Page 93 of Wife After Wife

And then she noticed Katie. And... Cassandra? Of course. Charles’s and Harry’s daughters were bridesmaids.

If Cassandra hadn’t been sitting with Katie, Ana wouldn’t have recognized her. Her hair had grown long and was loose around her shoulders, and there were flowers in it.

Katie sensed Ana’s scrutiny and turned slightly, meeting her eye. As recognition dawned, she looked quickly away again. She said something to Cassandra, who craned her neck to give Ana the full once-over. Surprisingly, she smiled.

Ana dropped her eyes.

Harry turned around, finally. He was looking dapper in his morning suit, his gold-patterned waistcoat a splash of color against the gray and white. He grinned, before his eyes traveled over the other guests.

There were calls of “shh!” as a string quartet began to play. Everyone turned to see Megan, a vision in white tulle, floating down the aisle, a beatific smile on her face. Behind her came the posse of bridesmaids, including Harry’s daughter, who wore an intense frown as she concentrated on not stepping on Megan’s dress.

As the ceremony began, Ana experienced an upwelling of emotion. She remembered Megan as she’d been in France, flitting from one relationship to the next. Now look at her. She’d been with the same guy, alifelong friend twelve years her senior, for all this time. And there was Charles, whose roving eye had driven his first wife to drink, now promising fidelity to the girl who’d held a special place in his heart since she was a child.

They were so right together, so content.

Would Ana and Harry ever achieve that? Watching Megan and Charles made her realize what hard work her relationship with Harry had become.

At the office, people were wary of her. In the loos, Ana had overheard Lesley from human resources (best friend of Janette) liken Ana to Camilla Parker Bowles, the saintly Katie being “just like Diana, really.” And Harry was still fobbing her off every time she raised the subject of a more managerial role.

They were out several nights a week, at mostly work-related functions, and Harry was always too busy networking to pay her much attention. On the remaining nights he preferred to stay home and relax, watching TV or reading a book.

Sex was now a bedroom-only affair, after their initial can’t-wait-that-long rampages. And, often as not, it was initiated by her. The only thing that guaranteed his attention was another guy showing too much interest.

It was time to move things on.

As Charles kissed his bride and the guests burst into applause, she wondered whether to speak to Katie, to see if she could get her to budge on the wait for a divorce.

•••

At the reception, Ana was seated with Megan’s work friends. After her initial annoyance at being some distance from the top table, she accepted that—technically speaking—she came under the heading “friends.”

The girl on Ana’s right was gushing over Ana’s suit. “It’s absolutely spectacular. Where did you get it from? If you don’t mind me asking?”

“It’s Chanel.”

“Oh wow, Chanel! And how do you know Megan?”

“We used to share a flat, and—”

“That must’ve been fun. I work with her, we have such a laugh. I’m so happy for her. Charles is a lovely bloke. It’s sad her parents aren’t here, though, being dead, I mean. But at least her older brother is. The very rich and not exactly ugly Harry Rose. Isn’t he a dreamboat? Shame he’s married. Megan said he’s separated from his wife, though. So maybe there’s hope. I—”

“I’m Ana, Harry’s girlfriend. Once the divorce comes through, we’re getting married.”

That shut her up.

Then: “Oh, of course. Penny dropping here! The one Megan organized the wedding for, then it got called off because... right. Sorry.”

The girl picked up her glass of wine and took a prolonged sip, staring straight ahead.

“I work forHooray!,” said Ana. “Of course we’ve got exclusivity on today’s photos.”

“Jake! The photographer. I’ve met him a few times at events I’ve done. I remember him mentioning you now...” She stopped abruptly. “He’s cool.”

What had Jake said about her? She tried not to care.

Ana turned to the girl on her other side. “Hi, I’m Ana. How do you know Megan?”

A while later, as the waiters poured champagne for the toast, Harry stood up and tapped his glass with a spoon. The room went quiet.