A Very Exclusive Engagement(25)
“I was being more cautious today. But it worked—you officially have the bridal glow. Let’s get in there before it wears off.”
He looped her arm through his and escorted her down the stone pathway that led into the garden reception.
At first the party was a blur. There were easily a hundred and fifty people there, which was impressive on such short notice. Someone announced their arrival, and a rush of people came over to hug and congratulate them. There were pictures and toasts to the happy new couple. Francesca worried it would be hard to keep up the act, but after a little practice and a little champagne, showing people her ring and gushing about how beautiful the party was became easier and easier.
It wasn’t long before Francesca was able to slip away from Liam and the crowds to get herself a drink and admire her friends’ party-planning handiwork. Scarlet and Ariella really did an excellent job. The garden itself was beautiful, but she could spot the touches they’d added, like white paper lanterns in the trees and a gauzy fabric and flower arch behind the string quartet. The layout of the food and seating areas generated the perfect traffic pattern through the space. It was those details that made what her friends did special. Hassle-free events were their forte.
She picked up a glass and filled it at the four-foot-high silver punch fountain. Just as the lifted the frothy pink drink to her lips, she heard a woman’s voice from behind her.
“That’s got champagne in it, you know.”
Francesca turned to find Ariella with a silver tray of pastel petit fours in her hands. “Am I not allowed to have champagne at my own engagement party?”
Her friend smiled and passed the tray off to one of the catering staff. “That depends on why you and Liam Crowe are in such a rush to get married.”
“I am not pregnant,” Francesca said with a pout. She should’ve known that rumor would be one of the first to start circulating. They liked nothing better than juicy gossip in these circles and they weren’t above making some up if it was in short supply. She swallowed the whole glass of punch just to prove the rumor wrong.
“Good.” Ariella refilled Francesca’s glass and filled one of her own, then gestured over to a few chairs under a wisteria tree dripping with purple flowers. “So, just between you and me, what’s going on?” she asked once they were seated.
Francesca knew her friend would grill her, although not in the same way that Aunt Beatrice probably would. She just wanted the details so she could understand and be happy for her. Or concerned, depending on if she thought she was being stupid or hasty. That’s what good girlfriends did. They kept your head on straight. “It all happened so quickly, I can hardly tell you. The moment I saw him, it was like the last few years we’ve been apart never happened. There were fireworks.” That wasn’t exactly a lie. It was more like armed missiles, but there were explosions nonetheless.
Ariella looked into her eyes, searching her face for a moment. Then, satisfied, she smiled and patted Francesca on the knee. “Then I’m happy for you. I just wish you had told us what was going on.”
Francesca wished she could really tell her what was going on. She could use a sounding board, but Liam had been adamant that no one know about their arrangement. No one. That was tough for her, considering how close she was with her friends and family.
“Everyone has been so busy with their own lives. I just decided to keep things quiet until there was something to tell.”
“How’d your dad take the news?” Ariella asked.
“Ah.” She sighed, “you know Dad. He’ll adjust eventually. He’s concerned that we’re rushing things, and that he had no idea who my groom even was. I had to remind him that he and my mother met and eloped within a month. He didn’t want to hear that.”
Ariella smiled. “I imagine not.”
Hoping to shift the subject, Francesca decided to use the topic of fathers to fulfill her first obligation to Liam. “Can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure,” Ariella said. “Anything.”
Francesca nodded. “Okay. Now I want you to tell me ‘no’ the moment you’re uncomfortable with the idea, but I told Liam I would ask. Now is as good a time as any.”
“He wants an interview?” she said wearily. Francesca could tell the last few months were really wearing on her friend.
“Not exactly. He wants to offer you and President Morrow the opportunity to meet and get your story out there. A televised reunion show. No spin, no intruding interview questions. Just you and your father, however you want to do it. Liam has even said he’d put me in charge of the show to make sure you’d be comfortable with it. I told him that I thought it was—”