Bel blinked back the rush of emotion her cousin’s soft words triggered and gave a tiny smile in return.
Armed with a trial pack of contacts, they left the shop and headed back to find the others.
Over lunch at an upscale pub, Bel listened as the others gossiped about people they knew and places they went that Bel had no idea about. Lisa and Kelly were friends fromLarkin’s boarding school days. There was only four years’ difference between them and Bel, but as she listened to their conversations, Bel felt considerably older. All they seemed interested in discussing was how much money they thought someone was worth and where they’d last been on holidays overseas.
‘What about you, Bel? Lisa asked, taking a breath after spending the previous twenty minutes or so recounting her most recent spiritual retreat in Ubud, from which she’d just returned. ‘Have you been anywhere interesting lately?’
‘Uh, no. Not really.’
‘So, you actually live out here? Like, all the time?’ Kelly asked.
‘Yep. I do,’ Bel answered, trying not to shift uncomfortably in her seat.
‘But …why?’ Kelly crinkled her nose slightly. ‘I mean, what do youdoout here?’
‘I work,’ Bel said, glancing across at her cousin, who was busy cutting up her salad.
‘I couldn’t do it. I mean, it’s nice for a little, you know … getaway, I suppose, but to live out here?’
‘So have youeverleft town? Like travelled? Have you been to Paris?’ Lisa asked.
‘No. I haven’t. I grew up in South Australia until I was ten. And I’ve been to Sydney.’
The two women stared.
‘The others will be here tomorrow,’ Larkin cut in, smiling.
‘Oh, thankGod,’ Kelly said, dragging the words like she was in pain. ‘Gigi and Niki will definitely shake things up a bit.’
‘Yes, but I won’t like giving up all the one-on-one time we’ve had with Tate,’ Lisa pouted. ‘You know what they’re like, always trying to steal the attention away from everyone else in the room.’
At the mention of Tate, Bel’s interest instantly spiked.
‘We’re having a cocktail party at Glentoberon tomorrow night. A kind of pre-rehearsal rehearsal for the bridal party,’ Larkin informed her.
‘It’s going to be so much fun. I love cocktail parties,’ Kelly said, clapping her hands together. ‘I have the most divine dress. It’s sure to drag Tate’s attention away from Gigi and Niki.’
Bel’s spirits plummeted. She’d been excited by the prospect of seeing Tate again, but now she remembered she’d be in a room full of glamorous socialites in designer label outfits and she’d be wearing—Bel mentally ran through her wardrobe options—absolutely nothing. She’d known there would be a number of stupid events leading up to the Wedding of the Century, but until now, she truly hadn’t cared what she’d be wearing. Now she was regretting her earlier rebellion. Big time.
As they left the table after finishing their meal, Bel discreetly pulled her cousin aside. ‘Small problem,’ she started, ‘I don’t have anything to wear to a cocktail party.’
Bel wasn’t sure if she was relieved or mildly insulted by the smile Larkin gave her as she patted her arm in athere, there fashion. ‘I figured as much. Which is why I’ve packed you a suitcase with some outfits you can have. Lucky we’re the same size.’ She leaned back slightly and ran an expert eye up and down Bel and added, ‘More or less.’ She gave her cousin a smile that didn’t quite give as much encouragement as she’d probably intended. Still, at least that was one problem down. Maybe she wouldn’t make a complete idiot of herself.
‘Bel!’ Emma cried as she gaped at her friend later that afternoon. ‘Oh my God …’
‘Is it too much? It’s too much, isn’t it,’ Bel said, touching her hair, still feeling luxuriously soft and bouncy.
‘No!’ Emma said, shaking her head as she continued to stare. ‘It’s … perfect.’
‘I feel a bit ridiculous.’
‘Well, don’t. They didn’t change anything. This is all you, girlfriend,’ Emma said, snapping out of her initial surprise. ‘Iama little pissy that I’ve been trying to get you to do something with your hair for years and you’ve always refused, though.’
‘I know,’ Bel agreed wearily. ‘And I would have said no to Larkin too except that it’s for her wedding. And the fact Tate would never actually see me with all those other eligible women around if I didn’t do something drastic,’ she added.
‘I wouldn’t say drastic, but it’s definitely dramatic. I think I need a trip to Toormanlee. So, anyway,’ Emma continued, ‘what’s next on the bridal party itinerary?’
‘The cocktail party.’
