Read Online Summer at the Star and Sixpence by Holly Hepburn - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Holly Hepburn
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mouth appeared to be full of sharp fangs. She hoped this last-minute
journey to London was worth it.
Most of the guests for the wedding reception and meal had arrived from the church now and were mingling on the village green. The catering staff wove through the crowd, offering perfectly
chilled glasses of Pimm’s and tall flutes of crisp champagne. Nessie spotted Joss doing a roaring trade with his kegs of Thirsty Bishop and Sycamore cider, not far from the Punch and Judy
stand. Elsewhere, there was a coconut shy and a giant game of Jenga and plenty of other village fête-type games to keep the guests happy while the newly wed Mr and Mrs Brady had their
photographs taken. There wasn’t much for Nessie to do but she found herself standing in the middle of the green feeling suddenly overwhelmed.
‘Are you all right, Nessie?’ Kathryn asked, as she passed by with Luke. ‘You look a bit lost.’
Nessie gave herself a mental shake. ‘It’s nothing really, just a slight hiccup.’
She explained Sam’s absence, although she kept the reason for her sister’s abrupt departure to herself.
‘What can I do to help?’ Kathryn said, as Luke scampered away to play with friends. Spotting her brother, she raised her voice. ‘Owen, come over here. Sam’s had to leave
and Nessie is a bit short-handed.’
‘I’m fine, honestly,’ Nessie said, striving to hide her embarrassment as Owen approached. ‘It’s mostly keeping an eye on the bar, making sure any drinks are being
run through correctly so that we can generate a bill at the end of the night, letting the bar staff take a break when they need to. But really, I can manage.’
Owen glanced towards the almost empty pub. ‘I don’t think there’s too much to worry about at the moment. Everyone is too busy enjoying the sunshine and fun on the
green.’
Nessie allowed herself to be momentarily distracted by how good he looked in his tailored black suit. More used to seeing him in work clothes, she wouldn’t have believed he owned such a
well-cut suit if she hadn’t seen him in it. She’d been at the back of the church – far enough away to be able to stare at him out of the corner of her eye without being noticed.
‘There’s nothing to worry about at all,’ she said to Kathryn and Owen. ‘Everything is going to be fine.’
The mood on the green was joyous. The sun beamed down and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky – JoJo had thoughtfully arranged for tubes of sun cream to be left in the luxury toilet
trailers, as well as flip-flops for aching feet. An ice-cream van served mini cornets and delicious fresh fruit ice lollies to anyone who wanted one and the queue was long. The air rang with the
sound of chatter and laughter and the sound of people enjoying themselves. After an hour or so, the guests began to drift into the marquee and Nessie assumed they were being seated for dinner.
After checking all was well behind the bar, she followed them in.
The marquee was a vision of loveliness. The grass had been covered with a hard floor and fully carpeted. Nessie counted more than thirty tables, each with beautiful cascades of peonies in the
centre and seats decked with azure blue ribbon that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses. Gradually, the guests made their way to the numbered tables. And at the head of the room, in pride of
place, was the top table.
Mr and Mrs Smith were sitting down already, with the groom’s parents, Mr and Mrs Brady. Best Man Jed was there too, shuffling through his notes and looking nervous. Thank goodness he
didn’t seem to have taken too much Dutch courage, the way Patrick’s Best Man had; he’d passed out just before the speeches and hadn’t woken up again until just after their
first dance.
Nessie hovered unobtrusively at the back of the tent and tried not to stare too much at Owen. Once it was clear everyone had found their table, Jed lifted a microphone to his lips. ‘Pray
be upstanding for the brand new Mr and
journey to London was worth it.
Most of the guests for the wedding reception and meal had arrived from the church now and were mingling on the village green. The catering staff wove through the crowd, offering perfectly
chilled glasses of Pimm’s and tall flutes of crisp champagne. Nessie spotted Joss doing a roaring trade with his kegs of Thirsty Bishop and Sycamore cider, not far from the Punch and Judy
stand. Elsewhere, there was a coconut shy and a giant game of Jenga and plenty of other village fête-type games to keep the guests happy while the newly wed Mr and Mrs Brady had their
photographs taken. There wasn’t much for Nessie to do but she found herself standing in the middle of the green feeling suddenly overwhelmed.
‘Are you all right, Nessie?’ Kathryn asked, as she passed by with Luke. ‘You look a bit lost.’
Nessie gave herself a mental shake. ‘It’s nothing really, just a slight hiccup.’
She explained Sam’s absence, although she kept the reason for her sister’s abrupt departure to herself.
‘What can I do to help?’ Kathryn said, as Luke scampered away to play with friends. Spotting her brother, she raised her voice. ‘Owen, come over here. Sam’s had to leave
and Nessie is a bit short-handed.’
‘I’m fine, honestly,’ Nessie said, striving to hide her embarrassment as Owen approached. ‘It’s mostly keeping an eye on the bar, making sure any drinks are being
run through correctly so that we can generate a bill at the end of the night, letting the bar staff take a break when they need to. But really, I can manage.’
Owen glanced towards the almost empty pub. ‘I don’t think there’s too much to worry about at the moment. Everyone is too busy enjoying the sunshine and fun on the
green.’
Nessie allowed herself to be momentarily distracted by how good he looked in his tailored black suit. More used to seeing him in work clothes, she wouldn’t have believed he owned such a
well-cut suit if she hadn’t seen him in it. She’d been at the back of the church – far enough away to be able to stare at him out of the corner of her eye without being noticed.
‘There’s nothing to worry about at all,’ she said to Kathryn and Owen. ‘Everything is going to be fine.’
The mood on the green was joyous. The sun beamed down and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky – JoJo had thoughtfully arranged for tubes of sun cream to be left in the luxury toilet
trailers, as well as flip-flops for aching feet. An ice-cream van served mini cornets and delicious fresh fruit ice lollies to anyone who wanted one and the queue was long. The air rang with the
sound of chatter and laughter and the sound of people enjoying themselves. After an hour or so, the guests began to drift into the marquee and Nessie assumed they were being seated for dinner.
After checking all was well behind the bar, she followed them in.
The marquee was a vision of loveliness. The grass had been covered with a hard floor and fully carpeted. Nessie counted more than thirty tables, each with beautiful cascades of peonies in the
centre and seats decked with azure blue ribbon that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses. Gradually, the guests made their way to the numbered tables. And at the head of the room, in pride of
place, was the top table.
Mr and Mrs Smith were sitting down already, with the groom’s parents, Mr and Mrs Brady. Best Man Jed was there too, shuffling through his notes and looking nervous. Thank goodness he
didn’t seem to have taken too much Dutch courage, the way Patrick’s Best Man had; he’d passed out just before the speeches and hadn’t woken up again until just after their
first dance.
Nessie hovered unobtrusively at the back of the tent and tried not to stare too much at Owen. Once it was clear everyone had found their table, Jed lifted a microphone to his lips. ‘Pray
be upstanding for the brand new Mr and
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