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PENELOPES WEDDING

  How could the wedding of an ideal couple in a peaceful idyllic English village, cause so much trouble?

  Copyright © 2013

  Maurice Northmore is recognised as the sole author of this e-book titled, "Penelopes Wedding", and in accordance with the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may be resold, reproduced, copied, or distributed, in any form, or by any means, whatsoever.

  E-mail the Author: [email protected]

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  Read about the author. See other books he's written. View news items, and peruse writing tips. Select the following link. Maurice Northmore

  INDEX

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  CHAPTER 1

  Built during the sixteenth century, the majestic turreted stone clad fortress of the Montgomery's stately residence sits next to the River Dale. The river meanders its way gently passed the estate as it flows slowly towards the sixteenth century church and the ancient village of Sunny Dale, in the distance. It's springtime, and in the woods surrounding Montgomery Hall, bluebells are blooming and leaves have sprouted on the trees. Ducks and geese have returned to the lake after surviving a wet and windy winter. The estate had fallen into disrepair, until the latest Lord Montgomery took charge. Now it's a thriving business, having a wildlife, and nature centre, restaurant, coffee shop, and function facilities and currently, the ground staff are busy preparing the estate for the approaching summer season.

  From most rooms inside Montgomery Hall, there is a commanding view of the vast grassed, wooded estate, and its gardens. But there is no more splendid a view than from the study where there is a perfect panorama of the lake and gardens. This is where Lord Montgomery spends most of his time, checking his estate's business accounts, keeping a close watch on Rodney the gardener as he tends to the estate's roses, and generally trying to avoid the scrutinising glare and acid tongue of Lady Montgomery.

  At this very moment Lord Montgomery can relax, as Lady Montgomery, a rumbustious well built woman, who often wears her greying hair in a bun, is spending a good deal of her time in the kitchen. She has agreed that the local Women's Institute can hold their next function in the hall, and she is making sure that cook as the necessary food supplies for the dinner.

  Their daughter Penelope is sat in the sitting room and she also has an excellent view of the gardens. Presently, she is looking adoringly at the man of her dreams, the man she is soon to marry, Rodney Johnson, one of the estate's gardeners, who is busy making sure he carefully prunes the estate's award winning roses.

  Penelope is a trusting, needy sort, and can be a little gullible and naive at times, as her recent failed marriage to Troy and ensuing divorce shows. But she feels this time with Rodney it will be different. Her father frustrates her and she has never seen eye to eye with her mother. Her parents are from a different era, old fashioned, and together, they rule the roost around Montgomery Hall's vast cold space. So it's not surprising that Penelope feels trapped, and sees Rodney as her ticket to freedom.

  The Lord's full title is Lord Harold Benjamin Montgomery the Third, but to everyone in the village of Sunny Dale, he is simply known as "Monty", and sometimes, 'Mad Monty.' Lord Montgomery used to be a high-ranking officer in the British Army. He is a perceptive, patient, type, a stickler for planning, procedure, punctuality and perfection. The six "P's" he calls it. 'Everything has to be thoroughly thought out, and all options must be scrutinised', he is often heard to say. Now, instead of an army uniform, he looks, as you would expect a country gent to look. Underneath a peak cap, is a curly moustache, under that a tweed coat, under the coat, tweed trousers tucked into shin high tartan socks, and under his socks, he wears brown walking boots, and under his arm, when he's walking around the estate, a rifle is often propped.

  Rodney the gardener appears to be everything a woman could ever want in a man, tall, handsome, clean shaven, caring, helpful, charming, a good listener, friendly, witty, always immaculately dressed, but above all, exciting. Penelope thinks so, as she has agreed to marry him. So does Lady Montgomery. After all, no other gardener has taken the time to help her with her own personal pride and joy, her very own hidden garden.

