Page 3 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
Chapter 2
Sitting before her mirror, Adorra dipped a fingertip into a metal jar of red dye. She raised the fingertip to her lip and spread the dye across her full lips.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm the butterflies dancing around in her stomach. Today was the day of her wedding, and her nerves were skyrocketing. She had been so excited to marry Lord Gothar, and now she felt as though she had cold feet. All she wanted to do was run away and never look back.
Which was completely silly, she had been dreaming of her wedding ever since he had kneeled in front of her and proposed. He was quite the catch, her Edmund. There’d been more than a few ladies at court vying for his attention.
Maybe the fact that her sister hadn't been found was starting to weigh on her, especially now that it was her wedding day. Now she had no family to help her celebrate this joyous occasion.
No parents and no sister.
It broke her heart.
There was still no word as to what had happened to Jasmine, and no body had been found, which caused her to still have hope.
“You look gorgeous!” Her friend exclaimed from beside her.
Adorra smiled, yes, she did look quite amazing in her wedding gown. The snow white dress fit snugly around her full breasts, and the waist of the dress highlighted her hourglass figure. The dress had a neckline that dropped dangerously low over her cleavage, almost to the point of being scandalous, with long sleeves that split at the elbow.
As she shifted in her seat, she watched as all the crystals on the dress shimmered as they caught the afternoon light shining through her chamber window and reflected it through their many facets.
Her sister hadn’t approved of the dress, but now that Adorra had it on, she liked to think Jasmine would’ve loved it.
“Should we get you down to your wedding?”
Adorra snapped out of her thoughts, a smile forming on her lips. “Yes, but I have to admit I’m feeling a little anxious.” She may not have her sister or parents, but she was still surrounded by friends and a man who loved her.
The friend waved it off, “Of course you’d be anxious. You are about to become a wife, and finally, know the passion of being with a man.”
“Isabel! Truly, is that all you dwell on?” Adorra was appalled by where her friend’s mind had gone.
But it could very well be one of the reasons Adorra was growing nervous about marrying Lord Gothar. Soon she would be a wife and be tied to a man for the rest of her life. She was going to be a wife, running a large household now that their lands would be joined. She would have two manors to maintain for her husband, two households full of maids to manage. It was a lot, and she only hoped she was up for the challenge.
“But it is understandable that I am getting such jitters?”
Isabel nodded her brunette curls bouncing around her shoulders. “Perfectly understandable. I don’t think I’ve ever known a bride who didn’t harbor misgivings about her marriage, but you have the perfect man waiting to make you his.”
Isabel was right. Adorra was only being silly. Despite the fact that she’d lost all her close family, she would now have the opportunity to create a new family with Edmund Gothar. “Then let us go so we don't arrive late to my own wedding.”
It wasn’t fair of her to keep her guests waiting. Or keep Edmund waiting… not when he’d been so patient with her. Every spare moment she had, she was out searching for her sister, and he’d been more patient than any man would’ve been. He was too good to be true.
Rising from her chair, she straightened her spine and readied herself for a marriage without any close family members. There would be a few distant aunts and uncles down there, but no one she knew intimately.
Isabel guided her through the halls of the manor until they reached the great hall. It was rare to see the great hall empty, but all the tables were decorated and ready for the celebration that would soon fill it’s stone walls. Food and drinks were already laid out in a glorious display.
Then they headed for the double doors leading out to the garden behind the manor.
Walking outside, Adorra paused at the doorway letting her eyes adjust to the bright natural light. Blinking a few times straightened out her eyes, and she glanced over the crowd attending her wedding.
It was a small crowd, consisting of mainly the people who lived in the manor or nearby. It wasn't as grand as the wedding of her dreams, but it was what Lord Gothar had wanted. He had explicitly asked that they keep the wedding and following celebration small. It had deflated Adorra's sails for a while, but a small wedding could be more intimate. Or so Edmund had told her.
Smiling, she stepped out, her close female friends trailing behind her.
Every footstep seemed like a lifetime. She felt her heart rate spike as she neared the outdoor altar, where Lord Gothar stood in his formal attire. He looked stunning, and for a moment she wondered what he saw in her. She wasn’t the richest lady at court, and he’d had his choice of women, but he’d chosen her.
It bewildered her, but also pleased her immensely.
Every moment her foot took another step a mix of fear and anticipation raced through her, and she feared she might pass out with excitement. It could be the corset under her dress. She’d ordered a size smaller from the seamstress at court because she’d wanted to look her best. Now she was beginning to regret her choice.
