Nellie

I'd been to his home countless  times, but tonight, I didn't recognize it.

Copper streamers, ice shaped like swans, crystals lighting up every single wall... Miss Callehurst had gone all out. She'd hired a valet to park the guests' cars, but I'd rolled up with Bishop, and one look at him and the valet had waved him through to park wherever he felt like it. He did live here, after all.

But now, as we stood in the foyer of a place that should have felt familiar, I saw I was in a different world. Who were all these people? How had Miss Callehurst put something this grand together so quickly?

“I feel massively out of place,” I whispered.

Bishop gripped my arm in the crook of his. “You're with me. You belong here more than anyone else.”

“Alright, but I don't think they feel that way.” I'd caught two or three salty glares from the women strutting around. They didn't like seeing me next to Bishop—and I suspected they liked my rounded belly even less.

Some people might assume I was gaining weight, but scandal never chases after the tame rumor. These strangers saw me as the pregnant nobody who threatened their chance at marrying upwards.

I hadn't meant to wear something that revealed my pregnancy, but Bishop had scoffed at every outfit I'd produced from my closet. “Not good enough,” he'd said. Then Gigi had swirled into my bedroom, clutching a red dress that would put most of my “assets” on display.

Bishop refused to let me try on anything else after that.

Both my friend and lover had assured me I looked good. I'd almost felt that way until I saw the other women. Cupping my stomach nervously, I followed Bishop deeper into his house. Most of the party was taking place in a large dining area. The furniture had been removed, replaced by long tables of tiny cakes and trays of golden champagne.

“Let me get you something,” he said, pulling us up along the display of desserts.

“It's not like chocolate will make me feel more at ease.”

Lifting an eyebrow, he waved a mini vanilla and fudge pie under my nose. “So you don't want this?”

Frowning, I snatched it away from him as he grinned knowingly. “Of course I want it. Shush.” Nibbling the snack, I surveyed the busy crowd. Whenever I glanced at someone, they'd turn away, making their spying very obvious. “Why are we here again?” I sighed.

“To show that we don't need to hide.” Adjusting his tie, he promptly scooped an arm around my hip, nodding at a pair of men in matching white suits. “And to show you off.”

“You said that earlier. I don't know if I'm feeling like I'm worth being 'shown' in public at all.” I'd said it with a smile, but Bishop's hard stare stopped me in my tracks, my fingertip poised between my lips to get the last bit of chocolate.

Bending down, he kissed me around my finger. His tongue slid side to side, as if he was trying to get a taste of the dessert before it was gone. Heat flashed in his eyes. “You're worth the world to me, Nell. You're definitely worth having on my arm at a party like this. Everyone can see how much we're in love... and how wonderful your pregnancy is going.”

Red as a beet, I wondered how many people were staring at us. But then I didn't care—what was there to be ashamed about? He was right; let the world see how happy we were together.

Nothing can ruin this moment, I thought.

And then I saw Corriane.

He saw me, too, and on long legs he came our way. He was dressed in a pastel blue vest over a black shirt, every one of his edges crisp and hard. His hands were deep in his pockets; I imagined him hiding a knife there. Fuck, what was he going to do to me?

“Nellie!” he shouted, loud enough for the room to hear him. If they hadn't been staring before, they were now.

Drawing myself up, I faced Corriane. The last time I'd seen him he'd been sprawled on a restaurant floor, furious with me and Bishop. Would he sneer at me? Mock me while everyone looked on?

I prepared myself for what to say in return. But then he wrapped his arms around me, hugging me like we were old friends.

Baffled, I looked at Bishop over his shoulder. The prince shrugged, though I could see the veins in the backs of his hands throbbing; he'd been ready to take Corriane down if he started trouble.

Not entirely sure he wasn't starting something, I pulled out of the hug. “Hi?” I asked stupidly.

His grin was brighter than the chandeliers above us. He gripped my upper arms, gazing down at my belly. “Look at you! You're stunning, my goodness. Bishop, how can you let her walk in these heels? Tsk!”

Bishop and I shared a look. “Corriane,” he said, “It's nice to see you smiling. I didn't expect you to be here, honestly.”

“Because of our little fiasco?” Chuckling, he let me go and reached into his pocket. There was no weapon, just his phone. He scrolled through it as he spoke. “I should apologize for that night. I acted like a real jackass.”

