Marrying Mr. Darcy (Love Manor #2) - Kate O'Keeffe Page 0,59
to collect my bridesmaid dress for Phoebe’s wedding.
But come on! I’ve just got engaged to the most incredible man, and I’m in a gorgeous bridal shop. A girl can only take so much bridal fantasy shoved in her face before she’ll succumb.
And yes, I know I began rifling through the dresses the moment I stepped into the store. But still.
With my hands covering my modesty, I step into the dress, and Susan does it up behind me, adding some industrial-sized clips to the back to hold it in place. She pushes the curtain open, and I step up onto a small, round step surrounded on three sides by mirrors, just like on that show Say Yes to the Dress.
I gaze at my reflection. Well, reflections, as I can see myself from nearly all angles. The dress is every bit as stunning on as I’d expected it to be. My waist looks tiny against my amped-up bust, the ivory chiffon falling to the floor in soft, pretty waves around me. It’s simple and elegant and totally gorgeous.
“You’d need to have it taken in, of course, but we can do that for you here,” Susan says. “What do you think, dearie?”
What do I think? I’m Cinderella at the ball. I’m the bride of my dreams. I’m a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet marrying her handsome and dashing Mr. Darcy.
“I love it,” I breathe.
The bell tinkles at the other end of the shop, indicating another customer has arrived, and Susan excuses herself. I turn to look at myself in the multiple mirrors, loving the way the skirt forms its own train at the back.
I hear a familiar voice. “Susan, how are you?” M-wah, m-wah air kisses.
Jilly Frotherington.
“You are looking radiant as always. Is that a new dress?”
“Well, yes—”
“Gosh, I hope I look like you when I’m older. Not that you’re old, of course. Sorry. Jilly sometimes blurts things out she shouldn’t, you know. Her tongue runs away on her sometimes.”
Susan’s tone is unsure. “Oh, right. Well, welcome to the shop. What can I do for you, Lady Fotherington?”
“Can I go back? Don’t you worry. Emma will be delighted to see me,” Jilly says. Around the corner she comes, a bright smile on her beautiful but flushed face. She’s trailed by Susan who looks like she’s still recovering from being told she looks old.
“Emma, darling.” She air kisses me. “Sebby told me I’d find you in the village, although I didn’t know you were dress shopping.”
“I’m not,” I reply, although it’s obvious that’s exactly what I’m doing, what with me standing in front of her in a wedding dress and all.
“I thought you might need some help, you know, after our little chat the other day.” She shoots me a meaningful look.
I give her a grateful smile. It feels good to have someone on my side. “Thanks, Jilly.”
“Of course.” She winks at me. “Look at you. Engaged for five minutes, and you’re already wedding dress shopping. How utterly exciting!”
I look down at the dress, and I’ll admit to feeling a little thrill. “I didn’t mean to. It just kinda happened.”
Susan gives a sage nod. “We get that a lot here, love.”
“No, I mean I’m meant to be here to be fitted for a bridesmaid’s dress for my friend’s wedding. I guess I got sidetracked.”
“Who’s wedding is it?” Susan asks. “I’ll go and get the dress for you, dearie.”
“Phoebe Watson and Johnathan Bentley’s.”
Susan’s eyes get wide. “Oh, you’re that Emma.”
Thrown, I reply, “That’s right. I’m Emma Brady. My friend Phoebe’s getting married.”
“Oh, yes. We know all about that. It was the talk of the town. Now that I look at you, I can see exactly who you are.”
I’m not sure how to respond.
“I loved Dating Mr. Darcy,” she continues. “We all did here in the village, although we did think Lord Martinston would end up marrying Phoebe.”
This again? How awesome.
“It was such a shock when she proposed to his best friend. I tell you, I nearly spilt my cuppa all over my settee when that happened.”
“It really was quite a moment, wasn’t it? A bolt from the blue.” Jilly throws me a wink because of course she knew Sebastian was announcing Phoebe was in love with Johnathan. She thought Sebastian was going to propose to Camille and sail off into the sunset with her and her wads of cash. As his lawyer, she’d helped set up the whole deal, after all.
I was the wrench in the works that stopped the plan in its tracks. Love can do