“But what if it needs an alteration?” Mary exclaimed, already placing the garment on the bed and removing the brown wrapper. “Look! Just look!” she cried.
Virginia hugged herself, ill. Mary held up a white silk dress and Virginia had to look. Almost hypnotized, she saw a gown with a square neckline and long sleeves, covered with a layer of lace that was heavily beaded, the skirts impossibly full, the train elegant and long. She forced a smile; it felt sickly. “How beautiful,” she whispered. How could this be happening? How?
She was on the verge of marrying Devlin—and he did not love her, not at all.
“You will be the most beautiful bride ever seen at Harmon House,” Mary gushed. “Let me help you out of your clothes.”
Virginia turned, giving Mary her back, facing the window. An elegant yacht had berthed at their dock and a number of sailors were tying the lines. She blinked back a tear, vaguely wondering who had arrived, as she did not recognize the vessel. A man leapt from the stern to the dock and the sight he made was terribly familiar.
Virginia froze.
He leapt over the stone path, ignoring it, and started swiftly up the lawn.
“Sean!” she cried. And thrilled, she threw open the window, waving. “Sean! Sean!”
He heard her, looked up, and he waved back.
VIRGINIA LEFTMARY BEHIND,racing downstairs at breakneck speed. As she skidded through the house and into the family salon, she vaguely realized that Devlin was in the library, speaking to someone. She had not realized he was home; it hardly made a difference. She flung open the terrace doors and raced outside.
Sean was bounding up the stone steps to the patio. He grinned at her.
“I am so glad to see you,” she cried, and she rushed to him, throwing her arms around him and holding him hard.
She felt him tense in surprise, but Virginia felt so safe, so secure, so beloved that she did not care and she clung. Finally he patted her back, almost as if he felt awkward. “This is not the greeting I imagined,” he murmured.
Virginia realized he did not hug her in return and she let him go, smiling up at him. “I am so happy you are here!”
His gray gaze wandered over her face.
She smiled again and touched his cheek. This time she did not speak.
He pulled away, clasping her hand gently. “You are going to make the groom jealous,” he said tightly.
She glanced behind her and saw a curtain fall at the window. She faced him and shrugged. “I know that is not possible,” she said.
He stared closely at her. “Are you all right?” he asked, clearly concerned.
That was her final undoing; she could not speak, and she shook her head.
“Come.” He released her hand and pressed her back. “Let’s take a turn about the gardens.”
It was about to rain, but she nodded in assent.
Sean slipped his cloak off and placed it about her shoulders. “You are not a happy bride,” he remarked as they went down the steps to the lawns.
“Oh, no one has told you?” How hysterical and bitter she sounded, she thought. “Devlin has decided to be honorable and save my sordid reputation, at long last.”
He faced her, pausing. “You sound very angry.”
“Sean!” Tears threatened. “I am more than angry—I am being forced into a loveless marriage with a man I cannot stand!”
He started and cursed. “I thought you were in love with him, Virginia. At Askeaton you had stars in your eyes.”
“Do you see stars now?” she flung.
His mouth was tight. “No, I do not.”
She tucked her arm in his and they started to walk again. “I tried to run away. But Tyrell betrayed me and called Devlin. He bought Sweet Briar and he has made it clear that if I marry him, the plantation will be my wedding gift.”
