I smile as he gets back to his dancing, wondering if it might be possible to ask the band how much extra they’d charge never to stop playing, so we never have to end this evening. Since our chat outside, we’ve had to mingle with other guests (him) orhelp the bride to pee again (me) or wrestle the microphone from Lord Meade before he proposes yet another toast (both of us), but somehow we’ve found ourselves drifting back to each other between our tasks, and now it’s finally late enough that everyone is merry and dancing, and we have an excuse to be together without any duties calling.
The song comes to an end and we belt out the last line, laughing and clapping along with everyone else. As he looks to the stage, I take the chance to gaze at him. He has a very nice neck.
Uh-oh. A new obsession.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Cordelia announces into the microphone, slurring her words as Jonathan stands with an arm around her shoulders, steadying her even though he looks mightily unsteady himself. “It’s just a few minutes until midnight, so the countdown to the New Year will soon commence!”
The crowd cheers. She wobbles down the steps from the stage and then, grabbing Jonathan’s hand, she makes a beeline for me and Tom, waving and going, “Yoo-hoo!”
“Are you aware you were saying ‘yoo-hoo’ as you came toward us?” I laugh, as she falls into my arms, the countless glasses of champagne transforming her from an awkward hugger to a normal one.
“Yeah, I really don’t know where that came from. Anyway, I got you a gift. Jonathan!” She whacks his arm, interrupting his conversation with Tom. “Jonathan! Focus! Give Sophie her gift!”
“All right, just a minute.” He laughs, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small black box.
She takes it and excitedly passes it to me. “I read that it’s nice to give your bridesmaid a token of your appreciation. I should have given it to you this morning, but I was too distracted with the puppy news. Open it.”
“You didn’t have to do this.”
“Openit,” she insists.
Embarrassed by her generosity, I shyly push open the lid of the Swann & Co. box and stare down at its contents. It’s a necklace from her jewelry line, but I haven’t seen this one before. It’s a silver pendant in the shape of a swan.
“What do you think?” she asks, anxious for my reaction.
I clutch the box. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“I know you like people to spell things out, so let me tell you exactly what this is,” she says theatrically.
“It’s… it’s a swan.”
“All right, smart-arse, yes, I know you know it’s a swan, but let me tell you what itmeans,” she says, rolling her eyes. “You’re my best mate. That makes you family. So it represents my family.”
“Cordelia,” I croak, blinking back tears.
“And also, you are a swan whisperer. I have video proof if anyone should doubt it.” She grins. “You inspired me. It’s going to be part of my next collection. It’s called the Sophie Swan. Cute, right?”
I burst out laughing, pulling the delicate chain out of the box.
“Here,” Tom says, taking it from me as I hold up my hair. “Let me.”
He clips it on at the nape of my neck and I let my hair fall loose again, admiring the pendant resting on top of my dress. Cordelia gives me another hug, then pulls back, smiling at me. She doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t need to.
“So, now you’ve made sure the bride is happy,” Tom begins, when Cordelia and Jonathan move away to the middle of the dance floor ready for midnight, “what’s next for a professional bridesmaid?”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the band’s singer announces into the microphone, “prepare for the countdown to the New Year!”
The crowd cheers again. A spotlight falls on Cordelia and Jonathan in the middle of the guests. I smile over Tom’s shoulder as Cordelia gazes at Jonathan, her hands around his waist.
“Bridesmaid rules…,” I begin.
“TEN!” the singer’s voice booms around the ballroom.
“… if the bride is happy…”
“NINE!” the guests all join in.
“… then I’m happy.”