  But Lord Montgomery is not so sure about Rodney. He has observed him closely since he arrived at the estate, and he has noticed that he shows an air of overconfidence, and his occasional off the cuff remarks have unnerved him. He suspects that underneath Rodney's friendly mask there lurks an ambitious person, with no regard for the opinions, feelings and safety of others, especially his daughter Penelope's. Lord Montgomery is worried Rodney is only with Penelope for the money, his money, which he has worked extremely hard to amass and even harder to hang on to.

  It's fair to say that Lord Montgomery has become paranoid about Rodney. He spends most of his time observing him closely, paying special attention to his behaviour and his obsession with his appearance, expensive sports car, and designer clothes. He knows Rodney doesn't earn enough at the estate to support his lavish lifestyle, even taking into account that he lives rent free in one of the estate's cottages.

  Lady Montgomery has since left the kitchen. She is now in the sewing room, busily writing invitation cards for the guests attending her daughter's wedding, and instructions for the reception seating arrangements at the village hall, pricing flowers for the church and writing instructions for Lord Montgomery, which simply says. 'Don't forget to book the village hall for the reception'.

  Lord Montgomery having heard Lady Montgomery's heavy footsteps as she pounded down the passage on her way to the sewing room, has since slunk out of his study, and made his way quietly outside through a side door. He is now patrolling the estate, cap on, rifle propped under his arm, whilst barking instructions at Rodney. "Be careful with those roses. I want them to be perfect for the village show in seven days time".

  CHAPTER 2

  Penelope frowns, her concentration and view of Rodney working in the garden, suddenly broken by the sight and sound of Lady Montgomery walking into the sitting room.

  "I've completed the guest list for your wedding. What do you think?" says Lady Montgomery, who passes the list to Penelope for her to check.

  Penelope quickly glances sideways, eyes the list, and passes it back to her mother. "That's fine mother".

  "I can change it if you wish. I know how you don't get along with some of my friends".

  "It's fine mother, really it is".

  "Okay, I will post the invitations tomorrow when I go to the market in the village. Have you thought about who you are having as bridesmaids"?

  "My best friend Debra will be my main bridesmaid, and I thought about little cousin Jennifer as my other bridesmaid".

  "Fine. Shall I tell them, or will you"?

  "I'll tell them mother".

  "Fine. I will be off then". With that statement, Lady Montgomery abruptly leaves the sitting room and returns to her sewing room to make arrangements for the wedding.

  Later that night, the air is calm but cold as Penelope and Rodney stroll towards the vicarage for a prearranged meeting with Father Richard Finley, the new vicar of Sunny Dale parish. When they arrive there, Rodney knocks on the vicarage door and waits.

  It's not long before the door opens and reveals Richard Finley's wife, Ma
ry, smiling pleasantly. "Come in please. Richard is waiting for you in the lounge". Mary's squat tubby body wobbles from side to side as she guides them down the passage and into the lounge. "Please take a seat. Would you like tea, or coffee perhaps"?

  "Coffee would be nice", replies Penelope.

  Richard Finley, close to retirement, and wearing nondescript light brown trousers, a brown chequered shirt, a green short sleeved jumper, and a traditional white collar, is already seated in a single brown leather armchair next to a roaring log fire.

  Rodney and Penelope sit opposite him in a two-seater brown material sofa. Rodney undoes the coat buttons of his best navy blue suit, and makes a move to loosen his crimson tie, until Penelope wearing a smart fawn two piece, frowns at him.

  "Now, what brings you out on such a cold night? It must be important," says the vicar.

  "It is important. We would like to get married," says Penelope.

  "In the church. We would like a church wedding", adds Rodney.

  Annoyed, Penelope looks sideways at Rodney, her lips pursed, her brow creased.

  "Right. Well, there's no problem for you Penelope. You have regularly attended church services. But I'm afraid, I haven't seen this gentleman before". Richard looks searchingly at Rodney.

  "This is Rodney", says Penelope. "He's worked as a gardener at mother and father's Montgomery estate for two and a bit years".

  "I see", says Richard. "I tell you what, Rodney, you can attend church services from this Sunday up to the wedding date, and we'll say no more about it. When is the wedding due to take place"?

