Page 23 of Prince of Control

“Then don’t come.”

Lili rolls her eyes.

Whisper is a small town, so we’re at the courthouse in seven minutes, and during that time the three in the back completely drain the first bottle of Champagne. I climb out and hold the door open for Lara, who surprises me by taking my offered hand to jump down.

I’m in a suit to show respect for the day. She gives me an appraising look, as if just now noticing. When she glances down at her outfit, she fingers her cream-colored blouse. “Well, I guess I’m wearing a bit of white.”

I tug the hand she gave me to bring her closer to me, then loop an arm around her back. “This is just paperwork,” I tell her softly, not wanting the others to overhear. They take the hint and head into the courthouse. “We’ll have a do-over later. You get to have the ring you want. And the dress you pick out. Flowers. All your friends and family with us to celebrate.”

Her eyes grow bright with tears, and it makes my gut twist.

“Today is just–” I look past her, struggling to find words. “Today is paperwork. We’re signing the contract. We can make tomorrow into whatever we want.”

Lara

My breath shudders in on a sob.

I’ve been holding in my emotions, using rage and righteousness to tamp down my fear and grief.

But Baron verbalizing just how wrong this ceremony is, without the dress or flowers or friends, brings it all storming to the surface.

Because I need to keep it together until after we sign the “contract,” I push him away and march toward the courthouse.

Leo holds the door open for me, meeting Baron’s gaze over my head.

I keep gulping in air, pushing back the torrent of tears threatening.

Lili glances at my face. “Too bad we couldn’t bring the champagne in here, right?” she mutters with a wry smile.

I give a watery laugh in agreement.

We head into the assigned courtroom and wait to be called forward by the judge. Lili and Leo volunteer to be our witnesses. Zoe thrusts a bouquet of white roses wrapped up in ribbon in my hand.

We stand in front of the judge as he looks through the paperwork and then looks us over. “You wish to take your husband’s name?”

Ben nods, but the judge is looking at me. I manage to nod my head. I’m feeling dizzy from drinking the champagne on an empty stomach.

“Do you have rings?”

Benjamin nods.

“Are you doing a kiss?”

Benjamin darts a glance my way. “Of course.”

My stomach churns.

The judge begins. “Benjamin Baranov, do you take Lara Tur…Tour-Geneva” –he butchers my last name, making it sound like the city in Switzerland– “to live together in the honorable estate of matrimony, do you promise to love, honor, and comfort her in sickness and health, do you promise to be faithful and keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

The judge turns his attention on me. “Lara–”

“Turgeneva,” Baron interrupts to pronounce my last name correctly.

The judge repeats it, “Lara Turgeneva, do you take Benjamin Baranov to be your husband, to live together in the honorable estate of matrimony, do you promise to love, honor, and comfort him in sickness and health, do you promise to be faithful and keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?”

I look balefully up at my groom. My heart pounds against my chest.