“Maybe not, no. But Nova, you’re not a ‘normal’ person, and I mean that in the best possible way. None of the great characters in books are ‘normal’; they’re complicated and flawed and utterly unique. Just like you.”
“My dad used to say something similar,” Nova said with a small, sad smile.
Arthur paused. There was something he wanted to ask her, but he wasn’t sure how she’d react.
“Do you think that maybe you went searching for Michael today because you didn’t want to go to the rehearsal?”
“You mean like self-sabotage?”
“I’m not saying it’s true. It’s just a thought.”
Nova didn’t reply straightaway. “I don’t know. I have been feeling nervous about it all, but that’s normal, isn’t it?”
“Of course it is. I was absolutely terrified the night before my wedding, didn’t sleep a wink. I was convinced Esi was finally going to realize I was just a Cornish oik and she could do much better than me.”
“That’s what I keep trying to tell Craig, that it’s natural to have a few nerves before your wedding. But what if you’re both right and it’s more than that?”
“I don’t know, lass. I guess you need to ask yourself what you really, truly want? And if you’re willing to sacrifice a job you love for the man you love.”
Arthur took a sip of his tea and waited for Nova to speak.
“I do love Craig, and he’s been so supportive over the past year. He held me together through my dad’s sickness and death, and again when I had to leave my old job because of a serious incident. Eachtime I fell apart, Craig picked me up and put me back together again. I honestly don’t know if I’d even be here without him.”
“I’m so sorry to hear about your pa. How long ago did he die?”
“Ten months.”
Arthur swallowed. “That’s no time at all, Nova. I’d say it’s not a surprise you’re feeling a little wobbly: you must have all sorts of emotions about tomorrow and your dad not being there.”
“And now my mum’s not going to be there either. Her flight’s been canceled and she’s stuck in Colombia.”
“Oh no, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s such a mess.” Nova leaned back in her chair and ran her hands through her hair. “If I really did want to get married, would I be feeling so…” She faltered, clearly searching for the right word. “Soughabout it all right now.”
Arthur couldn’t help smiling. “We all feelughsometimes.”
“Yeah, but I bet you didn’t feelughthe night before your wedding?”
“No, you’re right there. I might have been nervous, but I knew before I even set foot in that church that my wedding was going to be the happiest, most important day of my life.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Arthur. I know I love Craig, and even though I’ve never been that bothered about the whole marriage thing, I know how important it is to him. So why can’t I feel more excited about this?”
“Maybe you need yourMuch-Ado-About-Nothing-Bridgerton-Star-Wars moment?”
Nova looked at him as if he were speaking Dutch. “My what?”
“Ash and I were talking about how in all those stories, a character is having doubts and then something happens to make them realize that they do actually want to spend the rest of their life with the otherperson. InMuch Ado About Nothing, Claudio is feeling prettyughabout his fiancée—in fact, he calls the whole wedding off—until he thinks she’s dead, at which point he realizes his mistake. InThe Viscount Who Loved Me, it takes Kate being crushed by a carriage for Anthony to realize he wants to be with her, and in Star Wars…Well, it was all a bit confusing but there was something about an emperor and lightsabers.”
“So, you’re saying I need Craig to nearly die for me to get over myugh?”
Arthur chuckled. “Maybe not that extreme. But if I told you now that if you don’t marry Craig tomorrow you might lose him for good, how does that make you feel?”
Nova thought for a moment. “Terrified. Sad. But also…Oh, I don’t know! Seriously, why does this all have to be so complicated? I bet it wasn’t like this with you and Esi.”
“No, it wasn’t complicated. There were things that made it difficult: we faced a lot of prejudice and neither of our families were delighted with the match. But for me, marrying Esi was the simplest decision I ever made.”
Nova smiled, the first time he’d seen her do that all day. “Tell me about you and Esi, Arthur. Tell me your love story.”
