Page 11 of My Best French Wedding
Corinne shook her head. “I guess it was naïve of me to think we’d finally hit the statute of limitations on this situation.”
“De-escalation takes two.”
“Does it, though? Seems to me that as an adult woman you are fully capable of letting go of a grudge from high school.” Corinne lowered her voice on the last two words, like they were too embarrassing to say at full volume.
“It doesn’t matter how old we were. That was the starting line of my professional career.”
“What some might call your villain origin story.”
“Thanks to Walter!” Hildy closed her eyes. He wasn’t going to dim her shine today of all days. “Fine, yes, I’m partly responsible for what happened at the banquet. Like twenty-five percent.”
“And Walter is the other seventy-five?”
“No, at least forty percent of the blame belongs to the tequila. The rest is Walter. You know how ruthless he is. There’s no limit to how low he’ll stoop to sabotage me.”
“He certainly looked like he was ready to get down and dirty. Right there behind the coatrack.”
Hildy pretended to inspect her cuticles, even though she’d hadher nails done three days ago. If she didn’t replay the memory, maybe she wouldn’t betray herself with a blush. “Like I said, that won’t be an issue. Walter Burns can read about the wedding of the century at the same time everyone else does—on the pages ofLife, Styled.”
“I expected an evil laugh at the end of that monologue. But I appreciate the restraint.”
Hildy flicked her hair over her shoulder. “I am a classy bitch.”
Wedding Week Itinerary
On behalf of the bridal couple and their families, bienvenue en France! Thank you for being part of this celebration of the union of Fiona Prescott and Robbie Schafer. We hope you will take the opportunity to immerse yourselves in the rich history of the region, as well as its vibrant contemporary culture, by joining the daily excursions.
The Welcome Soiree: An Evening of Roses and Rosé
Day 1: Jardins in the Sky: Feast your eyes on cutting-edge horticultural design surrounded by stunning views of the Vézère Valley at this clifftop art garden, followed by lunch at the château.
Day 2: Gastronomical Exploration: Luxury meets terroir on a private tasting tour of artisanal local delicacies, including magret de canard fumé, vin de noix, and, of course, foie gras.
Day 3: Architectural Majesty: Even in the Land of 1001 Castles, the Romanesque keep of the Château de Beynac stands out as one of the most stunning examples of the form, towering above the eponymous village.
Day 4: Un Jour à la Campagne: Try your hand at the sports of kings and queens, including archery, falconry, games of strategy, the catapult, and, of course, the joust. All equipment provided.
Day 5: Journey to the Center of the Earth: Among the most extensive of the legendary decorated caves of the region, Rouffignac boasts more than two hundred images of prehistoric animals.
Day 6: On the Rivière: Whether you choose a kayak, a canoe, or a more leisurely tour on one of the traditional gabarres that have ferried passengers along local waterways since the Middle Ages, spending time on the river is a must.
Day 7: The Moment: Be ready to board your shuttle by 3PMfor the trip to a wedding venue beyond your wildest dreams. A cocktail hour precedes the ceremony, which will be followed by a seated dinner, after which Fiona and Robbie invite you to join them in dancing the night away.
We hope this week will be a time of relaxation and enrichment for our guests. For questions or assistance of any kind, wedding staff will be available at the main and satellite hotels as well as during the day trips. The families respectfully request that you refrain from sharing information or photos until after the wedding, to protect everyone’s privacy.
The media presence will be discreet.
3Hildy
ONE WEEK BEFORE THE PRESCOTT-SCHAFER WEDDING
BORDEAUX, France—“You know they have wine everywhere,” Hildy pointed out. “We didn’t have to go to a museum to find it.”
Her preference for their first day in France would have been shopping, followed by people watching at an outdoor café, after which they could have strolled along the river thinking deep thoughts about love, death, and fashion. You had to embrace the local culture or what was the point of travel?
“I’m sorry, is my desire to learn things killing your buzz?” Corinne checked her phone. “Is it weird we haven’t heard anything from the office?”
“What are you picturing, a hostage situation?” Hildy grabbed the phone out of her hand and shoved it under a napkin. “It’s still super early in New York, and if there was a crisis, they’d let us know. We’ll video chat with them later, okay?”
