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‘Then he should refuse.’
‘No one refuses Father without consequences.’ Katie visible shuddered before steadying herself against the rack.
‘What are Cameron’s consequences?’
‘I don’t know, but they are bad enough for him to marry someone he despises.’ Katie shrugged. ‘Sorry.’
The sales woman arrived and ushered us toward a plush room surrounded by mirrors and a podium. There were a lot more seats available than we had filled.
She led me to a large dressing area where the woman had me out of my clothes and being strapped into a dress before I could argue. As the corset back tightened and constricted, I held back a sob. I wanted out. So very desperately. But Mac needed me.
I kept my gaze low until I was on the podium and the woman encouraged me to look. The dress was undoubtedly beautiful, but the staring at myself in the dress was too much. Too real. I looked like a fucking bride, and not even a fake one.
Blinking furiously, I tried to stem the bitter tears that pricked my eyes. The saleswoman grinned and clapped her hands.
‘Oh, I just knew you’d love it once you got it on!’ Her voice took on a pitch that would frighten rodents away. ‘It’s a mermaid fit with a--‘
‘Get it off.’ It was cutting off my air as panic set in. ‘Fucking get it off.’
My nailed rasped at my back as the woman gawped at me like a paralysed fish. Hot flushes swept over me as I blinked through the tears.
Katie was on her feet and undoing the corset before the woman figured out I was serious.
I reached out to steady myself against the mirror as my vision blurred through my wet eyes. ‘Please. Please get it off. I can’t breathe.’
‘It’s okay. It’s loosening.’ I took a deeper breath as Katie yanked at the stays.
‘I’ll give you two a moment.’ The woman said, backing toward the door with wide eyes.
As soon as it was loose enough, I dropped the dress and hauled it off of my legs, letting it crumple into a heap on the podium. Left in nothing but my pants, I wrapped my arms around myself and crumpled into a heap on top of the dress. The tears came like a downpour that I couldn’t stop. I cursed myself as Katie slid off her coat and wrapped it around my shoulders. I couldn’t do it. I was going to let Mac down and my brothers would blame me. Harold would torture him and kill him all because I just couldn’t face it.
Katie slid down beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me toward her. I tried to resist it, but I’d not been hugged properly since Esther left and her arms reminded me of my sisters.
I gave into the comfort and fed on it like a half starved vampire.
‘Listen to me, Maeve. You can get through this. It’s shit and it shouldn’t be happening, but you are strong enough to weather this storm. I promise I’ll help to make it bearable.’
‘I’m not strong enough. He’s going to kill Mac.’
‘We won’t let that happen. You are going to dry your tears, find a dress that will leave every jaw in that room on the floor and then say I do. Because we are stronger than they know and we will not let them win.’ Katie pushed my wet hair away from my face and gave me a nod.
‘It’s only a marriage on paper. Your life won’t be so different from how it is now. Just a different man to obey.’
‘I don’t intend on obeying your brother,’ I said, wiping my eyes on the back of my hand.
A genuine smile lit up Katie’s face. ‘Good.’
Despite my utter intentions to hate her, I was finding it difficult.
A strong cup of coffee and two glasses of champagne later, my resolve had returned. Katie was right. I was going to wipe the floor with the Thompson men. It was a shame I was going to destroy her family in the process.
‘What is your most expensive, most risqué dress?’ I asked the saleswoman, who I’d since discovered was called Fiona.
She bit her lip. ‘I know the perfect one. It’s over twenty thousand pounds, though.’
I looked at Katie, who grinned.
‘Perfect. Bring it out.’
