Here Comes The Bride (22 page)

"I'm so glad that you could make it," Viola greeted them.

"Thank you for including us, Viola." Elora smiled and hugged her.

"Viola," Anne nodded and Viola hugged her quickly.

"Anne," Viola smiled.

"I can't believe the ball is only a week away," Anne smiled excitedly
. Her eyes fell on me and a blank face fell over her face. I sighed, turning my attention back to Phoebe.

"Hey there," Elora came up and bumped hips with me.

"Hey you. I'm glad you made it." I put my arm around her. "Why don't you go put on your dress and model for us?"

"Oh, well
, I'm afraid that Anne has already started changing." She giggled and I rolled my eyes, giggling with her.

Anne walked out of the make-shift changing room. Now there was no denying that Anne was an attractive woman. She had golden blond hair that was cut in a chin length bob and fringed around her face. She had a thin straight nose, high cheekbones and full
, nude lips. Her eyes were hazel and her eyebrows were plucked to perfection.

Anne's gown was simple and elegant. It was a black satin, strapless gown with a white satin sash that wrapped
around her back to her right shoulder, pinning at her left hip. The white sash flowed down the left side of the dress to the floor.

"I think you should try this mask" Phoebe handed the mask to Anne hesitantly.

Anne looked the mask over for a moment, nodded, and then placed it on her face.

"Thank you...um..?"

"Phoebe," Phoebe reminded her. Again.

It
was a very simple white mask. The white mask framed her eyes with lace and sequined flowers along each side. Long, white feathers stretched out from the right side of the mask across the top of her head, ending at the left. It was simple, but very complimentary to Anne and her dress.

"I think that this will do. Thank you
, Phoebe." Phoebe smiled at Anne remembering her name as well as the positive feedback.

"You look stunning
, Anne," Viola appraised her with a smile.

"I agree, you look wonderful." I added. Anne looked at me briefly and then smiled small and turned back to the mirror.

"Thank you," she said in general to the group and then stepped down. I really wasn't sure why she didn't like me, but it was evident that there was something about me.

I sighed and then turned to Elora.

"Go get in that dress girl!"

Elora giggled and looked extremely anxious to get it on.

Once she was dressed, she stepped out and took her place in front of the mirror.

"Elora
, it is so pretty." I smiled at her. "Try this mask" Phoebe stated.

Elora's dress looked like a black and white flower print. It hugged her curves tightly and was almost a halter like necklin
e. The right side of the halter strap wrapped back behind her right shoulder while the left came down over her chest. She looked stunning.

"Thanks
, Phoebe," Elora put on the mask. It was a silver mask covered in black lace, clear crystals on each side with black feathers extending out of the right side. It complimented the dress really well.

"Oh
, Elora, you look absolutely stunning," Anne gushed over her. "James won’t be able to keep his hands off of you."

Elora blushed.

"Oh my..." Viola said softly. "Elora you look beautiful, as always."

"Thank you
, Viola." Elora headed to the table of food. I followed.

I poured her a mimosa.

"Drink up.  It will make you feel better." I smiled wide. Elora hesitated and then the glass was out of my hand. Anne stood holding the glass, a scowl on her face.

"Elora will not be drinking." Anne grabbed a
glass of water and handed it to Elora. "Here, my dear."

"I'm sorry...I didn't.—
" I tried to apologize.

"It's fine
, Lilli, really. The truth is… I just found out I'm pregnant—"

"That's right. Elora is with child."
Anne announced proudly. "Looks like Aidan should have chosen a fertile wife." Anne smiled and sipped the mimosa.

With a disgusted look at Anne, I clenched my hands around the champagne flutes
. "How dare you..."

"Anne!" Elora hissed.

Viola cleared her throat and appeared by my side.

"Anne, please apologize. We do
n’t know anything about Aidan and Lilli's personal affairs, so I think that we should mind our manners."

Anne snorted.

"If Elora had been his wife, we would be on our way to an heir and secure in the fact that we would not be losing the family company." She eyed me sternly.

"You know nothing about—
" this time Viola squeezed my shoulders and interrupted.

"Please apologize." Viola demanded.

"I apologize, Lilli." Anne cleared her throat. "I simply worry about AIS a little too much and let it get the best of me." She walked away from the table and went to sit down.

Phoebe, Celia and Maggie were at my side quickly
, pity and concern written on all of their faces.

"I'm fine." I forced a smile. "At least now I know why she despises me so much." I forced a chuckle
, sucking down half of my mimosa in one gulp.

"I am so sorry
, Lilli." Elora stood on the verge of tears.

"Oh hush, you are having a baby. Congratulations!" I hugged her tightly.

"You have to let me plan the baby shower!" Phoebe bounced.

"I'll babysit!" Maggie added and for the next fifteen minutes we talked about pregnancy and babies. Even though they didn't realize it, I felt more like crap as the conversation continued. I truly was
jeopardizing the security of AIS. I just wasn't sure that I could provide a child and feel okay about it. I was starting to wonder why Aidan hadn't chosen someone else who was more willing when Phoebe pushed Celia into the changing area.

I sat in the chair farthest from Anne as we waited for Celia to appear.

Now Celia, being her swimsuit model curved to perfection self, was in a tight halter gown with a black and white pinwheel effect. The neckline plunged to just below her sternum where a group of crystals and beading formed and flared slightly at her hips until it reached the floor. She wrapped the unattached black satin sash around her arms and stood in front of the mirrors.

"Gorgeous as usual," I said in a teasingly sarcastic manor.

