Chapter 28
It took longerthan Velario wanted to arrange everything. In the grand scheme of things, one week wasn’t that long. It only felt like an eternity. Reyn still hadn’t mentioned leaving to him, and he wondered if she planned to sneak away without a word of farewell. Every minute’s delay increased his worries. And insecurities.
Selona was the only reason he maintained his sanity during that week. He checked with her to make sure Reyn wouldn’t disappear in the night while he prepared, and she assured him that he had made the right choice not to rush. To make his proposal romantic enough to be deserving of Reyn, Velario needed to take enough time to do it in style.
Actually, not in style. Which was the point.
Velario double checked that his greatcoat was buttoned up completely, covering the rest of his outfit. No need to reveal that part of the plan before the correct moment.
What was taking Selona so long? She was supposed to have Reyn here by now.
He huffed out a breath and tucked his hands into his pockets. He had arrived early, and now that the sun had fallen below the roofs of the nearby buildings, he was getting decidedly chilled. But he would wait outside until Reyn arrived.
Silver bells. Velario heard the delicate chime of her laughter and spun around. She and Selona were approaching from the wrong direction, but they were here.
“Reyn,” Velario hurried over to her. He kissed her, her cheeks even colder than his lips. “Let’s get inside.”
“Enjoy,” Selona told them, sinking a world of suggestion into that one word.
Reyn turned to her friend. “Where are you going?”
“I’m meeting up with Danten and Alenna.”
“Wait, I thought Danten was joining us at the opera tonight, too?”
“Slight change of plans. I think it’s just you and Vel tonight.” Selona didn’t wait for a response, pivoting and practically skipping away.
Reyn turned back to Velario. “What is going on?”
“Inside,” he insisted. “We’ll talk inside.”
He led her through the theater and up to the same box they had occupied on their first night at the opera. Reyn eyed him out of the corner of her eye, but didn’t demand an explanation.
Once they closed the door to their box, Velario helped her out of her heavy cloak. He froze with the velvet fabric draped over his arms.
She was wearing the Ferrini silk. He hadn’t realized the gown was finished, let alone that she might wear it tonight.
“You’re wearing my gift,” he said, while he tried to take in every detail. From her narrow waist to the perfect breasts plumped up over the low neckline, she looked stunning. He began to think taking her to the opera for this moment was a mistake. How was he going to survive?
Maybe he should have proposed while they were in bed.
No. Romance. Reyn deserved romance.
Reyn smoothed her hands down the silk, slowing as they passed over her hips. “Selona insisted I pick the dress up today to wear tonight. Do you like it?”
Velario draped her cloak over one of the extra chairs in the box. “You look stunning. You always do, but . . . yes, I like it.”
He unbuttoned his greatcoat, watching Reyn carefully. It took until he had placed the coat on the chair next to her cloak and turned back to face her before she noticed anything.
Her eyes narrowed, and she closed the distance between them. Her hand reached out to undo the buttons of his jacket. “Velario, what are you wearing?”
She pushed the edges of the jacket wide, and they both looked at his waistcoat.
“It’s—” Reyn tailed off, her mouth moving, but no sounds coming out.
“It’s a canary yellow waistcoat, covered in embroidered, purple butterflies.”
Reyn’s eyes snapped up to his. So, she remembered the conversation from when they shopped for waistcoats and hats. Good.
