I shrug. ‘Just curious.’
Alice watches me for a moment. ‘You’re wearing that dress to impress Archie, right?’
I turn around to look at Alice and place my hands on my hips. ‘I’m dressing to impress myself.’
I turn around again and catch Alice’s eye-roll in the mirror. ‘Whatevs, Ms Pankhurst.’
I ignore her jibe and sit down carefully at the dressing table, running my fingers through my hair. I’m thinking a loose plait to the side, with a diamante clip to keep the wispy bits off my face.
‘Emily? Is everything… okay?’
I move my hair to the side and start to plait it. ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’
‘You just seem a bit quiet.’
I turn to Alice and smile sweetly at her. ‘Are you saying I usually have a big gob?’
‘Who could ever accuse you of that?’ There’s a good dollop of sarcasm in Alice’s voice. ‘Seriously, though, is everything okay with you and Archie? He really is a great guy and I don’t want you to just dismiss him like you usually do. You two could be good together.’
‘Oh, Alice.’ I sigh as I twist around on my stool. ‘I don’t think Archie is half as charming as you think he is.’ I start to rub my fingers without meaning to. ‘In fact, I don’t think he’s very nice at all.’
‘Is this about your dinner date? Because Archie told me all about it: the crummy service, the bad wine, and the waiter washing his feet in the sink!’ She shakes her head. ‘You can hardly blame him for being peeved. Plus, he’s really stressed with work at the moment.’
‘It isn’t just that,’ I say, but Alice has already switched the hairdryer to its maximum setting, drowning out my voice.
Alice looks stunning in a red, floor-length dress overlaid with red lace and sequins that dance in the light. But, for perhaps the first time during our decade-long friendship, I don’t feel like the booby prize next to her. My confidence hasn’t dimmed since we left the safety of our room and the dressing-table mirror.
We’re eating in the great hall for the rehearsal dinner, and the room looks magical. The two seemingly endless tables running parallel along the length of the room are swathed in white tablecloths, and they sparkle with perfectly polished cutlery, crystal glasses, and the silver candelabra set out at intervals, their candles creating a soft glow around the vast room. Fairy lights have been strung from the ceiling, while more are wound around pillars and threaded tastefully through huge floral displays. The whole room looks like a fairy tale come to life in front of my eyes and I’m doubly glad I decided to buy this dress. I would have looked out of place in my usual clobber.
Carolyn and Piers greet us at the entrance, kissing both our cheeks in turn. Carolyn is wearing a simple wrap dress, but she looks elegant and the radiant smile on her face would make any outfit shine.
‘Look who’s here.’ She grabs Alice’s hand and steers her to the right, where Francelia and Roderick are standing. ‘Dad finally made it.’ If it had been me, I’d be pretty pissed off my father had arrived four days later than planned, but Carolyn tinkles out a laugh and beams up at him. ‘Just in time for the stag-night fun.’ She winks at her father before leading Alice and I towards the tables.
‘I thought Archie would be walking Carolyn down the aisle for real,’ Alice whispers. Carolyn is striding ahead, out of earshot.
‘Your dad didn’t look very apologetic.’ In fact, Roderick had merely smiled benignly at his daughter while appearing on the verge of yawning.
‘Dad never apologises for anything.’ Alice rolls her eyes before nudging me lightly and pointing out the huge projector screen set up at the far end of the room, showcasing a slideshow of photos of the happy couple. Currently, there’s a black and white shot of Piers feeding strawberries to a blissful-looking Carolyn. ‘That reminds me of you and Archie last night.’ Alice presses her lips together as I pull a face. I feel just as sick as I did while having numerous toasted marshmallows foisted upon me.
Carolyn, seeing us watching the slideshow, wanders back towards us. ‘This is just a little preview we put together. There’ll be loads more tomorrow for the actual reception, with video clips and everything. Francelia and I put it together and it’s taken us for ever to agree on the content, so I hope everybody enjoys it. Ah, here you are, Emily.’ Carolyn indicates my place setting, and it feels as though my stomach has dropped to the floor. I’ve been seated between Archie and Tom, while Alice is seated further down the table, among the bride and groom’s close relatives and the wedding party.
