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Without turning around, I knew the minute she walked out. The look on my cousin’s face melted my heart.
“Wait.” I gasped when I saw the bouquet of flowers sitting on the dining table and rushed over to hand it to her.
I stood back and listened to the vicar’s words, crying through the entire thing, trying hard to push away the question lingering in my mind—would anyone ever love me half as much as Niven loved Harper? I feared not.
At the end of the ceremony, after Niven, Harper, Sterling, a friend of my cousin who served with me as witnesses, and I signed the marriage license and drank a toast. After which, it was time for everyone to leave.
“We’ll take the vicar next door,” I said, kissing Niv’s cheek. “Dinner will be delivered at five, so when someone knocks, put on your knickers and answer the door.”
“You are a minx, but I love you, cousin.”
“I love you too, Niven.”
“Where are you off to, then?”
“I’m driving Sterling back to London tonight, but I’ll return as soon as I hear from you. By the way, someday, you’ll have to tell me how a man from Texas, who goes by the name of Hammer, ended up as your witness.” The expression on Niv’s face changed so drastically that I regretted my words as soon as I said them.
“He’s also my attorney. There were, um, other things that needed to be signed.”
“Understood, and please forgive me for asking.”
He kissed my cheek like I had his. “Have I told you how much I appreciate what you’re doing and everything you’ve already done?”
I was in a foul mood on the drive to London. Feeling sorry for myself was more like it. Why couldn’t I just be happy for Niven and Harper rather than get mired by the idea I’d probably never marry as well?
After dropping Hammer, which he insisted I call him, at the airport, I drove into town. I thought about staying at Claridge’s, but given my mood, I decided not to. Instead, I chose a place on the opposite street. As I looked over at my favorite hotel in all of London, I immediately regretted my decision. If I thought for a moment they’d refund my money, I’d hurry to the lobby. Certain they wouldn’t, I got in bed and cried myself to sleep.
Two days later, when Niven asked me to return to the cottage and I watched him and Harper say goodbye, I felt ashamed for my tears the night of their wedding. This was sorrow. My tears were nothing but a pity party.
Four gut-wrenchingly worrisome days later, I received a call from Niven.
“Where are you?” I gasped.
“London, and I’ve been trying to reach Harper, but she isn’t picking up.”
“She’s asleep, but I’ll wake her. Thank God, by the way, that you’re back. I mean, you are, right? Not leaving again right away?”
“Not leaving again ever if I can help it. On my way to Alfriston tonight.” Saint’s voice was weak with fatigue.
“Is it okay, then, if I make myself scarce?” I asked.
“You needn’t, Eliza. It’s the middle of the night.”
“Not quite, and I’d rather. You had little enough of a honeymoon as it is.”
“Thank you.”
“I’d say it was my pleasure, but I’m sure it will be yours.”
“You’re a minx, but I adore you.”
“As I do, you.”
After waking Harper and telling her to turn on her phone, I quietly let myself out of the cottage. Rather than return to the city right away, I took the scenic route through Surrey. By the time I reached Shere, I was too exhausted to keep driving, so I stopped at the only pub in town to get a bite to eat.
After learning there were rooms to let upstairs, I decided to sleep and return to London the following morning. When I peeked out the window right before getting into bed, I saw a group of blokes heading toward the pub’s entrance.
In my haze of two pints, on top of my exhaustion, I imagined I saw my mystery man amongst them. When I blinked and looked again, he wasn’t there.