Page 73 of Vicious Vows

“It’s time to get ready, miss.”

“Thank you. I can do it on my own, though.”

The older maid shakes her head. “We’re under strict order from Mr. Vilulf.”

Which means they won’t be leaving until I’m done.

Getting ready is almost an out-of-body experience. They bathe me as I stand in the tub. One woman shaves my legs, making sure they’re smooth. I’m moved to a chair that has been brought into the bathroom and they get to work twisting and tugging my hair. It hurts, but I show no signs of emotion. My make-up is next. Then I’m allowed to dress in my pale blue gown. I really do love this color, but I’d love it even more if it actually fit. It’s at least two sizes too small, making me think this is intentional. I wouldn’t put it past my mother.

The women finally finish dressing me and leave, but my peace is short-lived as someone else knocks on the door.

This maid says, “Miss, the car is ready to take you to the church.”

I nod and follow her from the room. Is Mother still here? Is Odin? I glance in the direction of his study, willing him to appear. He doesn’t.

Outside, I shiver. It’s cold, and the air smells of snow. What a miserable day. I bite back a smile as I slide into the waiting car. But perfect weather for this day if you ask me.

The ride across town takes a bit before the car finally arrives at Trinity Church. Some of my Aunts and their husbands are getting out of their own cars, making their way inside. We’re all late, but only I will be blamed for my tardiness. Ahead, I spot Freja, but she doesn’t see me, and I know better than to call out her name. Instead, I follow my family into the church, surprised lightning doesn’t strike us down as we enter.

A woman grabs my arm. “You’re late. Come this way.”

I’m drug to a room where my mother, grandmother, aunts, and cousins are.

The woman calls out, “Your daughter is here, Selma.”

All heads turn toward me. Freja and her mother are the only two people in the entire room who look sorry for me. The rest look disgusted.

I smile. “Good morning, everyone.”

Aunt Ingrid says something, making Mother laugh.

She calls out, “You are so right, Ingrid. If we had gone with the burgundy, Anna would have looked like a stuffed sausage.”

Others around the room laugh. At me. My heart breaks. I’ve never asked for any of this. All I’ve ever wanted was to fit in.

The same woman who brought me into the room says, “Go next to your mother, dear. We’ll take some photos soon.”

I move without thinking. It’s the same way I’ve survived twenty-one years in this house, after all. Mother turns her back to me, leaving me alone even though I’m surrounded by family. Suddenly, this is too much. My chest is tight, like someone is sitting on it. I don’t think I can do this. I turn toward my mother, reaching for her hand.

“I need to get some air.”

“Don’t stray too far,” she warns, pulling her hand free. “We start soon.”

I nod, slipping out the side door. The too-tight dress threatens to send me into a full-on panic attack as I blindly push through a door. I find myself outside in a small courtyard and take in a breath that is nowhere as satisfying as I need it to be. Hot tears leak from my eyes, and I bend at the waist, trying to pull myself together.

A hand presses firmly on the small of my back and Odin says, “Breathe, baby girl.”

Gasping for air, I spin, throwing my arms around Odin’s waist.

“I can’t do this,” I whisper. “I can’t stand out there in front of everyone when I know what we’ve done.”

He holds me tight, rubbing small circles on my back. I focus on the movement, slowly gaining control of my emotions. When I go to pull from his arms, he won’t let me go.

“We’ve done nothing wrong, Anna.”

Hearing my name on his lips breaks my heart all over again, but I don’t show it.

“We have, but it won’t happen again. You and my mother are about to marry each other, which means whatever this is, or was, is over.”

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