Page 14 of From Best Friend to Bride
Fred pursed his lips. “Yes, but that was always going to happen because a physical relationship was part of their agreement. We could all see it from a mile away.”
He wasn’t backing down on this, was he?
“All right, fine, but don’t come crying to me when you fall in love with me, Frederick Wellington.” I sniffed, tucking some loose strands of hair behind my ear.
“I’ll be sure to keep that impossibility to myself.” His mouth tugged into a smile. “What if you fall for me, though?”
“I’ll sue you for emotional distress,” I quipped. “Even with that aside, you’re still forgetting the biggest obstacle.”
“Which is?”
My secret weapon.
The Dowager Countess of Coventry, Margaret Wellington. She was a strict, aristocratic woman who was a stickler for propriety, and that was exactly why she’d thrown up every obstacle to Fred’s previous relationship with his ex-fiancée.
She’d seen Charlotte for what she was almost immediately. Even after they’d been together for years, she refused to allow Fred to propose with one of the family heirloom rings.
There wasnoway she’d consent to a fake marriage, even if she treated me as her own granddaughter. Some things were too much, no matter how close our relationship was.
“Your grandmother would never allow it.”
He opened his mouth to argue with me, then stopped. “Perhaps.”
Perhaps? What did he mean,perhaps?
“What would I never allow?”
4
FRED
My grandmother’s timing was impeccable, as always.
Deli glared at me with her brown eyes before swinging her attention towards Granny, visibly softening. “Hi, Granny.”
“Hello, dear,” Granny said, sweeping into my office. “I didn’t know you were visiting today.”
“It was an impromptu visit,” Deli replied, fidgeting with her ponytail. “Someone didn’t tell me he was home.”
“Fred, you really should be more considerate.” Granny turned her sharp gaze on me. “A quick text wouldn’t hurt, would it?”
“I wasn’t aware I was required to do it. She’s not my wife, is she?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“She’s as good as.” Granny sat on the sofa opposite us. “What are you kids talking about?”
Deli shifted uncomfortably, putting another few inches of distance between us. “Nana. Dr Anthony told her it’s terminal, and she doesn’t want further treatment.”
Granny pressed her lips together in a sad smile. “She called me. I’m sorry, Delilah, dear. She told me you took it quite hard. How are you feeling now?”
“I’m over the shock,” Deli replied vaguely. “I was just talking a few things out with Fred.”
“Oh? I thought you might be doing that with your secret boyfriend. Unless…” Granny looked between us questioningly.
See?
I’d told Deli nobody would be surprised.
Sure, marrying each other was a bit dramatic, but I loved Nana as if she were my own grandmother. If her last wish truly was to know that Deli would be taken care of, I would sacrifice a year or two of my life to make that dream come true.
