The Eleventh-Hour Groom. Kathryn Ross

day he doesn’t realise that I know about the affair, or that I saw them together.’

      ‘So you managed to make a dent in his ego on your exit?’ Lucy smiled. ‘Good for you.’

      ‘I don’t think anybody could dent Jay’s ego,’ Elizabeth murmured.

      ‘Hey, Beth would you like to dance?’ Robert asked, sauntering over.

      She was about to say no, until she noticed the way Jay was dancing with Ruth. Her arms were around his shoulders and he was holding her close. He’d got some nerve, she thought furiously, watching as he smiled down at the pretty blonde. Jay had always had a thing for blondes. Lisa was blonde.

      ‘Elizabeth?’

      She looked back at Robert and found herself smiling. ‘Yes, why not?’ she said blithely.

      The evening seemed to pass in a blur of people wishing her well, asking her to dance. Even chauvinistic Colin asked her for a dance, and some guy she’d never met before who said he worked in Accounts. Then Robert again.

      ‘I almost let the secret out today in the office,’ he said smiling down at her. ‘You looked sad and I wanted to say, Cheer up, nobody has forgotten your birthday—’

      ‘Thanks, Rob.’ She couldn’t concentrate on what he was saying because suddenly over his shoulder she had noticed Jay talking to Colin and her boss at the bar.

      ‘How about having dinner with me next week?’ Robert asked suddenly.

      ‘Yes, that would be nice,’ Elizabeth murmured. She frowned as there was a guffaw of laughter from the bar. What were they talking about?

      ‘Robert, would you mind if I sat down?’ she asked suddenly, deciding to go over there and find out.

      ‘No…of course not.’

      ‘Thanks. See you later.’ She pulled away from him and headed towards the bar.

      Colin pulled a stool out next to him as he saw her approach. ‘Really good party, Beth,’ he said amiably. ‘Can I buy you a drink?’