Page 80 of The Cornish Christmas Book Clu
‘Good idea. Hopefully I’ll get to find out what you’ve been so devious about these last few days with the surreptitious texts and abruptly ended phone calls. With all your training, I thought you’d be a better liar.’ The corners of her lush berry-stained, glossy mouth turned up in a wicked smile.
Silence seemed his best option. They both glanced across at the empty pub, which was all in darkness. Yellow-and-white caution tape was strung all around the front, and large blue tarps covered the holes in the roof.
‘Sad, isn’t it?’ he mused. ‘Tonight should’ve been Pixie’s big send-off.’
They arrived outside Nathan’s house alongside Josie and Harry.
‘Do you know what these men of ours are up to?’ Josie pounced on Tamara. ‘It’s a good thing Harry never went in for undercover work because he couldn’t fool anyone to save his life. And voluntarily putting on a suit outside of work? Pull the other one.’
‘I don’t have a clue either and mine’s the same. Useless.’
Gage and Harry exchanged wry smiles, but said nothing.
The front door was wide open and they could see the house was heaving with people.
‘Melissa and Nathan are really pushing the boat out.’ Tamara’s eyes narrowed on him again. ‘A little get-together to see in the new year? Right.’ She shook her head.
‘Hurry up.’ Nathan beckoned them from the doorway. ‘We want everyone in place before they arrive. I’m afraid some of the guests will have to stand, but we’ve saved seats at the front for the book-club group and partners.’
‘Seats? And who arrives?’ Tamara asked, but Nathan ignored the question.
Gage took her hand and started walking. ‘For once just go with the flow.’
* * *
She made a quick head count of their group and the only people she couldn’t spot were Evelyn, Quinten and Ophelia. That must mean something, but what was it? Nathan was talking intentlywith someone she didn’t recognise, an older grey-haired woman wearing a sombre black dress, its severity softened by a lacy white collar. Melissa, on the other hand, kept rushing around shushing people. This wasn’t normal New Year’s Eve party behaviour.
As the doorbell rang again, Melissa raced out to the hall and muffled conversations drifted through. Evelyn gave a loud squawk and Ophelia gasped before letting loose a torrent of French. Melissa popped her head back around the door and gave her husband a triumphant nod.
Nathan cleared his throat. ‘Some of you have been brought here under slightly false pretences, but I hope you’ll forgive us when you discover the reason.’
‘Get on with it, or it’ll be next year before you’re done!’ Paul called out.
‘Right.’ Nathan touched the unknown woman’s arm. ‘This is Sade Collins. She’s a Unitarian minister and is here to marry our dear friends Evelyn and Quinten.’ His impish smile broke out. ‘I’m afraid we kept it from her closest friends, because—’
‘You knew we’d tell her.’ Josie spoke up. ‘The Back of Beyond Book Club sticks together, through thick and thin. We’ll let you off for once, but you’ll pay for it later.’
‘Abso-bloody-lutely.’ Tamara gave Gage a sharp poke in the ribs when his only reaction was a smug grin. Something sneaked into her head and she picked at it, struggling to remember the details. ‘This isn’t legal, is it?’
He shook his head and her hand flew to her mouth.
‘Quinten’s organised this for Ophelia, hasn’t he?’
His serious expression was the only answer she needed.
‘In that case you’re forgiven.’
Quinten nodded nervously around as he scurried up to the front. Always a smart, rather eccentric dresser, he’d excelled himself tonight.
‘The local fancy-dress shop must be missing an outfit,’ Gage muttered.
She couldn’t blame him for sounding bemused. The plum velvet suit was startling enough, but combined with a cream silk shirt fronted with a froth of cream lace and finished with a flamboyant plum satin cravat, the effect was eye-catching.
The room hushed as the ‘The Blue Danube’ waltz started playing.
‘That’s Evelyn’s favourite.’ Tamara pulled out a hanky and dabbed her eyes.
The sisters walked in, arm in arm, wreathed in smiles. No one would think that the bride-to-be had had her wedding sprung on her five minutes ago and that the other was living on borrowed time.Aren’t we all, though?She gazed at Gage through tear-soaked eyes.I want every minute I can wring out of it with him.
