She dragged herself to the nearest security guard, who finally let her back into the church, where her reappearance received exactly the hostile reception she expected.
Outside the church, the president's press secretary delivered a hurried statement that offered no details, only a brief announcement that the ceremony was canceled. After an obligatory request for the public to respect the couple's privacy, the press secretary hurried back inside without taking questions. Through the commotion that followed, no one noticed a small figure dressed in a royal blue choir robe and white satin pumps slip out the side door and disappear into the neighboring backyards.
Chapter Three
E mma traveler had never seen Francesca Beaudine so distraught. Four days had passed since Lucy Jorik had disappeared, and they were sitting under the pergola in the shady courtyard behind the Beaudine home. A silver gazing ball nestled among the roses made Francesca seem even tinier than she was. In all the years they'd known each other, Emma had never seen her friend cry, but Francesca had a telling mascara smear under one of her emerald eyes, her chestnut hair was disheveled, and weary lines etched her heart-shaped face.
Although Francesca was fifty-four, nearly fifteen years older than Emma and far more beautiful, their deep friendship had its roots in common bonds. They were both British, both married to famous professional golfers, and both far more interested in reading a good book than venturing near a putting green. Most important, they both loved Ted Beaudine-Francesca, with a fierce maternal love, and Emma, with a steadfast loyalty that had begun the day they'd met.
"That bloody Meg Koranda did something horrible to Lucy. I know it." Francesca stared blindly at a swallowtail butterfly flitting through the lilies. "I had doubts about her even before I met her, despite all Lucy's glowing reports. If Meg was such a close friend, why didn't we meet her until the day before the wedding? What kind of friend couldn't spare the time to attend even one of Lucy's bridal showers?"
Emma had wondered the same thing. Thanks to the power of Google, unfavorable gossip about Meg Koranda's aimless lifestyle had begun to swirl as soon as the list of bridesmaids was announced. Still, Emma didn't believe in judging people without sufficient evidence, and she'd refused to take part in rumormongering. Unfortunately, this time the gossips seemed to have been right.
Emma's husband, Kenny, who was Ted's best friend, couldn't comprehend why people were so much more hostile toward Meg than to the runaway bride, but Emma understood. The locals liked Lucy, at least as much as they could like an outsider who'd landed their Ted, and they'd been prepared to accept her right up to the night of the rehearsal dinner when she'd changed before their eyes. She'd spent more time huddled with Meg Koranda than with her own fiancé. She'd been short with the guests, distracted, and she'd barely smiled during even the funniest of the toasts.
Francesca pulled a wadded tissue from the pocket of the wrinkled white cotton capris she wore with an old T-shirt, Italian sandals, and her ever-present diamonds. "I've been around too many spoiled Hollywood brats not to recognize another one. Girls like Meg Koranda have never had to work a day in their lives, and they think their famous last names give them license to do whatever they want. That's precisely why Dallie and I made sure Ted always knew he'd have to work for a living." She dabbed at her nose. "I'll tell you what I think. I think she took one look at my Teddy and wanted him for herself."
Although it was true that women lost their good sense after meeting Ted Beaudine, Emma didn't believe even Meg Koranda could regard breaking up Ted's wedding as the best strategy toward snagging him for herself. Hers, however, was a minority opinion. Emma subscribed to the less widely held theory that Meg had spoiled Lucy's happiness because she was jealous that her friend was making a success of her life. But what Emma couldn't understand was how Meg had been able to work so quickly.
"Lucy was already like a daughter to me." Francesca twisted her fingers in her lap. "I'd lost hope that he'd ever meet anyone special enough for him. But she was perfect. Everybody who saw them together knew that."
A warm breeze ruffled the leaves that shaded the pergola. "If only he'd go after Lucy, but he won't," Francesca went on. "I understand pride. God knows, his father and I have more than enough of it. But I wish he could set that aside." Fresh tears leaked from her eyes. "You should have seen Teddy when he was little. So quiet and serious. So dear. He was an amazing child. The most amazing child ever."