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Gianna srimly Lily walked over to the bed and picked up my veil attached to the headpiece I bent ently smoothed it out

“I wish you werenight I wish you didn’t look so fucking sad,” Gianna said fiercely

The silence between us stretched Lily eventually nodded toward the bed “Is this where you’ll sleep tonight?”

My throat tightened “No, Luca and I will spend the night in the et much, if any, sleep

A knock sounded and I squaredon my outside face Bibiana and Valentina stepped in, followed by mother

“Wow, Aria, you are gorgeous Your hair looks like spun gold,” Valentina said She was already wearing her brideseous with her dark hair Technically, only unmarried women were allowed to be bridesmaids but my Uncle had insisted we make an exemption for Valentina He was really keen to find a new husband for her Bibiana wore a floor-lengthsleeves, despite the suotten

I forced a smile Mother took Lily’s arm “Come on, Liliana, your cousins need to talk to your sister” She led Lily out of the rooed on the sofa “Gianna?”

Gianna ignored her “I’ I won’t leave Aria alone”

Mother knew better than to argue with my sister when she was in a mood and so she closed the door

“What are you supposed to talk to me about?”

“Your wedding night,” Valentina said with an apologetic s she was Only twenty-two She’d gotten thin I couldn’t believe they’d chosen to send those two to talk to ht Bibiana’s face spoke of her unhappiness Since her wedding to aaway Was that meant to soothe o in an altercation with the Russians How could they expect her to talk about wedded bliss?

I smoothed my dress nervously

Gianna shook her head “Who sent you anyway? Luca?”

“Your mother,” Bibiana said “She wants to make sure you knohat’s expected of you”

“Expected of her?” Gianna hissed “What about what Aria wants?”

“It’s what it is,” Bibiana said bitterly “Tonight Luca will expect to clai”

Pity for her kindled in me, but at the same tiht Luca was good looking I couldn’t deny it, but that didn’t change the fact that I was terrified of being intientle in bed My stoain

Valentina cleared her throat “Luca will knohat to do”

“You just lie on your back and give hiht him; that will only make it worse”

We all stared at her and she looked away