Wrapping an arm around her, James pulled her close. “I thought Simon was handling everything.”
“He would, but you don’t know what cake he wanted. Ursula and Stephen will be waiting for us.”
James tapped her leg. “We better get going then.”
For the rest of his day, he sat around a table with Stephen, Ursula, and his woman trying cake after cake after cake.
In the end Prudence settled in a chocolate cake while Ursula and Stephen had a vanilla cake.
While their women collected the dresses from the shop, he walked with Stephen around a clothing department.
“How are you holding up?” Stephen asked.
James went straight to the women’s underwear section. He perused the shelves looking for the kind of underwear he’d gladly take off of his woman. “I’m doing well. I spoke to Priscilla. She and Prudence had their last session a couple of days ago. From what she tells me everything is going fine, and I shouldn’t have to worry about any setbacks. Any news on Dane?”
He selected three thongs along with a bra that had holes where the ni**les should be. “No, last I heard he was working for Josiah and Hubert. Isabella and Rebecca are still staying at the club. Lucas hates the fact his sister won’t go and stay with him. My club is turning into a hotel for my friends,” Stephen said.
“The bastards.” James teased him.
James purchased the underwear, and as he was paying Prudence came back to him.
“The dresses are in the car. Ursula’s waiting for you, Stephen.”
“I’ll see you two soon.”
They made their way out of the department store, and Arthur opened the car door for them.
“You apologised to Gabe, didn’t you?” she asked.
“Yes. I saw your point, but he saw mine,” he said, feeling victorious.
She slapped him on the arm. Arthur dropped them off at their home. Prudence hung the dress in the bedroom closet while he started to undress.
“Are you sure you want to marry me?” she asked, coming up behind him.
“Baby, I’ve never wanted anything else in the world.”
She smiled up at him, and he was lost once again.
He told her he loved her. “I’ll never get tired of saying it.”
“You better not.”
They had three weeks to go until their wedding. James hoped he could wait that long to make her his.
****
Three weeks later
Prue sat staring at the mirror while her sister finished with her hair. Veronica had spiralled the length, so it fell in ringlets around her face. They were at Stephen’s house. Violet was doing Ursula’s hair next to them. The two women kept gazing at each other begging the other not to cry.
“Simon is going to be pissed if we’re late.”
Ursula had organised for Stephen to stay over at James’s so they could get ready together without the fear of the groom seeing the dress. She wasn’t superstitious like Ursula, but she followed the other woman’s plans. If James was there when she got ready then they’d never make it to the church. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other long enough to work most days of the week.
The bridesmaids consisted of Veronica, Violet, Anya, Becky, Isabella, and Rebecca. She’d asked Priscilla to attend the event. Prue had grown to like the therapist and appreciated everything the woman did. Prue had also been in touch with Josiah and Hubert. She’d asked the two agents to find Melanie, the woman she’d been trapped with.
For some reason she’d wanted the woman at her wedding. She’d told Priscilla her plans. The older woman thought it would be good for her. What Priscilla didn’t agree with was doing it on her wedding day.
“How do you know the men are going to be on time?” Veronica asked.
“They didn’t have a bachelor party. We forbid them to have one,” Ursula said.
Prue smiled. “Most men have a bachelor party to celebrate their last night being single. James still growls at men who talk to me. He’s not sad to leave his single life behind.”
She’d asked James if he wanted a bachelor party. He’d told her he didn’t. When she’d tried to tease him with strippers and fancy girls he’d told her she was the only woman he wanted stripping for him and him alone.
How could a woman not want to marry a man who refused to have a bachelor party?
Veronica tapped her on the shoulder. “You’re done.”
Their parents were going to be at church. They weren’t happy about her getting married without them meeting James. She didn’t care what her parents wished. If they’d met James and didn’t like him, she’d still marry him. He was her other half, the one man she could see herself spending the rest of her life with.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her two toned hair looked shocking against her tanned flesh. She’d been spending a lot of time sunbathing when they were home. Wearing a white wedding dress and having pale skin didn’t appeal to her.
“You look beautiful,” Veronica said.
Tapping her sister’s hand, Prue stood up. All the women cooed at her and Ursula. Having a shared wedding was probably the best decision for all of them. Prue hated the limelight as much as Ursula. Sharing the attention would help them both get through it.
Becky handed her the bouquet of red roses. “Look at you, black and blue hair, white dress and red roses.”
Prue burst out laughing. Tears were in her eyes. “I can’t cry. I’ll ruin my makeup.”
She took several deep breaths to calm her emotions. “I can’t believe I’m getting married.”
“You better believe it,” Anya said.
“Time for us to leave.” Rebecca came through the doorway and smiled. Prue rarely saw the other woman smile. From what James had to tell her there was little for Rebecca to smile about.
The other women went first. She turned to Ursula, taking another deep breath. “Are you ready for this?” Ursula asked.
“No, I’ll never be ready for this. I’ll be ready for marrying James, but why do we have to do it when everyone’s watching? I’m going to fall and look silly.” She stared at her roses feeling the panic rise.
“You’re not going to fall. I’m here. Stop panicking.”
They walked down the steps together. The limos waited for them. There were two, one for the bridesmaids and the other for them.
Ursula climbed in first, and then Prue did.
The drive was short, and several people stopped to wave at them.