Page 32 of The Last Saturday In July
‘Let’s sit down.’ Ian ushered them to the comfortable armchairs and sofas arranged around the table and opened up a small laptop.
While the waiters poured refreshments, Chelsea explained that they’d done the virtual tour of the hotel.
‘We just fell in love with it.’ Chelsea reached for a glass of water. ‘It feels so authentic, like the whole castle is wearing its truth.’
Jess spotted one of the waiter’s mouth twitch but, after another discreet nod from Ian, the staff left.
Chelsea continued. ‘Anyway, I was super-excited after it passed the test.’
‘The test?’ Jess was still trying to work out how a hotel could wear its truth.
Chelsea clasped long, manicured hands together on her lap. ‘It was my dream to marry in an Irish castle, but everything had to be aligned, so Angel guided me to this place.’ She crossed her hands across her chest and looked earnestly at Jess. ‘Being in the public eye is like, so difficult, because I have to give so much of myself. I totally depend on Angel to help me make the right life choices.’
Jess didn’t dare meet Adam’s eye.
Angel gave a beatific smile and produced a small tablet from the leather satchel he wore across his body. ‘Which was why I couldn’t refuse when Chelsea asked me to plan the wedding.’
Chelsea’s smile widened. ‘This man, right?’
When nobody responded, Jess said, ‘I’ve been brushing up on Linford’s history and this orangery is the most recent addition to the castle, late Victorian. Beautiful, isn’t it?’
Chelsea nodded. ‘It has an almost spiritual vibe.’ She waggled her forefinger at Jess and Adam. ‘Speaking of vibes, you guys make the most gorgeous couple.’
She meant her and Adam.
Jess tried to laugh it off. ‘Uh, no, we just work together.’
Adam flicked Jess an amused look, as she hurried to turn the attention back to Chelsea. ‘You know, I’m a big fan ofCalifornia Girlfriends. And,um, your TikToks are so inspiring.’
‘Oh my God, that’s so lovely of you!’ Chelsea reached across the table and squeezed Jess’s hand. ‘I just knew you were a kindred spirit.’ She turned to Angel. ‘Don’t you feel that too?’
Angel blinked. ‘It was exactly what I was thinking.’
‘So,’ Adam flicked a quick look at Jess, before clearing his throat, ‘Jess and I just wanted to meet you today, to get a feel for what’s happening.’ He turned to Ian. ‘Why don’t we get started?’
Relieved, Jess turned her attention to Ian.
‘Now, all our staff have signed NDAs,’ Ian began. ‘We know the theme is to be kept a complete secret.’
‘Because of Bobbie Grayson’s movie.’ Chelsea beamed at Jess. ‘But you guys know it’s a Cinderella theme, right? I’m having a coach with twelve white horses and everyone will be in costume.’
‘Including the staff,’ Ian said. ‘And we’ve confirmed the hot-air balloons and the puppies for the petting room. They’re coming with their minders on the morning of the wedding.’
Jess met Adam’s eyes as he widened them comically and she had to look quickly away.
While Ian talked about fireworks displays, a private casino, wedding-favour gift baskets and a six-foot-high castle wedding cake, Jess studied Chelsea. The wedding would be completely over the top, she knew, but the younger woman’s obvious excitement was contagious, and Jess found herself wanting everything to be perfect for her.
The icing on the cake was that, despite Chelsea brieflymentioning the Linford Curse on TikTok, nobody seemed to think it was a problem. Maybe the couple regarded wedding disasters for what they really were: the result of bad planning or, sometimes, just bad luck. Having both Ian and Angel to take care of the details meant there was no need to stress about anything.
Not that there was anything for her and Simon to worry about either, she mused. Especially with Kate, Úna and her mother looking after so much of the planning. Which meant the little darts of anxiety Jess felt when she thought about her big day were most likely pre-wedding jitters.
Leo poured himself some more water. ‘The entertainment is gonna be first rate. We’ve got Joie de Vivre, a dance troupe at one of my casinos, performing with an orchestra and that Irish group, Malarky. That right, Angel?’
Angel clasped his hands across his round stomach. ‘Think Steam Punk meets French classics from the thirties and forties.’
Jess took some notes. ‘It sounds quite Moulin Rouge.’
Chelsea frowned. ‘The Disney movie about the Chinese girl?’
