Chapter 1
I don’t know what’s more uptight, the corset underneath my silk dress or the waiter’s snooty attitude when I ask him how much the new dessert costs since the price is unlisted. This new life is nothing like the one I lead before. Brindgelin is different from my Winterlight village in every way possible. Instead of snowy mountains and forests, I now reside amongst the lush gardens by the shore. Instead of scrubbing floors and washing laundry, I'm relaxing at this seaside coffee shop and reading a newspaper from Winterlight. I'm not trying to complain or seem ungrateful, but everything about this makes me feel out of my element. I'm still not free.
It’s the beginning of summer and Bridgelin has been my new home for five months, but there’s still so much to get used to when living in the city of upper-class society. Like earning enough not to worry about the prize of a strawberry shortcake. It’s pleasant to afford such delicious luxury and in time I’ll learn not to give it a second thought. But with all this new life’s perks and advantages, I don’t think I’ll ever grow accustomed to my fake marriage to Mika. To my false name and identity, I pray that I never will.
“Would you like another espresso, Mrs. Cane?” deep in my treasured memories, the cafe’s owner reels me back to my seaside surroundings.
“Oh yes, please,” I fake a new wife’s pride with a smile, pretending to enjoy being called that.
She takes my dirty porcelain out of sight. “I’ll be back with a fresh one soon.”
My drifting mind returns to this gilded world and to the article I haven’t finished reading. My village’s local newspaper is the only connection I have to my old life. This is the only way to know what everyone back home has been up to.
So far what I’ve read in the past issues is that my stepmother went bankrupt. No surprise there. Oksana and Irina partnered up to open a nonprofit to help feed and tutor the children of poor families. This was a shock but in a good way. On an even better note, some of the mountain men have been caught by a bounty hunter, but the rest of the barbarians are still on the loose, including their bear-sized leader. When the court tried them, they were convicted of two counts of murder. Victoria Sterling's was one of them. It's so strange to think of that name as a person I once used to know.
“Here you go, Mrs. Cane,” on a silver tray, the owner brings my second helping of overpriced, but delicious caffeine.
“Thank you,” I smile.
After taking the first sip of freshly made brew, I turn the page and read the list of all the candidates for the upcoming mayoral election. Mr. Midof’s name is on it. Since Mika disappeared, his parents have been very outspoken about stricter laws about allowing outsiders to come to live in the village. Liam’s father’s name is not. Looks like he won’t be running for reelection, despite his popularity. I’m scared to think that this means they’ll be relocating and I will never hear about them again.
Trying not to imagine the worst, I change my mind to think that this can be an opportunity for Liam to go looking for me. He promised he would and the little rose in my dress pocket always reminds me of that. I reach down to feel the pedals and the soft touch of dyed leather discredits my doubts.
Whatever the future might hold, I’ll just have to wait for it. The time to pay my lunch bill and get back to work is as far as I can see it. My formal boutique, Occasion that I opened almost three months ago is waiting for my return. Down the brick road, my open-roof carriage brings me back to Eleventh Avenue. By that time, I regain my focus and am ready to help with my next appointment. Through the back door of my downtown business, I let myself in.
“I’m back! Our one o’clock will be here soon too!” safe from the sun rays, I hang up my wide straw hat and announce my return. Before entering the fitting lounge, I brush off the wrinkles on my skirt and bite my lips to give them color.
“Hi, there! She’s already here,” Natalie, my new friend, and employee look at me for a brief moment before returning to pinning the access fabric.
“Hello, Natalie,” I greet back my best dressmaker. “Hello, future Mrs. Fields,” I acknowledge the blushing bride Natalie is working on.
“How do you do?” I say to the bride’s mother sitting on a plush sofa.
She must have lost her husband within five years. Why else would she be wearing a dark, conservative grieving dress in the summer heat?
“I’m just so happy to be here for my daughter,” the bride’s mother starts to get emotional.
“May I get you a coffee or tea? Maybe some orange juice?” I ask her.
“No, thank you. We had brunch not long ago,” as the mother catches her happy tears, she turns down her choice for a gourmet refreshment.
“Hello, Mrs. Cane. I came in a bit early. I hope it’s okay,” the young bride giggles with excitement.
“Of course, I’m happy to help. This is very exciting.”
“I just couldn’t wait to try it on,” the enormous skirt bounces with her.
“How do you like your gown?” I get right back to work.
“I love it!” the bride says, admiring herself in the full-size mirror.
“The train is thirty-five feet long,” my hands fix it so she can get a better view from the back. “We still have time to make it longer if that’s what you wish.”
“Oh, no. This is perfect. When I asked for a long train, you truly delivered. It’s like you’ve read my mind when you designed it.”
“Well, then let's see how you look with a veil on,” I pull the finishing touch out of a light blue box.
The bride is on a verge of exploding when I attach the lovely piece behind her hair bun.
“Are you ready to try on your shoes next?” I drop the final cherry and bring out a pair of slippers covered in crystal.
“Yes!” the bride’s eyes squeezed shut, trying to contain the happiness inside.
Drenched with mascara-tinted tears, the mother is way ahead of the game.
“I meant to ask since our first appointment, but who’s the lucky groom?” Natalie asks.
“He’s a Duke from Lantragras,” she proudly states her accomplishment in finding a wealthy husband with a title.
“Your mother must be proud,” I smile at the old widow. “I’m sure her father would’ve been very proud too.”
“Yes, he would’ve. I wish my husband was here to give her away, but her oldest brother will do the honors in his place,” she dabs her cheeks with a cotton handkerchief.
“Alright, now hold on to Natalie, so that you don’t tip over,” I motion for the bride to take her shoulder. “Here I go!” then, under the layers of ruffles, I dive to find the bride’s feet.
Here I go again, just another day in Christina Cane’s paradise. Another day living a lie.
