Bartered Bride by Erica Vetsch

Author:Erica Vetsch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

“You look different.” Zylphia sipped her cup of chocolate, her eyes scanning the other diners. “Things must’ve gone well last night.”

Melissa smiled and lowered her lashes. Last night. Her first kiss. She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling the key on a chain under her dress. The key to Kennebrae Shipping. The key to his heart?

“Things went wonderfully last night. At first it was a little rocky. Jonathan and his grandfather had been arguing, and dinner was a bit sticky, but the evening got much better after that.”

“So tell me.” Zylphia leaned toward her, squeezing her arm.

“They have a beautiful piano. I played Beethoven.”

Her friend sagged back in her chair and rolled her eyes. “Oh phooey. I despair of you. I thought maybe something romantic had happened.”

Melissa couldn’t quell her smile.

Zylphia pounced. “I knew it. You are all lit up inside. Something must’ve happened.”

“Jonathan agreed to let us—the cause, I mean—move into his office at night. Without any fuss at all. He sent a man to move the books and materials from the basement room across the street to his own conference room. We can work in comfort and safety, and he said we could use it as long aswe like.”

Zylphia blinked. “That’s wonderful, but is that all?”

“It’s all you’re going to get from me.” Melissa gave her a saucy grin. “Finish your chocolate. We’ve got shopping to do. I’m buying my trousseau, you know.”

“Whatever happened, it must’ve been pretty nice. Yesterday you couldn’t be bothered to even look at the drawings for your wedding gown, and today we’re buying linens and picking out silver.”

“Speaking of picking out silver, we have an appointment in ten minutes at the jeweler’s. Mother selected three patterns she thought might be suitable. I’m to choose the one I like best.”

“At least she gave you that much leeway. You’d think it was her getting married, not you. She’s planned everything from the music to the menu to the flowers.”

Melissa shook her head. “At least she has good taste. And I don’t care, as long as I’m marrying Jonathan.”

Zylphia’s cup rattled in the saucer. “That’s it! That’s what’s different about you.”

“What?”

“You’re in love. You’re in love with Jonathan Kennebrae.”

Melissa laughed, joy bubbling up at hearing someone say the words her heart had been singing since that kiss last night. “You make it sound horrible. What’s so wrong with being in love with the man I’m going to marry?”

“But you were totally against it yesterday. You said you were embarrassed to be a bartered bride, married only for your money and your name.”

“Well, I was wrong. Jonathan is rich. He doesn’t need my money. If you had seen the inside of Kennebrae House, you’d know how ridiculous the idea was. All that place needs is a woman’s touch. And he cares about me. I know it. He trusts me. He even gave me the key to his building.”

“How romantic.” Zylphia’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Almost as good as sending flowers or writing poetry. You get free run of his office.

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