I sit down as gracefully as I can, trying to channel Audrey Hepburn, and resist the urge to fidget with my hair as I wait for the other guests to arrive. Carolyn seems to be in her element as she greets her guests, chatting and laughing with them, and although Piers looks as reserved as ever, he does keep touching Carolyn – a hand on her arm, an arm around her waist, even a kiss on her cheek at one point – and it’s warming to see. They are clearly two very different people, but perhaps this will work out and Carolyn will get the happily ever after she deserves.
My attention is taken away from Carolyn and her betrothed when I spot Archie in the doorway. He looks dashing in a dove-grey tuxedo, his eyes crinkly as he smiles in greeting at the happy couple, but my stomach churns as he saunters towards me. What do I say to him? What will he say to me?
‘Good evening, Emily.’ Archie smiles brightly at me. Has his smile always looked this sinister?
‘Hello.’ I tuck my hands under my thighs as he sits down next to me.
‘You look spectacular.’ I flinch as Archie reaches for a loose tendril of my hair. ‘Emily, sweetheart.’ He tuts and shakes his head. ‘I am so sorry about our misunderstanding earlier. It was unforgivable of me to talk to you in that manner. I’m ashamed.’ He places a hand on his chest. ‘Deeply ashamed.’
I don’t know what to say. Do I accept his apology but make it clear I don’t want anything more to do with him? Or will that make him angry? I don’t want to cause a scene, but I also don’t want to play nicely either. Luckily, we’re distracted by the arrival of Tom, who has certainly scrubbed up well for the occasion in a pair of fitted charcoal trousers teamed with matching waistcoat and tie. The sleeves of the shirt underneath have been rolled to just below his elbows, his tanned forearms displayed beautifully against the stark white. To say Tom looks gorgeous would be doing him a disservice.
He. Looks. Hawt.
I fear I may be drooling.
Too late, I realise Archie is watching me, his eyes narrowed as he observes me gawping at the gardener.
‘Hello again.’ Tom slips into his seat, which is ridiculously close to mine. His thigh is only a gnat’s bollock away from my own. I’d only have to shuffle over ever so slightly to touch him.
Which I won’t, obviously.
‘Hi.’ I’m aiming for a neutral tone, but it comes out squeaky and alarmingly Mickey Mouse-like. I clear my throat and try again. ‘Hi. It’s nice to see you again.’
I cringe inwardly – and perhaps outwardly too. Our conversation is so stilted. You’d never have guessed we kissed last night. Which is a good thing, I guess.
‘Hello, Tom Thumb.’ Archie leans across the back of my chair so he can pat his old friend on the back. ‘Good to see you, mate. We haven’t had much chance to catch up, have we? Alice says you have some rather exciting news to share?’
Tom rearranges the perfectly set out cutlery, his head shaking slowly. ‘Nope, nothing exciting to share on this front, I’m afraid.’
‘Oh, don’t be so coy!’ Archie chuckles. ‘I hear there are wedding bells on the horizon for you too. And the patter of tiny feet?’ He reaches across, making me scoot back as he invades my personal space. ‘Congratulations, mate! We’ll have a proper toast later, once our glasses have been filled.’
Tom doesn’t take Archie’s proffered hand. Instead, he offers a tight smile and gives another shake of his head. ‘There isn’t going to be a wedding.’
Archie snatches back his hand
and raises his eyebrows. ‘Oh?’
‘I’m afraid you’ve received some old news.’ Tom catches my eye. ‘There isn’t going to be a wedding, because Lydia broke off the engagement. Months ago.’
Chapter Thirty-Three
The chatter all around us seems to dim as my mind focuses on Tom’s words.
Tom isn’t engaged.
Lydia broke off the engagement.
Months ago.
‘You’re not getting married?’ My voice is raspy, barely even there, but Tom must hear as he shakes his head.
‘I’m single, very much so.’
He isn’t getting married! He’s single. Very much so. I can’t quite believe it!
‘Are you sure?’
Tom laughs, and the sound removes a massive weight that has been sitting on my chest since the kiss last night. ‘I’m absolutely sure.’
I cross my arms as something occurs to me. ‘But why did you tell me you were engaged?’
‘I didn’t.’