"Thank you, thank you," Celia did a little turn and swayed her hips at me. I laughed.

"Good lord you have a body!" Viola blurted out to Celia. I started to notice the familiar glaze
in her eyes.

"Uh oh, here comes naughty Viola," I shouted out with a giggle.

"If I had these curves I would run the world!" Viola giggled. We all laughed. "Dixon is definitely a happy, happy man, I'm sure." She winked at Celia.

"You know it," Celia winked back.

"This mask is perfect for your dress," Phoebe was trying not to giggle from Viola's behavior.

Celia's mask was half black and half white satin. That was all there was to it. It was simple and not extravagant; but Phoebe explained that with curves like Celia's
, she didn't need anything extravagant on her face. She was right.

"Okay, Mrs. Iverson..." Phoebe looked at Anne as she spoke
to me, "your turn."

Madeline handed me my dress and I went behind the curtain to change. Once I had slipped off my clothes and zipped myself into the dress, I walked out to the mirrors.

"Oh, Lilli," Viola gasped, giving me the same prideful look she had given Maggie.

“I knew this dress would be perfect! All it needed was the small altercations.” Phoebe bounced with excitement as she circled me.

My dress was a very fitting column dress, entirely black except for the wide solid wide stripe down the front and the red ribbon around the empire waist, turning into a small bow under my left breast.

I
had to smile at my own appearance. Phoebe was right, it really did compliment my figure and the slit to just above my left knee gave it a hint of sexiness.

"Lilli, I never realized how phenomenal your legs are." Viola was pulling back the slit and getting a very up close and personal view of my leg. I laughed and tried to pull the dress back down.

"I would prefer not to show my underwear off to everyone." I laughed.

"You mean your lack of underwear," Viola smirked and then laughed. I blushed until I turned tomato red.

"Lilli!" Maggie snorted out loudly in hysterics.

"It's good that you aren't," Phoebe informed the room "This dress will show panty lines. That means that we are going to have to go lingerie shopping." Phoebe's eyes sparkled.

"Not today!" I warned her.

"But the b
all is next weekend," she pouted.

"Oooh, can I go?" Viola chimed in excited
ly. "You know what, after the fittings, let's all go." She turned to me before I could object. "The guys are going to be at the tux shop for hours this afternoon, we can get it all taken care of today and then have dinner." Viola smiled proudly.

"
Fine," I growled.

"Yeah!" Phoebe sang. I huffed. "Here
, try this mask" Phoebe handed me the mask and I put it on.

The mask was pretty elaborate.

"It's perfect, Lilli" Phoebe smiled and motioned for me to look in the mirror. It was all white, except for around the eyes where it was black with silver swirls. The outside of the mask was lined with silver threading and crystals that reflected green and red. A lone black gem encased in a silver triangle rested at the center. On the right side was a large, black, lace flower with black netting.

"Everyone get together," I motioned to everyone.

We all stood together in the mirror. It was a sea of curves wrapped in black and white. A group of beautiful gowns, masks and women.

"Superb!" Madeline chimed in and smiled at us all.

"Okay...time to shop!" Phoebe ran to the changing area.

After everyone was change
d, we headed to the lingerie shop. Viola had called ahead, making arrangements, while we ate. Once we entered, curtains were pulled over the windows and the ‘closed’ sign was flipped.

"Juliette, thank you so much for doing this on such short notice." Viola leaned in and kissed a very tall
, slender woman on each cheek.

"Anything for you
, my dear." She smiled warmly at Viola while holding onto her shoulders. Then she looked over at Maggie. "Ahh...Maggie, you are getting more and more beautiful every time I see you!" She moved quickly to Maggie and hugged her tightly.

"Thanks
, Juliette." Maggie blushed slightly.

"And
, Anne, it is always a pleasure to see you," Juliette briefly hugged her and moved back.

"As it is to see you," Anne smiled back politely. "You know
, Elora" Anne motioned to Lor who was standing just on my left.

"Of course I remember Elora. Congratulations on your marriage." Juliette briefly hugged her.

"This is Lilli," Viola moved next to me and pulled me forward toward Juliette, "Aidan's wife."

Juliette's face lit up.

"Mrs. Iverson," she squeezed me tightly "It is a pleasure to meet you." She wrapped her arm in mine and pulled us towards full length mirrors and a large rack of lingerie. "We have some great things selected for you." I smiled, a little unsure. I was just starting to realize the full reaction people had to me being 'Aidan's wife'.

Phoebe moved quickly to the rack of lingerie.

"We need something sexy, seamless, and definitely a thong."

"Ah...I do believe that you will find some matching sets in this portion of the rack." Juliette motioned to the section and Phoebe went to work.

"Lilli, this is perfect" Phoebe pulled out a smooth, nude strapless bra with matching seamless thong.

I shrugged.

"Works for me." I turned around to everyone. "I'm done." Smiling, I sat down in a chair.

"Oh
, come on," Viola pulled me out of the chair. "Let's try on some 'fun' stuff."

As she pulled me toward the changing rooms I looked over my shoulder to Phoebe and Celia.

"Help me."

They both laughed
as Viola pushed me into a room.

"Here
, try these first." She shoved a couple of different risqué and lacy get-ups. "Does Aidan have a color preference?" Viola shouted through the store.

E
ven though I was alone in the dressing room, I covered my face and blushed.

“
I'm sure he prefers nothing at all," Celia giggled.

"Nah, I bet Aidan likes black," Phoebe giggled. "He strikes me as a guy who likes the bad girl look."