The Bride He Replaced novel · Chapter 8 of 24

Chapter 8: The Gala

Bea took in a green velvet dress for me on her kitchen table, with pins in her mouth and a pencil behind her ear.

It had been her sister's.

It skimmed my bump and fell to my ankles, and when I turned in front of the hall mirror, I stood straighter than I had in a week.

"You look like you own the building," Bea said.

"Miles owns the building."

"Tonight he's only renting it."

Duncan came to the door at seven in a black tuxedo with no tie and a bow tie in his pocket.

He looked at me for a moment and then at the ceiling.

"Rule two," he said. "Hand at your back, if someone's watching."

"That's not what you were going to say."

"No," he said. "I was going to say you look right."

I took his arm.

The ballroom at the lake hotel was white and gold, with a stage for the orchestra and a banner over it that read FORTY YEARS OF TEASDALE.

Three hundred guests turned when we came in.

I heard my name pass from table to table.

Marguerite was waiting at the foot of the stairs in a silver gown.

"Hannah, dear." She took both my hands. "You look so rested. For a woman in your condition."

"For a woman in my condition," I said, loud enough for the table behind her, "I'm doing very well, thank you. How is the investment?"

Her smile held.

"And Mr. Westergaard. How kind of you to come."

"Mrs. Teasdale," Duncan said. "Your invitation was very generous."

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