The Accidental Countess (The Aristocrat Diaries 3)

The something old was obviously the tiara, the something new was the simple diamond studs my uncle had gifted me as a wedding present, and the something blue…

Well, that was my knickers.

That were also new.

Hey, I wasn’t all that into the wedding day, but I was most definitely going to be an enthusiastic participant in the wedding night.

“Done,” Adelaide said, taking a step back.

I finally looked in the mirror.

I barely even looked like me. The only thing in all of this that was remotely me was the red lip—I rarely wore lipstick, but when I did, it was this one.

The dress was too fancy, the hair was too well-done, the tiara was too… regal.

“Eva? Are you ready? We have to leave in twenty minutes,” Mum’s voice came from the other side of the door.

“Almost, Mum,” Adelaide called back. “Just a minute, we’re just making sure the hair clips aren’t loose!”

“All right, but Julia really would like some photos before we go!”

“I know, it’s fine.” Adelaide wrapped her hands around my arm and met my gaze in the mirror. “Come on. Let’s go.”

I took a deep breath and nodded.

This was it.

It was really it.

There was no turning back now.

I was going to get married.

CHAPTER SIX

EVA

“Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses for your newlyweds, Matthew and Evangeline, The Earl and Countess of Anglesey!”

My fingers tightened against Matthew’s arm. His hand was covering mine, and he quickly squeezed them reassuringly.

“Please remain seated as they take to the dancefloor for their first dance as husband and wife and keep your phones in your pockets to stay out of the way of the professionals,” said the singer, gripping his microphone. “I don’t care how good you think your Samsung or iPhone camera is, it’s not as good as the machine Julia is carting around over by the dancefloor. Also, they’re not paying you for your blurry, fingerprint-smudged photo of them dancing on the other side of the room.”

I pressed my lips together and dipped my chin, doing my best not to laugh.

Matthew wasn’t quite as discreet as I was, and he was still laughing as we swept onto the floor and took our place in the centre. “I guess he listened to you after all.”

I bit down on my lower lip, fighting a grin. “I didn’t expect him to use my actual words.”

“They’re quite effective,” he said, bringing his lips closer to my ear. “I’ve already seen six people put their phones away.”

Well, if it worked…

“Ready?” Matthew murmured as the first low tones of a guitar broke through the silence of the room.

“No.” I clasped his hand and drew in a deep breath. The singer’s dulcet tones filled the air, and we started to dance. “Jason Mraz,” I whispered, turning my face into him. “I Won’t Give Up.”

“You put me in charge of the music,” Matthew whispered back. “It was the only one I could think of.”

“Bit too mushy, but otherwise perfect.”

“Yes, well, my first idea was actually Signed, Sealed, Delivered, by Stevie Wonder, but I thought that might be a spot too literal.”

I laughed, almost collapsing into him. “Oh, my God.”

“That’s the next song.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No, I put in a request. Your dad is getting ready to come up with my mum, but I’m taking you back for Stevie.”

He had to be kidding me.

There was no way he’d actually requested that song.

Was there?

“May I?” my dad asked, coming up alongside us.

With a smile, Matthew took my hand and put it in my dad’s. Eleanor, Matthew’s mum, touched my shoulder and leaned in to kiss my cheek. We split off, with Dad taking the lead of our dance.

“You look so beautiful, my darling,” he said quietly. “I’m so proud of you.”

I swallowed.

This hadn’t gotten any easier.

“Thank you, Daddy. For everything today. I don’t know how you pulled this off.”

“The same way you didn’t spill anything on your dress during dinner. Divine intervention.”

I laughed, resting my chin on his shoulder. “That must be it.”

“I can’t believe you’re moving in two days. Aren’t you still five?”

“Oh, Daddy. Adelaide has already moved, and you know you can come whenever you’d like. Especially when everything is sorted here with the hotel.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” he said in a low voice. “You’ve got yourself a good one there, Eva. He’ll look after you.”

“He will.”

“Of course. I know where he lives. I already told him what I’ll do if he doesn’t.”

The song came to an end, and I hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Daddy.”

Dad kissed my cheek and handed me back to Matthew.

Eleanor smiled at me. “I’ll see you in a moment.”

I nodded as Matthew pulled me into his side.

“Aw, wasn’t that lovely,” said the singer as the final clapping petered out. “Thank you, thank you. The first one is always fun. By the way, Mum, you’re a great dancer. Dad needs some lessons.”