“I thought we agreed before that owing to your own attached state, you didn’t really need to make any kind of play for anyone else,” said Carey.
“I know.” Finola sighed dramatically. “But he’s such a hunk.”
“He’s not that much of a hunk,” said Carey irritably.
“Oh, he is!” cried Gina.
“This is a great party, Browne,” said Chris Brady. “Even if we had to traipse across the city to get here.”
“Ben’s sister chose the venue,” Carey told him. “She did everything.”
“That’s the frosty woman in purple, isn’t it?” asked Elena. “She welcomed us on the way in, but I could see she was looking at us as though we were potential gatecrashers.”
“I don’t blame her if you all arrived at the same time and took up your drinking positions.” Carey grinned. “She’ll think that all we ever do is roar, shout, and get drunk.”
“We’re not making that much noise,” protested Gina, “although we’re all probably drunk. That guy’s handing out vodka like it’s going out of fashion. And it seems churlish to refuse!”
“I’ve never known you to refuse a drink in your life,” said Carey.“Anyway, Elena, you’re right about her being a bit frosty. This is the first time I’ve met her and she’s managing to make me feel like a naughty child.”
“Who gives a stuff what she’s like?” Finola made a face. “You’ve done the deed, Browne — you’ve captured the man — and there’s nothing she can do about it.”
“Which means, as I’ve told you enough times already, that my name’s Russell now.”
“You know, I’m kind of surprised you changed you name.” Richard Purcell looked at Carey quizzically. “I always thought you were one of those feminist-type women.”
“What exactly is a feminist-type woman?” demanded Carey.
“You are,” said Richard. “Tough as old boots.”
“Thanks,” said Carey.
“You’re welcome.”
“So why the name change?”
“Why not?” she asked. “I might be tough as old boots, but I don’t mind admitting that I’m Ben’s wife.”
“That’s so romantic.” Gina looked blearily at her friend. “It really is.”
“Maybe,” said Carey. “Or maybe it’s just plain daft.”
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Colman’s raised voice caught everyone’s attention and the hum of conversation died down. “Ladies and gentlemen, food is now being served. Could I ask you all to make your way upstairs as quickly as possible. And could I ask Ben and Carey to wait until everyone has gone up before they join you.”
“Bloody hell,” muttered Carey. “I hope he hasn’t got something awful in store.”
“We probably have to shower you with rice,” said Gina.
“It was precisely to avoid this kind of palaver that I married Ben in the States,” said Carey grimly.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Gina giggled. “It was because you wanted to make sure that the erotic sex you were having was quite, quite legal.”
Carey stood beside Ben as they watched everyone troop out of the basement bar and up the stairs. He put his arm round her shoulder.
“Having a good time?” he asked.
“Sort of,” she replied. “I like parties but I hate being the center of attention at one. And I really would’ve preferred a few drinks in the pub to all this. I didn’t realize that your sister had gone to so much trouble.”
“I know.” Ben frowned. “It must be costing her a fortune. I can’t possibly let her pay for it all.”
Carey nodded. “I’d feel bad about that too. Didn’t you tell her that a few ham sandwiches in the local would be enough?”
“She never listens to me,” said Ben resignedly. “Not when she has her heart set on something.”
“I don’t know why she had her heart set on this,” Carey said. “Ben, I know she’s your sister and you love her, but I still don’t think she likes me very much.”
“Of course she does,” said Ben.
“She doesn’t really know me yet, I suppose.” Carey sighed.
“She was shocked at first, but she’s come round,” said Ben comfortably. “I bet you’ll be friends in no time. You’re quite alike in lots of ways, you know.”
“Are we?” Care looked horrified.
“Absolutely.” Ben hadn’t seen the expression on her face. “You’re both determined sort of people.”
“We both like purple and mauve,” added Carey.
“What?” He looked at her.
“Freya’s suit. It’s exactly the same color as the dress I was going to wear. Did you know that?”
“It’s a similar color,” agreed Ben.
“And did you know she’d be wearing it?” asked Carey. “Is that why you didn’t want me to wear mine?”
“Of course not.” Ben looked surprised. “I’ve never seen that suit on her before. And I told you why I wanted you to wear that dress — it’s your wedding dress.” He sighed. “I get the feeling you’re mad at me over it and I don’t want you to be. I didn’t mean to upset you. But if you’re upset I don’t really know why.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Carey squeezed his arm. “I’m being silly. Forget it.”
Colman arrived then and led them up the stairs and into the restaurant; it was also decorated in reds and greens, and an enormous crystal chandelier reflected multi-colored diamonds of light across the room. Because of the high ceilings the mirrors were even bigger than downstairs, and at the far end of the room, an enormous oil painting of the ill-fated Romanov family hung over another huge marble fireplace. A long table was piled high with colorful and appetizing buffet food.
“Welcome, welcome!” It was Dimitri, the chef, who smiled as they stepped into the room. He presented them with bread and salt, which, he told them, was traditional in Russian weddings. “You must both take a bite,” he said, “at the same time. Whoever takes the larger bite wears the trousers in the family.”
