Page 9

“Forest, what?” Alex ran her fingers along the band of chiffon that nipped in at her waist.

Lucy pivoted to face her friend. “There’s an oak leaf stuck in your fascinator.”

“You’re kidding?”

Freddie leaned over, plucking the crunchy leaf from her hair.

A flush reddened Alex’s face. “Ergh, thanks.” She patted her updo for any additional accoutrements courtesy of Mother Nature.

Freddie twirled the leaf in his fingers and playfully tucked it in Simon’s jacket pocket.

A new arrival invaded Alex’s peripheral vision. “Harry!” She leapt to her feet.

“Hi!” He happily kissed her on both cheeks and bent down to do the same with Lucy. “Hello, you!”

Harry Manville looked immaculate, every inch of his navy suit tailored exquisitely, like he had stepped out of a Tom Ford advert in GQ. “Can I squeeze in beside you, Lex?”

“Sorry, I’m saving a spot for Mark.”

“We’ve got room.” Simon shifted to his left and motioned for Freddie to follow, freeing up space on Lucy’s left.

“Where’s your plus one, then?” Lucy asked as Harry slipped past her knees.

“Stood me up. A friend needed her today more than I did. You?”

“Chickened out—didn’t ask him.” The twenty-four-year-old rolled her eyes.

“You? Chicken?” Harry smirked.

“Aw, there he is.” Alex leaned onto Lucy’s bench. “Tom looks like he belongs on a wedding cake.”

The groom took his place at the front of the church, snapping his knuckles under the cuffs of his morning suit while he chatted with the vicar. Even on his wedding day, Tom Chadwick-Smythe looked raffish and chic, like he had just rolled out of bed. He raked a hand through his tousled brown hair. Alex caught his eye and matched the thespian’s crooked grin with a soppy smile.

Freddie’s right hand crept into the inside pocket of his jacket.

“Why so fidgety?” Simon scratched his neatly trimmed beard. “Cut it out.”

Crinkle.Freddie ducked his head. Crinkle. “But…I’m staaarving.”

Lucy chuckled into her hand. “You didn’t?!”

Simon’s eyes shifted from his fiancé to Lucy and back again. “Didn’t what?”

“He’s packing snacks,” said Lucy.

Harry and Alex laughed.

“Cheese and onion crisps.” Freddie revealed the package with a flourish, winking over his shoulder at Alex. “Want one?”

“Freddie Ryan, bloody hell. How old are you—five?” Simon looked around, making sure no one had noticed. “Put them away.”

Freddie frowned, his hand landing heavily in his lap. “Yes, Dad.”

“Are we’re cramping your style, Si?” Lucy shifted in her seat, giving her butt a break from the rock-hard oak bench. “I’d hate to be blamed for damaging your reputation as London Field’s most stylish shopkeeper.” Being snarky to Simon was becoming Lucy’s favourite pastime.

Simon sneered, staring at the colourful Cyberman tattoo on Lucy’s bicep. “Shopkeeper? I’m so much more than that.”

Harry ignored their snippy exchange and twisted around, resting his right arm on the back of the bench. Alex was looking at the weathered leather Bibles slotted in front of her knees, and he flicked one of the bowing purple feathers in her fascinator. “I can’t believe you’re wearing that thing.”