My brow lifts, because he most certainly did.
‘I told you Lydia bought that T-shirt when we got engaged. Which she did. I never said we were still engaged.’
‘But you never said you weren’t.’
Tom grimaces and massages the back of his neck. ‘Okay, I’m guilty of that.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me last night?’ My eyes slide briefly towards Archie. ‘When we were talking at the bonfire?’ And kissing, but I don’t mention that part, for obvious reasons.
‘I tried to, but…’ Tom’s eyes flick towards Archie, and I get it. Archie arrived and started shoving marshmallows in my face. And then this morning, when Tom and I were alone, I’d legged it.
‘There were loads of times you could have said something, though.’
‘I know.’ Tom is fiddling with the cutlery again. ‘But it’s not something I like to talk about.’
I can understand that, being prone to keeping stuff locked tight inside myself.
‘Maybe we could talk more later.’ Tom’s eyes dart towards Archie. ‘When we’ve got a bit more time.’ And privacy. ‘It looks like they’re about to start serving.’
The rehearsal dinner is agonising as I wait for my chance to talk to Tom, to find out everything and see where we go from here. Because there’s nothing standing in our way now. Obviously, I’ll have to come clean about Archie, but once that’s out of the way… I feel a little shiver of anticipation.
Our meal looks delicious as course after course is served, but I can’t stomach it. I’m too excited about what’s in store for Tom and me, plus I can’t help feeling a little apprehensive. This is new territory for me. I’m so used to fighting against relationships that I’ve never actively dived headfirst into one.
As well as the gourmet food, there are speeches aplenty. Both Carolyn and Piers get up to say thank you for their guests’ company and the wedding party’s contributions, followed by speeches from best man, Teddy, the fathers of the bride and groom, and some rather lengthy babbling from Francelia. But finally, the rehearsal dinner is over, and the guests are free to freshen up for the stag and hen nights that are taking place this evening.
‘Are you playing poker with the others?’ I ask Tom as guests start to file out of the great hall. The male guests will be gathering in the parlour to play poker – and no doubt work their way through the drinks cabinet – while the women will be enjoying pampering and cocktails by the poolside.
‘I am, but maybe we could talk first?’ He leans in towards me and lowers his voice. ‘Alone?’
I nod, but it proves difficult to shake Archie, as he seems to be glued to my side, his arm clamped territorially around my waist. I head upstairs to change for the pampering session, but he’s still attached to my side as we step into the room.
‘Aren’t you going to be late for the poker game?’ Tom is downstairs in the entrance hall, waiting for our chat, but he can’t wait there all night.
‘Nope.’ Archie flops down on my bed and stretches out. ‘There’s still plenty of time.’
‘I need to change.’
Archie winks at me, not budging from the bed. ‘I promise not to peek.’
Damn it! Not taking any chances, I grab my swimsuit and robe and take them into the bathroom, emerging in record time with the gown draped over my arm.
‘Right! Let’s go.’ Dumping the gown on the chair in front of the dressing table, I’m at the door in three long strides.
‘What’s the rush?’ Archie is still lounging on the bed and I want to roar with frustration.
‘We’ll be late.’ I grab my phone and check the time. We’re not late at all. Bugger. I shove the phone in my robe’s pocket and reach for the door. ‘I need to catch up with Alice too. I think she was helping Carolyn set up for the hen night.’
Archie sits up before rising slowly to his feet. His face is flushed and he loosens his tie, his eyes never leaving mine. ‘You think I’m stupid, don’t you, Emily?’ There’s a coldness to his eyes, and I’m reminded of this morning as he warned me not to play games with him. ‘You think I don’t know you’re planning to meet up with Tom for a cosy little chat.’ He barks out a laugh. ‘Like you were chatting last night? I saw you, Emily.’
The edge to Archie’s voice tells me it was the kiss Archie witnessed and not our discussion. My hand is on the door handle, ready to create my escape route.
‘Why are you messing with me? Is it funny? Have you been laughing about me behind my back? You and my old pal, Tom?’
‘No, of course not.’ I twist the handle and feel the catch give. ‘But I don’t think we’re very well suited, do you?’
