Page 34 of A Duchess to Unravel
Tristan’s jaw clenched tightly. He stiffly drew up his hand and accepted Alistair’s handshake.
“We should discuss her dowry, at the very least,” he grit out.
To Theo’s surprise, Alistair only chortled.
“Not necessary,” he replied, then walked to the office door. “I will send details of the arrangements I have secured within the next day. Miss Theo, you may pick your own dress if you wish. If not, just have your maid send me your measurements.”
“I can choose my own dress,” she bit out, her anger with him renewed.
“A lovely green, perhaps,” he mused, winking at her. “It is what you wear best.”
Theo’s jaw dropped, shock eating through her anger that he had noticed that green was her favorite and most often worn color.
“Theo,” Tristan stated the second after Alistair took his leave.
She felt her brother grip her shoulders and turn her toward him, the look on his face almost desperate.
“Why are you doing this?” He implored. “Has he threatened you?”
Theo jerked out of his grasp, his question a little too close to the truth.
“He has not,” she answered truthfully. “And I do not understand why you are so bothered by this. You have been insisting I get married for well over a year, even before Mama passed!”
Tristan studied her, his expression so doubtful and intense that she had to look away.
“Tell me now. Are you in trouble, Theo? Has something happened that I need to know about? You can tell me. I can help you,” he insisted.
Theo sighed and gently pried his hands off her shoulders.
“You have helped me enough, brother,” she replied. “It is time I take care of myself.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Oh, Theo, your alterations turned out lovely,” Amelia praised.
She and Seraphina were crowded around the full-length mirror on either side of Theo, smiling wide as they took in her reflection. In truth, Theo agreed with them. She’d chosen to wear her favorite sea-foam green dress and have just a few alterations added: crushed gems around the bodice, a silk trim in a slightly darker green, a train of matching dark green added to the back of the dress giving a lovely contrast to the much lighter color of the gown. They were simple additions, but they made the dress stand out and sparkle.
To complete the outfit, she’d chosen her white silk elbow length gloves, white satin shoes, and a simple solitaire diamond choker. Norma had artfully covered the scar on her face with cosmetics, and had swept her long, dark curls into an elegant yet simple updo. A sprig of baby’s breath rested behind her left ear.
Behind the three of them, sequestered on the couch within the bridal room, were Rose and Ophelia. Neither had said much since she’d shared the news of her engagement to Alistair. Rose only shared looks of silent worry, while Ophelia, truly displeased that Theo would not be joining her in her choice of spinsterhood, had questioned her choice until Theo broke down and gave her reasoning. After that, she’d joined Rose in her accepting silence. Still, they had attended wanting to show their support.
“Thank you,” Theo said warmly to Seraphina and Amelia. “And thank you all for being here. I know it was a tad late notice, but I appreciate you making the time.”
“Why was it such late notice?” Rose asked from behind them.
Ophelia looked at Theo, as if wondering if she were going to tell the others.
In the mirror Theo saw Seraphina and Amelia both frown, and the three of them turned to see the sour expressions on their two other friends’ faces.
“Would you two stop moping?” Amelia sighed.
“No,” Rose answered stubbornly, sitting up from a slouched position, “I will not be excited for my friend marrying a brute out of convenience.”
Amelia sighed in annoyance.
“I have told so already, the man is not a brute! He is much kinder than he seems,” she told her.
Rose scoffed, obviously not believing her.
