Page 92 of Mayfair Madame
Since returning from Portugal, we’d been inseparable, and Ellie had finally moved into the apartment after some very persuasive arguments from me that may or may not have involved some magical nights of lovemaking.
“Now, I brought this for you to wear,” he said, interrupting my thoughts. He opened a black satin box and picked up a rose gold necklace with diamonds that glistened in the winter sunlight.
“This is your something old. This was my mother’s.” He fastened it around my neck.
“Rupert, I couldn’t.” I admired the necklace as it lay on my chest. It really was exquisite.
“You are family, my only daughter. It’s only right it should be passed down to you. Now what do you have that’s new?”
“The dress, of course, and I have this blue garter that Oscar made for me. Melinda has lent me a bracelet, so I think we have all bases covered.”
Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. Some traditions were too good to leave behind.
“Then we’re all set. We have a couple of minutes before we need to leave, and I wanted to talk to you about something while we’re alone.”
Was everything okay? “Oh my God. Are you ill?”
“Good Lord, no, but I want to talk to you about my will.”
“Is now the time?”
“No time like the present. I’ve drawn up some papers for you to sign, making you my adoptive daughter. When I do eventually go, I need to make sure that nothing is left to chance, and that you will inherit my entire fortune, save for a few bequests.”
“Fuck, Rupert. That’s a lot of money.”
He shrugged. “I know, and I suggest you do the same. It’s never too early to write a will.”
We were interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Come in.” I knew it’d be Melinda, and I wasn’t wrong. “We’ll talk about this later, Rupert.”
She stood in the doorway, her pale blue dress shimmering in the sunlight that streamed through the window.
“You look amazing, Naomi.” She rushed forward and hugged me. “I can’t believe you’re finally getting married. I never thought I’d see the day, and Ellie is so perfect for you. I should never have doubted her or you.”
“You look wonderful yourself. Is she already downstairs?” I couldn’t wait to see what Oscar had picked out for her.
“She is, and she looks as fantastic as you do. Come on, and you can see for yourself.”
“Are you ready, Rupert?” I turned to face my ‘father’.
“More than you’ll ever know.” He kissed the back of my hand, and I took his arm.
We made our way downstairs, Melinda walking in front.
She preceded me down the aisle along with Ellie’s nieces, Sophie and Roxie, the colour of their dresses matching Melinda’s. The flower garlands in their hair were perfect. They looked beautiful.
Each of them had small bouquets of roses and lily of the valley. It had been Ellie’s father’s favourite flower, and even though he couldn’t be there to give her away, he’d be with her in spirit.
My bouquet was bigger, with the same flowers but with cascades of greenery, almost sweeping the floor.
I smoothed down my dress and took a deep breath. It was now or never.
The doors opened, and there she was, waiting at the end of the aisle. And fuck, she looked gorgeous.
Her pant suit was white, no frills and no fuss, beneath it a simple pale blue camisole top. She wore a pair of white Converse, as was her style, but her dark hair was up, sprinkled with the simplest of white flowers. She wasn’t a girly girl, my Ellie, but today I’d have moved the moon and the stars to spend an eternity with her.
We’d deliberated over music and had finally settled on Endless Love, because that was what we had, a love that transcended time and space.
