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It was the fact that Julianna had forgone her black veil.
In its place, she had what appeared to be a custom-made lace and feather masquerade mask. The left side of her face was covered completely with the mask, while the other half of her face – only the right side of her lips and her jaw could be seen.
Whispers filled the silence and Julianna took a shaky step forward. I placed my flute on the tray of a passing waiter and strode toward my wife, who clearly looked like she had been dumped in the middle of a warfare.
The moment I reached her, her hand snaked out quickly and her fingers circled around my elbow, practically leaning her body weight into me.
My brows furrowed when the top of her head reached my shoulders, instead of my chest. “Are you wearing heels, Julianna?” I asked slowly.
She gave me a jerky nod.
“Are you fucking serious?” I hissed. “I thought you couldn’t walk in heels because of your limp.”
“I can’t,” she breathed. “But I’ve been practicing for the last six days. I didn’t want to be found lacking by these people. And apparently, heels are the way to go when it came to masquerade balls and gowns.”
My arm curled around her waist. “For fuck’s sake. They’ll find a reason to talk, alright. When you faceplant on the floor and embarrass yourself.”
Her hand tightened around my elbow. “You won’t let me.”
No, I wouldn’t.
Because embarrassing herself meant embarrassing me.
I could feel the stares of the guests burning holes into my back. My head lowered and I placed a chaste kiss along the length of her unveiled jaw, her skin soft under my lips. “How do you expect to walk and dance in these heels?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.” Julianna let out a small nervous laugh. “But I trust you won’t allow me to embarrass myself. So, dear husband, good luck.”
“You. Are. Such. A. Maddening. Woman.”
The right corner of her lips curled up. “And so, I’ve been told.”
It was the first time I had seen Julianna without her veil. Granted the black mask covered most of her face, except the right side of her lips and jaw…
But it was still something.
Her lips were full and soft, painted a deep red. Familiar.
From my peripheral vision, I saw both my father and Bishop Romano watching me carefully. “Your father is here.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Julianna?”
“Just give me a second.” She took a deep breath and released a shuddering exhale. “Okay, I’m good now. Let’s show them how good of an actor and actress we are.”
“Civil and in love,” I said.
“Civil and in love,” she whispered.
That moment in her bedroom had cleared the bridge between us. Julianna had been correct in everything she had said to me, practically spitting venom in my face and hitting me right where it fucking hurt.
It should have made me more enraged, but it only doused the fire coursing through my veins. Sure, I still hated Julianna. She was still to blame for Gracelynn’s death and that would never not to be true.
But for the first time in three years, someone other than Grace had looked into my soul and saw me for who I was.
How ironic that that woman turned out to be the reason why my heart was dead.
As much as I found vast differences between the two sisters, there were also too many similarities. How could two people be so different yet so alike?
It confused me.
It maddened me.
But insanity was just another word for tragedy. Because no insane lovers ever ended up with a happy ending.
And that was exactly my story – something half-written, left incomplete with the hopes that there would be a different ending in another lifetime.
Julianna and I couldn’t ever be together. Our marriage began as a contract, stained by Gracelynn’s blood and crumpled under my need for vengeance. We were poison and there was no antidote. We were too toxic together for us to be anything other than what we were now.
Husband and wife – in name only.
But at least we had found a middle-ground. Something we both agreed on.
An heir was needed.
And once that job was done, we would go our separate ways.
Until then, we would be… courteous.
Julianna
My fingers clenched around the curve of Killian’s elbow as he guided me around the ballroom. His long legs were taking shorter steps, purposely matching my own shaky ones. I leaned into his side, feeling the strength in his body and he took my weight without any complaint.
Killian introduced me to the guests, one by one. All the names became jumbled in my head, until all I was doing was nodding and smiling along. Playing the perfect Spencer wife. My cheeks were starting to ache, but never once did my smile waver.
Once we had made our introductions, Killian guided me toward the far end of the ballroom. Away from everyone. He grabbed a flute of champagne, handing it to me. Even through the simple black masquerade mask he wore, I saw the grim look in his dark eyes and his lips thinned. “How are your legs? You’re starting to limp more heavily.”
