Page 44 of My Heart Will Find You

“I sent her home. I don’t want her being a distraction to the lawyer.”

“Right. His attention is to be on Alice.”

Max put his hands on her back and began loosening the hooks on the dress.

With each one, Etta felt relief from pressure. When the last one was undone, she shimmied out of the dress, letting it puddle on the floor. “That’s heaven!” She turned to him.

He was staring at her. To Etta, she was fully clothed. A T-shirt and jeans was a lot less clothing than the yards of cotton she was wearing. She even had onstockings!

But Max didn’t seem to think she was covered. Maybe it was the way he’d said that Freddy was “fun” or maybe it was his reference to Etta’s age, but a devil seemed to enter her. She batted her lashes at him. “Could you help with this thing?” She meant her corset. “It’s cutting into me something awful.”

He bent as though he was going to kiss her, but then stepped back. “Not what I can do,” he said quickly. “I’ll send Esmeralda.” With that, he left the room with the speed of a tiger with its tail on fire.

“What the hell?” she said aloud. “It’s probably the only wedding night I’ll ever have, and I don’t even getkissed.” She rolled her eyes skyward. “This ismydream and I want control of it. Got that, whoever is in charge of this thing?”

Esmeralda didn’t show up so Etta had to figure out corset laces by herself. It was harder than making croissants by hand.

Twenty minutes later, she had washed as best she could and dressed in the heavy, but beautiful, dress. She went downstairs to the kitchen to check on everything. On the table was a basket of early strawberries. The sight of them took away some of her annoyance.

Alice came into the room and she looked divine, like a vision in a dream should look. Etta told her so, then asked where the strawberries came from.

“We left them in the wagon. They were a gift from the man I told the girl she should marry.”

“How nice.”

“Yes and no. He included some hard little green fruits and a bottle of something that was bad. It had a worm in the bottom.”

Etta’s eyes widened. “Where is it?”

“I put it in the pantry. I’ll pour it out later.”

Etta nearly leaped to the pantry. Well, as much as the weight of her clothing allowed. Hidden in a corner near six bags of beans, she found it. Limes and a bottle of tequila. She took them into the kitchen.

“Etta,” Alice said in horror. “You can’t use that. It has awormin it!”

“I’m going to make strawberry margaritas. My kingdom for a blender.”

“But—”

Etta cut her off. “Do you have any pretty drinking glasses? Crystal, maybe?”

“Mother had a set. I know where they are.” Alice left the kitchen.

Etta began making a pitcher full of the drinks. She had an idea that Max would be angry that she fed spirits to his precious sister, but tequila generally helped any party.

When it was close to seven, Alice went to her room to check her hair and clothes. She was so nervous she was shaking.

Max came into the kitchen. She hadn’t seen him since she’d been standing before him in her underwear. He didn’t seem to want to meet her eyes.

“One of the men saw the lawyer. He’s almost here. What’s that?”

“Heaven in a glass.” She poured some into one of the Irish crystal glasses that Alice had found.

He took a drink. “Nice. What’s in it?”

“A drunken worm.” She poured herself half a glass and drank it all. She needed strength for this dinner. “I want to see him. Is he worthy of our Alice?”

The affection in her voice pleased him. “Come on.”

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