The moment Hyacinth Bouquet—pronounced Bouquet, as she reminded everyone before they had the opportunity to mispronounce it—heard that a young couple from London had chosen the village church for their wedding, she declared it “a matter of local prestige.”
Richard looked up from watering the roses.
“Do we know them?”
“We shall, Richard.”
“But have we ever met them?”
“Not yet.”
Richard sighed.
“I thought as much.”
Hyacinth had somehow persuaded the vicar that an elegant local hostess should “welcome distinguished visitors to the parish.” By lunchtime she had transformed her sitting room into what she proudly described as “a reception lounge of understated sophistication.”
Elizabeth arrived carrying a vase of flowers with both hands trembling.
“I hope white lilies are suitable.”
“They would have been,” Hyacinth replied delicately, “had they been arranged three inches higher.”
Elizabeth immediately tried to fix them, knocking a cushion onto the floor.
“Oh dear…”
Richard quietly picked it up.
Just then Daisy and Onslow wandered in through the back gate.
“We heard there might be wedding cake,” Onslow announced.
“There is no wedding cake here.”
“So there might be later.”
Rose rushed in moments afterward, beaming.
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“I’ve already seen the groom.”
Hyacinth spun around.
“You have?”
“He smiled at me.”
“He was probably being polite.”
Rose smiled dreamily.
“It looked friendlier than polite.”
Hyacinth gasped.
“You are absolutely forbidden from distracting the bridal party.”
“I wasn’t distracting him.”
“What were you doing?”
“I asked whether he believed in love at first sight.”
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Richard closed his eyes.
Outside, the sound of polished vintage cars echoed down the street.
Hyacinth adjusted her hat.
“They’ve arrived.”
She swept gracefully toward the church gates, convinced the bride would immediately appreciate her impeccable manners.
The bride stepped from the car looking radiant.
Hyacinth smiled warmly.
“Welcome. I am Mrs. Bouquet.”
The bride smiled back.
“Lovely to meet you.”
Everything seemed perfect.
Then another elegant lady hurried over.
“Oh, there you are!” she cried.
Hyacinth straightened proudly.
“I wondered when someone would recognise me.”
The lady looked straight past her…
…and embraced Elizabeth instead.
“We’re so glad you could come, Aunt Elizabeth!”
Hyacinth blinked.
Elizabeth blinked.
Richard blinked.
Hyacinth slowly turned toward Richard.
“You never told me Elizabeth was related to the bride.”
Richard whispered,
“I… didn’t know.”
And before Hyacinth could recover, the bride asked Elizabeth to stand beside her for the official family photograph.
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