I don’t mind going into parties by myself, but I have to admit that, this time, I was glad to have my arm hooked through Nick’s as he strode forward confidently and thanked the – well, the butler, I suppose. I hadn’t appreciated what a smart family Steph was marrying into, and I felt a pang of sympathy for her meticulousness over the wedding arrangements. There were about eighty people in the room, chattering away as they drankchampagne. Everyone was dressed beautifully, the men in black tie and the women in mostly floor-length dresses in an array of gorgeous colours. I was grateful again to Marilise for the dress, which was perfect.At least in that respect I fit in, I thought. A statuesque woman glided over to us, a tight smile on her face.This must be our hostess. She held out her hand palm down to Nick, who touched it briefly, with a slight nod of his head.
‘Good evening, Bridget.’
‘Good evening, Nick,’ she said. ‘Thank you for joining us tonight.’ She turned her head towards me. ‘And welcome, Miss Wilde. Stephanie is here, and your dear parents, of course.’ I settled for giving her a slightly sickly smile, rather than saying anything; it hadn’t occurred to me that Mum and Dad might be here; stupid of me. She turned back to Nick. ‘Miss Wilde and I are soon to be related, through her sister’s marriage to Hugo.’
‘So I’ve been told,’ said Nick smoothly. ‘I shall be attending myself, as Laura’s guest.’
‘Of course you will,’ replied Mrs Montgomery. ‘We are all looking forward to seeing you there, particularly Araminta. You must look out for her this evening.’ She shot me a final look, which belied her gracious tone of voice and told me exactly what she thought of me. ‘Do enjoy the concert.’
With this, she melted back into the crowd. I turned to Nick, horrified, but he was wiping tears of laughter from his eyes as he grabbed two glasses of champagne from a waiter, who had been hovering nearby, looking unsure as to whether or not he should interrupt our being greeted by Mrs Montgomery.
‘Cheers!’ he said. ‘Let’s drink to her never being my mother-in-law.’
I sipped my drink.
‘I’m feeling bad about the whole thing,’ I said. ‘Accepting her hospitality when she so obviously doesn’t want me here.’
Nick took my free hand in his and looked at me, all humour gone from his face.
‘Don’t,’ he said fiercely. ‘It’s not you personally, it’s anyone with me other than Minty, and Minty most definitely doesn’t want to be with me. This started out as you doing me and her a favour, but you know I want you here for you, don’t you?’ I nodded. ‘Bridget Montgomery disapproves of anything happening outside her control. That makes her amazing at supporting charities, but horrendous if you cross her.’
‘I hope Steph will be all right,’ I said. ‘She’s enjoying it all at the moment, all the fuss over the wedding, and I think she does love Hugo, but what if she falls foul of her new mother-in-law?’
‘Won’t happen,’ said Nick confidently. ‘Once Bridget has approved somebody, especially to the extent of letting her marry one of her precious sons, that person has complete immunity. Short of leaving the marriage and running off with someone else, your sister will be in the inner circle.’
‘Good,’ I said. I may find Steph hard work, but I wanted her to be happy. I glimpsed a waving hand out of the corner of my eye, and turned slightly, to see my parents and Dorothea advancing fast. We greeted each other and I introduced Nick to my parents, then Dorothea adopted her most ringing tones.
‘I heard that you were coming, Laura. Jolly good on you, Nick, giving her a night out.’
She couldn’t have reduced me to “staff” so quickly if she had tied a starched white apron round my waist. I had no quick reply, but Nick wasn’t fazed by her.
‘It’s Laura doing me the favour, actually,’ he replied calmly. He turned to my parents. ‘You must be so proud of her. She’s a wonderful nurse; my grandmother wouldn’t be without her now.’
My parents both beamed, and I basked in their approval. It wasn’t something I was used to, particularly from my mother.
‘We’re very proud of her,’ said Dad warmly, reaching over to squeeze my hand. ‘Laura is very special.’
Dorothea was looking more sour by the moment.
‘Far too good for a philistine like me,’ replied Nick with a self-deprecating grin. ‘I know it was the music that tempted her here tonight, really.’
‘Ohno,’ gushed my mother. ‘I’m sure she’sthrilledto be here with a real prince.’
Dorothea’s eyebrows nearly hit the ceiling, and I died a little inside, but Nick’s smooth confidence had rubbed off. I turned to him.
‘Areyou?’ I asked in incredulous and slightly offended tones. ‘You told me you were an app designer.’
‘Only my surname,’ he said, sighing. ‘A little irony, courtesy of my grandfather.’
All of this went straight over my mother’s head. She laid a reassuring hand on Nick’s arm.
‘But you have blue blood,’ she said earnestly. ‘And that is what matters.’
I could see the wedding at Westminster Abbey taking shape in her mind already. She, perhaps, would arrive in a state coach; I would wear Alexander McQueen. Maybe Dorothea saw the same fantasy unfolding and was quick to snuff it out.
‘I have always appreciated Giles’ title,’ she said grandly. ‘And sharing it, of course. Being in the know is all very well, but when it’s official, it does open doors.’
‘Well then, let’s hope it’s not too long before it’s yours,’ said Nick gravely. ‘Although his father is looking well, and so young.’
