Page 98 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘Sorry?’ says Cat.

‘Oh, have I got that wrong?’ asks Siobhan. ‘I’m sorry. I’ve upset you now.’

‘No … I …’

‘It’s okay, Siobhan. Cécile probably just got her wires crossed,’ I say, leaping into the conversation.

‘She must have,’ says Cat, though I know she doesn’t believe that for a second. ‘If you’ll excuse me?’ Cat strides off.

‘Well, fuck,’ says Siobhan, ‘I’ve only gone and stuck my big foot in my big fat mouth.’

‘No! It’s not … it’s not your fault. I promise. It’s just … it’s been a little contentious is all and Cécile … well, she’s a prize bitch. She knows that a decision hasn’t been made yet and I think she’s just trying to stir up trouble.’

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake. What sort of person does something like that at their brother’s wedding?’

‘Exactly. Look, I should …’

‘Oh, sorry. Done it again, going on and on … Go, go after her!’

I leave Siobhan at the buffet and follow Cat, catching Jaelee’s eye as I go. With a jerk of my head, I signal for her to join me and she does, covering the space between us surprisingly quickly for someone in five-inch stilettos.

‘What’s happening?’ she asks, falling into step beside me.

‘Cécile. She’s stirring up trouble.’

‘Oh, the Paris thing?’

‘Yeah, how’d you know that?’ I ask.

As we near the stairs, Lindsey approaches. ‘What’s going on with Cat?’

‘Cécile,’ says Jaelee without breaking stride. ‘She’s telling people Cat’s moving to Paris.’

‘But that’s still undecided, isn’t it?’ ask Lins.

‘Yep,’ replies Jaelee. ‘She’s a piece of work.’

Before we descend the stairs, I cast an eye back over the reception searching for the offending sister. Shocker?she’s watching us. I’m tempted to do that finger gesture you see in movies?‘I’m watching you, Cécile’?but I doubt she’d care. My gaze flicks over to Jean-Luc who has his back to us and is laughing at something Alistair has said. I don’t want to upset him?I’ll only bring him into this is if all else fails.

‘Sarah, come on,’ says Jaelee, who?somehow?is already halfway down the stairs. How the hell does she walk in those things? I follow her and Lins and moments later, we stop at the bottom of the stairs, looking both ways along the gravel driveway. It’s past sunset now, but there’s enough moonlight to see that it’s empty.

‘She’s probably inside the apartment,’ I say, heading off. The others follow but our search is fruitless, our voices echoing through the empty apartment.

‘Would she go back to the vineyard?’ asks Lins.

‘Hmm, I don’t think so. Not in the dark,’ I reply. ‘She must be in the castle courtyard.’ I hope I’m right as it’s the only other place I can think of. We make our way there, me in the lead and cursing my choice of footwear for the umpteenth time tonight.

The moonlight casts deep shadows across the courtyard but against the far wall, I make out the silvery silhouette of my sister sitting on a bench?and she’s not alone. Bianca? I wave to the others to follow and we traverse the courtyard. Cat and Bianca look up as we approach, their conversation halting, and Cat carefully dabs a linen handkerchief under her lower lashes.

‘Hey,’ I say.

‘Hello.’

‘I will leave you,’ Bianca says, scurrying away before any of us can say anything.

‘Thank you,’ Cat calls after her.

‘Buonaserata,’ says Bianca. She closes the double doors to the great hall.