Summer Weddings
A season of confetti and whirlwind romances!
You are cordially invited to attend the
Huntingdon-Cross summer weddings.
Celebrate the shotgun marriage of Daisy
Huntingdon-Cross and Sebastian Beresford in
Expecting the Earlâs Baby by Jessica Gilmore
Save the date: on sale March 2015
Raise a glass to Rose Huntingdon-Cross and
Will Carter as they finally tie the knot in
A Bride for the Runaway Groom by Scarlet Wilson
Save the date: on sale April 2015
Join us in celebrating Violet Huntingdon-Cross
and Tom Buckleyâs star-studded wedding day in
Falling for the Bridesmaid by Sophie Pembroke
Save the date: on sale May 2015
CHAPTER ONE
THE SWEET SMELL of rose petals filled the evening air, giving the falling dusk a sultry warmth. Music sang out from the band on the patio, romantic with just an undertone of sexy. Fairy lights twinkled in the branches of the trees and inside the marquees, and around them leaves rustled in the still warm breeze.
The whole set-up was so perfectly loved-up Violet thought she might be physically ill if she had to suffer through it a moment longer.
Glaring down at her lavender bridesmaidâs dress, she slunk to the edge of the celebrations where she could watch the live band play in peace. She needed to make more of an effort to enjoy the evening, and maybe the music would help. Her parentsâ vow renewal ceremony had been beautiful, and the party that followed a huge success. Later, she had no doubt, her dad and the boys from The Screaming Lemons would take to the stage and wow the remaining guests all over again, even though theyâd finished their official set an hour ago. Knowing Dad, it would probably be a lower key, acoustic set the second time around.
Keeping Dad off the stage was always more trouble than getting him on there, and he always wanted one more encore. But for now the support act seemed to be doing well enough. The courtyard in front of the stage was filled with people dancing, or just holding each other, or kissing. Falling in love.
Violet scowled and looked away.
Of course, the situation wasnât helped by her family. There, leaning against her new husbandâLord Sebastian Beresford, Earl of Holgate, if you pleaseâwas her youngest sister, Daisy. No, the Lady Holgate now. Hard to believe that Daisy-Waisy was an honest-to-God countess, but somehow not quite as impossible to process as the slight swell of her baby bump under her carefully chosen emerald-green bridesmaidâs dress.
Just a few more months and Violet would officially be the maiden aunt of the family. Hell, she was already doing the church flowers most weekends, and taking tea with her motherâs âladies who lunchâ crowd. Maybe she should just skip straight ahead to adopting a three-legged cat and taking up crochet.
Actually, sheâd quite like to learn to crochet, but that wasnât the point.
Seb rested his hand against his wifeâs stomach, and Daisyâs soft smile grew into a fully fledged grin as she tilted her face for a kiss. Violet turned away, suddenly embarrassed to be staring.
But unfortunately her gaze just landed on Rose and Will, looking equally wrapped up in each other. Her twin sister and her best friend. Violet had to admit she really hadnât seen that one coming either. An attraction, perhaps, or maybe even a fling. Not that Will would give up his runaway groom status for good and marry into her family. But there Rose stood in her own wedding dress, after sneaking away for their own secret marriage ceremony once their parentsâ vow renewal service was over.
Maybe she just had no sort of love radar at all. Or maybe it was broken. That would explain a hell of a lot, really.
Will glanced up at just the wrong moment and, this time, Violet couldnât look away quick enough. Even staring pointedly at the band, she couldnât miss the whispered conversation between Rose and her new husband. Probably trying to decide whose responsibility Violetâs hurt feelings were now.