Page 23 of Take My Place

“So why didn’t you just say that?”

“I couldn’t take the risk you would say no. Your mother could be stubborn. Once she got an idea in her head, nothing would shift it. She’d never admit she made a mistake in marrying Solomon, even though it was clear to all of us that he was making her miserable. I didn’t want you to say no out of some misguided, naïve sense of independence. You did a good job taking care of yourself when you were working at the care home, but the fact you thought you could hide there indefinitely shows how much you’ve got to learn about how the world works. The only reason your father didn’t come after you before we did is because his attention has been elsewhere.”

“On what?”

“I don’t know.” Ben frowns. “My sources can’t tell me. All I know is that he’s spending a lot of time travelling to Italy, but there doesn’t seem to be anything to show for it.”

“Romy thinks he’s got a mistress there,” I say.

“If he does, it’ll only be out of convenience,” Ben tells me. “No, there’s something more going on, but I don’t know what. But while he’s been focused on his business, he hasn’t had time to come after you. That could change at any time, which is why I had to bring you under Navarre protection. But I want you to believe me when I say that I wouldn’t have done this for just anyone, heir or not. Romy’s told me a lot about you and how you’re just as incredible a woman as your mother. He cares for you deeply, Ivy. He’s serious about making this marriage work. I hope you are too.”

“I am,” I assure him, even if my mind wanders to Archer and Declan. Guilt settles in my stomach thanks to that thought.

“Good. Now, let’s start making some wedding plans. This is going to be an event everyone will be talking about for years to come. First, we need to choose a date. I was thinking this summer would be good.”

“This summer?” My jaw drops. “I was thinking more like a couple years’ engagement, maybe even longer. We’re only eighteen.”

“I was the head of my House at eighteen after my father died,” Ben tells me. “Your mother was engaged at eighteen and married before she turned nineteen. You’re old enough to accept the responsibility of your birthright. A long engagement would give your father an excuse to argue you have no intention of getting married. He’d be perfectly entitled to demand we hand you over to his custody if he thought this was all a game. No, you will be getting married this summer. It’s the only way to secure your safety. Your father won’t have time to try anything if you walk down the aisle as soon as possible.”

“Could we at least push it back to the autumn?” I ask, desperate to reclaim some semblance of control over my life. I think quickly, coming up with an excuse that might make sense. “I always dreamed of an autumn wedding. I think it’s so romantic, all those falling leaves turning orange and red. I want an outdoor wedding. Imagine how beautiful it would look with all those brightly coloured trees in the background.”

Ben nods slowly though he is reading me like a book. I wonder if he sees my mother when he looks at me, and not me at all. Now I know they all loved her, but am I just a ghost to them? A ghost of a woman they could never control? Am I making the same mistakes she did?

“Hmm. Yes, I think that could work. I am in the process of registering one of the barns as a wedding venue for you to hold the wedding here.”

“Really? But I thought you could only register a property for weddings if it is open to anyone to get married there.”

“A mere formality.” Ben waves aside my remark. “I have friends on the council who are fully understanding that if someone wanted to get married here, they would have to find an available date in our calendar and unfortunately, that is going to prove to be difficult.”

Why am I not surprised that Ben is as corrupt as my father in his own way?

“Now, while it is tradition for the father of the bride to pay for the wedding costs, I am willing to ignore that particular custom and cover all the costs myself,” Ben went on. “I don’t think any of us like the idea of you being beholden to your father for anything. This will be my gift to you, along with a few other little surprises.”

“That’s very generous of you,” I murmur.

“Your dress will be handmade for you,” Ben says. “I have the portfolios of a number of designers for you to decide. Have a look and choose the one you like best and we’ll make an appointment for them to consult with you.” He hands me a stack of folders.

That is my bedtime reading sorted out for the next few nights.

“I have retained the services of a wedding planner,” Ben continues. “She’ll be handling all the little details so you don’t have to worry about a thing. All you have to do is let her know any specific requests you have and she’ll take care of the rest.”

“But I was hoping I could get Katy to arrange things,” I say. “She’s really good at organising and I know it would mean a lot to her to be involved. She’s been almost like a mother to me these past few years. It would break her heart not to be able to help.”

“I’m sure we’ll be able to find something for her to do on the day,” Ben says. “But until that time comes, I’m going to have to insist you work with the planner. Whilst I’m sure Katy is a lovely person and highly competent, she won’t have the experience of arranging a high-end wedding. There are certain standards to be upheld, etiquette to be observed. With only a few months to sort everything out, I’m not going to trust such an important event to the hands of an amateur.”

“But-”

Ben holds up a hand to silence me. “I’m afraid there will be no further discussion on the matter,” he says. “Whilst I appreciate this is your wedding and will allow you a lot of freedom in your choices, I must insist you use the planner I have hired. That way we can be sure you have the wedding you deserve. It’s what your mother would have wanted.”

But Ben, my mother didn’t choose you and you clearly never knew what she wanted.

“I guess I’m using a wedding planner then.” A fake smile plasters across my face hurts my cheeks. Let Ben think he’d won me over. If I’m going to have to do things his way, I’ll do things his way. I just hope that he doesn’t have a heart attack when he sees the cost of this wedding. If that’s how he wants to play it, he’ll soon discover I’m not nearly as naïve as he thinks.

“Excellent. Oh, Ivy, you have no idea how excited we all are to have you join our family. Your engagement party will give us an opportunity to show the whole town how happy we are.”

“Engagement party?”Of course there is an engagement party.

“Yes. We’ve planned it for the end of the month. That will give you a chance to get used to being back at the Academy and invite all your friends.”

---