Right Number, Wrong Girl

“Goodness me,” the duchess said. “There are far too many people in this room for such a simple task. Hugo, Henry, please step aside and let your grandmother take a seat.”

Both young men did as she’d told them and took a standing position on the other side of the elegantly decorated room. Both of their eyes flickered to me and away again, and it took everything I had not to pay attention to either of them.

The dowager duchess sat down and looked over at me. “Well? The menu?”

“Perhaps you and Miss Hopkins can meet this afternoon to go over the menu,” the duchess said. “There are a couple of options for you to choose from.”

“Left it a bit late, Anna, haven’t you?”

The duke pinched the bridge of his nose. “All right. Anna, that’s a wonderful idea. Mother, why don’t you accompany me to the village? I have some things to pick up.”

The duchess looked up at him. “I can send someone to—”

“And we’ll get a spot of lunch,” he continued, looking at his mother. “Miss Hopkins, are you free to discuss the menu this afternoon?”

I blinked. “Oh, yes, that would be fine.”

“Perfect. Mother.” He offered the older woman his arm, and she winked at me as she got up.

She was a hoot.

I had a feeling I was going to like her.

Whatever she thought my name was.

“I do apologise for her,” the duchess said. “There are some creative differences.”

“It’s all right,” I replied. “It happens.”

Like I knew.

“Anyway, I did like the designs you sent for a cake, and design three is my chosen option.”

I quickly opened my notebook and wrote down cake – 3, before looking up again. “I’ll call the bakery this morning and let them know.”

Thank God I’d swotted up on everything for this party and knew the details better than I knew my own phone number.

“Excellent. Ask for Angela. Please do let Nancy know when the menu is decided so she can co-ordinate with the chef.” The duchess closed the book and looked over at me. “I think we should go with the roses for the flower display, and Rupert would be more than happy to co-ordinate on the wine list with you.”

Wine list.

Right.

I quickly marked down the flower choice and swallowed. “No problem. I should tell—”

“I presume a company will be coming in to decorate. Do you know when they will be arriving? Do they need to come to take measurements? I can ensure the ballroom is ready for them.”

Uh-oh.

Camilla had not given me that information.

“I will get that information tonight for you and let you know in the morning, if that’s all right.”

She made a noise that said it wasn’t all right. It wasn’t like she had a choice about it, though.

If I didn’t know, I didn’t know.

“Right.” She checked her watch and got to her feet, prompting me and Nancy to do the same. “I have a hair appointment ahead of my business trip, so I will leave you to it. Rupert, Nancy, please see to it that Miss Hopkins is assisted appropriately.”