Tug Of Law (Bernadette Mackenna Cases Book 4)

by D. R. Bailey

  ✽✽✽

  The rest of the morning passed in a whirl. After breakfast, Bernadette made a face when she was informed that she was confined to their room until further notice. But Eve promised her it would be worth the wait.

  “That’s what you get for letting me take charge,” Eve laughed.

  “It’s not happening again then,” Bernadette giggled.

  “You’re the boss, but just not for today, not until we’re married.”

  “I’ll take that,” said Bernadette kissing Eve before she slipped out of Bernadette’s grasp and out of the room.

  Not long after, Imogen and D’Arcy arrived although they did not look as if they were dressed for a wedding, though they were dressed smartly enough.

  “Come on, get dressed in some normal clothes.”

  “What?” said Bernadette a little shocked.

  “It’s OK, we’re just kidnapping you for a bit and we’ll explain why on the way.”

  Bernadette discovered Eve had packed a smart work suit, blouse and black mules. She dressed and although she complained she hadn’t put on any makeup or done her hair. Imogen was adamant they had to go, or they would be late.

  They headed downstairs and to Bernadette’s surprise, they went out of the front door to a waiting limousine.

  “Aren’t we getting married here? Don’t I get a proper dress after all?” Bernadette wondered out loud.

  “Yes, and no, darling, stop worrying, we can’t have the official ceremony here because the venue is not open to the public, so we’re having a private one at registry approved venue, and then coming back here for the proper one in front of everyone,” Imogen told her as they helped her into the car.

  “Oh!” Bernadette said as the penny dropped.

  “As a lawyer, you should know the law, silly! We tried our best to get them to approve D’Arcy’s place, but they wouldn’t bend the rules, so here we are. Also, it’s a good job Eve got you to sort out the paperwork so we could meet the three month’s timeframe. I was the one who told her to quite some time ago.”

  “Oh God, I’ve been so useless at this.”

  “Exactly, you have and that is why Eve and I had to take charge.”

  “It’s almost as if you and Eve had planned it all along, and all this time you were telling me how I should get on with the wedding plans and the two of you…” Bernadette trailed off.

  “The three of us!” D’Arcy put in, not wanting to be left out.

  “We did, sorry.” Imogen smiled. “But I couldn’t tell you, and also we didn’t plan for Eve to suddenly bring the time forward like this.”

  “You’re all of you very naughty! Very, very naughty indeed!” Bernadette pursed her lips. She could not be mad, though, in fact, she found the whole thing rather exciting.

  Imogen just laughed, and D’Arcy giggled. Shortly they pulled up outside a local hotel nearby and were ushered into a room which was set up for weddings. Eve was waiting wearing trousers and a blouse. She had high heeled mules on her feet. They walked up to the podium as a group, where if the solemniser showed any surprise at the attire or the informality she did not say so. Carragh remained discreetly at the back for security.

  She married them in a brief ceremony which lasted only a few moments, with very short vows and without rings. Bernadette and Eve kissed, signed the register and all of them headed back to D’Arcy’s in the limo.

  “Well,” said Bernadette, “I hope the real ceremony is a bit longer than that.”

  “Don’t worry, darling, you are going to love it, I promise you,” said Eve kissing her.

  “Now mum’s the word about all this,” Imogen said, “You can tell people afterwards if you want, of course.”

  They arrived at D’Arcy’s and Bernadette was once more banished to the bedroom.

  “Well!” she said crossly as they all left.

  “Patience, darling,” Imogen told her, “You are going to love it, I promise you.”

  “Oh fine,” Bernadette sat down a little more meekly on the sofa and wondered at Eve and Imogen keeping such a secret. Although she loved it really, she resolved Eve would be getting a Shibari session, nevertheless.

  ✽✽✽

  Coffee was soon provided by a butler who D’Arcy had hired for the day, no doubt along with many other staff to serve whatever wedding feast had been planned.