The assembled crowd laughed as they took the bread.
“No cheating!” called Jeanne Lynch.
“Go for it, Ben!” yelled the crowd from his football team.
“Come on, Carey Browne!” cried Gina. “Give it your best, woman!”
They both bit into the bread and pulled at it with their teeth. White crumbs fell onto the deep green carpet.
“And the winner is…” Dimitri looked at the bread. “The husband, of course!”
A wild roar went up from the football team, matched by a groan from the air traffic controllers.
“It’s OK,” said Carey, batting her eyelashes at Ben. “He can wear the trousers. I’ll just make the decisions.”
Everyone laughed and then began to chant for Ben to make a speech.
“Not a speech,” he groaned. “I’m useless at speeches.”
“Oh go on, Ben,” said Brian. “It’s the least you can do.”
Ben sighed, then wrapped his fingers round Carey’s.
“Brief, brief speech,” he told them. “As you all know, Carey and I didn’t need to spend a lot of time getting to know each other before we got married.”
The crowd laughed.
“Sometimes there is such a thing as love at first sight,” he said. “And that’s exactly what —” He broke off for a second as a movement at the edge of the throng caught his eye, then he recovered. “That’s exactly what we found. So I’m really glad I met her and I’m really glad I married her and I’m delighted you all joined us tonight.”
Everyone clapped furiously.
“And a special thanks to my wonderful sister, Freya, for organizing everything. She’s one in a million.”
More clapping as people broke into groups and began to form a queue at the laden buffet table while Russian music filled the air.
“You OK?” asked Carey.
“Fine, fine,” said Ben. “I just saw someone I need to have a word with.”
Leah had arrived just as Ben an
d Carey were going upstairs. She’d waited for a moment and then followed them, slipping into the restaurant as he began his speech. He looked pale, she thought, and more tired than she’d seen him in a long time. Maybe it was the strain of the evening. Or maybe — she gritted her teeth — maybe it was all the sex he was having with the incredibly gawky-looking girl beside him. But as she watched Carey she exhaled slowly with relief. It couldn’t be the sex, it just couldn’t. She’d thought that Ben might have been ensnared by a gorgeous Jennifer Lopez lookalike who had enchanted him with her wonderful body and her equally wonderful technique in bed. But Ben’s wife wasn’t in the least bit attractive and Leah wasn’t ready to believe that she was some kind of expert between the sheets. In fact, she couldn’t, for the life of her, see what had attracted Ben so much that he’d done the silliest thing in his life and married the wretched woman. She flicked back her mane of glossy black hair and waited for him to come to her. Which, she was pleased to see, didn’t take long. She saw him mutter to the girl and then make his way towards her.
“Hello, Ben,” she said. “Great party.”
“What are you doing here?” he asked sharply.
“I’m a guest,” she said. “Freya invited me.”
“Freya did?” He looked shocked. “Why? And why did you come, Leah?”
“You’re afraid I’ll make a scene?” Her lips twitched.
“You made one the last time we met,” he reminded her.
She shrugged. “I’m sorry about that. I was upset.”
“And being here won’t upset you?”
She shrugged again. “Don’t be silly. I came because I was curious to see her, that’s all. And because I’m still Freya’s friend. I want to still be yours too.”
“You do?” He looked at her in surprise. “As far as I recall, your last words were something about making me suffer.”
“Look, Ben, let’s be grown-up about it. I was very annoyed with you. And, I have to admit, hurt. After all, you slept with me the night before you went to the States. And while I accept that it wasn’t a declaration of undying love or anything, I didn’t quite expect that the next time I saw you you’d be married to someone else.”
“I understand,” said Ben uncomfortably. “I really do, Leah.” He rubbed his hand through his shock of blond hair. “I didn’t intend to hurt you. You know I wouldn’t have done that on purpose, don’t you? It was just — when I met her, I couldn’t think of anything or anyone else.”
“You’ve fallen hard, haven’t you?” asked Leah.
“I guess so.” He grinned. “I’m happy with her, I really am.”
“And you were never happy with me?”
“Oh God, Leah, you know that’s not true. I had great times with you. I cared about you — still care about you — very much. But it was never a marrying thing, was it? For either of us.”
She smiled shortly. “Clearly not.”
“I don’t know if men and women stay friends when one of them marries someone else,” said Ben, “but I’ll always think of you as a friend, Leah. Despite the fact that you scared the life out of me in the café.”
“That’s fine by me.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek, then rubbed the spot where her cherry-red lipstick had stained it.
“It’s a wonderful party,” Maude told Carey as she tucked into a plate piled with smoked salmon, which was her favorite food. “I didn’t realize it was going to be such a big do.”
“Neither did I,” admitted Carey.
“But it’s worth it,” said Maude. “And Ben’s sister seems to be a lovely girl.”
“You think so?”
Maude arched an eyebrow. “You don’t?”
“I don’t really know her yet,” Carey said. “I think she’s still put out about the whole thing.”
“Carey, darling, everyone’s still put out about the whole thing,” said Maude. “I don’t think you realize how disconcerting it was for us all to have you come home and calmly announce you were married.”