  "Sunday, in two months and two days time," says Penelope.

  "Right. The first Sunday in May" replies Richard looking at Penelope who nods, and then checking his diary. "You're in luck. That Sunday is free". He pencils in the date.

  Penelope was never in any doubt that the day would be free, as she knows weddings don't occur very often in the small village of Sunny Dale. It would be strange if there was more than two or three weddings a year. Funerals, that's a different matter.

  Rodney frowns at the thought of attending church services, just as the door creaks and opens and into the lounge walks the vicar's wife Mary with a tray of coffee mugs and biscuits, which she places on a small table. "Please help yourself", she says, and retreats back into the kitchen.

  Thirty minutes later, Penelope and Rodney leave the vicarage and walk to the village pub. Rodney is still complaining about having to attend the church services.

  Penelope does her best to reassure him. "It's a small price to pay Rodney, and it will only be for two months". She smiles.

  CHAPTER 3

  After a tasty meal at the village pub, where the wedding hasn't been discussed any further; Rodney and Penelope leave and stroll up the lane their arms locked together, shadows from a full moon following them all the way to Montgomery Hall. When they reach Montgomery Hall, Rodney says "goodnight sweetheart", kisses Penelope, and then walks swiftly to his workers cottage on the edge of the estate. Meanwhile, his mind races forward two months and a bit, to a time when he won't have to go to regular church services and his future ambitions will be sealed.

  Bright silver rays from a full moon nestled amongst an array of glistening stars in a clear black sky, greet Penelope as she enters her bedroom. She walks over to the window, and with elbows propped on the windowsill, hands cupped under her chin, she peers admiringly at the tranquil scene that has painted the estate's landscape like she has never seen before. She sighs, stands erect, pulls the curtains closed, walks over to her bed, climbs in, shuts her eyes, smiles, and is very soon asleep and dreaming about her wedding day.

  Penelope is abruptly woken with a jolt early the next morning by the shrill rumbling sound of the telephone vibrating on the bedside cabinet next to her. She reaches her hand towards it, her eyes still half closed. She lifts the telephone and places it to her ear.

  It's her best friend Debra, an unpretentious looking, but educated level headed forty year old woman who works as an English teacher at the local Sunny Dale School. "I'm sorry to ring you so early Pen'. But I've heard something and I thought you ought to know as soon as possible".

  Penelope is wide-awake now and soon seated upright. Her eye sockets have managed to free themselves apart from the sleep matter that had glued them together. "What is it Debra"?

  Her best friend takes a deep breath and steels herself for the outburst she knows will soon follow. "I've heard your ex, Troy is coming to the wedding ceremony". She bites her lip, and grimaces.

  "What. Are you sure"? Penelope's brow is creased noticeably.

  "Positive. Heard it from a reliable source".

  Penelope thinks that the 'reliable source' can only mean someone very close to Troy. Her mind revolves at lightening speed searching for answers. "His mother. It has to be his mother who's told you." Penelope thinks she has guessed right by Debra's silence. Now the next question fires out of Penelope's mixed up mind and settles in a clearing of its own. "Why", is all she says?

  "Don't know. Do you want me to do some more searching and see what I can find out?" says Debra.

  Now it's Penelope's turn to be silent, as more questions and thoughts surface from her mixed up brain. How long is it been since I've heard from him? Must be ages. Then he has the nerve to do this. "You don't think he's coming to cause trouble, do you Debra"? Debra is about to answer. "That's it. He's coming to spoil my big day", says Penelope.

  "I'm sure he's not. Troy isn't like that. I've always liked Troy", says Debra.

  "You've never said you like him", replies Penelope, pensively, having gathered her composure now. "Why not"?

  "Well, you don't say something like that to your best friend, do you", says Debra.

  It's a statement, and Debra doesn't really need an answer, but Penelope answers all the same. "No, I suppose you don't. Look Deb'. I would appreciate if you could find out what you can about Troy's motive for coming to the wedding. I'll talk to you later".

