Our Deepest Desires

When I imagined my wedding day, I always thought I would be happy. I also was under the false impression I would marry for love or at least know the man waiting at the altar for me.

A huff of air left my lips as my stepsister tightened my corset, almost squeezing all the air from my lungs. She let out a giggle as if it were funny.

"Oops, we do not want you to faint as you are walking down the aisle, now do we?" Issa taunted but tugged on the strings one last time before tying them up.

Her sister, Isadora, came up beside her to finish my makeup. She placed a towel around my neck to not get anything on the dress. "I would love to make you look a fool, but mother said I have to try to make you beautiful."

The sisters shared a laugh as I closed my eyes, allowing her to put the brush on my lids. As much as I did not trust Isadora, I knew she would never do anything to upset her mother. This was the wedding of the century, and if I came out looking a fool, then so would the family. Stepmother would know who to blame for it. Although it would not surprise me if she somehow turned it around and made it my fault.

I shuddered a breath, trying to get used to the tight corset.

When Dr. Victor Frankenstein announced he wanted to marry again, everyone wanted their daughter, sister, mother to be chosen. How I ended up being the bride was a mystery. It even baffled my family as step mother loudly announced in the parlor she didn't send my name and photo in for consideration.

How loving.

But yet, here I was being pampered to walk down the aisle to a man I have never met before. I highly doubt that he had known my name before this. I never understood the appeal of marrying a man whom you have only just met. All the romances I have read have not prepared me for this.

I could hear the double doors creak open and the tapping of Stepmother's heels.

"She looks acceptable. It's time," she snarked as I opened my eyes. A small part of me was still nervous that they would have made me look foolish, but no. Isadora used the makeup to enhance what natural beauty I did have.

My dress was off shoulder with long lace sleeves. The skirt was huge, and the train was long. I was sending up some prayers in hope that I did not trip over it. The entire thing was embellished with rhinestones and crystals. It was the one thing I could choose for this wedding. I shimmered every time I moved.

Dad was waiting for me outside the room. He gave Stepmother a kiss before giving me a once over. My stepsisters childishly stuck their tongues out at me behind his back. Each of them wished they were in my shoes, and in this moment, I wished it weren't me. At least someone else would be excited.

Dad extended his elbow as Stepmother put my veil over my face. She patted my cheeks before walking away with my stepsisters. In silence, we walked to the double doors of the church, where my future husband was waiting for me. Dad did not say a word about how happy he was for me or how sorry he was for putting me in this position. It dampened my heart even more than it already was.

Music began to play, and the door began to creak open. My breathing hitched, but I am unsure if it is from the tight corset or my nerves.

Victor Frankenstein was handsome. That was clear as I peered through my white veil. His head of black curls was wild, but clearly they had tried to tame them for the occasion. His dark eyes watched my every step, and he had a fond smile on his face.

We stepped up the steps, and Dad handed me over to the stranger. I wish we had exchanged some words, but he has not been the same to me. Not like my stepsisters.

Victor lifted my veil, and his dark eyes examined every inch of my face. People in the audience cooed, and I wanted to hit every last one of them on the head with my bouquet. I set the flowers to the side and took Victor's hands in mine.

The actual ceremony itself seemed like a fever dream. There was a long sermon involving marriage from the Bible and how important it was before we repeated the words that bound us together forever. Victor slipped the pretty band onto my finger.

It was gold and lined with tiny diamonds the entire way around. It was without a doubt the best piece of jewelry I now owned. Then I slipped the one he bought for himself onto his ring finger.

"You may now kiss your bride."

My already limited breathing hitched as he leaned forward and pressed a small, chaste kiss to my lips. I barely had time to kiss back before he was pulling away with a smile on his face. The church had erupted into applause and they all stood as I took Victor's hand.

He led us down the aisle and out the door as people I did not know cheered for us. Victor took us into a small room where we would wait until the beginning of our reception.

"I must apologize, Valencia. I know how this must all seem to you," Victor said helping me into a chair with my dress. "I wanted to set up times to meet so we did not marry as true strangers, but they were never received or at the very least ignored."

"I am not surprised," I wheezed out. I placed a hand over my chest causing him to look at me in concern. At least there is a small perk to having a doctor for a husband.

