Page 8 of Uncrowned
Who was that man? And why did I want to find out?
The question was one that stayed with me as I headed into the dressing room. I took off the dark blue slacks, removing the ivory blouse as I unzipped the dress and stepped into it. The deep red against my pale skin left me in awe as I brought it up to hug against my body. It was tighter than what I usually wore, molding to my curves even more as I eased up the zipper. Where the top was low cut, a sheer crimson draped over the cleavage, enhancing even if it gave a veil of concealment. The long sleeves helped make the dress appear more conservative, but it was anything but. Or maybe that was me?
Licking my lips, I eased my hands down my ribs, letting them glide over my hips. When my arms lowered completely, I couldn’t stop from tracing my finger over the slit that rested mid-thigh. But it wasn’t my finger I wanted it to be. My lids closed and I saw hazel eyes. I saw the man who’d handed me the dress.
My lids opened, and I took in my reflection. Could the dress pass as sophisticated? Chic? Was I overthinking it? Women wore dresses like this every day to fancy dinners. But not me… Never me. But I had a reason now.
The appeal melted.
John. I didn’t want to wear this dress for him. I didn’t want him thinking about me like that at all.
My head shook as I unzipped the dress and hung it back up. There was nothing special about the black one as I slid it on. It didn’t hug to my curves. It wasn’t low cut with its high neckline and plain sleeves. In my mother’s eyes, it would be perfect.
“Well?”
My eyes rolled, and I stood straighter, unlocking the door and stepping out. Her smile was instant.
“Nice choice for the party. You’re learning. What about the other?”
“I like it.”
“Will John like it?”
I swallowed back the bile.
“He’ll love it. Mother, can I ask about Paul?”
All happiness faded.
“Again? We’ve already discussed this. There’s no point. I see the appeal Penelope but use your head. John is the earl. He will remarry, and that’ll be to you. You will secure this title. Not in twenty or thirty years when he dies or steps down. Now.” She glanced around the boutique, stepping closer. “This is not the time. Erase the doubt. It’ll hurt you a lot more than serve you.”
“What about the little girls?”
Another step. Two. My mother closed the distance, squeezing into my bicep threateningly as she leaned in.
“There are no girls other than you. If you do your duties, it’ll stay that way. Only you can ruin this with John. And you won’t, will you.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Give me one more chance. Let me meet with Lord Shorelam again. Send me north to meet with the Marquis of Luling. He’s a few years older than I am. I know he says he’s not interested in marriage, but I’ll captivate and win him over. A chance meeting—fate. Mother, please. One more try. I won’t fail.”
“And I won’t tell you again. You’re marrying John. We’ll not go back on our word and embarrass ourselves even more. It’s done. Accept it. We have.”
“If I don’t?”
My mother’s hand broke free and lifted to slap me, but she stopped. Her fingers curled in as she looked around the boutique.
“Mark my words. You may not survive ruining this. One way or another, we will have that title. We can do it the easy way, or you’ll find out just how generous your father has truly been. You think you’ve seen him angry? You haven’t seen anything yet.”
CHAPTER 4
Vaughn
A dangerous one…
Penelope’s words were my lifeline. The fear in her eyes had been brief, but it kept me going all hours of the day and night. Men scrambled to get me information, desperate for my approval. I may have not been The Unavowed yet, but it was only a matter of time before I stepped into my place at The Order.
Trusted Masters and guards dug through the shadows of society to figure out what John could be connected to the Taylor family. Where it hadn’t taken me long to find out on my own, the answers to her fear were what was in question. Within days, the truth came, and with it, my rage.
