He shrugs. ‘No worries, I’m pleased you know now. You have no idea how hard I’ve worked to distance myself from the extravagance of my upbringing and embrace the kind of values I don’t have to apologise for. It’s been a lifetime’s work; some people have seen it as rebellion, others as rejection, and not everyone has understood. But at least I have my integrity.’ He looks at me closely. ‘Does that change anything for you?’
I give my honest reaction. ‘It makes me feel guilty for not understanding sooner.’ I’ve been too preoccupied with my own problems to see the bigger picture.
His smile is mostly relief. ‘The important part is that you understand now. As for our other issues, let’s deal with them after the party.’
‘Good idea.’
It pulls me up short that he’s being so forthright. It’s easy to overlook our differences when we’ve been getting on so well day to day, but those old recriminations are still there waiting to floor us. And I need to remember that.
He raises his eyebrows. ‘With that out of the way, I believe I have some dresses for you to try? They’re in the bedroom.’
There’s no reason why my heart should be banging hard enough to jump out of my chest as Angel and I follow him through into the airy open room. I take in the accent lighting warming the cream walls and the sloping ceiling following the lines of the roof.
He stops at the high king-sized bed, and I’m so busy thinking how hotel-comfy it looks, marvelling at the dangling spiral of lights in the corner, and trying to peek what’s on his bedside table that I don’t stop in time, and crash into the back of him.
I laugh and jump away. ‘There I go again. This is why I’ll be a liability on Saturday.’
He points to a row of dresses arranged across the bed. ‘I’m sure you’ll look so fabulous no one will care what you demolish. I certainly won’t.’
I’m struck by a sudden doubt. ‘So you want me there to cause mayhem and fly the flag for how real and gritty you’ve become?’
‘No, Maevey.’ He supresses a smile and shakes his head. ‘I want you there because I like spending time with you. When you’re with me life feels worth living, and when you’re not, it doesn’t. It’s always been like that.’
I frown at him and try to take in what he’s getting at. ‘Can you say that again in Cornish?’
He rolls his eyes. ‘Aren’t we supposed to be finding you something to wear, ideally before the morning?’
I rub my hands together. ‘You’re right.’ Then I spot a pile of boxes beside the bed and do a double take. ‘What are those?’
Lando grins. ‘Fi doesn’t do things by halves; there are bags and shoes to go with each outfit. She checked, and apparently you wear the same size.’
I frown. ‘But they’re Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks!’
He pulls a face. ‘That’s Fi for you. The castle is full of the things; you’ll be doing her a favour giving them an outing. It’s her way of showing how much she appreciates you finding her another wedding dress at short notice.’
I turn back to the bed. ‘Did she say anything about these dresses?’
Lando rubs his thumb along his jaw and narrows his eyes. ‘Some are for the day, and some for the night?’ A smile spreads across his face. ‘We’ll wear our usual “uniform” for the beach hut, obviously, then change here before I drive us to the castle.’
I catch sight of the time on Lando’s bedside clock and realise I can’t put this off any longer. ‘Okay, any hints where to start?’
Lando grins again. ‘I was hoping you’d ask.’ He pulls out a silky blue midi dress, and a short orange and red striped shimmery one with a full skirt. ‘The blue would go with your eyes, and the stripy one would bring out your fun side– but what do I know?’
I kick off my Converse. ‘I’ll need you to stay to help do them up.’ I’m thinking about the practicalities with so many dresses. ‘If you turn your back and close your eyes, I’ll tell you when I’m ready.’
I strip off my shirt, whip off my jeans and slide the slinky blue fabric over my head. When it slips down my body effortlessly, I already know this will be the one. ‘Okay, Lando, time for the zip.’
Shivers slither down my back as he does it up, but he’s already looking through the shoes.
‘Will these work?’
I push my toes into black patent stilettos with tiny bows on the back, then marvel at being five inches taller with perfectly comfortable feet. ‘How’s that?’ I turn around, and when I find the full-length mirror, it’s like I’m looking at another version of myself.
Lando laughs. ‘Stunning. Not that I don’t appreciate you in jeans. Do you want to try the others?’
I look down at the folds of midnight blue fabric skimming my hips, the side slit that’s barely there, and a neckline that’s incredibly sexy without showing too much. ‘Nope, I can’t imagine anything better than this. If you undo me, I’ll move on to the party dresses.’
As the fabric pools around my ankles I meet Lando’s eyes in the mirror and my stomach does a triple flip. Then he looks away and I pick up the next dress.
