Page 88 of Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
“Thanks, but I’ve got somewhere to be. You enjoy yourselves, and I’ll see you later up at the school.”
Nory left it as long as she could before she knocked on Charles and Jenna’s bedroom door. Pippa opened it and arched an eyebrow. Jenna was sitting cross-legged on a four-poster that made the one in Nory’s room look like a child’s bed. She had the most enormous rollers Nory had ever seen in her hair and was verbally losing her shit down the phone to someone, who didn’t appear to be answering back. Charles was standing next to the en suite, looking nervous.
“Welcome to the bridezilla suite,” Pippa drawled serenely, as though she were not in charge of organizing an entire wedding and managing a medium-freaked Jenna. “I have to go downstairs and tell some people what to do. Don’t mention Juliet Finnegan.”
Nory was confused. “The one who plays the barmaid inDays and Nights?”
Pippa nodded infinitesimally and widened her eyes in a way that warnedKeep your voice down!
Nory brought it down to a whisper. “Why would I be likely to mention her name?”
“Don’t you read the gossip columns?”
Nory shrugged.
“Juliet Finnegan just announced her engagement!”
“So?”
“The day before Jenna’s wedding! Talk about thunder stealing. The bride-to-be is not taking it well.”
Nory was suddenly barged out of the way by a woman swinging a Gucci handbag, who strode into the room wearing stilettos so skinny they left dents in the carpet.
“This is a clear act of aggression on Juliet’s part, darling,” she snapped. “I’ve created merry hell with her agent. She’s gotPrimaandHeatcovering, but we’ve still gotGrazia,Cosmo, andWoman and Home. IsOK!here yet?”
“That’s Prue, Jenna’s publicist,” Pippa said quietly into Nory’s ear.
Nory was barged for the second time in as many seconds by Elsa, theOK!rep, who materialized seemingly from nowhere, looking chic in a Chanel poncho, followed by a nervous waiter carrying a tray of coffees.
“Here!” said Elsa triumphantly.
“Thank god!” cried Prue, and the two women exchanged air-kisses before perching themselves on either side of Jenna’s bed like two stone lion gate guardians.
“Right,” said Pippa, seeing her opportunity, “I’m off.” She slipped past Nory into the hall. “See you at the school tour, if I get time.”
Charles was hot on Pip’s heels. “Too much estrogen in here for me.” He grimaced on his way past Nory.
Jenna finished with whoever it was she was roasting over the phone and allowed herself to be enthusiastically consoled by Elsa and Prue. Nory, who had been hovering while the trembling waiter took orders for egg white omelets and smoked salmon, stepped forward as he left.
“Ahem, Jenna?”
Elsa’s and Prue’s heads swiveled toward Nory and regarded her like two tawny owls eyeing up a mouse.
“This probably isn’t a great time, but I said I’d tell you, although it’s nothing to worry about and it’s all in hand.”
“Nory, what are you talking about?” Jenna asked, perplexed.
“It’s about the salad...”
“The what?” asked Jenna. Her head was cocked to one side, her expression asking,Why are you bothering me?
Nory’s palms felt clammy. She could feel disapproving glarescoming from Elsa and Prue. “The wedding salad, the salad for the starter.”
“Nory, why are you talking to me about salad leaves?”
“Well, the thing is, a deer ate them. But it’s all okay; Isaac has managed to source enough locally for it not to be a problem. He just wanted to let you know because you’d asked for homegrown and it won’t be homegrown, but it will be up-the-road-grown, which is equally as good. So, you don’t need to worry, it’s all good, the problem has been nipped in the proverbial bud.” Nory smiled widely to illustrate that there was no cause for alarm.
Jenna blinked slowly like a cat. “A deer.”
