“What do you mean, funny?” Paula stopped Dan before he opened the back door. She’d managed to avoid Austin for most of the time that he’d been their unexpected house guest. He’d arrived as she was going to bed last night and he had just come in for breakfast as she’d left for the hairdresser this morning. Not that she felt anger at him but she’d not spent a lot of time with him before this and didn’t feel in the mood for making small talk.

“I think they’re both a bit nervous about today,” Dan said. “I’ll go and calm Rowena down and you keep Austin occupied. I’m sure once we get the ceremony over and we’re back at Rowena’s in the air conditioning, we can all relax and enjoy the day.”

Paula shook her head as she followed him inside. How on earth could any of them relax? She took his buttonhole rose from the fridge. “Put this on at Rowena’s,” she said.

He surprised her by pulling her close and brushing her cheek with a kiss.

“I love you,” he said, then he was gone and she was left with the delicious scent of his cologne and a vague empty feeling. She sighed, glanced at her watch again, then went off to change.

It didn’t take her long. On her way back down the passage she could hear no other sounds except the wind buffeting the house. She hoped Austin hadn’t worked himself into a state and had a heart attack or something. There wasn’t any movement as she passed his bedroom. She went on into the kitchen. He jumped up from a chair, startling them both.

“Sorry,” they both said at once.

Paula noticed the breakfast things had been put on the bench and the dishes were washed and stacked.

Austin followed her gaze. “I’m sorry. I would have put them away but I didn’t know where they went.”

“That’s okay. You didn’t need to clean up. You’re our guest.”

“I don’t like having nothing to do.”

Paula stood for a moment not sure what to do next. They still had a bit of time.

“Don’t you look gorgeous,” Austin said.

Paula glanced down. All she could see was a huge blimp, covered in the bright pink-and-green fabric that she had thought so pretty in the shop. Now she wondered if it was too over the top. The dress was sleeveless and made from a sheer floaty fabric, draped from her shoulders to just under her bust where it was pulled in slightly by a sparkling brooch, then fell freely over her stomach to knee-length handkerchief layers. She hadn’t even had time to ask Dan his opinion.

“I don’t feel very gorgeous.” She forced a smile. “Everything I wear now makes me look like a pudding draped in fabric.”