“Maybe not,” said Carey. “I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“Oh, at my age nothing much upsets me anymore,” Maude told her. “When you get older you can’t help feeling that people get far too upset about trivial things.”
Carey laughed. “I’m glad that my getting married has bounced into the area of a trivial thing.”
“You know what I mean.” Maude made a face at her daughter. “Anyway, if you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“Oh, I’m happy,” said Carey as she scanned the crowd to see where Ben was. “I’m really and truly happy.”
She didn’t recognize the girl in the scarlet dress who was talking so intently to Ben. Clearly, thought Carey, they knew each other well because their conversation was animated and their body language was familiar. Then she saw the girl kiss Ben proprietorially on the cheek and, even more proprietorially, wipe the mark of her lipstick from his face. Carey felt her stomach contract. There was too much familiarity there, too much ease with each other. And the girl in the red dress was much too beautiful to be left alone with her brand-new husband.
She walked across the room. The girl noticed her first.
“You must be Carey,” she said. “I’m Leah.”
“Hi,” said Carey. “Nice to meet you.”
“I’ve known Leah for years,” said Ben casually.
They’ve slept with each other, Carey realized. Her stomach contracted again.
“I’m glad you could come along,” she said.
“It’s a big crowd.” Leah shook her head so that the sheet of raven-black hair fell across her face. She smoothed it back again. “I always feel intimidated in big crowds,” she added. “Must be because I’m so small.”
“I don’t mind crowds myself.” Carey stood up straight in her high-heeled transparent sandals so that she towered over Leah. “Probably because I can see over them.”
Leah’s laugh was soft. “You’re actually quite different from how I imagined,” she said.
“How did you imagine me?” asked Carey. “How did Ben describe me? When did he describe me?”
“Actually he didn’t,” said Leah. “But he told me that he was crazy about you.”
“That’s good to hear,” said Carey.
“I am crazy about you,” interjected Ben. “You know that. Would you like something else to eat, Carey?”
“No thanks.” She shook her head. “I thought it’d be much better fun to get the low-down from your old girlfriends.”
“Not girlfriend,” said Ben hastily. “Not as such.”
“Oh, Ben.” Leah put her hand on his shoulder just as Phil, Ben’s best friend from the football team, arrived over. “I do so love being your cast-off.”
Carey welcomed Phil’s interruption. Ben had introduced Phil to her earlier and they’d hit it off instantly. Obviously, she thought now, as she watched Phil carefully push his way between Ben and Leah, he knew the score with Ben’s cast-off girlfriend and he was trying to help them all out. Which was pretty decent of him, she decided. Sometimes women didn’t give men enough credit for being decent. She stood beside them for a couple of minutes as Phil deftly worked the conversation round to the latest standings in the Premiership, then slipped unobtrusively out of the dining room and back downstairs to the bar.
“Hi there.” Freya was standing at the polished counter sipping a glass of white wine.
“Hello,” said Carey.
“Having a good time?” asked Freya.
“Of course,” said Carey.
They stared at each other in silence for a moment, then Carey ordered a strawberry vodka. “I’ll have a hangover,” she told Freya ruefully.
“I’m glad that you or your colleagues aren’t working tomorrow,” said Freya. “I can’t honestly think that the skies would be very safe after all the vodka consumption.”
Carey frowned but said nothing.
“It was a joke,” Freya said eventually.
“Oh good,” said Carey. “I wasn’t sur
e.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet before now,” said Freya after another awkward silence. “I would’ve liked to get to know you a little before tonight.”
“You were busy,” said Carey. “And my shifts didn’t help. Anyway, I feel I know you already. Ben talks about you a lot. You’re obviously very important to him.”
Freya shrugged. “We were very much on our own after our parents died,” she told Carey. “I suppose it’s made the bond quite strong.”
“He said you went to work to keep things going even though you wanted to go to college.”
“Actually, I don’t know whether I wanted to go to college or not,” admitted Freya. “But I certainly didn’t want us to be in a bad situation financially, and my parents hadn’t really made enough provision for us. Things were different twenty-five years ago. People weren’t as clued in about money matters as they are now.”
“He owes you a lot,” said Carey.
“He’s my brother. What else would I do but look out for him?”
“And now?” asked Carey.
“What d’you mean?”
“Do you feel that you didn’t look out for him recently? That because he married me the way he did you’ve failed somehow?”
This was so exactly what Freya felt that she was unable to answer.
“I love him,” said Carey. “I know it seems hard to imagine, but I care about him as much as you.”
Freya smiled slightly. “I suppose you do. It’s just that — I’ve known him my whole life, and I’m finding it hard to adjust to the fact that someone who’s only known him for a few weeks is now more important to him.”
“I understand,” said Carey. “I really do.”
“I don’t want to seem unfeeling or judgmental,” Freya said next, “but I find it hard to believe that this will work.”
“Because I don’t live up to your expectations?” asked Carey.
“Because I don’t believe in love at first sight,” said Freya. “It doesn’t happen that way.”
“I didn’t think so either,” Carey told her. “But then I met Ben.”
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