“No. Please. Let’s just forget about it, all right?”

She dropped her hand, happy it was over and yet sad that she felt like she’d created a rift between them. “All right. Where’s Evangeline?”

“Getting ready, I suppose. I’ve asked Greaves to take her to the chapel as soon as she is. I’ll drive us there.”

“Okay, sounds good. I’ll just finish up.” She held her smile until she slipped into the bathroom where her makeup and veil were laid out.

Then the smile she’d been working at fell off her face and the twist of her stomach tightened. That stupid sword. She wished she’d never been born with it. Why couldn’t she have been one of the generations that it skipped? It did happen. Very, very rarely. She just hadn’t been so lucky.

But there was nothing to be done about it now. Not when she had this wedding to prepare for. She went to work on her makeup, following the advice of a YouTube video she’d watched earlier on bridal looks. It was pure vanity, she knew that. Sebastian would marry her with a bag over her head today if that’s what it came to. Today wasn’t about her, it was about him being free.

And about Evangeline’s demands being met.

Seemed to Tessa that Evangeline got what she wanted quite a lot.

Anger made Tessa apply the eyeliner a little heavier than the video had suggested. She sighed in frustration and added a little more to the other eye to balance things out. Maybe she could call it a smoky eye. That was a thing, right?

She heard the bedroom door close and peeked out, realizing Sebastian must have gone down to his office.

Men really had it so easy. Put a suit on and they were done.

She finished her makeup, then went to work on her hair. When Corette had shown her how to twist a few strands back to clip the veil into while leaving a few wispy pieces around her face, Jenna had offered to come and help, but Tessa didn’t want to bring her sister into this. When Tessa got married for real, she’d want Jenna with her every step of that way. But for this farce? It seemed wrong to involve her sister any more than Tessa already had. Like she would be using up a bunch of first time experiences on something that wasn’t real.

Tessa finally figured out her hair, attached the veil and surveyed her work. Duncan probably could have done better.

She sighed. What did it matter? Again, today was not about her.

She stared at herself, getting angry. “Snap out of it. You’re getting married. To an amazing man. Have a little pride. And stop being a quitter.”

The pep talk fixed her mood a little. Enough that she pulled the veil free, laid it gently on the bathroom counter and picked up her brush. This day might not be about her, but she owed it to Sebastian and herself to be the most beautiful bride she could be.

If something was worth doing, it was worth doing well.

With that in mind, she went back to work on becoming that beautiful bride. Whatever that meant.

Sebastian had just unlocked his office door when Greaves stuck his head in. “Evangeline’s in the car. Just wanted you to know I’m taking her to the chapel. She wanted to know why you haven’t left the house yet.”

“Because I’m still waiting on these documents to come through. Not that she needs to know there’s an issue. Just tell her we’re about five minutes behind you. Let the others know, too, will you?”

“Absolutely. See you there.” Greaves left.

Sebastian turned on the office lights, went to his desk and fired up his laptop. The wall of antique weaponry flanking the fireplace gleamed softly in the overheads. He poured himself a whiskey while the computer came to life. There were some things his grandmother wasn’t entirely wrong about. A drink could, on occasion, make things easier to bear.

And the fact that this marriage to Tessa was just about pleasing Evangeline was definitely one of those things.

He took his drink back to his desk and sat, opening his email. “Finally.”

But the email from his solicitor had no attachments, just a note.

My apologies for not having the documents to you yet. We’re having a terrible blizzard and the Internet is spotty. I’m sending this from my phone. As soon as I can get the office computer up and running, I’ll have them emailed to you.

Damn it. He needed those dissolution papers. Without them for Evangeline to sign, this was all for naught. He picked up his whiskey and walked to the window. The sun was well set, leaving the sky burnished in purple and gold. As January evenings in Georgia went, it wasn’t a bad one at all.

Even if he was still waiting on the most important documents of his life.

He sipped his whiskey and stared out, trying to think about something else. Tessa was the only thing that filled his head and the unsettled feeling that followed was completely his own doing. If Tessa didn’t want to show him the sword, that was her right. One hundred percent. Was he disappointed? Yes, but her refusal to share that with him wasn’t something that should make him feel poorly toward her.

He was being childish and he knew it.

He’d just thought…she’d want to let him in to the secret side of herself. She’d shared the story of her scar with him. But the sword was different, wasn’t it? More than just a memory, it was a constant reminder of what had happened. A part of her past from which she would never be free. Of all people, he understood a burden of that magnitude.

Another sip of whisky brought further clarity. Truth was, she had no reason to feel differently about divulging something so personal with him. They’d known each other what? Three days?