  "Oh Pen', it wasn't Troy's mother who told me; bye now" says Debra. The line goes dead.

  Penelope replaces the telephone onto its base, her eyebrows raise and her mind focuses intently on Debra's last statement. I wonder who could have told her, she thinks?

  CHAPTER 4

  Bugged by who could have told Debra about Troy, Penelope hauls herself begrudgingly out of bed and walks to her bathroom. She looks in the mirror. She looks terrible. She throws water on her face and wipes it dry with a towel. She cleans her teeth vigorously, rinses her mouth and then walks back into the bedroom. She lifts a pair of black slacks and a purple jumper from the wardrobe, puts them on, goes to the kitchen, grabs some fruit and a glass of milk from the refrigerator, and carries her breakfast outside to a courtyard. The outside air is fresh and invigorating, the sort of air that clears the mind in an instant. She sits and starts eating. She can see her father staying well out of her mother's way as he watches the garage door open and her mother's Rolls Royce emerge from its space. Penelope hears the gravel squelch under the car's tyres, and the sound coming from its engine. She smells the fumes from its exhaust as her mother drives down the driveway, and through the estate entrance gate. At this point, the car turns and then travels down Sunny Dale Lane, heading towards the village.

  When the car reaches the village-square, Lady Montgomery applies the brakes, and parks the car in an empty spot. She walks to the post-box, and posts the wedding invitations that she had previously carefully written.

  Lord Montague, the family's brown smooth coated cat, had been keeping a close watch on proceedings from his regular safe hiding place under the shrubbery.

  Penelope frowns as she eats breakfast, the fact that Troy is coming to the wedding still uppermost in her thoughts. She hasn't spoken to anyone lately about Troy, and now her worst fears have materialised. She is going to have to talk to people about him. She wonders how Rodney will react to the news that Troy is coming to the wedding. She looks over towards the rose garden where Rodney
is working. And then it registers in her brain. "Oh my", she says out aloud, her eyes shooting wide open.

  Penelope jerks vertical, races back inside Montgomery Hall and makes straight for the telephone. She fumbles with the handset and awkwardly dials six numbers, and waits for an answer. The dial tone seems to be never ending. She frowns, paces the floor fidgeting with her ring as she walks. Finally, the dial tone stops. Her mouth feels dry. She clears her throat and mumbles into the mouthpiece.

  In the village of Sunny Dale sits Fig Tree Cottage, surrounded by a lovely cottage garden full of colourful flowers, and inside the quaint Fig Tree cottage, sits Debra, with the telephone handset pressed firmly against her left ear and for once, she is speechless.

  "What am I going to do Deb", says Penelope, her voice sounding distraught and shaky?

  The anxiety in Penelope's voice has not gone unnoticed and knows she needs to respond, but she also knows, when she does respond, she might upset her. "Why haven't you told Rodney about Troy? I'm sure Rodney will understand. He wouldn't be happy if he knew you got married harbouring secrets". Debra ponders for a while. "Would you like me to talk to Rodney about Troy"?

  Penelope's cheeks are flushed with a red tinge, but she steadies herself, clears her throat, and speaks slowly. "Thank you Deb', but it should be me who tells Rodney about Troy".

  "Well, you should tell him soon. It would be better to tell him earlier rather than later", says Debra, her eyebrows raised.

  "I will, I will talk to him, and thanks for listening, as always", says Penelope, slowly replacing the handset onto its cradle.

  Over the coming days and weeks, instead of concentrating on the important and necessary matters associated with her wedding day, all Penelope does is worry about Troy coming to the wedding. She still hasn't spoken to Rodney about Troy and the longer she puts it off, the more daunting her task seems, and the more her anxiety increases.

  CHAPTER 5

  As time passes, Penelope's needy, insecure, and naive nature fuels her doubts, which makes her even more anxious and stressed about the arrival of Troy, and confused as to why he is coming to the wedding, whether it's to cause trouble, or whether it's for some other reason. By now, the thought of talking to Rodney about Troy has started to shred her resolve into little pieces.