Page 70 of Binding Their Hearts

“A trinity knot.” Stepping up beside him, she laid her hand against his back. The warmth of her acceptance and approval suffused him. “A symbol of everlasting love, they say. I do hope it isn’t too on the nose.”

“It’s perfect.” Folding her into his arms, he took care not to muss her as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “An excellent choice.”

The omnipresent clicking whirred to a halt. The photographer, nodding as she studied her display, untwisted the strap around her neck. “That’s everything I need. Unless you’ve got a specific shot you want?” She glanced up, her head tilted in inquiry.

“No, thank you. I’ll enjoy seeing the choices you’ve made.” Something so familiar in her posture, her tone—the penny dropped. “Avery, wasn’t it?”

They’d spoken, briefly, about the works he’d displayed at Silke and Lacey’s collaring anniversary celebration. She’d been the woman with the intelligent questions about craft.

“Yes, sir.” She stood taller, perhaps pleased to be remembered. “They’re ready for you when you are. Master William is waiting at the front of the salon. And congratulations.”

As she ducked out the door, he offered his arm to his mother. “Shall we?”

They crossed into the salon, Daniel pulling open the door, and the flowing elegance of Saint-Saens’s The Swan on strings drifted out. Claudia hustled down the aisle toward them, her wide-legged pants streaming in her wake. Perhaps she and Charlie had been enlisted as ushers. “Master Henry, we have a spot reserved for your mother. I’d be honored to seat her if you want to take your place.”

Mother gave him a final kiss on the cheek and allowed Claudia to escort her past the crowd. Many of the seats had been filled—four or five dozen, off a quick survey of the rows. At the front, Will and Emma conferred off to the side.

Emma, spotting him as he neared, nodded Will in his direction. “Henry, you cut a fine figure.” She reached for him, clasping his hands as he extended them. A tremble rippled through her hold, though her face revealed nothing but joy. “Victor would be proud.”

The tremble struck him as well, a quiet ache for the man who had shepherded him and Will through adulthood. “I’d like to think so.”

“I know so.” With a final squeeze, she released him. “I’ll check on Alice and Jay.”

As she hurried off, Will clapped his shoulder. “Not to worry, everything is well in hand.”

“Not everything.” He pulled his phone from his inner breast pocket. Nothing, and he would have to silence the thing in a few moments, lest it sound at an inopportune time. “We may need to alter the—”

“Henry, hey, Henry.” A slender figure darted up the aisle, paying no attention whatsoever to the heads turning in his direction. He rocked to a stop in front of them, breathing hard. “Sorry. Sorry for”—puffing, he pulled a wood case from the bag slung across his hip—“late delivery. Couldn’t be helped.” He thrust the case forward. “Think you’re gonna be pleased.”

The dark box, about the size of a pen case, boasted a beautiful contrasting inlay across the top. Henry grasped the edge, and the hinged lid lifted in silence. Inside, Lewis had outdone himself.

Will, peering over his shoulder, grunted in appreciation. “Unique.”

Lewis rummaged in his bag. “I have the others in case you—”

“After, thank you.” Closing the case, he tucked it away and handed his silenced phone off to Will. “These are exquisite, Lewis. You’ve done truly stellar work.”

With a quiet congratulations, Lewis slipped off into the crowd.

Will teasingly elbowed Henry in the side. “What was it you wanted to alter?”

“Not a thing.” Now he need only wait for Alice and Jay to come to him. “The day is pure perfection.”

Chapter thirty-three

Alice

As Henry disappeared into his dressing room, Alice fielded questions from his mother in tandem with Jay. No, she hadn’t been working too hard. (Lie.) Yes, the house was spectacular, or would be, once they unpacked some boxes. (Truth.) But the question Henry hadn’t answered kept shouting at her.

For the love of all things holy, her outfit had better cover her nipples.

“Alice, I have you set up here.” Emma strode to the second changing room and rapped twice on the door. She and Henry’s mom both had stylish, modest ensembles—Emma in her usual blue and Henry’s mom in a delicate gold. No nippleage. “Everything you should need is inside.”

Emma swung the door open slowly. A blur raced out and slammed into Alice with a bone-cracking hug. “Surprise!”

Ollie. Holy shit. Alice gave as good as she got, the two of them squeezing the air out of each other. Getting her sister here to celebrate with her would’ve taken a miracle. She hadn’t even let herself hope. “What? How?” She craned her head around, hunting for Jay. “Was this you, too?”

“Not me.” Jay’s face matched the stunned hollow in her chest before the joy flooded in. “She swore she couldn’t—”

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