Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Kate Bridgerton had been awake since five in the morning, and it was entirely Seris Ashford's fault.

Not that she'd ever tell him that. Seris had enough on his mind today without her adding to it. His wedding day. *Finally.*

"Katie, if you don't stop pacing, you're going to wear a hole in the carpet," her oldest brother Darius called from the doorway of her bedroom, coffee mug in hand. "And Mom will kill you."

"I'm not pacing," Kate protested, even though she absolutely was. "I'm... deciding."

"You've changed outfits four times." Her second-oldest brother, James, appeared behind Darius, smirking. "It's not even your wedding."

"Which is exactly why I need to look perfect!" Kate gestured at the explosion of clothing covering her bed, chairs, and most of her floor. "I can't upstage the bride, but I also can't look like I didn't try. It's a delicate balance."

"You're overthinking this," Darius said, but his expression was fond. At thirty, he'd seen Kate through enough social anxieties to know when to push and when to just let her spiral.

"I'm not overthinking anything." Kate held up two dresses—one a soft blush pink, the other a sophisticated navy. "Pink says 'sweet and supportive,' but navy says 'elegant and mature.' Which one?"

"The navy," came a voice from the hallway. Her third brother, David, poked his head in. "The pink makes you look twelve."

"I do not look twelve!" Kate threw a shoe at him, which he dodged easily. "I'm twenty-four!"

"Could've fooled me with all this fussing," David grinned. "Seriously, Katie. It's just a wedding. Seris has been to hundreds of events with you. He's seen you in everything from ballgowns to jeans. Why are you so worked up?"

Because it wasn't just a wedding.

Because Seris was her best friend—had been since they were children, since he'd found her crying behind the stables at a polo match because the other girls had made fun of her for being small, for being the only girl in a family of boys, for not fitting in. He'd sat with her for hours, and when she'd finally stopped crying, he'd looked at her with those serious dark eyes and said, *"They're idiots. You're going to do something amazing one day, and they'll all wish they'd been nicer to you."*

He'd been eleven. She'd been nine. And she'd loved him ever since.

Not romantically—God, no. The idea made her want to laugh. Seris was like her seventh brother, the one who actually understood her. The one who called when he needed advice, who showed up when she was sick.

And today, he was marrying Silver Winters.

Kate flopped onto her bed, careful not to wrinkle the navy dress. "I just want everything to go perfectly. He deserves that."

Darius and James exchanged a look that Kate pretended not to see.

"Katie," Darius said carefully, coming to sit on the edge of her bed. "You know Seris can take care of himself, right? This isn't your responsibility."

"I know that." She did. Mostly. "But he's been so stressed with the Jessica situation, and the company, and his parents pushing for this marriage, and—"

"Wait." David held up a hand. "His parents pushed for this marriage?"

Kate bit her lip. She'd said too much. "I didn't mean it like that."

"Katie." James's voice was gentle but firm. "Does Seris actually want to marry this girl?"

"Of course he does!" The words came out too quickly, too defensive. "He proposed, didn't he? Well, technically, she asked him, but he said yes. And his parents approved because it's traditional and honorable and—"

"She asked him?" All three of her brothers spoke in unison, their voices colored with disbelief.

Kate sat up, suddenly feeling the need to defend Silver even though the woman had never been anything but coldly polite to her. "She saved his life. After that car accident two years ago. She was there, she pulled him out before the car exploded. She asked to marry him as... as payment for the debt."

"Jesus Christ," Darius muttered.

"That's medieval," David said flatly.

"It's romantic!" Kate insisted, even though a part of her had always thought it was strange too. "She loved him enough to ask. And Seris is honorable enough to say yes. His parents believe in honoring debts. It's traditional."

"It's insane," James said. "Katie, you can't actually think this is a good foundation for a marriage."

"I think," Kate said carefully, "that Silver seems nice. And Seris needs someone stable after Jessica.

God, Jessica. Even thinking the name made Kate's stomach turn.

Jessica Hambourne had been everything Kate wasn't—tall, curvy, confident. Seris had been genuinely in love with her, or at least Kate thought he had been. For two years, he'd talked about her constantly, had that dopey smile that people got when they were happy.

And then six months ago, the scandal had broken.

