Cally walked away from the table she’d been sitting at and strolled between tables behind where Cassia still sat with her head bent to her phone. Looking for a sign to the toilet, she stopped by the bar and asked the attendant, who told her that the nearest toilets were out the side door of the marquee across the open grass area and to the far side. Looking in the direction he’d pointed and realising that the toilets were in the opposite direction to the way she wanted to go, but busting for a wee she decided to go anyway.
Peering upwards as she got to the side door, she frowned at the colour of the sky. The morning had dawned a clear, bright day with blue sky and sunshine. The forecast had mentioned a slight possibility of it clouding over, but it had done more than that and heavy black rain clouds looked as if they might drop their load at any time. Cally grimaced at the clouds, peered over to where she thought she could see a sign for the women’s toilets, and stepped out gingerly, trying not to let her heels sink into the grass. About halfway to the toilet, the sky above suddenly darkened further. The chatter around her faltered as people glanced upwards and started to move away from the fence.
A man with an American accent in front of Cally muttered as he peered at the ominous clouds rolling in. ‘Looks like we're in for a proper downpour. English weather. Gets me every single time.’
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the heavens opened. Huge, fat, heavy droplets of rain began to fall, quickly intensifying as Cally lifted her dress and looked up at the sky. The elegant crowd erupted into a flurry of activity, people scurrying for cover left, right, and centre. For a moment, Cally stood frozen, a bit shocked by the sudden deluge momentarily overriding her ability to move. The rain then started to pelt down. Her beautiful hat started to get wet and the lace overlay on the arms of her dress felt damp. She attempted to hustle over the grass, concerned that her hat would be ruined and that the elaborate updo that Alice had so painstakingly crafted would droop. She muttered and swore to herself, realised that the toilets were far too far away, and looked around frantically for shelter. Logan was nowhere to be seen and people were cramming themselves into every available covered space. The nearest marquee was already bursting at the seams, a sea of colourful hats and suits visible through the entrance. Cally started towards it but quickly realised she'd never squeeze in.
She spotted another small gazebo marquee off to the side, partially hidden behind a carefully manicured hedge. Without a second thought, she made a dash for it, her heels hampering her movements and her hat feeling as if it might slip off entirely. Reaching the gazebo, breathless and a bit wet, another woman was doing exactly the same thing just behind her. As Cally ducked under the marquee porch and let out a sigh, she turned around and her eyes widened in shock as she recognised the other refugee from the rain. Cassia Allegra Brommington stood right next to her, looking far less composed than she had earlier. Her own hat was askew, the delicate silk flowers now droopingsadly. The pale pink of her dress had darkened where the rain had soaked it, and her perfectly styled hair wasn’t looking quite as fabulous.
For a moment, the two women stared at each other, the comedy of the moment palpable over the sound of the rain hammering on the gazebo's roof. Cally felt her cheeks flush, mortified to be face-to-face with Logan's ex-wife.
‘Ghastly weather, isn't it?’ Cassia said, her voice as cultured and refined as it had been when Cally had been earwigging. Cassia nudged Cally’s elbow and peered behind Cally. ‘Can you shove back a bit?’
Cally nodded mutely, stepping fully into the gazebo. She stood as far from Cassia as the small space would allow, but with little more than a few inches between them, Cassia laughed. ‘What a nightmare! I'm Cassia.’
Cally swallowed. ‘Cally.’
‘I daresay this isn't quite how either of us expected to spend our afternoon at the races.’ Cassia said with a roll of her eyes. ‘Weather, eh? Best of British.’
Cally nodded, unsure of what else to say. Cassia, however, didn’t seem to notice and obviously had no clue whatsoever who Cally was. Why would she?
‘I feel rather like a drowned peacock.’
Cally glanced down at her own bedraggled state and chuckled. ‘Join the club. I look like I've gone for a swim in the Thames.’
As they stood there, Cally felt some of her earlier awe and intimidation ebb away. Cassia, for all her poise and beauty, was just as dishevelled as she was. There was something oddly comforting in that realisation.
‘Do you know how long it’s meant to rain for?’ Cally ventured, gesturing towards the rain still pelting down outside their shelter.
Cassia shook her head, reaching up to adjust her hat. ‘I'm afraid meteorology isn't one of my areas of expertise.’ She joked. ‘Though, given my luck today, I wouldn't be surprised if we're stuck here until next Tuesday.’
Cally raised an eyebrow. ‘Your luck?’
‘Luck isn’t one of my strong points.’ Cassia looked at Cally’s hat. ‘How’s your hat holding up?’
‘Fine, I think. My friend Alice spent ages on this updo. It seems to be doing okay, too.’ Cally said, touching the back of her hair.
‘Alice did a marvellous job,’ Cassia said, eyeing Cally's hair with approval. ‘It's holding up remarkably well, all things considered. My hairdresser would have a fit if he could see me now.’
Cally heard herself rambling. ‘Alice isn't actually a hairdresser. She works at the deli near my flat. She just happens to be good with hair. She used to do her sister’s hair for ballroom dancing competitions.’
‘How wonderfully versatile.’
The absurdity of the situation suddenly struck Cally. Here she was, trapped in a gazebo with Logan's ex-wife, discussing hairstyles as the rain poured down around them. Cassia appeared to have no idea who Cally was and definitely not that Cally had Googled the life out of her. It was like something out of a surreal comedy sketch. Or horror story.
Cassia looked down at Cally’s badge. ‘Oh, you’re in the same area as me.’
Cally panicked inside. ‘Ahh, right, yes.’
‘Who are you here with then?’
‘Oh, you know, just a few various people.’ Cally moved her head and looked up at the sky, peering out from under the shelter. She changed the subject as quick as a flash. ‘Looks like it’s easing off a bit.’
Cassia put her hand out. ‘Not really.’
Cally nodded. She needed to get away and fast. ‘I think I might make a dash for it.
‘Really? Rather you than me! Good luck.’
