Last-Minute Bridesmaid (8 page)

‘Charles proposed before? Oh, how romantic. I have to know—why did you turn him down? Cold feet?’

Alice smiled and shook her head. ‘
Cold son.
Charles tried to reconnect with Heath so many times over the years and I didn’t want to come between them, even if it meant being apart. Did Heath mention that we’re having a dinner party after the wedding rehearsal this afternoon? I do hope that it will help to break down any awkwardness.’

Kate finished off a mouthful of the most delicious chocolate cake before taking a sip of tea and shaking her head. ‘Not a word. You see, this is what happens when you leave boys in charge. They don’t pass on the essential details. As for the proposal? Crying for an hour is nothing. I would cry for a week! It sounds very romantic.’

Alice grinned and loaded up her plate with another slice of cake. ‘You’re very sweet. Charles says the same thing, but after the past few weeks? I can see now why other people pay wedding planners.’ She licked the icing from her cake fork. ‘I thought it would be simple to hold it here with just a few family members and friends to help celebrate, but I had no idea how complicated the whole thing could be.’

‘Complicated?’
Kate repeated and shuffled forward to top up the teacups.

Alice hummed slightly and popped a large piece of cake into her mouth.

Kate took the hint. ‘Ah. Heath. I know, but he does care. Amber adores him, and I’ve known him for years. It just takes a while for him to get used to things. Everything will be fine, and I’m sure that he’ll give you a marvellous welcome into the Sheridan family.’

Alice put down her cup and smiled at Kate, then brought her knees up and curled up on the sofa. ‘Heath hates me,’ she whispered, and gave a small shoulder shrug when Kate tried to deny it.

‘There’s a lot of history which he hasn’t told you about. You see, Heath’s mother, Lee, was a very good friend of mine. We were at high school together and then at art college in London. Lee was lovely,’ Alice said with a really warm smile, ‘and I couldn’t want for a better friend. We made the effort and stayed in touch over the years. I used to go to Boston several times a year teaching art classes, and Lee used to come to London for girlie weekends. It was great and we had the best fun.’

The smile faded. ‘It broke my heart when she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. We had so little time together at the end, so I put my life on hold and moved to Boston for a few weeks. Does that sound crazy to you?’

Kate reached out and took Alice’s hand in hers. ‘Not in the slightest. I have two wonderful friends, Amber and Saskia. I would do anything for them. Anything. I understand completely. I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m sure that she was grateful that you were there but it must have been horrific. That was so brave of you.’

Alice brushed a finger under her eye. ‘I wanted to be there for Lee, but for Charles and Heath too. Those last few weeks were an emotional turmoil for all of us and I was alone in the city and Charles was there and grieving and, well, when she died we comforted each other in the only way we knew.’

Her tongue moistened her lower lip and Alice reached out to the teacup in the silence that followed, but her hand was shaking too much to pick it up.

‘I’m not proud of what happened. But it was totally right at the time. I had fallen in love with Charles Sheridan and I knew that he loved me, but the timing?’ She rolled her eyes towards Kate and smiled. ‘The timing stank. Don’t misunderstand, Kate, we both knew that these things happen in times of crisis and trauma. People need comfort and support and sometimes words are not enough.’ She looked down at her hands. ‘We both agreed to step away and work out if these feelings were real or temporary before starting a long-term relationship so soon after Charles had lost his wife, who had been my friend. Our love didn’t make me feel less guilty, and I know Charles felt that he was almost betraying her memory, but it was so hard to stay apart.’

‘That must have been terrible for both of you,’ Kate replied in a low voice, which was almost a whisper. ‘Such conflicting emotions.’

Alice looked up at Kate and took her hand. ‘It was terrible for all three of us. That’s why I’m telling you all of this when we have only just met. Heath found us kissing one afternoon when he came home early from university.’ She closed her eyes. ‘I thought things were difficult, but then it became impossible. Heath was traumatised and he has never forgiven his father, or me, for betraying his mother’s memory.’

Kate blew out long and hard. ‘Alice, that was years ago. He’s a grown man now.’

‘It doesn’t make any difference. Some things don’t go away and nothing we do seems to help the situation.’