"What is wrong?" He inquired, kneeling down in front of me.

I gasped. "My stepsister's. Jealous. The dress. Too tight."

"Wait here," Victor said before getting up and rushing out. Black spots began to dance in my vision as I gasped again. This might not have been an issue if the sermon was not so long.

Victor came back with a confused servant who looked at me in concern. "Lady Frankenstein, what can I do?"

It was going to take some time to get used to the name change, but I pointed to the back of my dress.

"Would you please stand in front of her in case someone comes in?" The servant asked my husband who did just that. She went around the back and struggled with the strings for a few moments before finally undoing them.

I gasped for the air as the corset fell away. Victor turned around, his back to me.

"Shall I wait a moment before tying them back up?" The female asked. I shuddered a breath at the thought of having to still wear this.

"Might as well bite the bullet," I admitted. "Just please allow some breathing room for me."

"Of course, Lady Frankenstein."

It was going to take some time getting use to being called that now. It sounded odd, almost as if she was not talking to me.

"There, you should be able to move around a lot nicer too. Is there anything else I can do for you?" She inquired standing in front of me with her hands clasped together. I shook my head with a smile as Victor turned back around.

She left with a small goodbye leaving me alone with my stranger of a husband.

"Valencia, why would your step sister do that to you?" He inquired, his dark eyes softly looking at me as he got down on one knee and grabbed my hands in his.

His were calloused compared to my dainty ones. It was clear they were shaped with years of hard work. But they held mine with such tenderness it almost made me want to cry. I have not felt an embrace like that since my mother had passed.

"Not many females are happy with me right now. They are all upset you picked me over them," I said, only half lying. He did not need to get in between our family feud.

Victor nodded in realization. "I am sorry for putting you in this position. I did not realize it would cause such an issue."

I could not help but laugh at him. "You were the most eligible bachelor in all of England and you did not see this coming?" I asked with a smile. He returned it.

"No. I did not. Valencia, I need to express that I do wish to build a life with you. This is not for some show or to get people off my back. I truly wanted to find someone to share my life with and I do think you are the most perfect for that."

I could feel face flushing. Maybe this marriage would not be so bad after all. He stood, taking me with him.

"You look beautiful in that dress by the way," he complimented as he began to lead me out the door.

"It is honestly the favorite thing I own now. It is a shame I will only get to wear it once," I informed him with wistful sigh.

He grinned at me. "I will make sure you will have another occasion to wear it, my dear."

I smiled back as he opened the doors and led us down the hall. Normally, wedding receptions took place during the day, but ours however was in the evening, allowing our reception to spill in the night time.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Frankenstein!" Someone called out as we walked into the room. Cheers and applause erupted into the room, but I was no fool. It was all for him. Even now I was receiving glares from other woman here at the party.

Victor led me into the middle of the room before taking me in his arms for our first dance.

"I do not dance well. Even my instructor called me hopeless," I whispered to him and he smiled as the music began to play.

"Just follow my lead."

Then he began to move without warning and I quickly moved with him. I spent most of the dance concentrating on not making myself look a fool, so when it was over, I was absolutely relieved. Tension melted out of my body as he led me off of the floor.

More couples began to pour onto the dance floor and I was glad more attention was off of us. He led me to two men who I have already known about, but have never met.

"Valencia, meet my brother Ernest and William," Victor introduced. Ernest shook my hand with enthusiasm, but William stepped forward and pulled me in for a hug.

"I am so glad Victor has finally decided not to live the rest of his life alone," William said with a wide grin, reminding me of an excited puppy.

His words reminded me of his first wife, Elizabeth. No one ever knew what became of her. She had disappeared one night when Victor was making a house call and has not been seen since. She had been declared dead two years ago, allowing us to marry.

"It is nice to meet you both," I said with a warm smile. They seemed receptive of my presence. I already much prefer them to my stepsisters.

"And I for one am excited that he has someone else to talk their ear off about medical science," Ernest jested. I looked up at my husband to see him rolling his eyes as he slipped an arm around my waist. He gave me a soft smile and I couldn't help but return it.

It seemed he had to be touching me constantly, as if I too would disappear in the night.