The Invitation

The Bridesmaids

"Knock, knock. Are you read – wow." Maxwell's words caught in his throat as he walked into Alice's room.

Alice glanced at him in her full length mirror but continued to put the finishing touches on her makeup. "You should learn to knock."

"I did, metaphorically."

"Saying 'knock, knock' as you enter is not a metaphor."

Finished with her smokey eye shadow, she turned to face him with a smile. "How do I look?"

Maxwell's eyes ran up and down her long white silk dress, he stroked his chin and nodded. "That is quite the dress. Where did you buy it?"

"It was a gift," she blushed. "From Liam."

His eyebrows shot up, "oh?"

She shrugged but was unable to stop the smile from forming. "It was here when I got back, with a little note and everything."

"A note, you say?" He smiled brightly. "Well, I will say he is going to be absolutely thrilled to see you in the dress he provided. Always good to please the host, Bertrand says."

"Well, in this instance it pleases me to please the host," she laughed and ran a hand down the dress.

Maxwell's eyes twinkled, "good to hear. Come on, don't want to be late for the dinner party."

"Oh, I'll get to meet the bride and groom tonight, right?"

He shook his head, "no. They aren't in yet. Layovers in Tibet or something. They'll be here in time for the wedding though, don't worry."

"I should hope so, can't have a wedding without the bride and groom."

"Indeed. You'll get to meet the bridesmaids though, they just got in a little while ago."

"Oh, that sounds like fun."

"It certainly should be," he gestured at the door.

"Yes." She followed him out into the hall then paused. "Actually... The Rys... Liam, I mean..."

"Yes?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"We're not... related to him at all, right? I mean, this is a family event."

"Oh no," he snorted. "Not in the least. Our families are in close ties, but this wedding will be the first prenuptial tie between the two houses."

"That's good to know."

Maxwell gave her a knowing smile but said nothing as he continued to lead her to the back door.

It was dark out, save the ambience set off by the string lights hung above the walkway. Alice stared at the twinkling lights in wonder, enthralled by the warm glow of the Edison bulbs. They danced across the black like fireflies in summer.

"Announcing Maxwell Beaumont!" Bastien bellowed, pulling Alice back into herself.

Realizing there stood noone in her path to the trellis now, she stepped forward. Bastien glanced at her, no malice from their earlier encounter present.

"Announcing Alice Beaumont!"

"It's Thornton, actually," she said softly, but he turned on his heels and walked away. "Okay..."

Sucking in a sharp breath, Alice walked through the trellis to a round of applause. Maxwell was standing there waiting for her, he offered the crook of his arm with a smile. Alice took it happily and allowed him to lead her across the empty dance floor. There were more than double the people than the day before, familiar faces smiled at her while the strangers stared on with interest.