Read Wedding Rows for Free Online Page A

Sitting Marsh for the wedding, so I wouldn’t be able to see him this weekend. But then I missed him so much, and I was pretty bored that first night at the manor, so when Sadie offered to bring me down here I thought it would be fun.”
    Polly nodded. “Sadie told me you’d come down here with her on Thursday night.”
    Tess sighed and passed a hand across her forehead. “Yes, well, the first thing we saw when we walked in was Brian sitting at the bar. I never dreamed he would follow me down here. He said he was staying at the pub, and that he planned to go to the wedding reception so we could be there together.”
    Impressed by this bold move, Polly said breathlessly, “You must have been so thrilled!”
    Tess shrugged. “Not really. To tell you the truth, I wished he hadn’t come. I knew Daddy would be livid, and I didn’t want to spoil the wedding for Aunt Prissy. I told Brian he couldn’t come to the reception. He said he hadn’t come all that way to sit around the pub by himself all weekend. We had a nasty row and he stalked off. I thought he’d gone home, but then he turned up at the reception this afternoon.”
    Polly sucked in her breath. “So what did your dad say when he found out?”
    “Well, he was livid, of course. Just as I thought. He called Brian a swindler, said he was using me and that he was only after the money. He told Brian if he came near me again he’d have him arrested for harassment.”
    “So did he leave?”
    “No, he wanted to dance with me.” Tess’s lower lip trembled. “I was really angry with Daddy. I loved Brian and I told Daddy if he didn’t let me see him I’d run away with him. I knew Daddy wouldn’t make a scene at the wedding, so I danced with Brian anyway.”
    Polly frowned. “I don’t remember seeing you with anyone. Which one was he?”
    “The tall fellow, in the dark gray suit and blue tie.”
    “Oh, him.” Polly nodded. “Nice-looking bloke.”
    “Yes, I suppose he is.” Tess drummed on the table with her fingers. “It’s just a shame he turned out to be such a rotter.”
    “So what’d he do then?” Polly demanded. But before Tess could answer, another voice broke into the conversation.
    “Come on, Pol, let’s go and join the sing-along at the piano.” Sadie’s grin took in both of them. “You, too, Tess. We need some girls over there to drown out the Yanks.”
    Polly looked at Tess, who shook her head. “I’m tired. I think I’ll go back to the Manor House. Where can I call for a taxi?”
    Sadie burst out laughing. “You’re joking. There’s no taxi in Sitting Marsh.”
    Tess stared up at her in dismay. “Then how am I going to get home?”
    “Well, I could give you a ride on me bicycle,” Sadie said doubtfully, then shook her head. “Nah. We’d never get up the hill. Wait here.” She bolted back to the crowd at the dartboard, where she grabbed the arm of an American serviceman.
    “Looks like you’ll be going home in a Jeep,” Polly said, as Sadie gestured at them.
    “Oh, help.” Tess sighed. “Well, I suppose it’s better than walking all that way. These shoes have such high heels I’d have blisters all over my feet by the time I got there.”
    Sadie came back to the table, dragging a shy-looking soldier with close-cropped red hair and worried eyes. “Here,” Sadie announced, “this is Joe. He’s a good friend of mine. He’ll give us a lift to the Manor House.”
    Joe stared anxiously at Tess. “It’s not a very comfortable ride, ma’am, I—”
    “Oh, stop worrying, Joe!” Sadie gave his arm a little shake. “It’ll be a lark. I can throw me bicycle in the back. You can give Polly a lift, too.” She winked at Polly. “That’s if you’re ready to go home?”
    “More than ready.” Polly got to her feet. “I’ve got me bicycle with me, though.”
    “There won’t be room for all of you as well as two bikes,” Joe protested.
    “It’s all right.” Polly picked up her handbag and shoved it under her