Jessica, caught in bed with Seris's cousin, Marcus Ashford. Photos splashed across every tabloid. The humiliation had been spectacular and public, and Seris had shut down in a way that terrified Kate. He'd stopped calling. Stopped showing up to family dinners. Threw himself into work with a single-minded intensity that screamed *I'm not dealing with this.*

When he'd told Kate he was getting married to Silver Winters—a woman Kate had met exactly twice at business functions—she'd been relieved. Not because Silver seemed perfect for him, but because at least he was moving forward. At least he wasn't alone.

"Silver isn't Jessica," Kate said firmly. "She's educated, accomplished, from a good family. She doesn't party or seek attention. She's exactly what Seris needs right now."

"What he needs," Darius said quietly, "is therapy, not a wife."

Kate threw another shoe at him.

"I'm serious!" Darius dodged again, laughing. "Katie, I love you, and I love that you love your friends. But you can't fix Seris by being excited about a marriage that sounds like it was arranged in the 1800s."

"I'm not trying to fix him." Kate stood, smoothing down her pajamas. "I'm trying to be supportive. He's my best friend, and today is important to him, so it's important to me. Now all of you get out so I can finish getting ready."

Her brothers filed out, still muttering about medieval marriage customs, and Kate closed the door behind them with more force than necessary.

She turned back to her closet and pulled out the navy dress, holding it up to herself in the mirror. It was perfect—elegant, mature, exactly right for the best friend of the groom.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Probably Seris, confirming timing or asking her opinion on something. He always asked her opinion.

But when she picked it up, the message was from an unknown number.

Hi Kate, this is Silver. I got your number from Seris's contact list. I wanted to reach out before the wedding.

Kate's heart leaped. Finally! She'd been trying to connect with Silver for months, ever since the engagement had been announced. She'd sent friendly texts, invited her to coffee, tried to establish some kind of friendship. Silver had responded politely but distantly to everything, keeping Kate at arm's length.

But now, on her wedding day, she was reaching out!

Kate's fingers flew over her phone.

Silver! I'm so glad you texted! I've been wanting to talk to you. Are you nervous? Do you need anything? I'm here if you want to chat before the ceremony!

The response came quickly.

Actually, I wanted to apologize.

Kate frowned. *Apologize for what?

For being cold to you. You've been nothing but kind, and I've been standoffish. It wasn't fair to you.

*Oh!* Kate typed quickly. *You don't need to apologize! I know this has all been overwhelming. New family, new expectations. I totally understand.

Three dots appeared, disappeared, appeared again.

You're very gracious. That's one of the things Seris always says about you. That you see the best in people.

Kate felt her cheeks warm. *He talks about me?

All the time. You're very important to him.*

*He's important to me too,* Kate typed.  I'm so happy he found someone who makes him happy.

The response took longer this time.

Does he seem happy to you?

Kate paused, her thumbs hovering over the keyboard. It was an odd question for a bride to ask on her wedding day.

Of course! she typed, though even as she sent it, she wondered if it was true. Seris had seemed... fine. Calm. Professional, even when discussing his own wedding. But happy?

I hope so,* Silver responded. *I really do. You deserve a happy best friend.*

And you deserve a happy husband!* Kate typed, adding several heart emojis. I'm so excited to officially welcome you to the family. I know we haven't been close, but I really hope we can be friends. Real friends. I'd like that.

The three dots appeared and disappeared several times.

Finally: I'd like that too. More than you know.

Kate grinned, hugging her phone to her chest. See? Silver was lovely. Just nervous and overwhelmed, like any bride would be.

Do you want me to come over?* Kate typed. *I could help you get ready! Or just keep you company if you're nervous. I know it's a big day.

That's sweet of you, but I'm okay. I just wanted to clear the air before everything gets crazy.

Well, I'll see you at the cathedral!* Kate added a bride emoji and several sparkles. You're going to look absolutely stunning. Seris is a lucky man.

Thank you, Kate. For everything. You're a good person.

Kate set down her phone, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt. Maybe this would be good for everyone. Silver would warm up once they were family. They could have coffee dates, shopping trips, all the things Kate had always imagined doing with a sister.

She picked up the navy dress and headed to the bathroom to start getting ready.

 

It was going to be a beautiful day. She was sure of it.