A Price Worth Paying(36)

‘We get married in three days,’ he said.

‘Do you think the harvest will be finished?’

He growled and she felt it reverberate through her bones while his eyes held her hostage. ‘I don’t care. I’m marrying you anyway.’ And then he kissed her again.

It was because they were all watching, she told herself, as she snipped grapes for the next day and a half. He’d only said it because people were watching.

But still, regardless of what he’d meant, or whatever his motivation, she’d cherish forever the look in his eyes when he’d uttered those words.

Three mornings later, the harvest completed, she donned the dress that would make her the Esquivel bride. Her gown was by the same designer as the one she’d worn to Markel’s birthday party. Alesander had insisted on it and she’d argued that it wasn’t necessary, right up until she’d seen the gown paraded before them and wished it could be hers and before she’d had a chance to say she loved it, he’d said, ‘That one,’ and she’d known they were both right even before she’d tried it on.

And it was perfect. With its fitted bodice and tight waist and pleating across her hips, it echoed in so many ways the gown she’d worn to Markel’s party, but then this gown was so much more, the layers filmy and soft and the perfect foil to the fitted bodice.

Simone didn’t have to ask how she looked. Today there was no joking. Tears sprang from her grandfather’s eyes as she emerged from her room—tears that said it all. Tears that made all the lies she’d told suddenly worthwhile. It was worth it, she told herself, to see how happy Felipe looked today.

It was all worth it.

‘You look beautiful,’ he said in his thready voice. ‘You have made me the proudest man in the world.’

‘And you look wonderful, too.’ And he did, freshly shaved and in his new suit. She worried about his role, walking her down the aisle, and wondered if he was up to it, but today he looked ready for anything.

‘Come on,’ he said, offering her his arm, ‘the car is waiting for us.’

They arrived at the Esquivel vineyard to find most of the village waiting expectantly for her outside the vaulted cellars where the wedding was to take place.

‘Don’t be worried,’ her attendant said from the front seat. ‘Celebrations always follow the harvest. This is just one more cause for celebration.’

It was, apparently, as cameras clicked and buzzed around her as the bridal party made it from the car. Felipe took the longest time, untangling his legs but still smiling as he took his granddaughter’s arm for the walk down the short aisle.

Ezmerelda set off first, serene and magnificent and so calm it lent Simone strength. She followed on Felipe’s arm, his steps faltering and slow, but he beamed proudly to everyone along the way.

This is his moment, she thought, much more than mine, and she slowed her steps to match his, and let him have his moment. He was back, celebrating with the people he’d lived with all his life, the people he’d been cut off from, first with his wife’s illness and then with his own disease.

He was in his element and he was lapping it up.

And then she saw Alesander waiting for her.

So tall and broad, and so breathtakingly handsome beyond belief, and smiling indulgently, as if he knew what she was doing taking so long making her way down the aisle.

His smile worked its way into her bones. No wonder it was so hard to tell herself she should hate him.

Finally they were there and she kissed Felipe on the cheeks as he left her with her husband-to-be. She’d done it, she thought as she listened to her vows. Her crazy plan had worked out.

Or almost worked out.

And minutes later, as they were declared man and wife and they kissed, now it was almost done. Now there was just the reception and Alesander’s contract amendments to work through …

The reception was the easy bit. Ezmerelda was right, the village was in the mood to celebrate, and Felipe was not missing out on anything. She saw him stagger his way onto the dance floor as Alesander whirled her around the floor, and she wondered how long his strength would last, but how could she stop him when he was having so much fun?

Alesander whisked her past. ‘However did you do it?’ he asked. ‘However did you get Ezmerelda on side to be your attendant?’

She smiled and looked across to the couple who had danced non-stop since the music had started, the couple the photographers were almost one hundred per cent focused upon. ‘All I had to do was tell her I knew nothing about weddings and I needed her help.’