[An hour ago]
The doors to Astrid's chambers parted without a sound as Lord Claude Aleris stepped inside, and he found his daughter buried beneath a small army of maids and stylists.
Some pinned the fall of her gown into place while others curled her hair and dabbed shimmer at the corners of her eyes. The instant his gaze caught her in the tall mirror his chest went heavy, because the proud woman in the glass was the spitting image of the wife he had lost.
Astrid noticed him through the mirror. "Dad, just give me a minute and I'll be joining you soon."
His eyes drifted down to her feet. "Those shoes suit you beautifully."
Astrid twitched at the words as panic clawed up from her stomach. 'Shit, I forgot to make a cover story for the shoes. Now what do I do? God, if you've got one favor left in you, spend it right here and don't let him press any further.'
