One Summer in Cornwall by Karen King (best books to read for success .TXT) 📕

Thankfully, Marcus persuaded Buddy back into the cage with another piece of toast.

‘You really do have a bond with him, don’t you?’ she said as Marcus closed the cage door.

He glanced over his shoulder at her. ‘I’ve known him years, remember. You’ll get there in time.’

Would she though? She loved cuddly animals, dogs and cats that sat on your lap and let you stroke them; she didn’t really know what to do with grumpy parrots who swore, sulked and pinched the food out of your hands. She was determined to keep persevering, though.

Marcus took his phone out of his pocket and dabbed at it with his finger, ‘Here’s my number if you want to send that photo over.’ He held the screen out so she could see the phone number on it. ‘Best to keep a note of it anyway, in case you’re ever worried about Buddy.’

‘Thanks,’ she keyed the number into her phone then selected the photo and sent it over to Marcus.

He immediately opened it and smiled. ‘You’ve really caught Buddy’s character well.’ He put the phone back in his pocket. ‘See you later at the hotel.’

And to Hattie’s surprise, she found she was looking forward to it.

It took her a while to decide what to wear. ‘You’re the photographer not a guest,’ she reminded herself, but even so, she wanted to look good – summery but smart. She wasn’t one for dresses and finally settled on a pair of white-and-red, floral-print fitted trousers, a red sweetheart-necked top and red flat pumps. Then she picked up her camera bag, double-checked the equipment inside: camera, folding tripod, flash unit, spare batteries and compact flash professional cards, plus a piece of plastic sheeting for the bride and groom to sit on, if the grass was wet. It had been a while since she had photographed a wedding, and she felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension as she set off up the hill.

Mandy smiled and waved as she walked in. ‘Go straight up, lovey. They’re expecting you.’

Hattie took the lift up to the Silver Room where Ellie was getting ready. She could hear laughter wafting out of the room as she walked along the corridor, and the door was opened before she had chance to knock, by a pretty dark-haired woman dressed in a wispy peach-satin bridesmaid’s dress that suited her smooth coffee-coloured skin perfectly.

‘You must be Hattie, the photographer? I’m Abiya.’ She opened the door to let her in. ‘And I’m Kate.’ Another woman with cropped fair hair and wearing an identical dress turned to smile. ‘We’re the bridesmaids.’

‘Hello, Hattie.’ Ellie looked at her through the dressing-table mirror where she was sitting applying lipstick. Her shoulder-length, chestnut-brown hair had been swept up into a loose chignon, with wavy tendrils hanging down each side of her face. She was already dressed in her wedding gown, an elegant off-the-shoulder white dress, from what Hattie could see of it. As Ellie leaned forward to apply another coat of lipstick, Hattie took hold of her camera.

‘Hi. Hold that pose!’ She clicked a couple of times, checked the shot, and smiled. ‘That’s a great start. Now, how about one of the two bridesmaids? Maybe one of you brushing the other one’s hair?’

‘I’ll brush Abiya’s hair, there’s not much of mine to do anything with.’ Kate grinned. She picked up the hairbrush and stood behind Abiya, smoothing it gently through her hair. Hattie clicked away. She took photos of the bouquets, of Ellie and the girls laughing together, and then one of Sue, standing in the doorway, looking so elegant in her powder-blue suit and matching hat.

‘Are we ready to go?’ she asked. ‘The registrars are here, and all guests are seated, waiting for you.’

She held out her arm for Ellie to slip her arm through, and they set off. Ellie and her bridesmaids looked so gorgeous and sophisticated, Hattie took several photos of them, wanting the bride and groom to have plenty to choose from.

It was a busy afternoon. The wedding ceremony was followed by photographs outside. Hattie set the tripod up in the hotel grounds and took a close-up of Ellie and Reece with their hands entwined, showing off their wedding rings; the obligatory kiss; and the happy couple in the pagoda with the sun glimmering on the Atlantic Ocean below them – very romantic – as well as photos of Sue, Reece’s parents and group shots of the guests. After the photos, there was a sit-down meal, and Hattie took some photos of the ‘top table’ and of the guests around the room.

Ellie and Reece came over to her when the meal was finished. ‘Thank you so much for filling in at such short notice. Please come and join us at the reception tonight. And this time, leave your camera behind. You’re invited as a guest.’

‘That’s really kind of you, thank you.’ She was tempted to refuse, as she felt a little out of place, but she didn’t want to hurt Ellie’s feelings, and also thought it might be a good bit of networking.

‘Any time after seven,’ Ellie told her.

That gave her time to check through the photos and freshen up. ‘I’ll look forward to it. See you later,’ she said.

She’d been hoping to see Marcus at some point in the afternoon, but hadn’t even caught a glimpse of him. She guessed he’d been too busy in the kitchen, cooking the delicious three-course meal they had all been served. She knew that there was a table buffet tonight, so no doubt he was preparing that too.

She wondered if he’d be at the reception that evening. Sue had stressed that they were all like one big family at Gwel Teg, and they’d invited Hattie to the reception, so would that invitation extend to any of the staff? She hoped so. She was warming to Marcus a little; behind that grumpy, disapproving exterior, she’d caught a couple of glimpses of someone she really would like