Page 26 of The Granddaughter's Irish Secret
‘Are you okay?’ Noel asked, sounding concerned. ‘He wasn’t rude to you, was he?’
Rose looked up, pulled from her thoughts. ‘No, not at all. It was all very civilised. We’ll never be friends but there are no hard feelings any more. All done and forgotten.’
‘That’s good. I was wondering why you looked so worried just now.’
‘It’s not about that,’ Rose tried to explain. ‘It’s about something else. But I can’t go into it right now. Or ever, really.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Noel said, looking embarrassed. ‘I didn’t mean to pry.’
‘I know you didn’t,’ Rose soothed. ‘You’re always so considerate. I really appreciate that.’
‘The bride and groom are about to leave,’ someone suddenly shouted. ‘And the bride will be throwing the bouquet, so all you girls out there, gather in the lobby and we’ll see who will be walking down the aisle next.’
‘Oh no,’ Rose muttered, panic rising in her chest. ‘I don’t want to do this. She’ll throw the bouquet straight at me and everyone will be applauding and it will be so totally embarrassing that I’ll die.’
‘You won’t die, but I get it,’ Noel mumbled back into her ear, grabbing her hand. ‘Let’s slip away now while everyone’s moving off. Then we can reappear when the bouquet throwing is over.’
Rose nodded. They managed to sneak through the door and into a corridor that led to the restrooms, and waited there while the noise of many voices died down. They stood squashed together for a moment and, as their eyes met, Rose felt a strange little tug at her heart. The way he looked at her was so endearing that she was tempted to reach up and kiss him. He had been such a support to her all through the evening, but that wasn’t what made her feel a sudden attraction to him. It was something else, something she hadn’t expected.
But then she heard cheering and guessed someone had caught the bouquet. Noel slowly pulled away and opened the door to the lobby. What she saw made her laugh out loud. Kate, the woman she had been talking to earlier, stood in the middle of the crowd holding the bouquet, her face red. Then she laughed and waved the flowers in the air while the bride and groom went down the stairs, through the throng and into a sportscar, which was festooned with a ‘just married’ sign and cans on strings clattering loudly as they drove off.
Kate handed the bouquet to one of the bridesmaids and joined Rose, who was hanging back a little. ‘You’re the next one to get married, then?’ Rose said, still laughing.
‘So it appears,’ she replied with a grin. ‘I hope it’s true.’
‘I’m sure it is,’ Noel said, still holding Rose by the waist.
‘What about you two?’ Kate asked. ‘I can tell you’re getting close.’
‘Oh we’re taking it nice and slow,’ Noel said, letting go of Rose.
‘Not too slow,’ Kate said with a wink. ‘Life’s short. Get married while you’re still in love. See you later, lads.’ She moved away and disappeared into the throng of guests who were heading back into the dining room.
‘Wise words,’ Noel said, smiling at Rose.
‘Oh, I don’t think I want to get married just yet,’ Rose protested, still feeling odd after that moment in the corridor. ‘How about you? Anyone on the horizon?’ she asked.
He shook his head. ‘No, more’s the pity. It’s getting a little sad to still be single at my age, but there you are. Not many takers for a lanky impoverished country solicitor with size thirteen feet.’
‘You have so many good qualities, though. But how old are you?’ Rose asked without thinking.
‘I’m thirty-eight. Many years older than you.’
‘Not at all,’ Rose protested. ‘I’m thirty-five. Getting a little long in the tooth as well.’
‘You still look like a girl,’ Noel remarked. ‘I’m sure it won’t be long before someone snaps you up.’ He paused for a moment. ‘Forgive me for asking, but Lily hinted that there might be some chemistry between you and Henri Bernard.’
Rose felt her cheeks flush. ‘No, she is totally barking up the wrong tree. Nothing going on there except mutual dislike.’
‘But you’re attracted to him?’
Rose sighed. ‘Not really. That type of man is what I’m trying to get away from. In any case, as his father and my grandmother are together, he feels like family, even if we’re not related in anyway. But any woman with a pulse would be attracted to Henri Bernard. He’s incredibly good looking.’
‘He might feel the same about you,’ Noel suggested.
‘I don’t think so. He just enjoys ribbing me. We’re always arguing. A kind of one-upmanship that we are both trying to win. It’s going nowhere and I don’t want to talk about it tonight. It’s been such a nice evening thanks to you, Noel. You’re the best friend a girl could wish for.’
Noel’s face brightened. ‘Ah, that’s lovely. So happy to have helped you through what must have been a difficult evening.’
