Page 127 of The Betrothal

I’d seen it before, we’d holidayed together as families, and we both had pools and grew up in each other’s company.

He was all man, lithe and sculpted. And I felt nothing.

I dropped my eyes, hoping he read the small blush as something positive, not the memory of three other bodies that consumed every spare thought, then he stalked into the en-suite.

“Beautiful,” the seamstress cooed. She was right, it was beautiful.

The ivory silk rose to a square neckline, the boned bodice hidden under a trail of buttons. The structured waist broke loose when it passed my hips, flowing into a long elaborate train, the silk of the skirt covered in Chantilly lace.

The headdress held a veil in place, the cathedral length passing the train of my gown on the floor behind me.

“Really, Theodore, you ought not to be present for this,” Mother chided him.

He sat facing away, a long sofa pulled in front of the ever-blazing fire. I could see where his leg was bent and raised onto the seats, a device between his fingers.

“Please, Mrs Blackthorne.” Teddy didn’t turn when he addressed her, all spun sugar and pleading. “I couldn’t tear myself from Izzy’s side if I tried. I assure you, I can see nothing.”

Mother simpered. It disgusted me.

The seamstress adjusted the tiara, the jewelling of it subtle and elegant, and the sparkling stones no doubt entirely too real and expensive. The front veil tucked neatly over it, the edges of the headpiece smooth and offering no risk of snagging or tearing the delicate fabric.

She looked at me, truly looked at me, and frowned. Taking a tiny breath, she opened her mouth, glancing behind me to where Mother and Teddy chattered.

My smile was quick, insincere, but communicated – I hoped – the futility of her concern.

The woman dipped a nod and announced me ready. “I will make the final adjustments and have it delivered tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” I murmured politely as Mother returned to take it in.

“Quite wonderful, thank you, Mari. This should set the tongues wagging for entirely more appropriate reasons.” She revelled in the gown. “It really enhances your assets.”

My composure glitched. As far as Mother was concerned, I had no assets.

“Yes, this will have them talking for weeks,” she gloated.

The seamstress looked thrilled at the compliment, beginning to slowly remove the dress from my body, leaving me in the constricting undergarments and passing me a silk dressing gown.

At the sound of the garment bag zipping closed, Teddy turned, catching sight of the bare flesh beneath the robe that I had yet to pull tightly closed. The brush of his eyes on my body encouraging me to move more quickly.

His awe flickered to irritation and was then schooled.

Mother bustled from the room on the tail of Mari, her hands embarrassingly empty while the woman struggled with the gown and accessories. I had no doubt she wouldn’t drop a single thing – the opportunity to dress this wedding would be a feather in her cap that would keep her in commissions for years – especially given the dress she had created for me.

Teddy was suddenly before me, standing tall while I bent to remove the thick heels I’d selected many months ago. I rose to find him deeply inside my personal space.

I stood straight and composed, feeling his fingers toying gently with the sash at my waist. He gave it a soft tug and it loosened, the fabric covering my breasts giving way in the absence of its hold.

The bridal lingerie was softer, less thick than the dress, but the extra layer of boning sculpted my figure for the heavy gown, the double effect creating a desirable silhouette, if one desired curves.

Teddy’s eyelids had hooded, his face warming – I hoped from the fire but more likely the view of my chest, pushed up under the constriction of the lingerie.

His fingers found the swell of my breast and danced across it, his lips parting with a sigh. He kneaded my flesh, his fingertips digging under the silken top edge to brush over my nipple.

I gasped at the intrusion and he took it for arousal, bending to take my lips in a harsh kiss.

My body curled inwards instinctively, withdrawing from his hold and his kiss, and he froze.

I lifted my eyes slowly to see his reaction.