Page 1 of Show Me How
1
MILLIE
I flinchwhen my mother tugs tighter the ties of my corset, nearly sending me toppling backward. She yanks like her life depends on it, and I’m genuinely concerned that I’m only five minutes away from losing consciousness.
Palming my stomach, I gasp when she pulls again, this time grunting at the effort. She sighs and digs a finger between the silk ties.
“Have you gained weight, Millicent? I don’t remember having to work this much at your last fitting.”
I ignore the dig. “You weren’t the one pulling.”
And yes, I probably have gained weight. The idea of making myself appear in the best shape of my life just to marry a man whom I don’t love wasn’t even slightly appealing. I’ve ignored the meal plan she had created for me and have ordered in every day for the last two weeks. The only thing I regret is not trying harder to get food poisoning last night.
“Either way. I’m sorry, but it has to be like this. You won’t have to do much moving once we’ve finished with photos and the ceremony starts. I recommend standing until it’s time to go,” she snips, the apology lacking feeling.
“When do we have to go?”
“An hour. Your makeup needs touching up. Meredith!” Fingers rub at my face and poke at the backs of my arms before the makeup artist appears. “You forgot the lashes.”
“I don’t need them, Mom,” I say, lightly pushing away the artist’s hand when I spot the thick black eyelashes in her fingers.
“You forget how many cameras will be out there. Do you really want to be caught with a flat, bare lash? Don’t be ridiculous.” She pushes forward and takes the lashes from the artist before jabbing them onto my eyelids.
The tip of her nail glides across my eye, and I wince, blinking past the burn.
“Don’t cry! You’ll smudge the rest of your makeup!”
Looking up, I try to keep the tears from falling. “I’m trying.”
“You’re being ridiculous today. First, it was the sulking, and now you’re just trying to sabotage the entire day. Are you not happy with the arrangement? There are a thousand other women in this country who would be jumping at the opportunity to marry Chadwick today. You’re being ungrateful. Do you have any idea how lucky you are?”
If he’s so amazing, why don’t you marry him, then?
I keep staring at the ceiling. It’s high, with skylights covering the entire thing and diamond-encrusted chandeliers that glimmer in the sunlight. There’s nothing subtle about this venue, and that’s exactly how my mother wanted it. It’s supposed to be the wedding of the year, but it feels nothing like it to me.
“You’ve never been happy with anything we’ve given you, Millicent. I don’t know what else you want from us. All I hope is that after today, you’ll be able to let this bitterness go and enjoy your time with Chadwick. The jet leaves tonight at ten on the dot, and I expect you to treat your new husband with the respect he deserves on your honeymoon. He spent quite a pretty penny on it.”
I keep my lips sealed, trapping the scream that’s trying to escape.
My mother doesn’t wait for a reply before huffing and stepping away. The makeup artist takes her place and begins to pat a powder puff beneath my eyes. The pity written all over her isn’t surprising.
The room is so large that I don’t hear the knock on the door before Mom’s there, pulling it open with a star-studded smile. It’s hard to grow stiff in a dress this time, but my muscles still try.
“Oh, Chadwick! You look phenomenal! What are you doing here? Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see your bride before the wedding?”
“Thank you, Celeste. Your beauty puts mine to shame,” he drawls, his voice sounding just as putrid as it was during his speech at dinner last night. “I had to risk coming. My bride and I haven’t had a moment alone since the rehearsal, and I’d just really love to get one before we’re at the altar.”
The awe in my mother’s voice is disgustingly expected. Her adoration for powerful men knows no bounds.
“That’s so romantic. Who am I to keep two people in love apart? Please, come in. I’ll just step out for a few moments, then.”
With a snap of her fingers, she has both the makeup artist and hairstylist rushing after her. They follow her out of the suite, and I turn away, trying to suck in a full breath before he reaches me.
The hot touch of his hand on my bare back is enough to have me considering ripping my dress off and running from the room. I think I’d prefer everyone outside seeing me naked than being stuck alone with Chadwick.
It’s bad enough when we’re somewhere surrounded by people far more interested in him than me. They’re a much-appreciated buffer. But alone, there’s no one to save me from his endless business babble and arrogant demeanour. The thought of having to spend three weeks alone with him wherever it is he booked our honeymoon . . .
“You’ve never looked more beautiful, Millicent,” he says into my ear.
