Riviera Books 1–3: Three sizzling summer romances full of intrigue by Wareham Evonne

Author:Wareham, Evonne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Choc Lit Contemporary Romance: A Joffe Books Company
Published: 2023-09-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Three

Saturday night, and all’s well.

Or it will be, when you see the back of your fiancé tomorrow morning.

Nadine bit her lip, hoping her thoughts were not showing on her face. They’d filled the day with samples and suppliers, with a complete walk through of everything related to the wedding, and set the date — exactly six weeks time. It would, of course, cost a little more to achieve such a tight timescale. Nadine’s face felt stiff from smiling. She’d channelled excited gratitude, stifled the desire to throw things when she caught sight of Thackeray’s self-satisfied expression, and given her very best impression of a woman totally caught up in arranging her wedding. And totally unaware that she was actually caught up in a trickster’s web. Once she’d settled back into her role, it actually hadn’t been too hard to lose herself in the planning. The magic of a celebration, in a beautiful setting, under the unbroken blue sky of the Côte d’Azur, had taken hold and carried her along.

Abetted by Hélène, she’d opted for a retro vibe — the glamour of the Riviera, embodied in the films of the 1950s, with a finger food buffet to allow guests to wander the villa’s extensive grounds, and a towering chocolate wedding cake embellished with edible gold leaf. Vintage champagne would be chilled for mimosas and Kir royale. The tiny jewel box of a chapel would be lavishly decorated with roses and orchids, with potted citrus trees lining the entrance and the terraces. There would be a harpist and a string quartet and a singer for the chapel. The bride and groom would depart for their honeymoon from the jetty below the house, in a chauffeured motor launch. It was all impossibly, unbelievably over the top.

Thackeray had shed his febrile mood of Thursday night, and had been at his most expansive and indulgent. There had been no more talk of potential stalkers. Nadine suspected that he’d realised that he’d not shown himself in a good light, and was as anxious to let the matter drop as she was.

Now they were enjoying pre-dinner drinks on the topmost terrace. Hélène had suggested they take the opportunity to try out the exclusive and upmarket local caterers who would provide the wedding buffet. Nadine was simply grateful not to be spending another evening alone with Thackeray in some fancy restaurant. She leaned back, letting her mind drift for a few blissful seconds, as she considered the glass in her hand, appreciating the pale straw-coloured champagne from a tasting case that had arrived from Paris.

With an effort, she tuned back into the conversation. Hélène and Thackeray were talking about the on-site chapel, and the details of the ceremony, to be performed by Thackeray’s ‘family friend’. Hélène had warned her that she intended to steer the conversation that way. Nadine sat up straighter to listen.

Hélène was looking uncharacteristically tense, her fingers tight on the stem of her glass. ‘About the ceremony — the formalities, that is — you do realise, here in France, as non-residents—’

Thackeray waved an expansively reassuring hand.

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