Laura gave Josie a little nudge in the ribs. “You could have at least stayed in New York until the end of the summer, though, then I could have come out and had a second bachelorette party. I would’ve liked to go shopping there.” Josie laughed and Laura grinned. “Where are you living now then?”
“Guildford.” She didn’t add that she was currently staying with her aunt in her tiny spare bedroom. That she was temping and that both that and the living arrangements were already driving her mad. It was a severe backward step in her life, and she needed to get her head around it before inviting the opinions of other people.
“I miss you in the office,” Laura said with a little pout. “It’s just not the same without you. No one to make fun of people with me, or work out ways to drive Janice mad.”
Josie gave a little huffing laugh. “We never actually did any of those things.”
“Yeah, but it was fun thinking about it.” Laura glanced around, tapped her fingers on her knee again. “Jose, I really want to catch up, but—”
“But you’re busy,” Josie said, and got to her feet, Laura following suit. “I don’t suppose there’s anything I can do?”
Laura pulled Josie into a hug. “You’re already doing it, by being here.” She eased back, angled her head. “Just make sure you read the itinerary if you haven’t already.” Josie laughed again and Laura waved a hand in the air. “I know, I know, but even people who think it’s ridiculous will actually be glad of it.” And it was hard to argue with that—Laura’s itinerary was certainly helpful, including start times for each of the dinners, optional activities throughout the weekend, places to stay if you weren’t in the castle, the dress code, and what time she and John would be departing on the final night.
Laura gave Josie directions to her room, then called after her, “John has some single friends, you know!” Josie looked back, and Laura gave her a wide, glowing smile. “Just in case you’re in the market for something.”
Josie shook her head and waved a hand at Laura as they parted ways, saving her grimace for when her back was turned. She knew Laura meant well, but she didn’t think she could face being set up this weekend, what with all that entailed and the enthusiasm she’d have to fake.
She found her room, the key in the door as promised, and let herself in. Her first impression was of yellow, the second that it would be very suited to a woman in her seventies. The bedspread matched the curtains—yellow, a deeper yellow than the walls, with a blue pattern design on them—and there were six pictures of different kinds of fish hanging on one of the walls. The bathroom was huge, including a full-length mirror and a bath that she definitely wanted to take advantage of later. On the vanity in the bedroom there was a computer set up, should you need it—a casual blending of old and modern. Josie decided in an instant that she loved it all.
Her suitcase was propped next to her bed, so she got out her camera and laptop, did a bit of editing, then uploaded the best photo of the castle to Instagram—as with all the photos on her more “professional” account, she included only a caption that explained where it was. Then she shut the laptop, took her camera, and went off to do some exploring of the castle.
When Josie got to the “Croquet Room” there were already about forty people there, which, when combined with the tables—three circular and a long, L-shaped bench around one side and corner of the room—made it feel a little on the small side. She supposed that was, in part, the point—an intimate feel for this pre-wedding dinner, with a select sixty or so guests. Laura’s family was small, Josie knew—no siblings and only one aunt and uncle—so presumably that was why she had a few more friends to fill her side. It was nice, Josie told herself firmly, that she was one of those friends. There was no reason to listen to the way her stomach was curdling ever so slightly as she shuffled into the room alone, as a few eyes she didn’t recognize flickered toward her. No reason at all.
She turned her attention to the room itself, which had a light, bright feel: cream-colored walls with landscape paintings dotted around sporadically, an open fireplace with a roaring fire despite the warm day, and candles on the tables as well as on the mantelpiece above the fire. The tables were covered in white tablecloths, the glassware almost seeming to sparkle, and they would be sitting on gold-backed chairs with blue cushioned seats.
Josie saw Laura by the fireplace, looking stunning in a black dress with bright blue and red butterflies, cinched at the waist with a slim white belt and finishing just above the knee to show off her tanned legs. Her hair was down in soft, blond curls—a more feminine look than she usually went for, perfect for a bride-to-be, but not overly simpering or virginal, which wouldn’t have suited her in the slightest. She was with John, who had trimmed his beard, and who wasn’t the only one in a kilt tonight, and a few others, deep in conversation. Instead of going to interrupt, Josie went in search of her name place and found it on one of the round tables next to an “Erin” on one side and a “Graeme” on the other. She bit her lip at the thought of being sandwiched between two people she’d never met.