No argument there, I thought with a tiny smile.

Turning the phone so I could see it, he showed me a photo of a beautiful woman. She was smiling at the camera. In her hand was a wineglass, the other sat half full on the table in front of her. “Is that your fiancée?” I asked, blinking.

“An angel, yes?” Grinning ear to ear, he showed the picture to Bishop. “The gift from your mother. She gave us wine glasses inscribed with the day Lavon and I had our first date. I remember she'd told me how she hated wine. I was determined to change that, so I took her to my favorite winery. It was a wonderful time.” He paused, then added, “Good memory, your mother.”

“She does have that,” Bishop said softly. He was unsure what was going on; always looking for danger. I appreciated that, but I didn't think Corriane was tricking us somehow. He looked... happy. Especially when he stared at the photo of his fiancée.

Shaking himself back to the present, he nodded at me. “You were right, you know. It shouldn't have taken something as simple as some wine glasses to remind me, and yet... well.” He shrugged helplessly. “Lavon is my jewel. I love her, and if I'd gone to a strip club that night, I'd have ruined everything. Thank you both for stopping me.”

If I doubted his confession, I couldn't doubt the raw regret in his frown. Corriane had gone from thinking I was trash to... respecting me. I clasped his hands with all the affection I had in me. “It's nothing. Anytime you need me to chuck a box at you, I'll be there.”

He laughed hard, grabbing Bishop to give him a playful shake. “See? Such fire! Your baby will be a wild thing, be ready for it.”

“I will be,” Bishop said. The muscles in his neck had finally relaxed.

Corriane walked off, and as he did, I took the opportunity to scan the crowd again. Some people still scowled, but not all of them. There was wonderment in some faces—interest. Corriane was a powerful emissary, his approval of our relationship was a signal flare to everyone else that we weren't joking around.

“Huh.”

“What?” Bishop asked.

Grabbing another tiny pie off the table, I finished it in one bite. Making him wait while I chewed was satisfying. “I was just thinking that maybe this could work out.”

Looping a piece of my hair around his finger, he tugged. “Oh,” he whispered in my ear. “You only just realized that?”

Kissing him quickly on the cheek, I dodged away as fast as I could. My pregnancy didn't slow me down a ton, but I was aware of it. “I'm going to get some air, this many people plus my hugeness is making me too warm. Be right back.”

****

I dropped onto the ledge that surrounded the mudroom where people could leave their coats. It was quiet; cool, thanks to an open window, and empty because everyone was partying. “Damn heels,” I groaned, taking one off so I could massage my foot.

“Oh, you poor thing,” a voice said behind me. I turned in time to see Iris. She was dressed in a gold sequin dress, straps coiling from her shoes up to her knees. Sinking down beside me, she flashed me a pitying look. “Pregnancy is hard on you, huh?”

Looking side to side, amazed she was speaking so sweetly to me, I balked. “Um... I guess so.”

“Here, do you need a tissue? A mint?” She was digging into her expensive looking purse. “Tell me how you're doing.”

Okay, now I was super lost. This girl was not my friend. “Why are you trying to be nice?”

Her false eyelashes flapped like wings. “Oh my gosh! How can I not be nice to you? You're bursting with that baby. Things can't be easy for you right now. But at least you're brave. It takes guts to stand in front of all those people, parading your illegitimate baby-belly around.”

There it was. How could someone so pretty say something so ugly? “Bishop is going to marry me.” I hadn't said it out loud until now. When I did, a flutter spun through my body, flipping like a fish in a pond. We're going to get married. Would that make me a princess, a queen? I didn't care; just being his wife would be enough.

Covering her mouth, she laughed in rapid short bursts. It reminded me of someone with the hiccups. “You're so stupid. What did you do, trick him? Tell him you were on birth control when you weren't? Girls like you, using men to get yourself out of shitty situations, piss me off.”

Igniting with rage, I waved my shoe around in the air as I spoke. “I didn't trick anyone!”

Her shoulders shifted up lazily; she wasn't scared of me. “That's how it will look, especially when you marry him. People will think he had no choice. I mean, they've seen you, they know you're pregnant. What's the term, shotgun wedding?”

Heat spread over my face. “You don't know anything about us.”

“I know this.” Leaning closer in the tight space, she dropped her voice. “He's royalty. You're no one. The best thing you can do for both of you is to get rid of that baby. If it's too late to do it the quick way, put it up for adoption. Just make it go away. This isn't your world, dog walker.”

