Diva (The Flappers) - By Jillian Larkin Page 0,83

in the future.

“Don’t worry, ma’am, she won’t!” Solomon’s police companion called to the Eastmans. “Not if I have anything to say about it!”

Lieutenant Skinner rose from his seat and took off after the con woman. Clara didn’t doubt the copper would catch Deirdre and have her in cuffs before she reached the lobby.

The murmuring crowd had been shocked into complete silence. Clara breathed deeply in and out, her heart hammering. She jerked when she felt a hand on her arm. “Clara, why didn’t you tell me you were looking into Marcus’s fiancée?” Gloria asked. She moved her hand back and forth—maybe she’d hurt her wrist in the fight. “With … Lorraine?” Lorraine looked up hopefully at Gloria’s mention of her.

“You and Marcus are so close—I was afraid you’d tell me to stop,” Clara said. “Plus I know you’ve been busy.”

Her cousin pulled Clara into a hug. “No, I’m so glad. You two belong together. And I have been busy.” When she pulled away her face was distracted. “Actually, that reminds me, I need to go check on something.”

“Secret bureau stuff?” Clara asked.

“Exactly.”

Gloria turned and began to walk down the aisle to the exit.

“Gloria!” Lorraine called, and Gloria turned. “Thanks for saving me from that roundheel!”

Gloria smiled brightly at Lorraine. “Thanks for helping Clara save Marcus from her!”

Then she rushed away, leaving Lorraine glowing.

The members of the orchestra, as well as several guests, rose from their chairs and followed Gloria out. Clearly there wasn’t going to be a wedding now.

The rest of the guests were still quiet after the others left, watching Clara and her friends with amused disdain. The only sound Clara could hear was slow clapping, and that came from Marcus. He still stood with his parents with a band of stupefied groomsmen on the platform behind them. His mother still had her arm around Marcus, to comfort him, but he just grinned at her.

He walked down the aisle toward Clara and Lorraine. When he reached them, his eyes flicked toward Lorraine while she sniffed at the bouquet in her hands.

“Oh, Raine,” he said, “how I’ve missed you.”

Lorraine immediately got misty-eyed. “Really? Because I—”

He patted her hand. “I’ll find you at the reception, okay? We’ll catch up.”

Lorraine took the hint. She linked her arm with Melvin’s and led him back to their seats.

Which left Marcus and Clara alone. Or at least, as alone as they could be in front of a crowd of people. Clara looked out at the women clutching at their pearls, the men leaning forward to get a better view. She should’ve felt utterly embarrassed to have caused such a scene. But looking into Marcus’s beautiful blue eyes, she couldn’t feel anything but pure elation.

“I think you and I have some catching up to do,” he whispered to her.

Without paying any attention to the hundreds of eyes fixed on them, Marcus wound his arms around Clara’s waist and pulled her close. He leaned his forehead against hers. “No more lies, okay? I think I’ve had enough of those for one lifetime.”

Clara nodded and tentatively placed one hand on the lapel of his tuxedo. “Did you mean what you said to Deirdre? That you still … love me?”

Marcus gave her a sheepish grin. “I’ve always loved you, Clara. And I always will. Now and forever.”

Clara felt everything inside go warm. She hadn’t lost Marcus. Somehow, he’d come back to her—and she was very much aware that this was a second chance most people never got. She wasn’t about to screw it up.

“Then kiss me, you fool,” she whispered.

Marcus didn’t hesitate. He took her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers. Clara’s entire body sighed: Kissing Marcus felt like coming home again. Yet Clara felt she was also traveling somewhere new and wondrous. She hadn’t been sure Marcus would stay interested in her forever, once he got to know the real her. But now she realized he had always known the real Clara, far better than Clara herself did.

When Marcus pulled away, the crowd erupted into applause. Marcus’s parents, much to Clara’s relief, were clapping, too. Lorraine looked the most gleeful of all. Clara thought of the way Gloria had smiled at Lorraine before she left. Could there be hope for those two, after everything?

Marcus took Clara’s hand, sending pleasant shocks up her arm. “This will sound absurd,” he announced to everyone, “but since we have already paid for a party, I’d like for us to have a party. There is food and dancing in the