She pursed her lips. ‘First of all Charles invited him to come in and help with the company, father and son, turning around the business side by side. And then I thought that asking Heath to be the best man would help him come to terms with the fact that I am in his father’s life, which means I’m in his life too. Neither of those things has worked out so well. Frankly, Kate, I don’t know what else to do to bring them closer together and make a family again.’

A single tear ran down Alice’s cheek and Kate immediately shuffled over and put her arm around the shoulder of this woman who she had only just met.

Alice shook her head. ‘You see what he does to me? I blurt out my whole life story when I’m sure that you would much rather be enjoying yourself back in London. I am so sorry.’

Kate turned around and faced Alice, passed her a tissue and smiled up at her.

‘Don’t be. Heath doesn’t hate you. The only reason that I’m here today, at this minute, but talking to you and making a new friend, is because Heath was worried that your wedding to his father would not be perfect unless you had four bridesmaids. Not three. Four. He cares about you and his father and the business. That’s why he wanted to help with the organisation. But he doesn’t know how to tell you how much he cares. So he brought me along in place of Olivia because he didn’t want you to worry. And I am very glad to be here.’

Alice gave a thin but warm smile, reached around and hugged Kate. And it was the warmest and most loving hug that Kate had enjoyed in a long time.

‘Me too,’ she said and blinked several times.

‘Now, that’s much better.’ Kate grinned. ‘Because you seem to be forgetting one very important thing. You—’ and she pointed at Alice ‘—are the star of the show and we all have to bow and scrape before your goddess-ship. Okay? Okay. You leave Heath to me and focus on having the best weekend of your life. You are getting married to the man you love and who loves you back. Isn’t that fantastic?’

‘Do you know what? It is fantastic! And I
am
going to have the best weekend of my life.’

‘Absolutely, and now we have that out of the way, may I see your engagement ring?’

Alice hesitated then stretched out her left hand to Kate, who grasped her fingers and almost choked on her cake when she took a look at the enormous heart-shaped diamond set in white gold.

‘Wow,’ she said breathlessly. ‘That. Is some rock. That man is giving you some serious love here.’

Alice blushed and gave a small giggle, which reminded Kate so much of Saskia as she looked up and smiled at this woman who was still capable of being turned into a girl by a piece of jewellery. Alice pulled back her hand and bashfully replied, ‘You might well be right. And I’m so embarrassed.’

‘Why? Love can hit you any time of your life, there’s no need to be ashamed of that.’

‘Didn’t you notice?’ Alice said. ‘My fingernails have been chewed to the quick over these past two weeks, building up to the wedding. I don’t want Charles to be ashamed of me in front of all his important guests and at the social functions we’re going to be attending. What do you think of acrylic nails? I’ve never used them before but it might be the right time to try.’

Kate shook her head very slowly from side to side. ‘Don’t go there,’ she said. ‘Trust me.’ And then she smiled. ‘You look lovely, Alice, and the last thing Charles will be thinking about tomorrow are your nails. He’ll just want you to be happy. Right?’

‘Yes, of course. How foolish of me. I just want to make it perfect for him. Charles is taking a terrible risk marrying me and I want to be the best I can.’

‘Now, that I understand perfectly.’ Kate paused and looked down at Alice’s hands. ‘You take about a size seven and five-eighths in gloves, don’t you?’

Alice blinked. ‘Yes, I have big hands and feet.’ Then she looked at Kate in confusion. ‘Does that matter?’

‘It matters to the gloves.’ Then Kate shuffled forward. ‘You need gloves, girl. Classy, elegant and formal or informal as you want, but you need gloves until your nails have grown back the way you want them.’

‘That is a fantastic idea.’ Alice blinked. ‘I don’t know why I didn’t think of that earlier. Of course, you are right. I love gloves.’ And then she slumped. ‘But where am I going to find gloves to fit my enormous paws in the next few hours?’

Kate grinned. ‘You happen to be looking at the sole proprietor of Lovat Gloves of London. We specialise in making boutique gloves for private clients. I think I might be able to fit you in at short notice. What do you say? Lacy bracelet length? Or silk satin elbow? No, don’t answer. I’ll bring the lot.’