“My world is wherever Bishop is.”

“God, you're naive. I—” she didn't finish her thought. Both of us heard the rustling, creaky noise nearby. Twisting, she looked over and spotted Jaws chewing on the strap of her purse. “What the hell?” she gasped, jumping to her feet. “That bag is worth two thousand dollars!”

It was hard to hide my smile, so I didn't try. “Too bad.”

Abruptly, Iris shot her foot out, kicking the Pomeranian. “Dumb dog!”

He yelped; I jumped up, made light and fast by my need to protect the small animal. “Hey! What the heck is wrong with you?” Pushing Iris aside, I scooped the dog up into my arms.

She turned just enough to give me a side-eye. “That dog is nothing, just like you're nothing. You don't deserve this family's money any more than Bishop does.”

My cheek was pressed to Jaws, but he seemed fine, just shaken up. Registering her comment, I blinked. “Wait, what?”

I'd never seen Iris flush before. “Nothing, forget it.”

Still holding the dog, I blocked Iris up against the wall of coats. “No. What do you mean Bishop doesn't deserve the money? If he doesn't, who does?”

She had her chin held high. “It doesn't matter.”

“I think it does.” In my arms, Jaws growled. He wasn't exactly terrifying, but the sight of his tiny teeth pushed Iris from silent pride to frantic nerves.

Her eyes darted around, and when Jaws growled again, she fixated on him. “Alright, fine! It's not like it matters anyway. You and your dumb baby-mama stuff messed everything up. Bishop was never supposed to have a kid with anyone.”

Startled, I tried to fit the puzzle together. “Not even you?”

“Of course not.” Wide-eyed, she stared down at me. “His half-brother hired me. I was supposed to marry Bishop, but never give him an heir. That way...”

“His brother would get everything.” I inhaled sharply. “Why would you help him?”

“Because money, duh.” Iris rolled her eyes. “Even you can understand that.”

“I don't want his money!” She winced at my outburst. “I never did. I told him that multiple times, I'm not looking for some sugar daddy!” My laughter sounded manic. I felt it, too, like parts of me were sliding apart. Had money really led to such a huge scheme between Iris and Bishop's brother? Could people be so desperate? Of course they can. Why had I been so naive?

She shook her head in disbelief. “But the baby... if you didn't do it to trap him, then why?”

“Because I love him, Iris. I love him with everything I am.”

There was shock in her eyes. Then I noticed she was looking just over my shoulder. Hugging Jaws, I turned, spotting Miss Callehurst watching us from the hall. Her arms were wrapped around her chest, mouth so tight it was almost invisible.

“Cathleen,” Iris whispered.

“It's Miss Callehurst,” she said flatly. “Get out of my house. Never set foot here again.”

Without a single argument, Iris grabbed her chewed-on purse and dodged around us both, vanishing into the house. I didn't see where she went, but I believed she was leaving like she'd been told. I'd have—Bishop's mom was terrifying.

Her attention shot to me and I went cold. “How much did you hear?” I asked.

“Enough.” She took two steps forward, her poise grand...comfortable. But when she got close to me, I saw her pebble-hard glare looked wet on the edges. “I see why the dogs like you so much. Not everyone can champion for such small things when they cause expensive damage.”

“It was just a purse.” Setting Jaws down, I watched as he ran up to his owner, bouncing at her ankles.

“Just a purse,” she said, bending low to pet the dog. Her hair hid her face, I was surprised to see her smiling when she stood again. This wasn't like her pretend pleasantries, this was a real smile, and in it, I saw how similar she was to her son. “Just a baby. Just a marriage. Any of these things can be tossed aside by the wrong people.”

I went red. Very red. “Okay, you did hear a lot. Listen... about Bishop.”

“You love him.”

I bit my tongue, trying to decide how to answer. “Yes.”

“And he loves you. Clearly.” Shaking her head, she came closer. I saw how tired she was behind all of her makeup. “I told you it was his idea to get the dogs. I didn't tell you his reason.” Glancing behind her, she considered the air, then me again. “My husband has been very absent. I loathe the word 'lonely' but maybe I was. Or am. Bishop thought as much, so he got Jaws and Cujo for me.”

