Read Online Queen of Hearts by Jayne Castle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jayne Castle
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I kept wishing I had some family to invite but I know now that having friends like you there will do perfectly!"
Saturday morning dawned brilliant and sunny. Janna dressed happily in the yellow full-length gown with its summery neckline and smooth, non-fussy lines. She mentally thanked Lucy again for having the sense not to dress her tall bridesmaid in a frilly, too-young outfit. She slipped into the matching sandals and adjusted the yellow flowers into her sleekly knotted hair. Short, yellow gloves completed the look. The flowers she would carry were waiting at the church. Then she walked the short distance to the college chapel, gliding across the lush green quadrangle with a marvelously romantic feeling.
She found Lucy in the bride's dressing room standing amid a flutter of activity.
"The flowers!" someone called, "Where are the flowers!"
"They're already in the church. What are you worried about?" an answering voice demanded.
"I mean the ones the bride and bridesmaids are supposed to carry! Has anyone seen them?"
There followed a tense search which revealed the bouquets safely stored in the refrigerator of the church reception room. A number of other minor catastrophes were sorted out to everyone's satisfaction and at last her attendants stood back from Lucy to admire their handiwork.
"Fantastic!" proclaimed one.
"Nat's going to forget all his lines when he sees you," Janna grinned, giving her friend a quick, affectionate hug. "Good luck, Lucy. You look beautiful!"
"Alright, bridesmaids," someone called. "Time to get ready to walk down the aisle!"
Janna followed the two other women wearing yellow and stood patiently on the church steps as they waited for their cue to enter. The nervous tension began to build as the ushers seated the last of the guests.
One of Nat's favorite professors hovered about, glancing at his watch. He was scheduled to give away the bride. An elderly bachelor, it was obvious he was the most nervous of all.
All eyes were focused on the church entrance as the various members of the wedding party prepared to make their entrance when the loudly protesting screech of brakes made everyone turn toward the curb, curiosity and then amazement mirrored on their faces. A white Continental shuddered to a halt and no one's face mirrored more amazement than Janna's.
"Oh, Lord!" she breathed, eyes wide as the door on the driver's side was flung open and Adam Halleck was out and striding toward the group on the church steps with long, ground-eating strides. "Damn!" she muttered in fear and frustration and then moved forward to intercept him. She had no idea how one stopped six feet, four inches of furious male, but someone had to try and she was the only one on the steps who realized what was happening.
Picking up the long yellow skirts in one hand, clinging to her flowers with the other, she began to run toward Adam, feeling her courage ebb as she drew close enough to see the glitter of pure steel in his eyes. Every line of his face was etched in fury. She needn't have worried about drawing his attention to herself. He showed no interest in Lucy or any other member of the wedding group. Janna was the sole focus of rage. Realizing he wasn't heading for Lucy, after all, Janna slowed to a stop, fear battling with anger as Adam didn't follow suit and slow down. He kept on coming until Janna, beginning to panic, stepped belatedly backward.
It was too late. Even if she had turned and run with all her strength, he would have caught her easily and she knew it.
"Adam Halleck, don't you dare interrupt this wedding...!'' she shouted at him as he closed the remaining distance between them and then bit off her words as he stretched out fingers of iron, clamped them around her bare shoulders and jerked her against him.
"Damn it to hell, woman! How did you dare! How did you dare go ahead with the wedding!" The tidal wave of his fury washed over Janna as she hung helplessly in his grip, not knowing how to deal with
Saturday morning dawned brilliant and sunny. Janna dressed happily in the yellow full-length gown with its summery neckline and smooth, non-fussy lines. She mentally thanked Lucy again for having the sense not to dress her tall bridesmaid in a frilly, too-young outfit. She slipped into the matching sandals and adjusted the yellow flowers into her sleekly knotted hair. Short, yellow gloves completed the look. The flowers she would carry were waiting at the church. Then she walked the short distance to the college chapel, gliding across the lush green quadrangle with a marvelously romantic feeling.
She found Lucy in the bride's dressing room standing amid a flutter of activity.
"The flowers!" someone called, "Where are the flowers!"
"They're already in the church. What are you worried about?" an answering voice demanded.
"I mean the ones the bride and bridesmaids are supposed to carry! Has anyone seen them?"
There followed a tense search which revealed the bouquets safely stored in the refrigerator of the church reception room. A number of other minor catastrophes were sorted out to everyone's satisfaction and at last her attendants stood back from Lucy to admire their handiwork.
"Fantastic!" proclaimed one.
"Nat's going to forget all his lines when he sees you," Janna grinned, giving her friend a quick, affectionate hug. "Good luck, Lucy. You look beautiful!"
"Alright, bridesmaids," someone called. "Time to get ready to walk down the aisle!"
Janna followed the two other women wearing yellow and stood patiently on the church steps as they waited for their cue to enter. The nervous tension began to build as the ushers seated the last of the guests.
One of Nat's favorite professors hovered about, glancing at his watch. He was scheduled to give away the bride. An elderly bachelor, it was obvious he was the most nervous of all.
All eyes were focused on the church entrance as the various members of the wedding party prepared to make their entrance when the loudly protesting screech of brakes made everyone turn toward the curb, curiosity and then amazement mirrored on their faces. A white Continental shuddered to a halt and no one's face mirrored more amazement than Janna's.
"Oh, Lord!" she breathed, eyes wide as the door on the driver's side was flung open and Adam Halleck was out and striding toward the group on the church steps with long, ground-eating strides. "Damn!" she muttered in fear and frustration and then moved forward to intercept him. She had no idea how one stopped six feet, four inches of furious male, but someone had to try and she was the only one on the steps who realized what was happening.
Picking up the long yellow skirts in one hand, clinging to her flowers with the other, she began to run toward Adam, feeling her courage ebb as she drew close enough to see the glitter of pure steel in his eyes. Every line of his face was etched in fury. She needn't have worried about drawing his attention to herself. He showed no interest in Lucy or any other member of the wedding group. Janna was the sole focus of rage. Realizing he wasn't heading for Lucy, after all, Janna slowed to a stop, fear battling with anger as Adam didn't follow suit and slow down. He kept on coming until Janna, beginning to panic, stepped belatedly backward.
It was too late. Even if she had turned and run with all her strength, he would have caught her easily and she knew it.
"Adam Halleck, don't you dare interrupt this wedding...!'' she shouted at him as he closed the remaining distance between them and then bit off her words as he stretched out fingers of iron, clamped them around her bare shoulders and jerked her against him.
"Damn it to hell, woman! How did you dare! How did you dare go ahead with the wedding!" The tidal wave of his fury washed over Janna as she hung helplessly in his grip, not knowing how to deal with
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