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“Neither of you may care, but you will need a special license,” my father reminded them. “I know it has been a while, my dear, but the banns should be read out on three successive Sundays.”
“Then we shall get such a special license.” My mother huffed.
“Mama, truly, it can wait—”
She looked at me sternly. “I shall let nothing stop this wedding again because it has been a very long time coming for me. Therefore, it shall be done in a week. Understood, my dear?”
How embarrassing. “Yes, Mama.”
“Then it is decided! Come, sweet child! We must prepare and call the modiste at once!” She all but tore me from Evander and pulled me up the stairs. I glanced back down at him, as I had not said goodbye and, truthfully, did not wish to. “Come. Come. He shall have you soon enough. We must get this correct! Hathor! Come help your sister.”
“With what?” Hathor called from behind me. “I am not the modiste!”
“Hathor!” My mother’s voice was stern.
I could hear grumbling as she marched up behind us. I focused on Evander for as long as I could.
Evander
“And so you have won,” Damon said, handing me a glass of brandy.
“I am still afraid to hope.” I smirked, looking down at the liquid. “I think I will not believe it until after I hear her announced as my wife before all the world.”
“You believe something may occur to rip you apart once more?” he asked.
It was not that I believed it, but I feared being too content.
“When your life is disrupted, you begin to think that it is never going be whole again, that any good moment will be subsequently met with bad. As if it were punishment for daring to be happy.”
“You are not instilling much confidence, and I truly wish for my sister’s happiness,” he said.
“As do I.” I nodded. “Be assured I will do all in my power to ensure it.”
“Good. Now, how the hell did you convince my father? He was ready to go to battle over this. He would not even listen to my mother.”
I shrugged, as I honestly did not know. “I doubt it was anything I said or did. I believe it was your sister.”
“Ah, now it makes sense.” He chuckled, shaking his head.
“How so?”
“When my father wishes to be a mountain, he is a mountain. Not even my mother would dare try him. However, Aphrodite is like a breeze. She simply goes right through him. It is the talent of the favored.”
“So, you have no idea how she does it, either?” I chuckled at him.
“None. But I shall enjoy watching you and gaining further clarity, for I believe you might be less successful at denying her than even Father.”
“You may be right.” There was nothing that I could think of now to deny her.
“Allow me to ask you then,” he replied seriously, so I gave him my full attention. “What shall you do with the girl you are raising? Is my sister to raise her? Have you spoken on it?”
That was one of the things her father had mentioned to me as a reason for his hesitance to our union. And I had thought of it.
“Emeline is under my care. She has a nanny and will soon get a governess. If Aphrodite does not wish to concern herself, she does not have to. The child shall have a woman’s care either way.”
“Your sister was raised in the arms of nannies and governesses. Do you believe that is wise? Does the child not long for a mother?”
I drank before answering. “I have done more for Emeline and her mother than anyone else in this world. It may be cold of me—may I be forgiven for it—but I wish not to think too much about it. And I dare not anger or disturb your sister with her.”
