Page 5 of The Widow’s Irish Secret (Magnolia Manor #4)

Back at the gatehouse, Tricia spent the next few hours settling in and getting ready for dinner with Sylvia.

Vi had said there was no need to dress up, but Tricia knew she had to at least dress in what Sylvia called ‘casual chic’ which was the most difficult dress code to pull off.

But if she didn’t look at least well groomed, she would feel less confident and be at a disadvantage as the wedding plans were discussed.

She unpacked her suitcase and found her beige linen trousers and a bright blue cotton sweater she had bought in the Ralph Lauren outlet shop in Kildare Village on the way down to Kerry.

Simple and perfect – just the thing to wear under Sylvia’s critical gaze.

Tricia quickly showered and washed and blow-dried her hair, mentally blessing her hairdresser for giving her a cut that was so easy to manage.

Vi was in the living room putting together the list with her and Jack’s wedding plans. She looked up as Tricia entered, smiling approvingly. ‘You look great, Mum. The swim was obviously what you needed.’

‘That and a little spit and polish,’ Tricia replied, looking at herself in the mirror over the mantelpiece.

She did look a lot better already, even if there were still shadows under her eyes and lines around her mouth.

The light makeup she had applied had brightened her complexion and her hair bouncing around her face was an added bonus.

‘Let’s have a look at the list,’ she said, turning away from the mirror.

‘We’ll want to be prepared to stay strong and ready to resist any arguments. ’

‘You’re right. Granny means well, even if she’ll want everything her way.

’ Vi handed Tricia her list. ‘As you see, we want a small cosy affair with the wedding ceremony in the little church up the hill and the reception in the orangery. It’ll be so gorgeous there within the old walls and the garden to wander around in should it get too hot.

I think Lily will love the idea to have the reception there.

It’s going to be a barbecue but we’ll get the caterers Granny uses to help with all the cooking. They always do a good job.’

Tricia sat down on the sofa and looked at the list. ‘Only sixty guests? And you want to have a barbecue? And a salsa band so you can dance on the deck outside the orangery. I think that sounds grand, you know. And such fun. What about the dress?’

‘I’d like to wear your dress, Mum,’ Vi said. ‘Can I?’

‘Of course,’ Tricia said, feeling suddenly overwhelmed. ‘That would be lovely.’

‘It won’t make you sad?’ Vi asked, looking worried.

Tricia put her hand on Vi’s cheek. ‘No, darling, it won’t.

It will bring me back to the happiest day of my life.

But are you sure you want that style? Puffed sleeves and that wide skirt with layers of flounces.

Looks a bit like a meringue. It was all the rage in the nineties, but fashions have changed since then. ’

‘I know but I’ve always loved it,’ Vi declared. ‘You looked like a fairy-tale princess in the photos I always thought.’

‘When you were eight, yes.’ Tricia smiled and shook her head. ‘Now you might think it’s hideous. But I’ll find it and we’ll have a look. You can always buy something new if you change your mind. We have plenty of time.’

‘Two and a half months,’ Vi said. ‘So we need to get started on all the details and send out the save the date emails and then the invitations and order the flowers and talk to the caterers and… well, check with Lily if she can give us the orangery for that one day.’

‘Very true.’ Tricia folded the list and put it in the handbag. ‘Lots to consider and discuss. I’m sure Granny will have some of her own ideas, too, so we should be prepared for that.’

Vi looked suddenly worried. ‘Yes, she will. We have to let her do some of the organising or she’ll be upset.’

‘We’ll play it by ear,’ Tricia said, feeling only slightly apprehensive. ‘But apart from all that, I want to go to the cottage and take a peek at it before Granny’s dinner. We have time to take a walk over there beforehand.’

‘Why? You’ll get the keys in a few days.’

‘I know,’ Tricia said. ‘But I just want to see it before I tell Sylvia I’m the new owner.’

‘Okay.’ Vi nodded and got up. ‘Maybe you can go on your own? I want to call Jack and then have a quick shower and change out of these jeans.’

‘Grand.’ Tricia rose, gathering up her bag. ‘I’ll see you up there, then.’

‘Brilliant.’

Vi disappeared up the stairs while Tricia left the house and started up the avenue to the manor house.

She then took a path to the left which would lead her to the cottage.

She couldn’t wait to see it in real life.

Even though she knew it well, she hadn’t been to that part of the garden for many years.

Now, as time had passed, she had come to cherish the memories rather than trying to forget, and it was sweet to remember the happy times.

It made her feel good to think about them.

Tricia saw the roof of the cottage above the trees before she arrived there.

She walked faster, feeling a dart of nostalgia as she arrived at the front garden which had once had an herbaceous border full of flowers of all kinds.

Peonies, roses, marigolds, daisies and hydrangea bushes had provided a colourful display and Tricia had often come here to pick a bunch for the dining table in the summer.

But now the garden was overgrown and only a few roses and daisies remained, poking their heads through the tall weeds.

Her gaze drifted to the house itself which had been newly whitewashed and the thatch replaced with slate ten years ago, the estate agent had told her.

The window frames were cracked, however, and she could see broken panes here and there.

She knew the cottage had a kitchen–diner, a spacious living room and a bedroom and a box room downstairs. There was a further bedroom in the attic space with a window in the gable end of the house. The bathroom was in the lean-to and would have to be updated.

Tricia could imagine that the house would have been a lovely family home for the gardener and his wife in the early days.

The cottage was built in 1869 so there would have been many families living here, one after the other and the house and garden would have been teeming with children.

She had always had a feeling it was a happy house, and Fred had said the same when they’d come here to look at it just after Violet had been born.

It felt at the same time like yesterday and a very long time ago.

The memories came tumbling back as she stood there at the gate looking up at the cottage.