Because of you, I was able to sleep every night. I didn’t have to worry about my daughter being alone in a foreign country.”
“I was happy to look out for her, be a big sister. Will you have the reception at Silver Lake?”
“Oh, yes, I’m sure of that. Cat wouldn’t want it anywhere else, she loves that place the way I do. And it’s the perfect setting for a wedding. Blanche is all excited, planning it already in her mind. The other evening she was talking about marquees and the menu and no doubt she’s got everything planned by now, from the flowers to the parking arrangements. Anyway, you’re going to come, and you’ll stay with me at the house.”
“How lovely, thank you. Oh gosh, Meredith, being in love is wonderful, and I’m thrilled for Cat, thrilled that she’s found the right man. I wish I could.”
“When you’re looking, there’s never one around.”
108 / Barbara Taylor Bradford
Meredith leaned her head against the back of the seat, closed her eyes. “And a man isn’t always the answer, you know.”
“Only too true!” Patsy peered ahead, cursing under her breath. The heavy rain was slashing against the windshield, so that everything looked blurred despite the wipers. “I hope this awful weather is going to let up soon. It’s just miserable.”
“Do you want me to drive?”
“No, no, I’m okay. And I know this road like the back of my hand. Don’t forget, it leads to the north of England.”
“Your favorite place.”
“One of them anyway,” Patsy said, smiling to herself.
Meredith fell silent, her thoughts taking over.
Patsy concentrated on her driving. There was a strong wind blowing, and she suspected it was bitterly cold outside; the road had recently grown slick, icy, suddenly slippery because of the freezing rain and sleet.
As she drove on, her eyes fixed ahead, she thought of Meredith and how she had gone to Silver Lake all those years ago, how her life had been transformed overnight. What an extraordinary story it was. She knew that Meredith had become indispensable to Amelia and very quickly; the two women had developed a symbiotic relationship. Meredith had once told her how Jack had come to rely on her as well, teaching her so much about the management of the hotel, teaching her everything
Her Own Rules / 109
he knew about business. Yes, Meredith had confided a great deal about her years with the Silvers, but not much else about herself. She never talked about her earlier life in Australia. In fact, everything before the Silver Lake years seemed to be clouded in mystery. It was as if there were another part of her life, a secret part that Meredith did not want anyone to know about.
Patsy had no inclination to pry, ask questions; that was not her way. She respected Meredith’s desire for privacy.
Meredith turned to her and said, “This may sound funny to you, but I have a feeling you prefer the inn in Ripon. Skell Garth is your favorite of the two, isn’t it?”
Taken aback, Patsy exclaimed, “Why do you say that? ”
“I just know. I’ve put two and two together from the few things you’ve said. Anyway, you love Yorkshire so much, it’s where you grew up.”
“As I’ve been telling you all along, I want you to be the judge, Meredith, I really do. I don’t want to influence you, set you up in advance.”
“What’s wrong with the one in the Lake District?”
“Nothing. You’ve seen the pictures.”
“Yes, and it does look gorgeous, and so do the gardens and the view. You’ve said it’s luxurious, beautifully done, and yet there’s a but in your mind; I know you.”
“Too many cushions,” Patsy muttered.
Meredith began to laugh. “I’ll never live that 110 / Barbara Taylor Bradford
down, will I?” she said, remembering a comment she had made about another inn they had considered six months earlier. “So what you’re saying really is that it’s overstuffed, overdecorated .”
“Sort of…lots of luxury and comfort, and I
“I was happy to look out for her, be a big sister. Will you have the reception at Silver Lake?”
“Oh, yes, I’m sure of that. Cat wouldn’t want it anywhere else, she loves that place the way I do. And it’s the perfect setting for a wedding. Blanche is all excited, planning it already in her mind. The other evening she was talking about marquees and the menu and no doubt she’s got everything planned by now, from the flowers to the parking arrangements. Anyway, you’re going to come, and you’ll stay with me at the house.”
“How lovely, thank you. Oh gosh, Meredith, being in love is wonderful, and I’m thrilled for Cat, thrilled that she’s found the right man. I wish I could.”
“When you’re looking, there’s never one around.”
108 / Barbara Taylor Bradford
Meredith leaned her head against the back of the seat, closed her eyes. “And a man isn’t always the answer, you know.”
“Only too true!” Patsy peered ahead, cursing under her breath. The heavy rain was slashing against the windshield, so that everything looked blurred despite the wipers. “I hope this awful weather is going to let up soon. It’s just miserable.”
“Do you want me to drive?”
“No, no, I’m okay. And I know this road like the back of my hand. Don’t forget, it leads to the north of England.”
“Your favorite place.”
“One of them anyway,” Patsy said, smiling to herself.
Meredith fell silent, her thoughts taking over.
Patsy concentrated on her driving. There was a strong wind blowing, and she suspected it was bitterly cold outside; the road had recently grown slick, icy, suddenly slippery because of the freezing rain and sleet.
As she drove on, her eyes fixed ahead, she thought of Meredith and how she had gone to Silver Lake all those years ago, how her life had been transformed overnight. What an extraordinary story it was. She knew that Meredith had become indispensable to Amelia and very quickly; the two women had developed a symbiotic relationship. Meredith had once told her how Jack had come to rely on her as well, teaching her so much about the management of the hotel, teaching her everything
Her Own Rules / 109
he knew about business. Yes, Meredith had confided a great deal about her years with the Silvers, but not much else about herself. She never talked about her earlier life in Australia. In fact, everything before the Silver Lake years seemed to be clouded in mystery. It was as if there were another part of her life, a secret part that Meredith did not want anyone to know about.
Patsy had no inclination to pry, ask questions; that was not her way. She respected Meredith’s desire for privacy.
Meredith turned to her and said, “This may sound funny to you, but I have a feeling you prefer the inn in Ripon. Skell Garth is your favorite of the two, isn’t it?”
Taken aback, Patsy exclaimed, “Why do you say that? ”
“I just know. I’ve put two and two together from the few things you’ve said. Anyway, you love Yorkshire so much, it’s where you grew up.”
“As I’ve been telling you all along, I want you to be the judge, Meredith, I really do. I don’t want to influence you, set you up in advance.”
“What’s wrong with the one in the Lake District?”
“Nothing. You’ve seen the pictures.”
“Yes, and it does look gorgeous, and so do the gardens and the view. You’ve said it’s luxurious, beautifully done, and yet there’s a but in your mind; I know you.”
“Too many cushions,” Patsy muttered.
Meredith began to laugh. “I’ll never live that 110 / Barbara Taylor Bradford
down, will I?” she said, remembering a comment she had made about another inn they had considered six months earlier. “So what you’re saying really is that it’s overstuffed, overdecorated .”
“Sort of…lots of luxury and comfort, and I
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