Emily's pov
Her mansion spoke of quiet, effortless, elegance. Everything from the framed paintings and vases filled with flowers welcomed and intimidated you at the same time.
With each step my heels clicked louder and louder than necessary. Self-conscious I was almost tempted to take them off and walk bare foot, but obviously that would be more detrimental than anything else.
"Theo!"
Her voice, almost sing-song like, came to welcome us at the front door. She was simple yet made a statement, and when she came in to give me a hug the subtle scent of lavender lingered in my nostrils.
But that wasn't the only thing I smelt.
"I'm so glad you both could make it," as she turned around I noticed an abrupt sway in her movements but she quickly and naturally regained her balance that it wiped off of my mind as a trick of the eyes.
The atmosphere that we had was far much better than what we had at my home, and the same could be said for the food. Everything looked so savory and scrumptious, laid out in the most eye-catching way it almost felt like you crime to even think of eating it.
I thought that she will be bombarding me with question after question, wanting to know as much as possible as she could about my background, digging for any flaw that she could latch onto.
But she was all pleasantness and smiles, eventually remaining guarded seemed silly. I let my hair down and allowed my shoulders to slump in relaxation as she took us to her lounge.
Mr Williams' face seemed to darken when we stepped in, once again I scripted it up to my imagination. The lounge had dim lighting and a fireplace in the foreground but that was what was misconstructing his sharp features to look like anger.
A male servant who looked like he was in his mid-20s came and poured us the wine, Mrs Williams gave a hand signal to him and he left promptly. She held her own glass to her lips.
"Did Theodore tell you that I own a winery?"
I nodded, the Williams family had a wide web of businesses, Clara Williams was in charge of the winery and a couple others. But she took a more laid back approach these days from what I knew, only stepping up when it was necessary.
"Do you enjoy wine?" She said, raising her eyes focused longingly at the rich liquid.
"Yes, though I'm not much of a conissour. I mostly only get the chance to drink it at special events," I was trying to be sincere but realized that all I did was embarrass myself. I probably look so low class now, why didn't I just say yesand shut my mouth afterwards?
I took my own glass and began to sip while I spiraled internally with regret, as for Theodore he refused his own glass.
"I'll be driving us home," I flushed with how naturally we said that, like we were really engaged and driving back to our future home as newly weds.
But it was all acting.
"Emily?"
Mrs Williams voice almost made me jump from my seat, but my feet were now too wobbly from the alcohol to even manage that.
"I'm sorry, Mrs Williams…I just got lost in thought don't mind me,"
"Just call me Clara, my dear, we'll soon be family so why the need for formality?"
She was so nice that it seemed unreal.
"Alright…Clara…" I said fighting back tears, the conversation seemed to flow more naturally now. Theodore didn't talk much, but I felt his eyes on me throughout the entire conversation.
I guess he was just watching me to make sure I didn't screw up the plan.
What other reason would he have to stay so intensely?
The night was growing older, the wine bottle emptier and Theodore was checking his wrist more often when Clara called for another wine bottle he stood up.
"Mother, I think that will be enough for tonight. Besides you should be in bed soon," he said.
"Nonsense," she said with a wave of her manicured nails, "I'm just getting to know my daughter-in-law,"
I really like talking to her but now I was feeling dizzy, Theodore moved over supporting me to my feet.
"Goodnight, Mother," he said with a note or finality.
We were outside now, Theodore had opened the passenger door for me and I was about to slide in when I heard his mother's voice bursting from the door and rushing down to meet us past the pillars and stony steps, I was hardly even standing without Theodore's support and yet she was maneuvering herself with such ease it made me embarrassed.
"I should talk to her,"'I said to Theodore, walking towards his mother, one of her fists clenched when she reached me or maybe that was when I noticed it.
"Please don't be angry with me, but I had to give you this…" she-handed me a tiny purple box with it white ribbon and asked me to open it when I get home, then she skipped back into her house. While drunk she looked rather playful, like a toddler.
Theodore didn't ask about what his mother gave me, almost like he already had a clue himself.
And my guess was right, that night he came in and watched me take off the ribbon and inside the box were two uniquely cut diamond ear rings.
I was speechless for a moment, "Do you like them?" Theodore asked.
"Like them?!" I screamed out loud, still not fully sober, "They're gorgeous! I…I …" my excitement dropped in a way alcohol couldn't fix, "... I'd love to keep them, but I'm not even a 'real' fiance. It would be wrong…these should be worn by someone you truly love,"
Theodore tapped his fingers patiently on my vanity, "You'll have to wear them, it's passed in every generation,"
My head nearly exploded from that final piece of info.
"So what you're telling me is that …" I said dragging out my voice. "...this is a family heirloom?"