Read Online The Lie by Linda Sole - Free Book Online

marrying the man you want,’ Emily said. ‘And he has six days’ leave to take you away somewhere. The reception might not be all you’d hoped for, but everyone has done their best.’
    Friends and family had baked and scrounged, and there was a decent buffet tea and some good wine from the cellars at Stretton Park.
    â€˜Oh, I’m not complaining,’ Frances said, her eyes shining. ‘I’m happy just to be marrying Marcus.’
    â€˜It must be wonderful to know exactly what you want and get it,’ Emily said. ‘I’ve never felt about anyone the way you do about Marcus.’
    â€˜You will one day,’ Frances said, and kissed her cheek. ‘I thought you rather liked Simon Vane. You’re going to stay with his family after the wedding, aren’t you?’
    â€˜Yes, I am. He asked me and I said I would, but I’m not sure now that it was a good thing. After all, I don’t really know him.’
    â€˜You must have got on very well together that afternoon or he wouldn’t have asked.’
    â€˜I suppose not.’ Emily wasn’t sure why she’d suddenly got cold feet – after all, she’d enjoyed her afternoon out with Simon, and he’d made her go tingly all over when he kissed her. ‘It’s just that things have changed. I’ll be going away somewhere when I get back, and everything seems  . . . not the same anymore. You won’t be living here and—’
    â€˜Nor will you,’ Frances reminded her. ‘I wonder if Daniel has thought about that. If he stays here it will be just him and Margaret – and Connor, of course.’
    â€˜I hadn’t thought about that,’ Emily said. ‘That is a bit awkward for him, isn’t it? After all, this is his home – but you know how people talk.’
    â€˜Well, I suppose they are both sensible adults,’ Frances said, dismissing the subject. She picked up the blue lace garter her sister had given her and slipped it on. ‘So, there’s my luck – the veil was Mum’s so I’ve got them all; something old, something borrowed, something new and something blue.’
    â€˜You don’t need luck,’ Emily told her, and squeezed her waist affectionately. ‘Marcus loves you, you love him – what more do you need?’
    â€˜I don’t know  . . .’ Frances felt as if a cold wind had blown over her suddenly and her tummy lurched. ‘Wish me luck all the same, Emmy.’
    â€˜Of course I do,’ Emily said. ‘All the luck in the world, dearest. We had better go now or you’ll be late.’
    â€˜I’ve only got to walk over the road.’
    â€˜You still don’t want to be late. I saw Henry arrive ages ago. He’s pacing about over there like a cat on hot bricks; that must mean Marcus and his family are already inside.’
    â€˜I wanted to ask Daniel to give me away,’ Frances said. ‘But Henry expected it so I couldn’t say no  . . .’ She sighed but neither sister said what was on their minds. ‘We’d better go then.’
    Emily walked up the aisle behind her sister. She was wearing a pale green silk dress that she’d bought in Cambridge especially for her sister’s wedding. It wasn’t really a bridesmaid’s gown, but a pretty afternoon frock that would be more practical afterwards. With all the regulations and shortages these days, she had been lucky to find something that would answer both purposes.
    Simon Vane was Marcus’s best man and Emily her sister’s only attendant. They stood side by side, Simon giving her a smile of welcome as she joined him at the start of the ceremony. The sun was filtering through the stained glass windows, making patterns on the worn stone floor. It was a beautiful old church, peaceful and familiar. Emily was glad her sister had chosen the church and not gone for a register office