  Bernadette sipped her coffee and looked out of the window which faced the front of the house. She could see some people who were no doubt in charge of parking hanging around chatting, people would probably arrive soon then. The gate was being draped with ribbons, flowers and balloons. Likewise, balloons were being put around in bunches in the car park. She did not know what the back of the house was like but assumed that was where the wedding would take place. She had not been allowed to peek, even out of the windows.

  Very shortly there was a knock at the door which revealed two women with a suitcase undoubtedly full of makeup and a man dressed quite flamboyantly who announced he was her stylist.

  “You are not to worry about anything,” he said with a slight French accent, “Gervais is here, with Nicky and Sharon, to take care of it all for you.”

  “I was just wondering about my hair,” she began.

  He held up a hand. “No, no, no, leave this all to me. Madame Eve has given strict instructions and I promised her I would not allow you to change it.”

  “Oh… oh! Ooh, the little witch!” Then she laughed, “Fine, OK, go ahead do your worst.”

  “I assure you, Gervais does not do worst, no, he does only the best and finest styles in Ireland.”

  “I’m sure you do.” Bernadette smiled and settled down to allow his ministrations.

  As it turned out, he opted not to go overboard in the styling pronouncing her thick black locks as “utterly beautiful and ravishing.” He cascaded it in waves, and slight curls, with a portion pinned back with a diamante hair ornament.

  Nicky and Sharon similarly went for understated light makeup with red lips. They gave her eyebrows a pleasing clean shape and did not add false eyelashes since hers were quite long. They also painted her nails with the same shade of red. When she looked in the mirror, she said she liked it very much.

  “And now,” said Gervais, “In a voice filled with triumphant emotion, for the dress.”

  Nicky disappeared from the room and returned in short order with a white zip-up dress cover, inside of which was undoubtedly the wedding dress. With great drama, this was unzipped to reveal its contents. Bernadette’s mouth formed an O of surprise.

  The dress was slightly off-white cream, which she loved straight away. It was an off the shoulder, simple design, with a Bardot neckline, and short drape sleeves. She could also see there was a split in the wrap skirt part and knew Eve had done this on purpose because she admired Bernadette’s shapely legs.

  “Do you like it?” Gervais asked her beaming.

  “Did, Eve choose it?”

  “But of course, with some assistance from myself, the stylist, but yes, she said it was the perfect thing for you and she was right.”

  “I love it. I don’t know if I would have chosen it, but I do love it,” said Bernadette candidly.

  “Believe me, this will show you to perfection, absolument, without any doubts, my darling.”

  Bernadette removed her robe and Nicky helped her put on a white strapless bra which Eve had also chosen. Since Bernadette was reasonable well-endowed, this was certainly needed for a dress like that. She carefully stepped into the dress and they zipped her up.

  “Ah, beautiful, beautiful,” said Gervais as she looked in the mirror.

  “It is lovely, for sure,” said Bernadette turning this way and that. She hoped Eve was going to love it as much as she thought she would. Although Bernadette personally would have probably gone for something with lace, she did not know what Eve was wearing and perhaps this was a counterpoint.

  “And now for the shoes,” said Ge
rvais, as Nicky handed him a box.

  He opened it and inside were a pair of clear stiletto mules with two thin see-through straps. She knew Eve would have chosen these with care, particularly because Bernadette had a great fondness for shoes.

  “Oh, I love these,” she said happily.

  “The glass slippers for the Cinderella, the belle of the ball,” said Gervais.

  Once more Nicky and Sharon helped her put the shoes on and then she looked at herself once more in the mirror. She liked very much what she saw, and particularly when her leg slid out between the slit which was, she had to admit, very sexy indeed. Eve had chosen well.

  “Now, we must go, but any problems today we will be around to fix it, OK?” said Gervais, “And don’t sit down until after the ceremony, we don’t want the creases, n’est ce pas?”

  “I won’t, I promise,” Bernadette vowed and wondered how much longer it would be, and what Eve was going to be wearing. She went over for a peek into the front of the house which was now full of cars. The guests, whoever they were, must have arrived while she was getting ready.

