“Go, Beauty and Prince,” says Robyn, giving me a little shove. “Go! One two three, one two three…”
Exchanging looks, Luke and I make it onto the dance floor, where the guests part to let us through. The music is all around us, a spotlight is following our path, and all of a sudden, rose petals start falling gently from the ceiling.
This is rather lovely, actually. Everyone’s beaming benevolently, and I can hear some “Aahs” as we go by. The glow of pink light is like being inside a rainbow, and the rose petals smell wonderful as they land on our heads and arms and drift to the floor. Luke and I are smiling at each other, and there’s a petal in his hair—
“Stop!”
As I hear the voice, I feel a sudden chill, right to the marrow of my bones.
The double doors have opened, and there she is, standing in the doorway. Wearing a black suit and the highest, pointiest black boots I’ve ever seen.
Everyone turns to look, and the orchestra peters out uncertainly.
“Oh, look!” I hear someone saying in delight. “That’s so cute, they even thought of a witch!”
“Alicia?” says Luke in astonishment. “What are you doing here?”
“Having a good wedding, Luke?” she says sweetly, and takes a few steps into the room.
“Come in,” I say quickly. “Come on in and join the party. We would have invited you…”
“I know what you’re doing, Becky.”
“We’re getting married!” I say, trying to sound lighthearted. “No prizes for guessing that!”
“I know exactly what you’re doing.” She meets my eye. “I’ve got friends in Surrey, and they’ve been checking things out.”
No.
Please, no.
“I think you have a teeny little secret you’re not sharing with the rest of your guests.” Alicia pulls a mock-concerned face. “That’s not very polite, is it?”
I need my fairy godmothers, quick. I need someone to zap her with twinkle dust.
Laurel shoots me a horrified look.
Christina puts down her champagne glass.
“Code red, Code red,” I hear Robyn’s voice crackling from the bouquet. “Urgent. Code red.”
Now Alicia’s walking around the dance floor, taking her time, relishing the attention.
“The truth is,” she says pleasantly, “this is all a bit of a sham. Isn’t it, Becky?”
My eye flickers behind her. Two burly minders in tuxedos are approaching the dance floor. But they’re not going to get there in time. It’s all going to be ruined.
“It all looks so lovely. It all looks so romantic.” Her voice suddenly hardens. “But what people might like to know is that this so-called perfect Plaza wedding is actually a complete and utter… arrrgh!” Her voice rises to a scream. “Put me down!”
I don’t believe it. It’s Luke.
He’s calmly walked up to her and hoisted her up onto his shoulder. And now he’s carrying her out, like a naughty toddler.
“Put me down!” she cries. “Someone bloody well help me!”
But the guests are starting to laugh. She starts kicking Luke with her pointy boots, and he raises his eyebrows but doesn’t stop striding.
“It’s a fake!” she shrieks as they reach the door. “It’s a fake! They’re not really—”
The door slams, cutting her off, and there’s a silent, shocked moment. No one moves, not even Robyn. Then, slowly, the door opens again, and Luke reappears, brushing his hands.
“I don’t like gate-crashers,” he says dryly.
“Bravo!” shouts a woman I don’t recognize. Luke gives a little bow, and there’s a huge, relieved laugh, and soon the whole room is applauding.
My heart is thumping so hard I’m not sure I can keep standing. As Luke rejoins me, I reach for his hand and he squeezes mine hard. I just want to go now. I want to get away.
Now there’s an interested babble around the room, and I can hear people murmuring things like “deranged” and “must be jealous.” A woman in head-to-toe Prada is even saying brightly, “You know, exactly the same thing happened at our wedding—”
Oh God, and now here come Elinor and Robyn, side by side like the two queens in Alice in Wonderland.
“I’m so sorry!” says Robyn as soon as she gets near. “Don’t let it upset you, sweetheart. She’s just a sad girl with a grudge.”
“Who was that?” says Elinor with a frown. “Did you know her?”
“A disgruntled ex-client,” says Robyn. “Some of these girls become very bitter. I’ve no idea what happens to them! One minute they’re sweet young things, the next minute they’re throwing lawsuits around! Don’t worry, Becky. We’ll do the exit again. Attention, orchestra,” she says urgently. “Reprise ‘Some Day’ at the signal. Lighting crew, stand by with emergency rose petals.”
“You have emergency rose petals?” I say in disbelief.
“Sweetheart, I have every eventuality covered.” She twinkles at me. “This is why you hire a wedding planner!”
“Robyn,” I say honestly, “I think you’re worth every penny.” I put an arm round her and give her a kiss. “Bye. And bye again, Elinor.”
The music swells through the air again, we start walking again, and more rose petals start cascading from the ceiling. I really have to hand it to Robyn. People are crowding around and applauding — and is it my imagination, or do they look a bit friendlier, following the Alicia incident? At the end of the line I spot Erin leaning eagerly forward, and I toss my bouquet into her outstretched hands.