Page 78 of Escape to the Country

‘It’s more draughty than hot,’ said Annie, looking at her reflection. ‘You can see my bra and knickers!’

‘There’s a simple solution to that,’ said Alex, with a wicked laugh.

Rose too gurgled with laughter as she handed a glass of champagne to Annie. ‘Here, darling. Drink this.’

‘Where did this come from?’ asked Annie, looking around in surprise.

‘Never you mind,’ Rose told her. ‘It’s our little secret. And one must have champagne when one is in fashion heaven. Don’t you agree, Eleanor?’

‘Absolutely,’ said Eleanor, taking a sip of the drink that Alex had just given her. ‘By the way, Annie, I’d kill for your legs.’

‘I know,’ said Rose, nodding sadly. ‘Isn’t she beautiful? God gave me many talents and gifts, but, alas, stunning legs wasn’t among them.’

‘Take off your underwear,’ said Alex, holding up his phone. ‘Then I can send your photo to Sam.’

‘Don’t you dare!’ said Annie, laughing.

However, after she’d finished her champagne, Annie did as she had been told and almost immediately received a phone call from Sam.

Eleanor smiled as she watched Annie blush at Sam’s hushed words down the line.

‘She’d better keep that dress,’ said Alex, also noting Annie’s soft expression. ‘Especially if we want to expand the family line in a few years.’

They enjoyed a raucous afternoon with Eleanor, Annie and even Alex trying on various clothes from the 60s and 70s. Finally, they all slumped downstairs in the drawing room to watch the first night’s television coverage of Glastonbury with Arthur. Eleanor looked at the TV screen. The mud had increased hour by hour, thanks to the constant rain that week. The sun came out briefly but mostly it rained. A lot.

‘So Rose, did you ever go to Glastonbury?’ asked Eleanor, reaching for the bowl of peanuts that Annie had laid out for them.

‘Of course, sweetie,’ said Rose, with a wave of her manicured hand. ‘Naturally, I can’t remember most of it.’

‘Anyone for a drink?’ asked Arthur, obviously hoping to stop his sister’s story. But it was in vain.

‘The whole place was as high as a kite back in the early seventies,’ Rose carried on.

‘Gin? Anyone? Rose?’ said Arthur.

‘Everyone was naked,’ said Rose. ‘Hippies. God love them. It was marvellous. A total orgy.’ She beamed in memory.

‘Well, I definitely need something stronger after enjoying that mental image,’ drawled Arthur, heading across the room to the drinks globe.

As they watched the programme, there was an interview with Tom who was headlining Sunday night on the Pyramid Stage. Eleanor found that she had to stop herself leaning forward to take him in. He was charming with the interviewer but reserved. Funny, but there was still a sense that he was holding back. That he wasn’t comfortable with the intrusion. She wondered how he would feel about her sleeping in his room whilst he was away. But it was only for Dylan, she was able to tell herself.

*

After the fashion catwalk in Rose’s bedroom, the following afternoon Eleanor and Megan took Annie into the nearest large town to try on some wedding dresses.

They found some bridesmaid dresses almost immediately. Annie had decided on silver, to fit in with her wintry colour theme as the wedding was to be in December.

‘I thought silver would go with the red flowers I want,’ said Annie.

Eleanor nodded her approval. ‘That will be lovely with touches of greenery everywhere.’

‘And hundreds of fairy lights,’ said Megan, spinning round in front of a mirror. ‘What do you think?’

The long dresses were a subtle sheen of silver which suited both Eleanor’s dark colouring and Megan’s red hair.

‘I love them,’ said Annie, smiling.

So did Eleanor. She just needed to sort out the patches of eczema on her neck and hands which would look horrible on the official photographs.