He might not like the idea of a celebrity wedding disturbing the wildlife, but as a successful businessman he had to realise how much he had to gain from the publicity.
So that would be chilli…
‘I’m sure you would like to let them know you’ve arrived safely,’ David urged, doing his best to make up for his lack of help over the cuckoo sitting in her bridal nest. ‘My computer is at your disposal.’
‘Yes. Thank you.’
‘If I could just ask you not to mention the facility to any of the wedding guests? If word gets out, neither of us will be able to move for people wanting to “just check their email”. People think they want to get away from it all, but…’ He shrugged.
‘Point taken,’ she said. ‘And I’ll try not to get under your feet more than I have to. In fact, if you could point me in the direction of a socket where I could recharge my net book I’ll be able to do some work in my room.’ Then, as he took it from her, ‘What do you do when the sun isn’t shining? You do have some kind of backup?’ she asked, suddenly envisaging a whole new crop of problems. ‘For fridges, freezers?’
‘We use gas for those.’
‘Sorry?’
‘It’s old technology. Gideon considered using paraffin but gas meets all our needs.’
‘So do you use gas for cooking too?’
‘In the kitchen. We also have traditional wood-fired stoves in the compound which we use for bread and roasts.’
‘Fascinating. Well, I’ll try not to be too much of a burden on your system, but I would like to check my email for any updates from Celebrity. The guest list seems to change on the hour.’ She might get lucky and discover someone had cancelled. ‘And I need to telephone my office to warn them that I don’t have a signal here.’
‘Please, help yourself,’ David replied, leaving her to it. ‘I’ll be outside when you’re ready to be shown around.’
CHAPTER FIVE
From the original and chic to quirky and fun, add a highly individual touch to your reception. Use your imagination and follow the theme of the wedding for your inspiration…
—The Perfect Wedding by Serafina
March
JOSIE downloaded the latest changes to the guest list from Marji onto a memory stick and sent it to print while she called her office.
‘No mobile signal? Ohmigod, how will the celebs survive?’ Emma giggled. ‘Better watch out for texting withdrawal symptoms—the twitching fingers, that desperate blank stare of the message deprived—and be ready to provide counselling.’
‘Very funny. Just get in touch with Marji and warn her that there are no power points in the rooms, will you. The hairdresser and guests will need to bring battery or gas operated dryers and straighteners.’
While she had the phone in her hand, she double-checked delivery details with the florists, caterers, confectioners. That left Cara, Gideon’s PA, and she dialled the number with crossed fingers. With luck, the answer would be sufficiently compelling to get him on her side…
‘Cara March…’
March? As in Serafina…
‘Miss March, Josie Fowler. Gideon McGrath asked me to call you.’
‘Gideon? Oh, poor guy. How is he?’
In pain. Irritable. About to fire your sorry ass…
‘Concerned. He wants to know—and I’m quoting here—what the hell is going on in Marketing.’
‘Marketing?’
‘I get the feeling that he’s not entirely happy about having the Tal Newman wedding at Leopard Tree Lodge.’
‘Oh, good grief, is that this week?’ she squeaked.
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘Damn! And bother Gideon for taking a sentimental side trip down memory lane this week. If he’d just stuck to his schedule, gone straight to Patagonia as he was supposed to, he’d never have known about it.’
Sentimental? Gideon?
‘You don’t think he would have noticed six weeks of articles in Celebrity?’ Josie enquired, wondering why his staff had conspired to keep this from him.
‘Oh, please. Can you imagine Gideon reading Celebrity? Besides, he’s far too busy hunting down the next challenge to notice things like that. He never changes his schedule, takes a day off…’
‘No?’
‘Look, tell him it’s nothing to do with Marketing, will you. Aunt Serafina called in at the office to drop something off for my mother absolutely yonks ago. She asked me for a brochure and, like an idiot, I gave her one. I had no idea she was looking for somewhere unusual, somewhere off the beaten track for the Newman wedding. And I’m here to testify that she doesn’t understand the word “no”.’
‘Oh.’
‘You’re the woman who Celebrity sent in my aunt’s place, aren’t you?’ she asked.
‘Yes. How is she?’
‘Spitting pips, to be honest, but that’s not your fault. She can be a little overwhelming if you’re not used to her.’
‘So I’ve heard. Her design is amazing, though. Tell her I’ll do my best to deliver.’
‘Actually, I won’t, if you don’t mind. Just the sound of your name is likely to send her off on one. But you can tell Gideon that I’m entirely to blame and he can fire me the minute he gets back if it will make him feel any better.’
‘He won’t, will he?’
Anyone with Serafina March for an aunt deserved all the sympathy they could get.
‘Probably not. Josie…about Gideon. Since he’s there, see if you can persuade him to stay for a while. We’ve all been concerned about him. He really does need a break.’
‘You just wish he’d chosen somewhere else.’
‘I have the feeling that Leopard Tree Lodge might have chosen him,’ she said.
Terrific. Now she was involved in the conspiracy to keep him here. She picked up the printout of the latest guest list, praying for an outbreak of something contagious amongst the guests.
‘All sorted?’ David asked as she joined him in the lounge.
‘Not exactly,’ she said, skimming through Marji’s updates. No one had cried off. On the contrary. ‘We’re going to have to find another room.’
‘How’s it going?’
Gideon McGrath, cool and relaxed as he lay in the shade, removed his sunglasses as Francis set down the lunch tray beside him, giving Josie the kind of glance that made her feel even more hot and frazzled than she already was.
‘How’s your back?’ she shot right back at him. She was in no mood to take prisoners.
‘It’s early days.’ Then, once Francis had gone, ‘The coffee helped, though.’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ she replied, helping herself to a glass of water from a Thermos jug. ‘And what’s on that tray had better finish the job.’
‘You’re just teasing me with false hope.’
‘It’s chilli,’ she said, in no mood for teasing him or anyone else. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you own this place?’
‘Does