A Secret Garden Affair by Erica James

Author:Erica James [James, Erica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2023-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

‘After the fuss that’s been made of the dress,’ observed Elfrida, ‘all I can say is that it looks like it could do with a jolly good iron.’

‘Imagine the weight of all that silk taffeta,’ murmured Bess.

As the BBC’s Tom Fleming kept up a steady commentary, Lady Diana, minutes away from becoming Princess Diana, was slowly climbing the steps of St Paul’s with Earl Spencer at her side and where inside the cathedral three and a half thousand guests awaited them. The poor man appeared so frail, thought Libby, as if Diana was the one supporting him and not the other way round. There was no denying the affection they held for each other and it brought an unexpected lump to Libby’s throat as she thought of her own father and how sad she’d been when planning her wedding that he wasn’t alive to walk her up the aisle. To her mother’s chagrin, Libby had said that because nobody could replace her father she had intended to break with tradition and would approach the altar alone.

‘Earl Spencer looks so proud and happy for his daughter, doesn’t he?’ said Libby, passing round a plate of smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, along with another of vol au vents and cocktail sausages she’d cooked in a sticky marinade of brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce.

‘For a man who had a stroke and was in a coma not so long ago, I’d say he looks remarkably chipper,’ said Elfrida, helping herself to a sandwich and a couple of sausages. ‘Any more champagne going?’

‘Of course,’ said Libby.

‘Am I not allowed a tiny amount so I can toast the happy couple?’ asked Bess.

‘Just a drop,’ conceded Libby. She felt so torn when it came to her great-aunt. On the one hand she wanted to let her be happy and be left to do everything she always had, but on the other, she badly wanted to wrap her in cotton wool and keep her safe. But a small amount of champagne wouldn’t hurt, would it, she told herself – it was a special occasion?

By the time she’d poured the champagne and helped herself to something to eat, Lady Diana and Earl Spencer had completed the seemingly endless walk up the aisle and now the radiant twenty-year-old bride stood beside Prince Charles who was decked out in his full dress naval commander uniform. They certainly made a striking couple, but then she supposed most brides and grooms did.

‘Do you think Marcus is watching this?’ asked Elfrida.

‘Good grief!’ tutted Bess. ‘Could you be any more insensitive?’

‘That’s okay,’ said Libby. ‘It’s a fair enough question. My guess is no, he’ll be giving it a miss.’

‘We could have done the same,’ said Elfrida.

‘Certainly not,’ said Libby, keeping to herself that had she been on her own in London she would have probably avoided switching on the television, but being here with Bess and Elfrida it didn’t seem such an ordeal. ‘After all,’ she added with forced brightness, ‘it’s billed as the wedding of the century and when I’m your age I want to be able to say I saw it happen.

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