Page 90 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
EPILOGUE
Two Months Later
The planning permission for the lake had taken longer than they’d hoped, and opening at the beginning of June was looking unlikely. It was frustrating, but Archie and Nora were living in a bubble of bliss now that they’d embarked on planning to renovate the stable block, so to them it hardly mattered. Seb, however, who was hoping to have squared away the lake project before he had to start working full time on this summer’s Croftwood Festival, was a ball of anxiety.
‘We’re going to end up opening on the same weekend as the bloody festival at this rate,’ he said to Archie in the middle of May.
‘If it comes to that, we’ll have to manage without you,’ Archie said, pragmatically.
‘No. You won’t. No offence, Arch, but your mind’s not on the job anymore.’
It was a fair point. Archie and Nora, who was past the twelve-week point of her pregnancy and starting to feel better, had understandably been concentrating on getting the plans for renovating the stables finalised so that when the planning permission finally came through, they could start right away. Although they had continued to live between Nora’s cottage and the Court, Constance was increasingly vocal about the fact they were having a baby out of wedlock, and it was becoming difficult for them both. Archie felt guilty about spending more time at Nora’s and leaving his mother alone, but he’d had enough of hearing about how he was wiping away his family’s legacy. Abandoning the title.
‘Why don’t we open for an evening, have practice run?’ Archie suggested. ‘Everything’s ready to go, isn’t it? We can mock-up the opening using friends and family as guinea pigs.’
‘I suppose so,’ Seb said. ‘It makes sense to have a dry run. Iron out any kinks.’
Later that afternoon, Archie and Nora were sitting in the sunshine on the patio at the back of the cottage.
‘I think we should get married,’ Nora said.
‘Where has that come from?’ Archie asked. ‘I thought we’d decided on the civil partnership.’
‘I’ve been thinking about it and it’s not right for me to be the one deciding that our baby doesn’t inherit the title.’
Archie was surprised at how much it meant to him to hear Nora say that, but he needed to be certain it was what she wanted. ‘We could wait to find out whether the baby is a girl or a boy. If it’s a girl, there’s no need to get married. It won’t change anything.‘
‘Archie. You keep telling me that it doesn’t matter to you. But it does. And you’re willing to sacrifice all of that for me. But it’s not right to take that away from our child. Whether they’re a boy or a girl, they should be part of your family. Properly. And if it is a boy, inheriting the title isn’t going to mean the same thing for him as it did for you. It doesn’t have to be something that defines him or limits the kind of life he wants to have. Either way, they belong to your legacy. I want to get married.’
‘That’s wonderful,’ he said, with tears of happiness in his eyes. He slipped out of his chair and knelt at her feet. ‘I’ve always wanted to do this,’ he said, as she laughed at him in delight.
‘I don’t mind at all.’ Her eyes were full of tears as well.
‘Nora Hartford. I want to marry you more than anything in the world. Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife, my partner in life and love?’
‘Yes, Archie Harrington! Yes!’
They chose the summer solstice as the date for the dry run of the lake opening. Everyone was invited. In all, they were expecting around fifty people, which made Archie and Seb nervous, but it was important to know that they could deal with that many cars, that many people changing, swimming and warming-up afterwards.
‘Seb, the planners want a meeting with us in town this afternoon at one,’ Archie said, finding Seb in the Finnish barbecue hut putting the finishing touches to the grill.
‘Today? Christ.’ Seb ran his hands through his hair. ‘Fine. I’ll meet you at the estate office at half twelve.’
‘Can I meet you there? I’ll be in town already. I promised Mama a lift to Jess’s at noon.’
Archie was waiting outside the council offices ready to intercept Seb. He spotted him striding across the car park looking harried, and felt a little guilty.
‘Come on then. Let’s hope it’s good news,’ Seb said.
‘Actually, we’re not here for a meeting with the planning office. I’m getting married.’
‘What? Now?’
‘Yes, now. I was hoping you’d return the favour and be my best man.’
Seb was very rarely lost for words, and Archie couldn’t help but grin. ‘But… I’m wearing dirty jeans.’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
