“Rowan, my boy.” His father grinned, watching his mother dance about the living room, swaying to the music in her mind. “No matter what anyone tells you, never give up on love. It matters not who it is, or how you show it, but remember, it is the thing that keeps us alive.”
A young Rowan frowned at his father, his mind going to the infestation of cooties.
He blinked the tears away, feeling a sudden weight lift off his chest as he whispered to himself, “I am in love with her.”
A small smile began to grow on his face, and he dragged his hand down his jaw, looking up at his best friends, who stood before him, smirking.
“Well, then. That took you long enough,” Cain muttered, sipping the drink he poured for himself. “I knew it when I met her at Yarros’s soiree.”
Alice is to be wed today.
“Well, hell. What do I do now?” Rowan furrowed his brow.
“Go to her, you foolish man!” Cain exclaimed.
“You should go to the wedding and declare your love for her now. It is your last chance. She loves you back, everyone could see what was going on between you two.”
“Except myself, it seems.” Rowan chuckled, running his fingers through his hair. “All right. I need to go. I must get there before the ceremony, I may be able to convince her otherwise.”
* * *
Alice stood, looking at herself in the full-length mirror of the bridal room in the chapel. Her dress was an egg-white color, looking more yellow in the afternoon light than white as she examined it once more for any flaws. She straightened the light blue ribbon around her waist again and scowled at the fabric of the skirt, feeling as if something was off.
There is nothing more to do, Alice, everything is perfect. Except…
She watched her face contort into a frown even as she spoke the words in her head, and she looked away, not wanting to face her reflection, which spoke more truth to her than she could herself.
“Are you ready, Miss?” Grace knocked on the door, not coming inside.
“Grace,” Alice called, just loud enough for her lady’s maid to shuffle in, coming to her side as she heard the crack in her voice.
“Oh, my dear, what is wrong? Is something not hemmed correctly? I could have sworn we double-checked it?—”
“I do not know what to do, Grace,” Alice whispered, biting her lip. “Am I ready for this?”
She wanted to be ready, but her heart was pulling her in two directions. She wanted to be upset that the Duke turned her down. She wanted to hate him, but it was impossible. She had tried, for nights on end, to get the ghosts of his kisses, his fingers on her skin, out of her mind. She completely cut him out of her life and flooded her every waking moment with the Earl to distract her mind. She knew this was the way things were supposed to go, and she was grateful that everything had worked out.
How did things go so wrong? How could I let my feelings get so terribly out of control?
“Of course, you are ready. Your brother is out there to walk you down the aisle, and as soon as he lets you go, you know it is the final step.” Grace smiled, tears beginning to well up in her eyes as well. “You will be the most beautiful bride in London.”
“Oh, stop.” Alice giggled, sniffling and dabbing her eyes. “I am so terribly nervous.”
“Nonsense! You will do wonderfully. You just have to stand out there and look pretty.” Grace winked.
Alice laughed with her for a moment, before they wiped their tears and walked out of the bridal room, down the window-lined hall to the chapel, birds chirping in the perfect summer afternoon outside.
With their arms interlocked, Alice felt the familiar sense of safety as she strolled with the woman who had become her best friend. All of her thoughts of comfort were washed away when she heard the groaning of the organ playing a wedding song. She took a deep breath, looking at Grace for comfort.
“You will be just fine, my dear.”
At once, she heard the large, dark wooden doors grind open on the stone floor, and the group congregated inside all stood up from their seats, all eyes glued to her. She felt a blush grow on her cheeks as she politely smiled to everyone she could before Richard finally made his way to link his arm with hers.
“You… look beautiful, Sister,” he mumbled quietly, and she was not even sure she heard him correctly, for she could see no emotion on his face.
Suddenly, it changed, and his usual faux-happy grin was plastered on his face as he started walking her down the aisle.
She hardly recognized most of the people in the audience, and aside from the Earl’s siblings and mother, Richard was the only one she was familiar with.
