Page 33 of The Big Dip in Crumbleton
‘What a gent!’ said Scarlett with an easy smile, as she tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow.
Pete swallowed, doing his best to ignore his sister’s waggling eyebrows as the three of them set off towards the town.
‘I love this archway,’ said Scarlett. ‘Very grand!’
‘It’s called the City Gates,’ said Pete as they passed underneath. ‘The place has always been a bit too big for its boots.’
‘Still, it does have a castle,’ said Libby fairly.
The cobbled high street stretched before them, winding its way up the steep hill. But instead of turning up towards the town centre, they veered left, following the road around the bottom of the hill towards the Dolphin and Anchor.
The place was already ablaze with lights, and as they approached, they could hear the sounds of music and laughter spilling out from its open windows.
Pete felt his steps falter slightly. The last time he’d walked through those doors, he’d been nursing a broken heart and still clutching a small velvet box in his pocket. The memory hit him with unexpected force, and he found himself hesitating.
‘Pete?’ Scarlett’s voice was soft with concern. ‘Everything alright?’
He looked down at her, at those dark eyes full of warmth and a question she was too polite to ask.
‘Everything’s grand,’ he assured her, squeezing her hand where it rested on his arm. ‘Just... memories.’
‘Bad ones?’ she asked, and in that moment Pete knew Libby had blabbed at least part of his story.
‘Old ones,’ he corrected. ‘Time to make some new ones, don’t you think?’
‘Definitely,’ Scarlett nodded, her smile returning.
Libby, mercifully, had the good sense to pretend she wasn’t listening to their exchange. She was peering ahead at the entrance to the hotel, where guests in their finery were already arriving.
‘There’s Jo!’ she said. ‘I want to say hi – meet you inside?’
Before either of them could respond, she was gone, darting through the crowd. Pete watched her go, then turned back to Scarlett with a rueful smile.
‘And then there were two,’ he said, not bothering to hide his pleasure at this turn of events. ‘Shall we?’
Scarlett nodded, and together they made their way towards the Dolphin and Anchor’s brightly lit entrance, where the sounds of celebration beckoned.
CHAPTER12
SCARLETT
The Dolphin and Anchor was nothing like Scarlett had imagined. She’d expected a cute, local pub. The little bar had looked cosy and welcoming on their way past, but the main dining room was nothing short of magnificent.
The huge dancefloor was surrounded by tables topped with white cloths and set with tiny twinkling lights. There was an abundance of floral centrepieces dotted around the room that seemed far too sophisticated for an event she’d originally thought was going to be a casual, local knees-up.
‘Blimey,’ Pete whispered in her ear as they paused in the doorway. ‘They’ve really pushed the boat out this year.’
Scarlett nodded, momentarily speechless.
The room was already bustling with people, all dressed in their finest. There were crisp suits, elegant dresses, and even the occasional bow tie. The Chilly Dippers had claimed a corner of the room, looking like a flock of exotic birds—something that became even more pronounced when they spotted Scarlett and started waving and twittering in excitement.
Scarlett saw Lou in the middle of the excited group. She was standing next to Kathleen, waving enthusiastically. She looked striking in a deep emerald dress, her usually practical ponytail replaced by a sleek updo.
‘I think we’d better go over and say hi before Lou pulls a muscle,’ said Scarlett, shooting a grin at Pete. ‘I mean, if you don’t mind?
‘Lead the way,’ said Pete easily.
‘There you are!’ said Lou, practically bouncing up and down as they drew near. ‘I’ve been keeping an eye out for you guys since we came down.’