My heart skipped. “He can be very thoughtful.” Moving forward, my toe bumped something—my shoe. I quickly slid it back on. “Miss Callehurst, I want you to know that I get why you wanted Iris over me.”

Amusement turned her lips into a pucker. “Do you?”

“You thought she would be a fit for your son. I don't think that was wrong, I mean, before it turned out she was out to backstab him. If I was you, and I had a kid, I would do my best to look out for them.”

She watched me curiously. “There's a silent 'but' on your tongue.”

I bit my lip. “But—you don't always know who is best for you. Or anyone, really. Bishop isn't who I'd have guessed. Now? I can't imagine being with anyone else.”

Quicker than I expected, she crossed the last distance, embracing me. It was a short hug, but it meant the world to me. Holding me at arm’s length, she sighed. “Call me Cathleen. A daughter-in-law should be on a first name basis.”

“You don't even let me call you that,” Bishop said. He was standing down the hall, half-leaning on the wall with one ankle crossed over the other. He looked astoundingly comfortable; like a suit of armor that belonged there. If I looked closer, I could see that he was watching not just me—but his mother, too—with fascination.

Moving towards him, I held out my hands. He took them up, then he went further, sweeping me into his arms. Fingers coiled in my hair, making it so I couldn't escape. He heard everything, I thought in a daze. He knows his mother is happy for us.

I wanted to behave, but even so, I let my nails scrape over the back of his shirt, untucking it from his belt. I dipped under to brush his skin; he stiffened at my contact. Beneath my hands, each of his muscles tightened, reminding me how strong he was.

We gasped when he pulled us apart—just an inch, enough to speak. “Dammit, you make it very hard to behave,” he grumbled.

“It's not my fault. It's the pregnancy.”

“Sure it is,” he said, his eyes lighting up with mirth.

“It is! Really!”

“You're protesting like I care what the reason is,” he said, chuckling under his breath. Taking me by the hand, he faced us towards his mother. She'd stayed quiet, patiently toying with the end of her shawl as she hovered nearby. “Mom, you're really okay with this?”

Her thin eyebrows arched high enough to pull her fine wrinkles smooth. “Would it matter if I wasn't? You've always done what you wanted, Bishop. I'd be foolish to expect that to change with love involved.”

His hold on me tightened. “I do love her. And you're right, even if you hated Nell, or if Dad decided he wasn't going to give us what he promised, I wouldn't have been able to walk away from her. In fact... the only walking I want to do is down the aisle.”

Instantly my heart wedged in my throat. The background noise of the party was soft, but it faded more as I focused on Bishop's determined expression. With ease, he dropped to one knee. I'd begun trembling. I was shaking so much that, when he took my hand up in his, he hesitated. “I'm fine,” I squeaked out. “Keep going. What's that about an aisle?”

He grinned sharply. “Is this how you're going to be? You'll never walk anywhere if you're shaking this much.”

“Shut up, shut up,” I said, gulping for air. “Ask me what you want to ask!”

Miss Callehurst had put her shawl over the bottom of her face. She scrunched it there, as if it could hide how overwhelmed she was.

Clearing his throat, Bishop flipped his shirt out of the way—I'd pulled it out of his pants when I'd clawed at his back. Smooth as a spoon over fresh cream, he flourished a small, navy blue box from his pocket. I'd known he was about to... deep down, it had been obvious... and still, I let out a rush of air. “Nellie Pinewood, you're the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure of sharing a shower with.”

“Bishop!” Fuck, I was beyond red.

Laughing low in his chest, he showed me the ring in the box. It was white gold, the metal wrapping around a princess cut diamond bigger than a chocolate chip. “It would mean the world to me if you'd pledge the rest of your life to me. I want to be by your side from now until we're old and gray and still kissing like we'd just met. I want to see how amazing our children will be with you as their mother. Will you marry me?”

At first I thought, Children? As in more than one? But then a comet-sized explosion of joy crashed into me. I was flaring with heat inside and out, a being of pure bliss, and speaking became impossible. Tasting tears as they rolled down my cheeks and caught in the corners of my nervous laugh, I nodded over and over.

“That's a yes?” he asked, no longer joking. I'd never seen him so serious.

“It's a yes!” I cried, wiggling my finger as he slid the ring on. It was gorgeous, and other girls might have studied it longingly. All I wanted to do was kiss this man.

So I did.

And then I didn't stop.