Kissing his wife in public would be on his list of things to do until people weren’t shocked. Cassidy might not like the plan, but then again as her kiss replayed in his mind, she might. He kept that to himself, but he felt hot under his collar. “She’s always been a friend.”
Blackwell laughed and sipped his champagne. “That looked like more. Donna wants you and Cassidy to fall in love.”
He shook his head, though he had a smile on his face. “Married for less than a day and you’re already talking about love.”
Blackwell’s eyes widened a little. “You and Cassidy haven’t discussed it yet?”
His ear itched so he tugged it and avoided his friend’s gaze. “No. We’re busy figuring out how to live together for the rest of our lives.”
Someone banged on the door.
Remy set his flute aside, immediately alert.
“Hold on.” Blackwell put his glass down and answered it. He then met his gaze but held the door. “It’s Chelsea.”
“What does she want? Where is Cassidy?”
“Cassidy’s not here,” Chelsea informed them from the threshold in her ice blue bridesmaid dress and updo that made her look like an icicle.
His heart nearly stopped. She said she’d be here. When she left this morning, she’d been happy. Last night he’d worried about her sister. Remy opened the door wide and stared at her blonde, blue-eyed deceitful sister as he called Cassidy on her phone. “What do you mean she’s not here? Where is she?” It went to voice mail and he hung up, then told them both, “She’s not answering her phone. What happened, Chelsea?”
Blackwell walked out of the room without a word to either of them. Remy’d ask why later.
Chelsea’s blue eyes grew wider. “She said she was scared and didn’t want to be Countess Sky.”
No. His entire body was cold, but he crossed his arms and stared down at her. “Impossible. She was worried you’d try to stop this wedding.”
“Me?” Her hands went to her chest in shocked innocence. His gut refused to believe her.
“Where is she now?”
“I guess she left.” Chelsea backed up.
His gaze narrowed. “Where?”
“I don’t know.” She took another step backward.
Blackwell entered the groom’s waiting area with Gigi, Lord Paston and Cassidy’s mother, Francesca, with him. His friend had gone to get the troops. Now they all surrounded Chelsea from behind as Blackwell said, “In case we need to act.”
“Thanks, Blackwell.” Remington brought Grannie to his side. “Chelsea is telling me Cassidy left because she didn’t want to be a countess—I don’t believe her. Cassidy worried her sister would interfere with our wedding.”
Francesca pressed her lips together and played with her necklace while she stared at her daughter, but then she nodded. “Cassidy told me the same thing yesterday morning. She was worried Chelsea might do something.”
Chelsea spun around and her voice rose. “Mother.”
Grannie pulled her accusing stare from Francesca and took his hands. Her voice was soft but firm as she said, “Look, Cassidy already signed the legal documents. She even signed the proxy statement, which means anyone in the family can say I do for her and it will be legally binding.”
His mind didn’t wrap around her suggestion. Remington needed to find Cassidy, right now. “What are you talking about?”
She reached up and brushed his cheek. “Remy, listen to me. You have to marry in weeks. Cassidy is the best choice. Go up there, marry her proxy and then we’ll spend the rest of the day searching. Cassidy will be safer as Lady Sky and your estate will be settled. I need you to be practical right now, but we’ll find her.”
Chelsea’s face went white. “She didn’t want-”
Francesca placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder and interrupted, “Where is she Chelsea?”
“I don’t know.” Chelsea stubbornly pursed her lips.
How he ever thought Chelsea would be a good choice was beyond him now.
