I moved swiftly through the house this morning, trying to finish my tasks as quickly as possible. I wiped down the already spotless counters in the kitchen, double-checked the dining table, and made sure everything was in place. My hands worked on autopilot, but my mind was elsewhere.
Today was the day.
I didn’t even know where Lucian was taking me, yet I felt the anticipation thrumming beneath my skin. The gown I had picked out last night still lay on the chair in my room, waiting for me.
Footsteps echoed from the staircase, and I stiffened. A moment later, Lucian’s deep, smooth voice broke the silence.
“Mara.”
I turned quickly and greeted him, hands gripping the edge of the counter as he stepped into the sitting room. He was already dressed in his usual dark suit, the crisp lines em
