Free The Lie by Linda Sole

that she’d seen him again. Simon was very nice and she had been silly to get cold feet earlier. She didn’t understand why she had felt reluctant to meet his family, because usually she enjoyed visiting. Her father had always encouraged her to stay with friends and she was certain he would have approved of Simon, because he came from a good family; after all, it wasn’t as if she was going off alone with him. ‘I’m looking forward to it, Simon.’
    â€˜Good. So am I  . . . oh, it looks as if Marcus needs me. I’d better see what he wants. We shall have plenty of time to talk later.’
    â€˜Yes, we shall,’ Emily said, and experienced a feeling of pleasurable anticipation. It would be rather nice to meet Simon’s family and have a little holiday before she started her new job. She went over to stand by Daniel after the photographer moved on to the groom’s family. ‘I thought Alice might be with you in church, Dan?’
    â€˜Oh, did you?’ Daniel gave her an odd look. ‘Why was that?’
    â€˜Aren’t you going out with her? I saw you together in Cambridge one afternoon and thought you might be courting.’
    â€˜We’re friends, of course,’ Daniel said. ‘We’ve been out a couple of times – but she had to get back to the house to help with the food and things. Margaret was relying on her. I thought it might be awkward if she had to walk the whole of the church to get out so I didn’t mention it.’
    â€˜Oh  . . .’ Emily was surprised. ‘I thought it might have been more than just casual when I saw you out together. She’s a lovely girl, Daniel – don’t hurt her, will you?’
    â€˜I know Alice is a nice girl. I have no intention of hurting her.’
    Daniel’s eyes strayed to where Margaret was standing. Clay was next to her, whispering something in her ear. It was obvious to him that he was very interested in her – and glancing at Dorothy, he saw that she had noticed too. He would have to speak to his brother, warn him not to get too involved – and the same went for Daniel himself. Margaret was trouble. If she wanted her money, the best thing would be to pay her and let her go before she caused mayhem.
    â€˜I know you wouldn’t do it intentionally,’ Emily said. ‘But if you ask her out several times she may think—’
    â€˜Yes, well, I shan’t,’ Daniel said, a touch sharply. ‘Just forget it, Emily. I’m not a child and I’m not a womanizer either.’
    â€˜No, of course not. I didn’t mean  . . . sorry.’
    Frances was beckoning to her and she left Daniel to see what her sister wanted, feeling a bit hurt. She hadn’t been preaching to him, but it had probably sounded that way. It was just that she liked Alice a lot and felt it must have hurt her to be shut out of an affair like this, treated as if she were just the hired help.
    Frances wanted to tell her that they were ready to go across the road now. ‘Is my dress all right at the back?’ she asked. ‘It keeps blowing about and I think it may have got dirty on the hem at the back.’
    Emily had a quick look and reassured her. ‘No, no, it’s fine, but I’ll carry the train for you as we go over the road, shall I?’
    â€˜Yes, please, love,’ Frances said, and smiled at her. ‘I should hate it to spoil.’
    They were ready to make the move now. Because the house was so close, everyone waited for Frances and Marcus to walk down the church path and cross the road, and then they all joined in the procession, holding up the traffic. As the only vehicle on the road was a horse and cart driven by an old man, he was happy to sit and wait, grinning and waving to people he knew as they trooped behind the bride and groom. It was quite an occasion in the village and he would have something to tell his wife when he