“He loves you, Lavender. Anyone with eyes can see it.”
“Do you think?”
“What do you feel for him?”
She couldn’t put those feelings into words. Lavender blushed, suddenly shy at the thought of expressing it aloud.
Alice laughed, waving her hand dismissively. “Never mind, then. Your expression is all I needed to see. Everything will be fine, Lavender. Trust me. And you look absolutely lovely, if you were doubting that as well. Now,” Alice stood, turning to the bed, “why don’t you choose?”
Lavender laughed and settled on a headdress adorned with marigolds. Alice excitedly called Betty back in and the two of themseemed to take quite a lot of pleasure in fussing over Lavender. By the end of it, she wore a loosely-fitted muslin and lace cream-colored gown that went nicely with her headdress.
Some of the fear disappeared by the time she was ready to head down to the gardens. The renovations to Austin’s townhouse had included refreshing the garden so she had thought it was the perfect place to have the ceremony, especially considering the fact that his estate was not yet ready. She needed only say those words and Austin had done what he needed to do—announcing the wedding banns at last, acquiring a special license, even indulging her in hosting an engagement ball at the house. Lavender asked and he’d done what she wanted without question, even if he didn’t particularly like it. Perhaps he truly did love and adore her as much as Alice said.
Lavender smiled to herself, a little embarrassed that she had used her insecurities to doubt him. Austin had spent nearly every day showing her just how much he loved her and Lavender had done her best to do the same. Why would today of all days be different?
They made it to the first floor before Vincent came upon them. “Pardon me, Miss Alice,” he said. “But may I steal my sister away for a moment.”
Alice nodded. “But don’t keep her for too long. The guests are waiting.”
“Yes, yes, she won’t allow it, I’m sure,” Vincent said with a grin.
Alice returned the smile and stepped away, leaving them alone.
“Let’s go to the drawing room,” Vincent suggested. He took the lead and Lavender followed, saying nothing though curiosity nagged at her.
It had taken a little bit of time to convince Vincent of the love between Austin and her. He wouldn’t deny her a thing, which was why he didn’t dare to suggest ending the betrothal again, but his wariness of Austin had taken some time to deplete. But understandably so. After everything that had happened, Lavender knew that it would take some time for Vincent to trust Austin around her again.
But she doubted he would pull her away on the day of her wedding to voice his displeasure. Would he?
Lavender studied his face the moment they were behind closed doors. The pleasant expression he’d given Alice was gone, looking far more grim.
“What’s the matter, Vincent?” she asked, her nervousness creeping back up her spine.
Vincent said nothing, pulling out a letter from behind his waistcoat. Wordlessly, he handed it to her.
Lavender’s nervousness morphed into confusion when she saw that it was from the Countess of Lively. She glanced back up at her brother but he only stood there waiting for her to read.
The letter was…lengthy. It began rather politely—or as polite as Lady Lively could be—before she delved into paragraph after paragraph of rude statements, expressing how disappointed she was that she was not invited to the wedding.
By the end of it, Lavender was laughing. Vincent looked surprised. “Does it not bother you?” he asked.
“Bother me?” Lavender shook her head, refolding the letter. “Of course not. Lady Lively backed herself into the corner I wanted her to be in this whole time. I find it rather amusing that she did it on her own, after I have decided to leave my quest for revenge alone.”
“But she was rather nasty in her letter. I thought you would have been upset by it. The only reason I showed it to you now is because I thought it might upset you if you were to learn of it afterward.”
“I’m fine, Vincent. It’s fine. I don’t care anymore.”
That shocked him. “It does not?”
Lavender shook her head, smiling. It felt nice saying aloud what she had been admitting to herself all along. “I was haunted by her. She hounded my every thought, my every action. But after finding love, Vincent, I realised that I have no more room in my heart for hate.” She handed the letter back to him. “She does not matter anymore. Though it is quite amusing that she is this upset at the fact that she was not invited to the wedding of a mere sister of a merchant and a bastard earl.”
Austin helped her, of course. He hadn’t said as much in words. He was committed to helping her take her revenge, no matter what. But as the days went on, Lavender didn’t care about making a perfect impression at each event and following every tiny detail of her plan. She didn’t care about what Lady Lively was saying about her, or climbing her way to the top of the social ladder so that she could knock the queen off her throne. She only cared about spending time with the people she loved.
Vincent smiled at that, his eyes filling with pride. “There she is,” he said. “Then what would you like for me to say in response?”
“Whatever you wish, Vincent. You needn’t say anything at all, truly, though that may just upset her further.”
“Silence it is.” He approached, pulling her into an embrace without warning. “I’m proud of you, Lavender.”
