She wanted to be truthful. But she didn't, instead she lied brilliantly, knowing that was what Elyse wanted her to do even as she knew her friend was too smart to be deluded by lies, even the ones she'd been telling herself all these months.
"You'll feel better after the wedding. It happens to all brides."
"You weren't nervous," Elyse said accusingly, remembering Lucy's and Andrew's wedding. It had been such a joyous occasion.
"I was marrying someone I loved completely. Can you say the same about Jerrold?"
"Oh, Lucy, there's a church full of people, and Grandmother..."
"She wants only your happiness," Lucy finished for her. "Why are you being so stubborn about this? For God's sake, you don't love Jerrold Barrington!" She was practically screaming at her friend. They both turned in surprise to the insistent knocking at the door.
"It's time to go," Elyse whispered softly.
Lucy threw up both hands in frustration. "If you're determined to ruin your life I might as well be there with you. But if you ask me... "
"Lucy, please." Elyse hugged her friend. "Just be happy for me."
"I guess I have enough happiness for two. But you should have your own."
Lucy turned her around, not able to meet her friend's eyes. "I'll fasten the necklace for you." She picked up the discarded case.
Elyse shook her head as she stepped away. "No. I prefer to wear the pendant Grandmother gave me." When she turned, her eyes spoke volumes.
"Jerrold will not be pleased," Lucy warned.
Elyse smiled. "Perhaps he'll leave me standing at the altar as punishment." The smile faded.
Lucy's brow wrinkled into a rare frown. "If you're not certain... "
Elyse cut her off. "I know what I'm doing."
But did she? Was this what she wanted?
"What the devil is happening?" Jerrold Barrington's explosion caused everyone among those present to jump. He turned on the hapless employee of Barrington Shipping, who'd arrived only moments earlier.
"Mr. Lash was found only about an hour ago." The man twisted his hat in his hands.
"Where?" Jerrold snapped.
The man swallowed hard. "At a tavern, called the Hog's Breath Inn, down by the waterfront." He smiled. "He was with the innkeeper's daughter."
"Fool! Three days! Three days and not a word from him. What did he say when you found him?"
The man, reduced to mumbling, was immediately seized by his jacket front. "Where is the shipment?" Jerrold demanded.
"He said they got the shipment just like you ordered. He had the men deliver it, and Jones reported the ship is gone. They must have left early this morning. Everything has gone as you wanted."
Jerrold threw the man from him. "I'm surrounded by fools. Lash tells you the shipment was delivered?"
"Yes, sir!" The underling straightened his coat. "I verified that with the foreman this morning, just like you said. I saw the two crates myself, sittin' there."
Jerrold's fists slowly relaxed at his sides. Perhaps everything was working out in spite of what had happened to Lash. Still...However, there was no more time to consider checking further. A knock at the door signaled that the ceremony was about to begin. He turned to his employee.
"Get back to the warehouse and have the crates inspected. I want the contents verified. When that's done, report to me here. Do you understand?"
The man nodded, then went out a side door. Jerrold turned to leave by the other door. Of course everything had gone as planned, he told himself. Lash had merely taken it upon himself to do a little celebrating after the success of the raid.
And yet, even as he stepped from the room and walked the short distance to the door that opened near the altar, he felt a prickling of uncertainty along his nerve endings.
