“More time? Don’t you mean less?” Cordelia chuckles. “You are funny.”
“Have you banged your head? It goes spring, summer, autumn, winter,” Tom says, frowning at her.
“Oh, I’m sorry, you think I mean next winter!”
“Which winter do you mean?” I ask tentatively, already knowing the answer.
“Thiswinter,” she confirms cheerily.
“Cordelia,” Lady Meade says, aghast, “you can’t possibly—”
“A New Year’s Eve wedding,” she states. “Perfect, don’t you think? Friday, the thirty-first of December, 2021. Isn’t that a lovely date? Something about it. Anyway, I’ve already spoken to the vicar just now on the phone and he says that date is free. So I’ve booked it in! Didn’t want to miss out.”
There’s a stunned silence in the room.
“Why are you all looking so surprised?” Cordelia continues, laughing at our horrified expressions.
“Because you’re suggesting you get married in December,” Tom says. “And it’s October.”
“So? It’s not like it’s going to be hard. I have the best family and the best bridesmaid in the world. Emily can help me with everything.” A smile slowly spreads across her face. “Right, Emily?”
“She has a life, Cordelia.” Tom scowls. “The world doesn’t revolve around you and your wedding.”
“I disagree,” she says curtly.
“It’s going to be a lot of hard work…,” Lady Meade says, trailing off deep in thought.
“Fun work, though,” Cordelia corrects. “So, what do you think, Emily? I know helping Mum and me organize such a big wedding in two months is rather a lot to ask, so I completely understand if you simply can’t take on the responsibility of bridesmaid. No one will think any less of you. Perhaps it’s better if I have no bridesmaids.” She tilts her head at me. “You’re such an amazing friend and I’d hate you to feel pressured into doing something you don’t want to do.”
I see what she’s doing. Iwon’tlet her win. I lift my eyes to meet hers, holding her gaze. God, I hate the way she’s looking at me. So superior. As though she’s got me. As though sheknowsshe’s got me.Quit,her eyes are saying.Just like I said you would. Go on, quit.
Well, sod that. “Don’t be silly. Being your bridesmaid is an honor,” I say calmly, smiling back at her. “Two months for us to organize the wedding of the century? No problem. Let’s get to work! What can I do to help?”
Jonathan squeezes Cordelia’s shoulders excitedly, thrilled that all tension seems resolved. Lady Meade shifts uncomfortably, her eyebrows knitted together as she looks from me to Cordelia and back again. She’s the only one in the room who can translate our exchange as being a standoff.
Challenge accepted, Cordelia.
Challenge. Fucking. Accepted.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
WHAT AM I THINKING?
This is stupid. A wedding in two months?Two months?I’ve been egged on by Cordelia’s superior attitude and now I’ve landed myself in a huge mess. It’simpossibleto organize such a grand wedding in two months. Organizing an intimate wedding within two months would be stressful, but a society wedding for a few hundred people? Maybe with a super-experienced wedding planner, with the perfect suppliers on speed dial, all of whom happen to be available, but when we have to do everything ourselves? It can’t be done.
IT. CAN’T. BE. DONE.
“It can be done, I suppose. We have the venue and the church sorted,” Lady Meade says, once I’ve encouraged the foolish notion. “Dashwell Hall looks beautiful at Christmas. And the suppliers we’ve already booked will no doubt do their best to accommodate the new date. But we need to make quick decisions and send out the invitations immediately. I’ll call the stationers.”
“Am I the only one in the room who thinks Cordelia has lost her mind?” Tom says, prompting her to make a face at him. “Seriously, why don’t you just have the wedding next year?”
“Because I want to be married to the love of my life as soon as possible,” Cordelia replies, beaming up at Jonathan, then muttering, “and I won’t let Annabel win.”
Tom appeals to his father. “You must agree this is nonsense.”
“If your mother thinks it’s possible…” Lord Meade replies.
“Do you think everyone is going to be free on New Year’s Eve?” Tom adds. “What if the caterers and florists or whatever are already booked? Emily, you do events and stuff, right? Suppliers have dates booked in way in advance, don’t they?”
