“Are you telling me you don’t know who he is?” She looked at them both in astonishment. “That’s Rupe.”
“Who?”
“Rupert. You know, the groom? Gayle’s new husband?”
It took June a moment to register what Isabelle had said. “That’s Gayle’shusband?”
Isabelle ignored her and fluttered her eyelashes at Alex. “Do you fancy a dance?”
“Wait. Do you know what Gayle’s husband does for a living?” June said.
Isabelle looked at June in annoyance. “What a strange question. I think Gayle said he has something to do with property acquisitions.” She turned to Alex again. “Your glass is empty. Joan, could you be a darling and fetch us a drink? We’ll have champers.”
June saw Alex open his mouth to protest, but in her shock she turned and walked toward the drinks table, her brain whirring. If Draco Malfoy was Gayle’s husband, did that mean his pub conversation with Brian was simply an innocent chat between father and son-in-law? Then why the talk of councillors and greasing wheels? June picked up another cocktail and took a long swig as she tried to fit the puzzle pieces together.
“What’s that on your shoes?” June jumped as Marjorie stepped in next to her.
“Mud, sorry,” June said, trying to discreetly wipe them on the long tablecloth.
“I can’t believe you had the nerve to turn up here after all the fuss you’ve caused at the library,” Marjorie said, wrinkling her nose. “Do you have any idea of the headaches you’ve given me? And on top of all of this...” She signaled around her at the marquee.
“It’s a beautiful wedding, Marjorie.”
“The decorators completely messed up. We were meant to have blush pink ribbons on the seat covers and they put on flamingo pinkones instead. Gayle was so upset she nearly canceled the whole thing.”
June looked at the tiny bows that Marjorie was pointing at. “I think it looks lovely.”
Marjorie’s eyes were scanning the tent and June noticed she was wringing her hands.
She took another slug of her drink. This was it, her chance. “Marjorie, there’s something I need to ask you.”
“Oh no, what are the caterers doing now?” Marjorie said, as two waiters in white uniforms placed a huge tiered cheese board down on the table next to them. “That isn’t meant to come out until nine. It’s only eight thirty.”
“Who does your son-in-law work for?” June said.
“I don’t know, some American food-and-beverage company. Why are they putting the cheese here? It goes on the back table. Why must everyone—”
“Does he have anything to do with Cuppa Coffee?”
“And the grapes are meant to be green, not red. Christ, this is a disaster. I need to speak to the catering manager.” Marjorie started to walk off, but June grabbed her arm. Her boss looked at her in surprise. “What are you doing?”
“Marjorie...” June’s voice faltered. “Are you and Brian involved in a plot to close the library?”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“I saw Brian in the pub with Rupert. I think they were talking about bribing councillors to let someone buy the building. They mentioned you.”
“That’s absolute nonsense. You and your imagination, June.”
“And I saw you showing a woman round the library and she hada clipboard with a Cuppa Coffee logo on it.” June saw Marjorie go pale. “How could you do it, Marjorie? I thought you loved the library.”
“Of course I love the library,” Marjorie hissed. “You’ve always lived in a fantasyland, but this is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. That woman I showed round was a management consultant.”
“Then why did she have the Cuppa Coffee logo on her clipboard?”
“I don’t know—maybe it was a free gift?”
“And why did she come back to secretly visit you early one morning before the library opened? What are you trying to hide, Marjorie?”
