Marrying Mr. Darcy (Love Manor #2) - Kate O'Keeffe Page 0,11
neighborhood,’ Johnny,” Phoebe says.
“You were in Paris?” I ask, and she gives an enthusiastic nod. “Is it as romantic as everyone says?”
Phoebe blushes, and I have my answer before she even opens her mouth to respond. “It is such a beautiful place, Emma. You’ve got to go there.”
“I would love to.”
Phoebe famously asked Johnathan to marry her on the last episode of Dating Mr. Darcy—and he said yes. A lot of viewers were pretty upset because they wanted Phoebe to marry Sebastian, as the media loves to remind me.
“Well, come on in. Let’s have some tea,” Sebastian offers.
I hook my arm through Phoebe’s as we walk into the house. “I’m still training him to drink coffee.”
“Work in progress?”
“Some things are just too British, you know?”
“Oh, I hear you. Johnny still tells me my accent is endearing. Then I point out that he’s the one with the accent. I sound normal.”
I grin at her. “Totally.”
Once we’re settled in the living room—or the "reception room," as the Huntington-Rosses call it—Johnathan asks us what we’ve been up to.
“We have some news, actually,” I say as I hold up my left hand to show off my engagement ring. Well, my engagement rock, to be more accurate. But I ain’t complaining. For a Texan gal from the wrong side of the tracks, I sure have come a long way, baby.
“Emma!” Phoebe squeals as she leaps off her seat and collects me in a hug. “Why didn’t you tell me the moment we arrived? This is huge news.”
Johnathan shakes hands with Sebastian in that very formal, English way of theirs, and together, we share the story of the proposal.
Johnathan grins at us. “Two weddings from one reality TV show.”
“Neither of which are going to be televised,” Sebastian says.
“Well—” Johnathan darts a look at Phoebe.
“We agreed to let them film ours,” Phoebe finishes for him.
“Really?” I ask in amazement. “Remember on the show there were cameras everywhere, we had to wear those mics, and Mrs. Watson barked at us every five minutes?” I shudder as I think of the woman who bossed us contestants around every day, her Regency cap balanced on top of her head like a poufy shower cap. “Not that Mrs. Watson will be at your wedding, of course, because that would be plain weird,” I add with a laugh.
“Actually, she will,” Phoebe replies.
“Are you kidding me?”
“She’s really great when you get to know her.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Mrs. Watson is great?”
“Totally. In fact, she’s got quite a good sense of humor.”
I shake my head. “Phoebe, how you manage to see the best in everyone you meet is beyond me. You are too sweet for words.”
Which is so true. Phoebe’s never got a bad word to say about anyone, she’s always happy, and she’d do anything for anyone anytime. Until I met Phoebe, I never knew people like her existed. Well, outside of Disney princesses, that is. And maybe Barbie.
“Which is why my fiancée is so perfect,” Johnathan says as he slips his arm around Phoebe’s waist.
“I’m not perfect,” she coos.
Johnathan nuzzles her. “Sure you’re not.”
“Aw, you guys are the cutest,” I say.
“Tell us how your wedding plans are coming along,” Sebastian says.
“Can you believe we’re getting married in only a matter of weeks?” Phoebe says excitedly. “It means so much to me that you’re going to be here for it, Emma. I’m so excited you’re going to be a bridesmaid.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” I reply, although part of me wants to run and hide at the thought of being filmed again by the Dating Mr. Darcy production crew. I’ll have to put my camouflage skills to good use and melt into the wallpaper. I don’t want to do anything the media can pick up on and run with. Let’s face it, the last thing I need is some new story about how not suitable I am for Sebastian.
#NinjaBridesmaid here I come.
Phoebe smiles at me. “Thank you, Emma. You’re so kind.”
“I will do my best,” I reply. “I’ve only been a bridesmaid once before, and that was in a barn with haybales and a couple of goats out back. Not that I’m saying Penny and Trey’s wedding wasn’t all that, of course, but your wedding is gonna be quite something.”
“Johnny’s family’s house is gorgeous. Not a patch on this place, though, of course. But I’ve always wanted an intimate wedding, and it’s so wonderful to get married in England.”
“And now you’ll have TV cameras there to capture it all, too,” Sebastian