, I break the news to Tamsin.
‘What? Who? Me? Are you joking? Really? I’d love to!’
I can’t stop smiling. ‘The downside is that you have to make Mawgan look like a fairy princess.’
Tamsin grins wickedly. ‘That’s not a downside. I’ve been waiting to get my hands on those eyebrows since we were in primary school.’
Phew. What a relief. Cal has made his train to Penzance after all. I get a delayed message while I’m walking back to Poldark Cottage. That’s a huge load off my mind. It’s late morning now and the cosy sitting room is crammed with people. The bridal party and their entourage occupy every inch of space so that I can barely open the door. Lily’s parents can’t stop beaming even though Jade is barking orders at just about anyone. The bridesmaids – including a gleeful Mawgan – are giggling and sipping champagne from mini bottles through silver straws.
Standing behind them, armed with her toolkit of brushes and a jaw-breaking grin, is Tamsin. Lily’s make-up artist has created a look for Lily and her bridesmaids, which Tamsin has, amazingly, even adapted to suit Mawgan.
Stripped of her Tango tan, Mawgan now has a natural pale golden glow. Her dewy foundation is enhanced with a creamy blusher and subtle eye shadow that brings out the colour of her eyes. Tamsin has somehow managed to work a miracle on her over-plucked eyebrows too. The slinky column dress in a cornflower blue shows off her figure, enhanced by a fresh flower in her hair and a beautiful posy of Cornish flowers in dusky rose, pale peaches and creams. She looks sophisticated yet natural; chic yet innocent.
It’s weird. Seriously weird … and very disturbing. And somehow, a tiny part of me feels a teeny bit sorry for Mawgan who has been de-Mawganned. It’s almost cruel, like pulling the claws of a sabre-toothed tiger.
‘Wow. You all look stunning.’
The photographer shouts over the giggling. ‘You look a-mazing! Now, be careful, ladies. We want you to stay perfect for the pictures.’
Mawgan smirks and throws a small and satisfied smile at me and seems about to say something but we’re all cut off by a collective gasp from bridesmaids and entourage.
Lily descends the narrow stairs into the room with her dressmaker holding up the train.
Jade starts hyperventilating at the sight of her biggest asset. ‘Oh my God. You look breathtaking, darling.’
For once I agree with Jade. Lily doesn’t look like a mere mortal. She’s a goddess. Her pale gold dress is simple but beautifully cut, with long fitted sleeves, an embroidered bodice and a nipped-in waist that shows off her tiny figure to perfection. Her hair is loose and crimped into soft flowing waves, all set off by a circlet of Cornish flowers in bud. She looks like a medieval princess from a painting.
The silence is broken and everyone bursts into applause.
‘You look amazing,’ I tell her when I can eventually get a word, almost afraid to get too close to her.
‘Thank you.’
‘Ben’s very lucky.’
Jade looms next to my shoulder. ‘So is Lily,’ she cuts in. ‘They’re both very lucky to have each other. They’re the perfect couple, aren’t you, Lily?’
‘Yes, I’m very lucky,’ Lily echoes.
‘Is there anything else you need? Anything at all? I’m going down to the ceremony area to double-check everything’s on schedule but if you need me – for anything at all – please call me.’
‘Oh, don’t worry. We will,’ says Jade.
Lily flashes me a smile. ‘I’m fine. I trust you and Kilhallon.’
Lily winces as Jade takes her elbow. ‘Lily, darling, the photographer wants to take some shots in the cottage garden.’
‘See you at the glade,’ I murmur but Jade has already swept Lily away into the giggling chaos of the bridal party.
After checking with Rachel that everything’s running smoothly at last, I dash up to the house to change but not before trying to get hold of Cal for a quick word on his progress. His mobile goes straight to voicemail but I don’t leave a message because I don’t think it will help. It’s no use me panicking or getting upset; I’m going to have to keep my focus on today and hope he turns up at some point, but I can’t help feeling disappointed.
‘Still no word from him? I bet his train’s delayed or cancelled. I heard they had a signal failure at Tiverton Parkway.’
With this helpful statement, Polly enters the kitchen and dumps a handbag on the table. She’s wearing a coral shift dress and a little black cardigan with a matching fascinator in her freshly styled hair. Her make-up knocks years off her but she’s still the Polly I know and love, so I can’t be too cross with her for her less-than-positive news about the trains.
‘He might still make it, you know. I’m sure he’s doing everything he can.’
‘He made the train. I got a delayed message while I was walking back up here but I’m not sure how the journey’s going.’
‘Fingers crossed.’
I force a smile. ‘Wow, you look lovely. That dress suits you and the make-up’s great.’
She glances down at her outfit. ‘Tamsin’s a miracle worker. I don’t look too “done”, do I?’
‘No, you look fantastic.’ I hug her.
‘Didn’t want to let Kilhallon down and you never know where the photos might end up. Can’t have Mawgan Cade or anyone round here saying I looked like a bag of rags.’
‘You look stunning.’
‘Hmm. Your turn now, madam. Tamsin’s on her way up here after finishing Lily’s lot. Come on, get a move on.’
‘I don’t think I have time for much pampering. We’re running late.’
‘Yes, you do. Sit down. Oh look, here’s Tamsin.’
She taps her watch and I realise it’s half past one. In ninety minutes the ceremony starts. Polly makes me a cold drink while Tamsin sets to work on my nails. She’s doing a super quick-dry nude varnish that will dry while she does my make-up.
My phone beeps.
‘That could be Cal!’
‘Don’t you dare touch that phone until your nails are dry,’ Tamsin orders.
‘Wait.’ Polly turns on my phone and shows me the screen.
‘It is Cal. He says the train’s running an hour late but he’s still hoping to make it as long as there aren’t any more hold ups … but he still has to make it from Penzance to Kilhallon. What if there are no taxis? It’s Saturday and they’ll be so busy with holidaymakers.’
‘Keep still, hon!’ Tamsin orders.
Polly holds a drink with a straw to my mouth. ‘If he makes it home, he makes it home. If not, then there’s nothing we can do and anyway, we’ve done the hard bit already. It won’t make a scrap of difference to the wedding now if Cal’s here or not.’
But it will make a difference to me. I’m desperate to hear every detail of what happened with Esme, and see for myself how Cal feels. I won’t rest until I see him with my own eyes so I can judge.
‘How did he sound when you last spoke to him?’ Polly asks me, while Tamsin applies a final topcoat in swift, expert strokes.
‘OK. He’s seen her but his battery was dying and he’d forgotten his charger. I don’t really know. I hope he’s not worse for it.’
‘Nothing you can do now, my bird. Nothing any of us can do.’
‘Can you please keep still and shut up for one minute?’ Tamsin pleads. ‘I need to finish your face and if you hadn’t noticed, we’ve got a wedding to go to in less than an hour.’