She’d left Mississippi to make a fresh start at a new life.
But she’d never dreamed it could feel this good.
EPILOGUE
ALONE for the first time in days, Lily twirled in front of the cheval mirror and unsuccessfully tried to hold back the happy giggle. The elegance of the dress really required poise on her part, to complete the picture properly, but she was simply too giddy to even try to look poised today.
Not with that big dopey grin on her face.
It was nice to be back at Hill Chase, but Hill Chase didn’t feel like home anymore. Home was with Ethan—and where that home happened to be didn’t matter to her.
Instead of her tiny apartment over the stable, she now stayed in the mansion itself when they visited, climbing that amazing staircase to the family wing. Much to his grandmother’s dismay, Ethan had shown her how to slide down the banister. And she’d gotten her chance to live out a movie moment when Ethan swept her into his arms and carried her up those stairs.
And, while she didn’t get to work with the horses anymore, she could ride them to her heart’s content. Ethan had offered to buy her her own horse, but she was too attached to the others to want her own.
What amazed her the most, though, was that Ethan loved her. It had taken her a long time to really believe it, but now she did. And today—just minutes from now—she would marry him.
Cue dopey grin and happy giggle.
Of course there was plenty to rain on her parade if she’d let it. Starting with the two hundred people down stairs, most of whom thought Ethan was marrying way beneath him—which he was; she readily admitted that. But they’d come anyway, because an invite to a Marshall wedding was too coveted to pass up.
The irony was delicious.
Lily twirled one more time, and her phone rang. She had to dig it out of the bottom of a bag.
“Are you coming down or not?” Ethan’s grumpy grumble actually warmed her.
Lily could hear the low rumble of the guests and the music of the string quartet in the background. “Is it time?”
“Past time. You’re late for your own wedding.”
“Your watch must be fast.”
“Stalling, Lily Black? Getting cold feet?”
“Never. Just enjoying every moment of today.”
“I promise it will get even better if you’ll come on.”
“Patience, Ethan. Are you in some kind of hurry?”
“Very much so.” The truth and innuendo in his voice sent happy shivers through her, and she nearly invited him up to her room.
“Then I’m on my way.”
“Good.”
On cue, there was a knock on the door and Leslie, their wedding planner, stuck her head in. “It’s time.”
“I told you I wasn’t late. See you in a minute.” She tossed the phone onto the bed. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
“You look beautiful,” Leslie said. “Just like a princess.”
“I feel like one.”
The music changed as she stepped out onto the landing, and all eyes were on her. It didn’t bother her, though, because Ethan stood at the foot of the staircase, hand some and perfect and wonderful enough to make her knees wobble and make her want to pinch herself to be sure this was all real.
Ethan loved her. Even after she’d confessed every sin of her past, every dark secret she’d wanted to forget, Ethan still loved her and wanted to marry her. More importantly, he’d helped heal her old wounds. She liked to think she was doing the same for him—healing the wounds of the past, and making a future where their pasts didn’t hold sway.
Ethan had been wrong, and she loved reminding him of that. Reality and happy endings were possible outside of fiction.
Because she definitely felt like Cinderella.
And at the foot of this gleaming marble staircase was her happily-ever-after.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0923-7
THE PRIVILEGED AND THE DAMNED
First North American Publication 2011
Copyright © 2011 by Kimberly Lang
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