Free A Paper Marriage by Jessica Steele

her 'beau' she had to learn what he had come up with in respect of the fifty-five thousand pounds she owed him. One way and another Lydie could not say that she was looking forward to her brother's wedding all that much.

     

    Saturday dawned bright and beautiful and Lydie decided to go and call for her great-aunt in plenty of time. She was about to leave the house, however, when Charlie Hillier rang. `I thought you might like to come and have a meal with me,' he said straight away, sounding just a hint not his normal self.

    `When were you thinking of?' Lydie asked. He was a friend; she sensed something was troubling him.

    `Tonight would be good.'

    'Charlie! It's my brother's wedding today ! I can't.'

    `Sorry, I forgot. Tomorrow, then? Come to dinner.'

    Fleetingly she thought of how she was supposed to be dating Jonah Marriott. Could she pretend to her parents that her date tomorrow was with him? Oh, Lord, she was getting herself into all sorts of bother here ! 'I'd love to, Charlie,' she said quickly. Br-is anything the matter?'

    He was silent, and she could almost hear him blushing when, all in a rush, he blurted out, `That new woman-the one I told you about-Rowena Fox-she's asked me out!'

    Poor Charlie, Lydie mused as she drove to her great-aunt's house. He was in one almighty flap. Without a doubt he would not mind at all going out with the unable- to-wait-to-be-asked Rowena, but with astonishing lack of self-confidence just knew something would go wrong if he did-and that Rowena would never stop laughing at him. Charlie was in urgent need of some confidence bolstering. That, Lydie knew, would be her role tomorrow. Meantime, there was her brother's wedding to attend.

    `Will I pass muster with your mother?' Alice Gough asked, ready and waiting when she answered the door to her great-niece.

    `You look terrific!' Lydie beamed, admiring her great-aunt's silk dress and straw hat.

    They did not leave straight away, Alice decreeing, `I've made some sandwiches. We might as well eat them now. The formalities and photographs at these dos take for ever-heaven alone knows when we'll eat again.'

     

    They were at the church in good time, and were ushered into their pew immediately behind Lydie's parents. Lydie smiled encouragingly as her rather strained-looking brother, who was seated in front of her parents with his best man, looked over his shoulder to her. Her mother too had turned in her seat, and Lydie saw her mother give her great-aunt the once-over-and spotted great-aunt Alice doing likewise. Both appeared satisfied, and Lydie and her great-aunt took their seats and awaited the events. Lydie didn't know how her brother's insides were that morning, but hers were very definitely on the fidget. Why did Jonah Marriott want to come to the wedding anyway? Him and his, `I like weddings, Provided they're someone else's.' He wasn't remotely interested in this particular wedding. He just wanted to make her sweat, that was all.

    She was not too clear why he would want to make her sweat. What was clear to her was that she had never felt so on edge. She hoped he wouldn't come, that he would fail to turn up and then realised that, should he not come, she would be the one left looking a fool. The things she'd invented to get him an invitation !

    Lydie's great-aunt Alice had the seat nearest the aisle so that, being shorter than Lydie, she should have a good view of the wedding procession when it arrived. But Lydie's thoughts were more on Jonah Marriott, and her growing certainty that he would not come. She started to quite hate him-making her look a fool like that. Heaven alone knew what fresh lies she would now have to tell to cover his non- appearance.

    Suddenly, though, she became aware that a tall man had strolled up the aisle and was standing at the entrance to their pew. She looked over to him, and her insides somersaulted. She was not sure her heart did not give a little flip too. He had come.

    Their eyes met. He looked