Page 37 of The Dauntless (Spy Girl 5)
“I honestly have no idea.”
She links her arm into mine. “It’s a good thing you have me.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t here with your family.”
“Oh, girl, I tried that. Took my bridesmaids, mother, grandmother, and future in-laws. It was a colossal disaster. Everyone was all, I’d like to see her in … instead of, What does the bride want? Grandpa offered to bring me to London, so I could figure out for myself what I wanted. I’ll get my family’s opinions once I do, but I will never shop with a big group like that again. It’s my wedding. My day. There will be no shopping by committee.”
“Your grandpa is awesome. It was so nice of him to help me understand the trust.”
We step inside the shop, are immediately handed flutes of champagne, and then taken into the showroom where Blair is asked all about what she wants.
But she keeps the conversation going as she tries on dresses. “He is. Although he used to seem to love Ty, but since our engagement party, he’s been asking me if I’m sure. Telling me I’m young. This from a man who got married at twenty. What do you think of Ty? Honestly?” She comes out in a slinky silk dress that clings to her body in all the right places. “Way too plain,” she says to the consultant.
“You know, sometimes, people say that, and when you tell them the truth, you find out they really didn’t want honesty. They wanted reassurance. Which are you looking for?”
“Let me think about that while I try on the next dress,” she says.
This dress is fitted down to her hips, covered in lace and bling, and then poufs out at the knee.
“Love the lace,” she says. “Hate the bottom.”
“I think maybe we should try more of an A-line next,” the consultant says.
Blair turns and gives me a grin. “I want honesty. I figure you and I aren’t that close yet, so worst case is, I hate you for life.”
“And best case?” I laugh.
“I’ll be forever grateful,” she says, her face turning serious.
I take a deep breath. Let it out. “My opinion of Ty is, you’ll be one of those girls who is the last to know.”
“You barely know him. Why do you say that?” she asks as the consultant brings back four more dresses, two of which she quickly dismisses without trying them on.
“Because he flirted with me at your engagement party. If he can’t behave at that event, with you there—”
“He’s friendly,” she says dismissively. “He seems like a flirt, but he’s harmless.”
“Okay,” I say as she goes back into the dressing room.
When she returns, she’s wearing a dress that is truly stunning on her. Fitted bodice, slight train, nude-colored illusion neck, and sleeves covered with a bold cream lace.
“Wow! That’s amazing on you.”
“I do like it. Ty would like it.”
“Any man would like it.” I laugh.
“I about died when Peter showed up at our party. He was not on the guest list I prepared,” she says.
“Ty invited him by text at the last minute. Peter believes it’s because Ty heard the girl that Peter had been dating—”
“That model, Allie,” she states with her lips pursed.
“Yes. She recently got engaged to my brother.”
“Your brother? Really? I had no idea that’s who it was. Do you like her?”
I smile big. “I actually do.”
“Do you want to try on more dresses?” the consultant asks, seeming to grow tired of our chatting and wondering if Blair is taking this seriously based on our conversation.
“Of course,” she says to the woman. “I flew to London just to try on dresses.”
Her next dress is pretty, a sexy boho style with feathers and a sheer bodice.
“You were telling me about Allie,” she says, studying herself in the mirror.
“She’s completely clueless for the most part about all this society stuff, so she never would have been a good match for Peter. In my opinion though, she’s clueless in a good way. She speaks what’s on her mind. She’s incredibly honest. And she and Ari have crazy chemistry.”
“I heard they were hooking up when she and Peter were dating,” she dishes.
“She and Peter did not
have chemistry. At all. She was Peter’s date. Someone to look pretty on his arm. And you should know, she felt horribly guilty about it, but Peter was constantly telling her it wasn’t serious.”
“Peter and I used to date,” she says, smoothing out the feathers on the dress. “I look like a chicken.”
“He told me. We’ve gotten to be good friends, which is fun because our fathers were friends. And his dad has been just great.”
“I think we’re done here,” Blair says to the consultant. “I really like the long-sleeved dress and will put that on my short list.” She hands her a calling card. “I will be in touch.”
As soon as she’s back in her clothes, we leave the salon and walk toward the next one on her list.
“Tell me what Ty did or said to you at the party. I can handle it.”
“Okay, well, I was watching a kid playing the shell game. Ty stood very close to me and whispered in my ear.
“We had a brief conversation about it, and then he said, ‘I’ll be honest. I’m here because I’m following the girl.’
“Since we had been talking about the game, I asked, ‘Which girl?’ Before I realized he meant me.
“He introduced himself and was sliding his hand down my arm in a very suggestive way when I asked how he was related to the happy couple. Peter must have seen what was going on because he was there and told me that Ty was the future groom. I was shocked honestly.” I carefully study her face. “I’m sorry.”
“Peter broke my heart. That’s how I ended up with Ty.”
“You loved Peter?”
“Probably always will,” she says with a sad nod.
I stop walking and turn to face her. “Why the heck aren’t you marrying him then?”
She bursts out in laughter, crazy, maniacal laughter that causes me to laugh, too.
“I can’t even,” she sputters out.
But then she grabs my hand as we approach our next appointment. “Oh my gosh. Look at that dress!” She stands in front of the window, tears in her eyes. “That’s my dream dress. That’s the kind of dress I’ve pictured getting married in.”
