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The door opened behind me just as I finished putting gel into my hair and styling it the way I liked. I watched in the mirror as my grandfather's butler walked in, a suit bag in his hands. He hung it on the back of the closet door before turning and giving me a small bow.
"Your tux, sir."
"Thank you, Clarence."
"The ceremony is to start in two hours. Can I get anything for you in the meantime?"
"No, I'm good, Clarence. Thank you." Clarence wasn't a bad guy, but he was devoted to my grandfather. There was no way in hell he would help me escape. "Is my...er...groom here?"
Wasn't like I could ask using his name. I didn't know it.
"He is, sir. He arrived twenty minutes ago. I believe he is with your grandfather in the study."
"Oh?" I started to get up.
"I believe they are having a private discussion, sir."
I sat back down.
Clarence looked somewhat regretful as he spoke, but I still knew that meant I wouldn't be allowed in on that conversation.
"I guess I should get dressed then."
"Very good, sir."
I waited until Clarence left and closed the door behind him to get up and walk over to the suit bag hanging on the back of the door. I was in no way surprised when I unzipped it and found a brand-new tux inside. My grandfather's tailor knew my sizes and my grandfather would insist on a new tux for the ceremony.
Knowing I had no choice at this point, I pulled the tux out of the suit bag and laid it across the bottom of the bed. I pulled my robe off and tossed it into a nearby chair and then reached for the tux.
I finished dressing and then looked at myself in the full-length mirror hanging on the back of the closet door. I had to admit, my grandfather's tailor knew his stuff. The tux was a perfect fit right down to the black bowtie.
I was groomed, coiffed, and dressed to the nines. Now all I had to do was wait for someone to come for me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous as hell. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms and then shook them out, trying to rid myself of the feeling of ants crawling all over my skin.
What was my soon to be husband like? Was he smart? Dumb? Did he like comedies or action flicks? Did he prefer books? Music? Was he aggressive or submissive? Would he expect me to have sex with him on our wedding night? Was he even into guys?
So many questions and not a single answer.
It was aggravating.
Now I just had to wait. I hated waiting. Part of me wanted to get this thing started simply so I could see who I was supposed to be marrying. The other part wanted to put this off as long as possible.
I had been put in a guest room at my grandfather's mansion instead of my regular room. I didn't know what that was all about, but I was pretty sure it was to keep me from escaping. It was also keeping me from having a quick shot of liquor to steady my nerves.
I was not a fan.
I started pacing. What else did I have to do? This was a guestroom, there was nothing in it, not even a television. If I wasn't so anxious, I'd be bored out of my skull. By the time my grandfather opened the door, I was ready to climb out of my skin.
My grandfather looked solemn as he looked me up and down. "It's time."
I kind of figured.
"Do I really have to do this?" I asked. I doubted that I would be able to talk my grandfather out of this. He tended to stay firm with the things he said.
My grandfather sighed. His eyes narrowed, but I didn't think he was angry with me. Maybe exasperated. I knew I gave him a lot of headaches, but I had my reasons.
"It's for the best, Delancy."
My shoulders slumped as the immensity of this situation settled on me. I really did not want to get married. At least not now and to a man I didn't know. That thought had gone through my head a hundred times, but it never changed.
