Page 38 of Ensnared
My mother’s smile faltered as she studied my face. “But?”
I sighed, running my hands over the lace-covered bodice. “It doesn’t feel right. I feel like I’m wearing someone else’s dress.”
Evelina’s assistant paused, glancing at her boss as if unsure how to respond. Evelina herself took a step closer, her expression softening. “Josephine, it’s normal to feel nervous. This is a big decision. But remember, the dress is meant to reflect who you are. If this one doesn’t feel like you, we’ll keep looking.”
I nodded, grateful for her understanding, but still, there was a sinking feeling in my chest. I had imagined this moment so many times, seeing myself in the perfect dress, feeling that rush of excitement, but all I felt was uneasy.
My mother rose from her chair and walked over to me, her presence calming. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to settle. If this dress doesn’t make you feel like a bride, then it’s not the one.”
I looked at her, my heart aching with the need for her approval and comfort. “It’s not that it’s not beautiful, Mom. It’s just... it’s not me.”
She nodded, understanding in her eyes. “Then we’ll find the one that is. Don’t worry, you’ll know it when you see it.”
Evelina smiled warmly, her eyes twinkling with reassurance. “Let’s try the next one, shall we? We have plenty more to go through.”
I returned her smile, though it felt a little forced. “Okay.”
As I stepped back into the tent to change, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a long search—not just for the perfect dress, but for something more, something deeper that I couldn’t quite put into words.
Chapter 15
Dress after dress, I felt my excitement waning. Evelina and her assistant brought out gowns in all styles—ballgowns, A-lines, mermaids—each one more intricate and elaborate than the last. But none of them felt right. I smiled politely, nodded when asked, and tried to hide my disappointment as I stepped back into the dressing tent yet again.
“Josephine, how about this one?” Evelina’s voice came through the curtain, tinged with a hint of excitement that hadn’t been there before.
I took the dress from her hands, feeling the cool, delicate fabric slip through my fingers. It was different from the others—lighter, almost ethereal. The silk chiffon was soft and flowed like water, and as I stepped into it, I felt an immediate connection, as if the dress was welcoming me home.
I turned to face the mirror inside the tent, my breath catching as I saw the reflection. The dress was simple yet breathtaking. The bodice was fitted, adorned with intricate beading that shimmered subtly in the light.
It had an open back, the fabric dipping low to reveal the gentle curve of my spine. The beading continued down the edges, framing my bare skin like delicate vines. The neckline was a soft V, not too deep, but just enough to expose my collarbone, which felt exposed and beautiful at the same time.
The skirt flared out just below the hips, cascading into a long, flowing train that trailed behind me like a whisper. The fabric was so light that it moved with the slightest breath, making me feel like I was floating.
I stepped out of the tent, my heart pounding in my chest. Evelina and her assistant both gasped, their eyes wide with approval.
“Oh, Josephine,” Evelina whispered, her voice full of awe. “You look... exquisite.”
My mother stood up slowly, her hands covering her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took in the sight of me. “You’re a vision,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
For the first time, I saw it too. This was me—this dress, this moment. It wasn’t just beautiful; it felt right. It felt like it belonged to me, like it had been waiting for me all along.
“You’re perfect.”
I heard the telltale click of expensive shoes on hardwood and looked up to see Colson striding into the ballroom, his presence commanding as always. My heart leaped into my throat, and I scurried back into the tent, fumbling to close the flaps.
"You can't see me in my dress!" I called out, my voice pitched higher than usual. "It's bad luck!"
Colson's low chuckle sent shivers down my spine. "It's not bad luck, Josephine," he said, his voice closer now. "We make our own luck."
Before I could protest further, he slipped inside the tent, closing us in. The small space suddenly felt electric with his presence.
"Colson!" I hissed, acutely aware of my mother sitting just a few feet away.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment. God knows what she thought of his intrusion.
He ignored my protest, moving behind me with fluid grace. His fingers brushed my hair aside, exposing my neck. I shivered as he pressed a kiss there, his touch feather light as he traced my spine.
"Is this the dress?" he murmured, his breath warm against my skin.