Archie laughs, but there’s not a drop of amusement there. ‘I could have told you that days ago. Prevented you from wearing out those little brain cells.’ He yanks off his tie and bundles it into his pocket. ‘You’re not the only one who can play games, Emily. Pity it isn’t fun any more.’ I flinch as he takes a step towards me, but he laughs again before stalking from the room.
The pool room is set up like Wham!’s ‘Club Tropicana’, with low lighting, palm trees and pool inflatables bobbing on the water. There’s a cocktail bar between a couple of palm trees and pampering stations set up at intervals.
‘Welcome to paradise!’ Carolyn presses a glass into my hand as soon as I step into the room and pops a silk flower behind my ear. I have no idea what the cocktail contains; it’s a sickly pink and smells like Calpol. ‘Feel free to head to the bar for a top-up whenever you like, and there are beauty therapists ready to work their magic.’ She wiggles her fingers at me. ‘Manicures, pedicures, massages, facials… Relax as you help me celebrate my final night as a single lady.’ She grabs another cocktail from a nearby table and clinks it against mine.
‘Happy hen night.’ I try to smile, but my mind is on Archie and Tom, who has given up waiting for me in the entrance hall. I need some advice – or directions to the parlour. ‘Is Alice about?’
Carolyn shakes her head as she sips from her cocktail’s curly straw. ‘Nope, she left a few minutes ago to get changed. Speaking of which…’ She looks down at the strapless dress she wore for the rehearsal dinner. ‘I should probably do the same. Would you be able to look after things here while I nip to my room? I won’t be long, I promise.’ Before I can either agree or disagree, Carolyn has kissed me on the cheek, pressed her cocktail into my hand, and scuttled from the room. So, instead of going in search of Tom, it looks like I’m stuck by the poolside.
I’ve sunk a couple of the Calpol cocktails (and am well on my way to the bottom of a third) and had my toenails painted a navy blue to match the dress I’ll be wearing for the wedding tomorrow by the time Alice arrives. She heads straight for the bar before joining me on a sunlounger with a sigh.
‘You don’t look like a happy bunny.’ I wonder if Alice has had a chat with Archie. Will she take his side or mine?
‘I’ve just been speaking to Kevin.’ She sighs again. ‘I really wish he could be here tomorrow.’
> ‘He could be.’ I shrug. ‘If you really want him to be. Woodgate’s only an hour or so away.’
Alice drops her face into her hands and rubs at her eyes. ‘It isn’t as simple as that, and you know it.’
‘What I know is, you love Kevin and he loves you. I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to shout that out to the world.’
Alice lifts her head and grins at me. ‘Look at you, getting all soppy. It must be Archie’s influence.’
‘It really, really isn’t.’ I cringe, knowing Alice isn’t going to like what I’m about to say. ‘I don’t like Archie. Not one bit. Not as someone to date or a person in general.’
Alice frowns. ‘But Archie is perfect for you.’
I shake my head. ‘He isn’t perfect. Far from it.’ My hands are on my lap, my thumb running over the fingers of the other hand. ‘He was horrible to me earlier, and this morning too. I felt threatened.’
‘Threatened?’ Alice snorts. ‘By Archie? But he wouldn’t hurt a fly.’
‘I think he would, Alice.’ My voice is firm, but still Alice shakes her head.
‘You’re doing it again, Emily. Finding excuses.’
‘I’m really not,’ I say, but Alice isn’t finished. She puts a hand up to cut me off.
‘Edward loved you. That should have been your happily ever after, but you had to screw it up. You had to push him away, just like you push everyone else away. That’s why you’re finding fault with Archie, so you can push him away and keep yourself safe. You’re too afraid to let yourself fall in love. But honey…’ She cups my chin gently in her hand. ‘You’ll never find true happiness if you don’t take a risk with your heart.’
‘And you’ll never find true happiness if you keep treating Kevin as your dirty secret. You’ll lose him.’ Alice’s mouth drops open, and I feel bad for saying it, but it’s true. Alice wants the best for me, but I want the best for her too.
‘That may be true.’ Alice swallows hard. ‘But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re making a mistake by pushing Archie away. You could have something really special, if you’d only let yourself.’
The Wedding that Changed Everything Page 24