  There was nothing for it but to wait. She forbore to have more coffee in case she spilt it on her dress. She had a few surprises of her own for Eve, but those would be much later.

  ✽✽✽

  She did not have to wait too much longer until D’Arcy and Imogen returned.

  “Oh my God, you are one sexy bitch!” Imogen said in admiring tones.

  “God you look drop dead gorgeous, darling,” D’Arcy agreed.

  “You like?” Bernadette said giving them a twirl and showing some leg.

  “It makes me hot just looking at you,” said Imogen pretending to fan herself.

  “Imogen, really, you are so very naughty!” D’Arcy chided her but she was laughing.

  “You two aren’t so bad yourselves, in fact, you scrub up very well. A pair of sexy mamas and no mistake,” Bernadette told them.

  D’Arcy’s outfit was a satin scoop maxi dress which went to the floor, and buttoned up at the back, it had shoestring style straps and fitted her figure perfectly. The colour was ivory and complemented the cream of Bernadette’s wedding gown. D’Arcy had strappy silver sandals, and her hair was partly up and hanging down in ringlets.

  Imogen was wearing a satin light orchid cami maxi dress which gathered in at the waist. It had shoestring straps, and the colour went nicely with her hair. She had matching strappy mules in the same colour. Imogen had her hair braided and tied up, in a very nouveau Victorian fashion.

  “Do you like them?” said D’Arcy, “We were trying to match you.”

  “I love it and yes they do match me very well.”

  “Not long now, darling,” said Imogen, “But before we go down, Eve has asked me to tell you a few rules.”

  “Rules?” said Bernadette with a surprised laugh.

  “Yes.”

  “Why couldn’t she tell me herself?” Bernadette said lightly.

  This was a new side of Eve she was only just seeing. Eve had been so efficient arranging everything. She should have guessed it, however, from the expert way Eve kept house for them.

  “Well, she thought it would be best coming from us.”

  “OK, and what are the rules exactly?”

  “Firstly, you must never ask, how much did any of this cost?”

  “OK, fair enough.” Eve knew her too well, because Bernadette would wonder about it for sure.

  “Secondly, you must never ask, who paid for this or that?”

  “Right.”

  Once again, Eve was on the nail. Bernadette was fairly sure D’Arcy would have had a hand in paying for some of it and she resolved to curb her natural impulse to want to cover all the cost herself. There was a time to accept help and to accept what was given with love, and that time was today.

  “Thirdly, you must enjoy this beautiful day she, and well we, have created for you and understand that we’ve done it out of love, the sheer love we all have for you.”

  “Oh… oh! Shit, I’m going to cry if you carry on,” said Bernadette becoming emotional at once.

  “Finally, if you break the rules, you know what will happen.”

  “What will happen?” said D’Arcy interested.

  “Nothing like you think, darling, I’ll tell you later. They don’t play the same games as us, now hush,” said Imogen firmly.

  “Oh? Oh! Oh, right, OK.”

  “But this day is also for Eve, I mean, isn’t it?” Bernadette wondered with the focus being all on her enjoyment.

  “Of course, it’s also for Eve, but don’t you understand how much it depends on you loving it too. She’s put so much into this, we all have, believe it or not. Well, you wouldn’t believe it, considering what we pulled off. And more than half of her enjoyment is that you have the time of your life, with her.”

  “Fuck, oh fuck it… oh…” Bernadette’s eyes welled up and a tear trickled down her cheek.

  “Here, tissue, let me.”

  Imogen patted her dry.

  “It’s a good job I made sure they used waterproof mascara,” D’Arcy chuckled.

  “Now try not to cry too much, but if you must, the girls are on hand to fix your makeup, not that you have much on you bitch and you look stunning,” Imogen said giggling.

  “You look stunning too, both of you and neither of you have that much makeup!” Bernadette protested.

  There was a knock at the door, and D’Arcy opened it. One of the hospitality staff was holding a beautiful bouquet of red and white roses. Bernadette burst into tears.

  ✽✽✽

  “Right now, if you could at least hold it in until the ceremony,” Imogen admonished Bernadette once Nicky and Sharon had touched up Bernadette’s makeup.

