The Wedding Cake (The Wedding Series) Read Online Free PDF

confection as totally perfect as her cake would be.
    Deciding not to make the same mistake twice, she stayed in the kitchen, carefully watching the clock as the cake baked. Wonderful, mouth-watering smells filled the room as she removed her masterpiece from the oven.
    While waiting for it to cool, she began the icing. She had a moment’s confusion when she couldn’t recall which was the sugar bin. The flour she could distinguish easily, but there seemed little difference between the sugar and salt bins. A quick taste was all that was needed to tell them apart, which is what she probably should have done when making the cake. But, no, she was certain she’d used the correct ingredient. Yes, of course she had, she thought as she blended the sugar and butter.
    Any doubts were dashed as she added rose water, then beat the cream until it peaked prettily. Decorating the cake was not as easy as she had thought. But she decided her cake looked passably good when she finished. Besides, the test would be in the tasting, and she could hardly wait for that. She set the cake in a cool, dry spot away from the window and slowly climbed the stairs to her room.
    Priding herself on her energy, she rarely napped during the day, but this afternoon she decided to succumb to the lure of her bed. No sooner had she rested her head on the pillow than she was asleep and dreaming.
    Her cake. She could see it clearly, sitting atop a large table in the center of the garden. The scent of roses filled the air, vying with the wonderful aroma of freshly baked cake.
    It was her wedding day, and she wore a magnificent Worth gown, similar to Princess Beatrice’s. Ivory satin and Brussels lace, trimmed with orange blossoms, her gown was superb. She greeted her guests as a gentle breeze off the harbor played with the yards of her tulle veiling falling from a crown of flowers.
    An orchestra began playing and her heart fluttered, for she knew her new husband would come to her. She felt his hand as he led her to the dance floor for the first waltz. She could hardly wait to feel his strong arms around her.
    “Aren’t they divine?” came a comment from the crowd of well-wishers. “Surely they were made for each other,” another said.
    She smiled, filled with joy, and wishing to share her happiness with her husband, she lifted her lashes—and froze. Her eyes popped open and she bolted upright, fully awake. Her breathing harsh, she stared around the room, her room, assuring herself that it had only been a dream and nothing more. She wasn’t in the garden. She wore no gown of lace and satin. It wasn’t her wedding day. And she most assuredly hadn’t married him .
    Relief made her weak and she flopped back on the embroidery-edged pillow. But she feared shutting her eyes in case the image returned, for she didn’t even want to dream that she was wed to Captain McGregger.
    ~ ~ ~
    “I must have a word with you, Cinnamon.”
    Smothering a sigh, she patted her upswept hair, dressed with roses and seed pearls, and adjusted the wispy curls framing her face. She turned on the bench seat before her lace-covered dressing table to face her mother. “What is it, Mama?” she asked, after dismissing Biddy with a nod. She wouldn’t need the girl until later tonight when she undressed.
    Her mother waited for the maid to depart, then marched farther into the room, not stopping until she reached the row of windows on the far side. There she turned, faced Cinnamon, and clasped her hands at her waist.
    “I understand it was you who invited Captain McGregger to join us for dinner this evening.”
    “Yes, I did.” Cinnamon stood, smoothing her green taffeta gown. “I hope you don’t mind but—”
    Her mother sighed heavily, making no pretense of hiding her displeasure. “I really don’t think he is the kind of man we should be entertaining, as I believe I mentioned the other night.”
    “He may be managing Murphy Import and Export.”
    “I realize this is difficult