Picnics and Promises
Clover
Blume’s chance of becoming better acquainted with Jonathan Spalding away from
the mayhem of her busy restaurant is threatened when the groomsman escorting
her to her sister’s wedding is delayed.
Jonathan
lives the good life. One thing his money hasn’t managed to buy and that’s a
woman to love—one worthy of his mother’s approval. Is the auburn-haired beauty
partnering with him at his best friend’s wedding finding a way into his heart?
But
what will it cost for Jonathan to realize that it profits him nothing to gain
the world, yet lose his soul?
And
the girl.
Excerpt:
TAKING
CARE TO MIND HER manners, Clover
Blume conversed with those seated around the Levens Hall dinner table. She
laughed softly at the appropriate time and spoke only when spoken to, as her
sister, Maggie, had instructed, all the while doing her best to ignore the
empty seat beside her.
Was he late? No longer coming?
Disappointment anchored itself in the depths of her stomach.
Surely not the latter? Jonathan Spalding, her future brother-in-law’s best
friend, was to be her bridal party partner for Maggie and Davis’s wedding
tomorrow. If he ever showed. He’d
already missed the rehearsal that afternoon, but had promised Davis he’d be
there tonight.
So where was the man?
With over four hours of travel between London and the bottom
corner of the Lake District, one would think Davis should know whether Jonathan
would make it tonight or not. But Maggie had whispered to her earlier that
Davis had been unable to contact Jonathan since speaking to him around three
o’clock when the MIA groomsman had promised Davis he was about to leave London.
Five hours ago.
He should’ve been there by now.
Davis tapped his crystal wineglass with the side of his
fork, drawing everyone’s attention with the ping. He rose to his feet. “I guess
my best friend is planning to arrive at this dinner fashionably late, although
knowing him, he’s still stuck in London working on the new merger deal that
delayed him this morning, and making more money than he’ll know how to spend.
No wonder the guy is still single; he’s married to his job.” Davis smiled as
his gaze roamed the table.
Clover watched him keenly. Were his jokes a mask to hide his
concern over his friend?
She shifted her gaze to stare at the flames licking the
brick walls of the flue in the fireplace behind Davis. The anchor in her belly
dragged with a rising wave of nausea. What if Jonathan had been involved in an
accident on his way? The roads were icy outside; the weather frightful. And who
knew how fast he’d be driving to get to Levens Hall, especially behind the
wheel of that fancy black sports car she’d often seen him pull away in from her
restaurant. Along with yet another leggy beauty in a long line of women that
had been his dinner dates at The Silver Spoon. Goodness, the man had a lot of
female friends.
She looked forward to being the one on his arm tomorrow
night, even if it were only in a bridal procession capacity…the few short
seconds’ walk up the aisle on entering the drawing room with its walnut paneled
walls and vivid red silk damask curtains where the ceremony was set to take
place. And the same walk back out again. Of course, they were seated at the
same table for the reception, next to each other. Hopefully he wouldn’t miss
that dinner, too.
Ever since that first time she’d met him in her restaurant
nearly a year ago, Clover had yearned for an opportunity to get to know him
better. Nothing had turned up. Until now. But with the number of gentry and
socialites attending this momentous affair, it likely wouldn’t take Mr.
Spalding long to have his arms hooked around not one, or two, but a bevy of
beautiful women. She paled in comparison to the females who seemed to be his
taste.
“The purpose of this dinner tonight wasn’t only because
we’re happy to feed all our guests here in my family home, but also for
Maggie’s sisters to get to know the groomsmen escorting them at the wedding.”
Davis’s voice pulled Clover from her musing.
“You ladies were all strangers to my cousins and friends,”
he continued, “with the exception, of course, of Heather and my little brother,
Paxton, plus Rose and Joseph, my friend and designer. I trust that’s changed
for the rest of you over the past few hours. But please, no more romances
blossoming, all right? With three more weddings on the horizon…Rose, Heather,”
he focused on Holly, “sorry Christopher was unable to make it… I think my
future father-in-law needs a break.”
Dad raised his glass. “Hear, hear.”
Mom nodded, as did Davis’s parents, Earl and Countess
Rathbone. After all, they, too, faced another wedding in the summer with
Heather and Paxton.
Laughter swirled around the table, rising up toward the
ornate pressed ceiling, the coats of arms of England, Scotland, France, and
Wales, receiving the mirth.
Davis rested his hands on the table and leaned closer to
Clover. “I’m sorry you haven’t been afforded the same opportunity to get to
know Jonathan, but I’ve no doubt he’ll make it up to you when he arrives.”
If he arrives.
Maggie reached for Davis and touched his arm. “Try him
again, before you say a blessing over the meal.”
Davis nodded. He pulled his cell phone from his shirt
pocket. “Excuse me for a moment.” He took two steps away from the table. Device
to his ear, his face brightened when, clearly, Jonathan answered on the other
side.
After speaking to his friend for a few moments, Davis
returned to the table. “Good news, Jonathan is safe and sound. Bad news is he’s
still stuck in London, unfortunately waylaid with this merger. He’ll be driving
up tomorrow.”
My review:
You know how good a story is when all
you want to do is slap the main character to make him see sense. This is one of
those stories. But then, what do you expect in the next of the thrilling seven
sisters books? From cover to cover, Clover and Jonathan’s story is one to be
enjoyed over and over again.
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