  “I’ll try,” said Bernadette.

  “Well, anyway, darling, it’s time.”

  They left the bedroom to Bernadette’s relief, went downstairs and through to the dining room which led to the outside through a patio door.

  She looked through the doors to see, a huge open sided marquee which had been set out in the garden. The pathway to the marquee was carpeted and had plinths on either side of the pathway with flowers in vases.

  “Jesus,” she exclaimed.

  “Are you ready?” Imogen asked her.

  “I think so.”

  “Take a deep breath, and now D’Arcy and I are going to walk you up the aisle.”

  “Oh God… oh!”

  “Don’t cry, come on, babe, hold it in now.”

  “Shit, shit I’m trying,” said Bernadette in a choked voice.

  “OK, so, shall we go?”

  “Yes, yes, let’s do that.”

  Imogen nodded to an attendant who was standing nearby with a headset on. They stepped through the door together. As they did so a string quartet struck up somewhere inside the marquee. The sounds of Vivaldi’s Spring from the Four Seasons filtered back to them.

  D’Arcy stood on Bernadette’s left side, and Imogen on the right. They took hold of her hands, and like the true friends they were, began to slowly walk towards the marquee. As she approached, she could see the backs of people she recognised mainly from her work, and a few other friends. They were sat on either side of what formed the aisle. She stepped inside the marquee which was decorated with greenery and leaves, and flowers. The small select gathering all stood and turned to look at her. She recognised faces as she walked past but her eyes were only for Eve.

  Up ahead where the ceremony was to take place was a raised platform, and an arbour. Eve was standing there looking utterly radiant. She was wearing a white embroidered fishtail mesh dress with a sweetheart neckline. It was strapless and carefully styled blonde curls cascaded over Eve’s bare shoulders. At the back of her head, she had a partial French plait with a white floral string woven through it. She turned to look at Bernadette and her smile spoke volumes. Bernadette bit her lip at the sight of her beautiful wife to be, she wante
d to burst into tears once again but managed to prevent herself with difficulty. Imogen glanced at her with concern and squeezed her hand affectionately. She knew for Bernadette this would be one of the biggest moments of her life.

  Standing facing them as they approached and with Eve to his left was the celebrant. He was wearing a colourful jacket with a white shirt, black trousers and red tie. As Bernadette finally reached the podium, she did not dare look left or right as D’Arcy and Imogen helped her to step up. She leaned down and kissed them both lightly before turning away to stand and face her bride.

  “My God, you are so beautiful, so, so beautiful,” Bernadette whispered moving forward to take Eve’s hand.

  “So are you, my sweetheart, everything I anticipated when I bought you that dress, I love you, darling,” Eve said smiling back.

  Everyone had resumed their seats. D’Arcy and Imogen took their own seats in the front row. The audience was now full of anticipation.

  “Well,” began the celebrant, “I am Brian, and I’m here to help all of you celebrate the marriage between these two beautiful people Bernadette and Eve. I think you’ll agree they are both looking particularly stunning today.”

  Eve’s eyes held Bernadette’s full of love and she could not look away. Her eyes were wet as the emotions rose in her breast. When she had first seen Eve standing there waiting, she wanted to cry with happiness at once.

  “So, of course, I have to ask if there is anyone who knows any reason why these two lovely women should not be married, then speak now or forever hold your peace.”

  This stipulation was of course unnecessary in the light of their legal marriage, but Bernadette assumed he was simply following the form.

  Brian waited in silence for a moment before continuing.

  “It’s always a relief once that’s over,” he quipped to a ripple of laughter, “It’s all plain sailing from here.”

  It had at least injected a little light relief into an emotionally charged atmosphere.

  “Now then, we all know marriage is a solemn moment with the exchange of vows,” said Brian, “But I like to think it’s something deeper, the joining of two people in love for the rest of their lives. I think we can tell that Bernadette and Eve are deeply in love. I can see it just from the way they are gazing into each other’s eyes just now.”