‘Why, Katherine Lovat—’ Alice smiled and lifted her teacup in a toast ‘—here’s to you. You are certainly full of surprises. I shall expect you to dance at my wedding.’

Kate clinked her teacup very gently for fear of breaking the delicate porcelain. ‘Alice, I fully intend to.’

* * *

Ten minutes later Kate stepped out of the front entrance and stood blinking in the warm July sunshine. She had only got lost twice this time. Heath had not gone back to the library and she scanned the grounds to see if she could track him down.

And immediately spotted him. Only this time he was not alone.

Heath was standing with a look on his face which matched the stone blocks in the old arbour, next to a tall man who looked so much like him that it was impossible to mistake. This had to be his father. And Lord, there must be a lot of tall genes in that bloodline because Charles Sheridan had to be at least six feet two inches in his shiny black lace-up shoes.

And Kate’s heart sank. Every part of Heath’s body was pointing forward, or to the side. Any direction away from his own dad. His gaze was locked onto his tablet computer and, as she watched, he passed it across to the older man, who was standing only inches away, their shoulders almost touching.

In silence.

Their jackets might almost be touching but the icy hostility was all there to see.

Not just the fact that they both thought it appropriate to wear suits with shirts and ties on what was forecast to be a warm, sunny July day. She could understand formality and their personal standards when it came to how to dress—she knew all about that.

No. It was because watching Heath and his father reminded her so much of the frosty relationship that she had with her father and mother that the sharp pain of unwelcome tears of regret and disappointment pricked the corners of her eyes.

She had tried so hard, time and time again, to help her parents to understand her passion for gloves and what they called the silly outfits that she made. Fashion shows, award ceremonies, even weddings. And it had all been in vain. They wouldn’t change their minds.

It was almost as if she was watching her own failed relationship acted out in front of her on this sun-kissed lawn.

Neither of them willing to give way or compromise. Both of them stubborn and determined to win the argument—any argument.

Oh, Heath! You were supposed to be working with your dad to celebrate his wedding—not battling with him.

But he might need a little nudge from her to help him along the way.

Yes. She had promised Alice that this was going to be the best weekend of her life and Heath was not the only one around here who kept their promises.

She might have failed to win over her parents—but she could do something to help Heath.

Kate stepped back inside the hallway for a few seconds, desperately trying to think through some kind of plan, when a girl wearing a T-shirt with the name of a famous London catering company dodged past her carrying a stack of tablecloths. It was the same company that Saskia had used a couple of times. Maybe the chef was making a splendid cake that Heath could carry in on a silver tray?

And drop it on his father’s head.

She whirled around and followed the girl through a set of highly decorated and clearly original wooden doors into the most stunning dining room.

Sunlight beamed in through a row of mullioned windows with small squares of glass, created in a time when glass was a luxury and hard to make. Larger panes had been painted with the coat of arms of the Jardine family. Glorious swirls and mythical creatures danced on a shield with proud swords and what looked like falcons.

The Jardines had certainly been flamboyant.

Unlike this room.
Plain oak-timbered walls below a ceiling braced with heavy wooden beams broken only by the occasional carved boss. Polished oak floors and large sturdy tables and chairs.

No colour apart from a lot of brown.

Oh, dear. Not exactly a fun venue for a wedding rehearsal party.

Unless, of course, someone did something to change that.

It only took Kate a few minutes to confirm with the catering team that yes, this
was
where the rehearsal dinner party was going to be held, and no, as far as they knew, the only decorations were plain white table linens and some silver candelabras belonging to the house.

Kate strolled back into the hall and flipped open her cellphone. A plan was starting to form inside her brain and she had to rein it in before it ran away with her.

‘Saskia, it’s me. I’m here. And yes, it does look like something out of a Tudor history book. But that’s not why I’m ringing. Do you remember all of those party decorations we got together for Amber’s birthday in May? Yes? Do you still have them? You do? Excellent. Because I need to borrow everything you’ve got in time for a party this evening. Balloons too. Yes, I know it’s cutting it fine.’