Page 111 of The Fiancée Farce
Tansy (9:20 a.m.):It’s no big. I saw that you’d forgotten to set the timer last night, so I started it before I headed down.
Gemma (9:22 a.m.):Ergo, sweet. You thought of me.
Tansy (9:24 a.m.):I’m always thinking about you.
***
The ballroom of the Rainier Club had been decorated opulently yet tastefully for their rehearsal dinner—all gleaming chandeliers and champagne fountains that complemented the dark wood floors and moody tapestries.
Given their timeline, abbreviated as it was, it had made the most sense to choose a venue willing to accommodate their needs on rather short notice. The Van Dalens were longstanding members at the Rainier Club, frequenting the club since its inception. All it had taken was Olivia, their wedding planner, making a quick call, andpresto, they had a venue.
Gemma spotted Tansy across the room and made a beeline in her direction. She held out a champagne flute garnished with a glitter-encrusted sprig of rosemary. “Gensy?”
Tansy wrinkled her nose in that adorable way of hers. “Gesundheit?”
“No.” Gemma laughed. “It’s our drink, because apparentlythat’sa thing. A portmanteau of our names.”
“Let me guess.” Tansy’s lips twisted wryly. “Katherine?”
“Katherine.” Gemma nodded. “And to think, Van Adams wasrightthere.”
“I don’t know. Van Adams sounds weirdly presidential, don’t you think?” Tansy held the lavender-colored drink up to the light. “Do I even want to know what’s in this?”
“St-Germain, Empress gin, brut champagne, honey, and lemon.” Gemma sipped from her own flute. Not bad at all. “Mm.Normally I think gin drinks taste a little like I’d imagine going down on a Christmas tree would taste, butwow, we are delicious.”
Tansy took a sip and coughed, eyes watering. “And strong.Reallystrong.”
A waiter wearing tails and white gloves appeared on their left, flourishing a tray. “Canapé?”
Gemma studied the tray. “Are those deviled eggs?”
“Made with crème fraîche and topped with kaluga caviar and chives. Very delicious. And these”—he pointed to the other side of the tray—“are a wreath of braised escargot atop a bed of frisée salad with sweet onion and garlic cream.”
Gemma could hardly think of anything less appealing. Tansy gave a quick shake of her head.
Gemma smiled at the waiter. “We’re going to pass. Thanks.” As soon as the waiter was out of earshot, Gemma gagged. “That sounds uniquely horrifying.”
“That’s Katherine for you.” Tansy cringed. “Oh, that was mean.”
Gemma bumped her with a hip. “If you can’t be honest with your wife-to-be, who can you be honest with?”
Despite all of the, uh,fanfare, the wedding rehearsal and dinner had gone off without a hitch. Olivia had patiently walked them through the ceremony, telling them their cues and reminding them of exactly where to stand, and now all that was left was to get through the rest of this cocktail party unscathed. Tomorrow, just before noon, they would exchange their vows in front of their families and closest friends... all two hundred of them.
Small and intimate, her ass.
A flash of honey blond hair caught her eye. Gemma froze with her champagne flute halfway to her mouth, squinting. The crowd shifted, bodies obscuring her line of sight. No, she was seeing things.
“Then, to be honest, what do you think about heading—”
The crowd parted, and Gemma wasnotseeing things.
“Mom?”
Tansy frowned. “What? I was going to ask your thoughts on ducking out early, but—”
“No. My mom is here.”
Across the room, Mom stood looking beautiful in a showstopping, regal deep-purple floor-length gown.
