Page 84 of Landen
“My dear-”
“It will not bea circus.” Landen interrupted her firmly. “This will beprivate and tasteful with just friends and family.”
“That’sunacceptable-”
“It’seither that or Tessa and I go off to get married in a chapel with twowitnesses. She has been through a very rough time in her life becauseof the baby she is carrying, and it’s not over yet.
Her blood pressurekeeps elevating, and the doctor who came to visit her just yesterdayinstructed us to do everything to keep the stress level down. I don’tgive a damn about how many people we need to invite. This is ourwedding, and I will not allow you to turn it into a society party foryour so-called friends.”
“But-”
“I think he isserious, my dear.” The support came from a surprising source.They all turned to stare at the man at the head of the table, who hadbeen silent during the entire debate.
Putting down hisutensils, he added gruffly. “I have been through a hell of alot myself. I thought I was going to die, and I have been given asecond chance.” his gaze drifted to Tessa, and he shook hishead. “Before this, you would not have been welcomed in thishouse-”
“Father-”
“No.” heshook his head with a smile. “I am being honest. Now, I amlooking at things from a different perspective. I heard you when yousat at my bedside, saying what I did to your life, the way Idominated it.
I have had a greatamount of time to think, and I realize that time is short, and weneed to make the best of it. A small wedding is acceptable.”
*****
Tessa stood in frontof the mirror and stared at her image, trying to find some kind offlaw. The weeks had flown by; before she could even grasp that ithad, it was already August, and she was almost four months pregnantand barely showing. She and Elizabeth had become fast friends.
“I have alwayswanted a sister.” The girl had confessed.
“Bet you neverthought she would be a black American from nowhere.” Tessa hadteased her.
“Stop sayingthat!”
“It doesn’tbother me.” she had told the girl soberly. “I am proud ofwho I am, and I am head over heels in love with your brother. That’senough for me.”
Landen’sparents had grudgingly accepted her enough, but she knew they couldnever be friends. They would be tolerant because they would not wantto lose their son and heir, but she knew what they thought of her.She was a usurper who did not belong, but it was OK with her.
“Honey, youlook-”
She turned to look ather sister, who wore a beautiful pastel pink dress with bell sleeves.Landen had flown them over in the private jet, and they were stayingat one of the flats belonging to the company. He had made all thearrangements with the help of his mother and sister and firmly toldher that all she had to do was pick out her dress.
“There are nowords.”
“I have put theweight back on. No wonder I have been eating like a pig.”Taking a deep breath, she stepped back from the mirror. “I amgetting married.”
“To a frickingprince.”
“He is not aprince.”
“He might aswell be.” Karen averred with a grin. “You hit the damnjackpot.”
“I love him anddon’t ever want to think about his money. I signed a prenup.”
“Of course youdid.”
“He was not inagreement, but I made him see sense. We are in this for the rest ofour lives, so signing a piece of paper will not change that.”
“Oh goodness,me!” They both looked up as Elizabeth swept into the room in acloud of blue chiffon and expensive perfume. “Darling, you lookravishing. Wait until my brother sees you. Speaking of which, it’stime.”
*****