Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (a court of thorns and roses ebook free txt) 📗

Greeting Bea, Helen offered to help take her vanity case and wedding outfit, while Tom took Charles’s suit, so Sam could take his parents to see how the walled garden had been prepared for the ceremony.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Helen asked, ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Sue hasn’t arrived with Dylan.’

‘What!?’ Helen looked over her shoulder, as if she expected to see Dylan running towards her. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course I’m sure!’

‘Sorry, it was a silly question.’ Helen frowned. ‘Does Sam know?’

‘No. I didn’t want to worry him.’

‘I assumed he was already with Bert.’

‘He ought to be.’

‘We’ll have to tell the others soon.’ Panic tugged at Helen. ‘He was so excited about being in charge of the rings.’

‘I’ll kill Sue when they get here.’

Helen checked her watch. ‘I’m supposed to be getting changed. What shall we do? Do I tell Tina?’

Tom bit his lip. ‘Not until you have to. If Sue hasn’t turned up by eleven, I’ll tell Sam.’

Helen read her watch again. ‘We could go and fetch Dylan. If we drove to Tiverton and back non-stop, we could get him and be back in time.’

Tom was already moving towards his car, when he stopped suddenly. ‘I could. Not you. If I’m delayed, the wedding can still start without me, but Tina needs you. She’ll already be wondering why you aren’t upstairs.’ He lifted up Charles suit. ‘Can you manage to carry this as well?’

‘Yes, but…’ Helen her arms laden, stuttered as she spoke the fear that had struck her. ‘What if… what if they aren’t there?’

‘Not in Tiverton? Where else would… oh. No, no, no… She wouldn’t. Not even Sue would…’

Helen watched the colour drain from Tom’s face.

‘If she has taken him to Australia, now, without saying goodbye, I’ll…’

Her hands full, Helen was helpless to follow him as Tom, running at full pelt, disappeared around the corner of the house.

*

‘Have you spoken to Shaun today?’

Tina relaxed back as Thea smoothed the brush through her long blonde hair while the curling tongs next to her sent out faint wafts of hot steam.

‘No, but I know he’s around. Mabel’s ticked his arrival off on her list.’

Tina watched Thea’s reflection in the mirror. ‘Are you alright?’

‘I am actually. I slept well for the first time in ages, although only briefly as Mabel’s schedule had me up at seven. Now I’ve heard what Shaun had to say, it’s like I’ve stopped waiting for the axe to fall.’

‘He said he loves you.’ Tina looked at Thea more closely. ‘Do you still love him?’

‘Yes, but…’

‘But?’

‘He thought me capable of stealing his job and didn’t believe me when I told him otherwise. Things won’t be the same now.’

‘I am sure they won’t. But,’ Tina ventured, ‘perhaps, just maybe, they could be better.’

*

Mabel, clipboard to hand, waved as Helen, her arms full of Bea and Charles’s wedding clothes, walked gingerly along the corridor to the stairs, afraid of dropping or creasing the garments.

‘Is that everyone here then?’

Not wanting to panic Mabel, Helen mentally crossed her fingers. ‘As far as I know. Sam is showing his parents the garden and I’m off to change.’

‘Excellent.’ Mabel gestured to her tightly tided apron. ‘I’ll just check the kitchen is all set for Sybil to find anything she needs, should she need it. Then I’ll lose this and get ready myself.’

Giving Mabel what she hoped was a reassuring look, Helen started to move faster before her fingers cramped under the weight of too many coat hangers. Her pulse thudded in her chest as she took each stair. I ought to get ready, but if Tom needs me, then…

Helen’s thoughts were cut dead by the sight of Tina coming out of the bedroom. Her hair was curled in relaxed ringlets around her shoulders, and her eyes shone with happiness.

‘Just nipping to the loo before I tackle the makeup.’ She paused. ‘You okay, Helen?’

‘Yes. These are just heavy. You look fantastic.’

Tina laughed as she pulled at her old shirt. ‘Maybe I’ll get married in this. It’s cosier than the dress. Dylan said it was silly dressing up and being uncomfortable. I’m wondering if he was right!’

As Tina disappeared into the bathroom, Helen all but ran into the guest suite and dropped the outfits and vanity bag on the bed.

She’s going to be so disappointed if Dylan can’t come. Helen shivered. The thought that she might not see the lad in his little suit clawed at her heart. But not as much as the thought that neither she, nor Tom, might get to see Dylan without flying to the other side of the world.

Fifty-eight

Saturday May 23rd

‘Wow!’

Bea voiced her approval as Helen and Thea lined up to have their bodice laces pulled in as tight as they could go.

‘You look incredible!’ Sam’s mum looked effortlessly immaculate in a flowing silk dress dotted with a rainbow of flowers. ‘Shaun and Tom are lucky boys.’

As Tina’s future mother-in-law left to check on the bride in the next room, Thea let out an exhalation of breath.

Helen picked up a hairbrush and pointlessly swept it through her bouncing curls. ‘Are you having trouble breathing in you dress, or was it the “lucky boys” comment that has you sighing?’

‘A little of both.’ Thea adjusted her cleavage with an unladylike prod. ‘Although I feel a bit less at sea since I spoke to Shaun, I can’t help thinking that only a little while ago we were a couple who were planning to walk down the aisle together as best man and bridesmaid. I even wondered if, maybe, one day… And now…’ She shrugged. ‘Well, at least we’re friends.’

‘More than friends, surely?’ Helen pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen across her eyes.

Determined not to let a wave of uncertainty claim her, Thea gave her friend a bracing smile. ‘It’ll work out if it’s supposed to. How about you? Your smile’s looking a bit forced too. You and Tom okay?’

‘Very okay. It’s Dylan.’ Helen moved to the