name, no family connections, and no fortune. That just ain’t gonna cut it for Geraldine Huntington-Ross.
“Granny was talking about our wedding, actually.”
“Well, that’s a positive sign.”
“She’s adamant we marry here. I told her we hadn’t made up our minds yet.”
“It means a lot to her, doesn’t it?”
“I think it’s more about tradition than anything else, actually. Granny likes things done ‘the right way,’ you know.”
“Oh, I know,” I reply, thinking of the way I don’t seem to be able to do anything right in her eyes. “Do you think she might ‘come around’ to me, as you put it, if we decided to have the wedding here?”
He kisses me on the forehead. “Don’t try to force anything. As I said, she’ll love you just as much as I do before too long.”
I cock an eyebrow and shoot him a grin. “Just as much?”
“Okay, not quite, but you’ll win her over just by being you.”
“How big a wedding do you think she wants us to have if we have it here?”
“Well, if I think of Uncle Hector’s last wedding, he had about four hundred guests, and I’m certain Granny won’t want to be outdone by him. Wrong side of the family, in her opinion.”
“Four hundred?” I repeat, trying to process how big a wedding that would actually be. Freaking huge is what I land on. “I was thinking small. Like way small.”
“You were?”
“Yeah. I don’t have a large family. I figured fifty to seventy-five, maybe? Nothing bigger because then all you do is spend your entire time making sure you talk to everyone and it becomes more about them than us.”
He gives me a squeeze. “I think a small wedding sounds wonderful.”
“What do you want?”
“I want whatever makes my beautiful bride happy.”
I chew on my lip. I’ve loved the idea of that little chapel back home, committing myself to my husband in front of our closest friends and family. Rather that than the whole My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding shebang. Not that I think Geraldine would countenance gypsies on the estate, considering how much of a snob she is.
But then, I do want Sebastian’s family—and his granny in particular—to accept me, and something as small as where we get married could go a long to help with that.
I slip my arms around his neck and brush my lips softly against his. “Let’s get married here.”
“But your chapel?”
“It was a silly fantasy. I’ll be living here afterwards, anyway. Holding the wedding here will kickstart my new life as Lady Martinston.”
He kisses me back. “You’re amazing, you know that, Brady?”
“Why, thank you, Mr. Darcy. Speaking of getting married, you promised me a run, and I’m an engaged woman.” I wave my hands up and down my body. “I can’t let all this go to wrack and ruin, you know.”
“Let’s just go for a gentle jog,” he replies with a sigh. “I’m not up for much today.”
Once we’re up on our feet, I realize it’s a ruse when he adds, “Race you to the woods,” and takes off at breakneck speed.
“Hey!” I yell after him. I try in vain to catch up. “Not playing fair, dude!”
After chasing him for several minutes, he stops, and I finally catch him. We run the rest of the course together. When we reach the house, I’m pinker than a beet and am puffing hard.
“Who’s that?” I ask as I spot a car I don’t recognize pulling up outside the house.
"Ah, that'll be my surprise for you.”
I take a large and much needed glug of water from my drink bottle. “What is it?”
“It’s not a what, it’s a who.”
“Okay, now I’m completely confused.”
The feeling doesn’t last for long. Out of the car steps not only Sebastian’s best friend, Johnathan, but my fellow Dating Mr. Darcy contestant Phoebe.
“Best surprise ever!” I grin at Sebastian before I rush over to greet them.
“OMG, guys! What are you doing here?” I give them both a warm hug. “Sorry I’m all sweaty. I didn’t think I was going to get to see you until your wedding.”
Although I got to know Phoebe while we were on the show together—and she was busy falling in love with Johnathan behind our backs while the cameras were focused elsewhere—I’ve only spent a small amount of time with Johnathan since the show. All I know about him is that he seems like a really nice guy, and he’s got excellent taste in fiancées.
“Would you believe we were in the neighborhood?” Johnathan answers.
“I’m not sure Paris is considered ‘the