Madeline smiled and nodded. “Definitely. Let’s get going. It must be getting awfully late by now.”
“True. We can’t take too long lest your chariot turn into a pumpkin. But no worries,” Bea grasped her hand and walked her over to her vanity with a heavily cushioned seat, “I’ve got a whole arsenal of goodies. Come into my office, darling.”
As Bea sat her down, Madeline realized Bea continued to hold her hand. She glanced up and then understood what had Bea paralyzed with her perfectly glossed lips dropped open.
“Oh, my God. Holy shit! How in the hell did I not see that when you came in? Is that—did they propose?”
Madeline nodded and held out her left hand as they both cooed over the ring. “They did, right on the helicopter, too.”
“Well, it sure took those boys long enough. I knew you were destined to be an Ellis the moment I saw you.”
“And now, we’re going to be sisters!”
“That’s right!” Bea got quiet for a moment and started combing out Madeline’s hair.
“When our parents died, Dalton and Garrett changed. I mean, all of us did, but the whole company—the satellite companies, the holdings, everything—went to them. They became the sole runners of the company overnight. So not only did they have to deal with losing our parents, but they also had to take care of a multinational corporation with the family name on it.”
“I don’t know how they managed that or how you managed it,” Madeline said.
Bea just shrugged and kept working on Madeline’s hair. “The first few months were a blur. I don’t remember them, really. Garrett went crazy. He acts out, if you didn’t know that by now.” Bea sighed. “He started going out with all of these models and actresses and staying out all damn night. For days. He did that before, of course, but this was on an entirely different level.
“And Dalton just shut down. He and Garrett used to go paint the town together, always going out with the flavor of the week, showering her with sparkly things and the stuff that happens between the sheets and then starting all over again on Monday with the next girl. But when our parents died, Dalton really took his position as the oldest of the Ellises to heart. He’s singlehandedly made sure our company didn’t fall apart the way we all did inside. Hence the reason why he’s so frigid and angry all the time.”
Madeline’s brows furrowed. “Is that why Dalton and Garrett fight all the time, too?”
“It is. Garrett’s way of dealing with things is not dealing with them at all, and Dalton’s way to do it is to distract himself with all the busy work he can. They’ve been arguing about everything lately, except for you.”
Madeline could not help but be flattered. “Really?”
Bea moved away and rifled through a few cabinets until she found some hairspray and a large bag that must be her makeup. “Really. I honestly don’t know what my brothers would’ve done if they’d lost you.” Her voice cracked, and she turned away, swiping quickly above her cheekbone.
Madeline reached up and touched her hand. “Hey, Bea. It’s all right. I’m all right, Dalton and Garrett are all right. We’re all going to be okay. Everything’s going to be okay.” Madeline smiled and held up her hand again. “More than okay! Soon you’ll have a wedding to help me plan!”
“Oh, you are good. You know just what to say, and right in time too, before I completely ruin my whole face with these silly tears.” Bea and Madeline hugged before Bea straightened with a heavy sigh. “Okay, now watch your future sister work her magic.”
She fiddled with Madeline’s hair one more time and stepped back. “Close your eyes.”
Madeline tried to breathe through the fog of hairspray Bea sprayed all over her hair.
“I know your hair’s still wet, but I promise you, it’ll dry by the time we’re ready to go and it’s going to be shiny and smooth. Not a stray hair in sight.”
When she opened her eyes again, she saw that Bea had swept her damp hair up into a simple and elegant style that made her face look softer and more delicate.
“Wow, Bea. That looks great. Thank you.”
She admired her work and smiled. “Yes, I know. I am quite gifted, if I do say so myself. Now close your eyes.” Bea gently swiped a damp rose-scented cloth over her face. “Makeup is next.”
For the next twenty minutes, Madeline sat still as Bea made her over in record time. It was good to sit with her and talk and let their sisterly affections grow and comfort her.
“And now, sister mine, you are done.”
Bea stepped aside, and Madeline gaped at her reflection. A new version of herself stared back at her—flawless, luminous skin, soft, full lips, and wide, dramatic eyes. No one would be able to tell what happened to her. All they would see was Madeline Spencer in a beautiful dress with the two handsomest men in the room.
“Bea, thank you. You did such a good job.”
Bea winked at her. “Yes, I know.”
Madeline stayed where she was, staring at herself, while Bea slipped out of the bathroom and returned carrying the dress.
“Staring at my handiwork? I know it’s pretty good, but I have to give you all the credit. I only bring out what’s underneath.” Bea rose up onto her toes and hooked the hanger over the door, and the dress spilled down from it in ruffled rivers of cream-colored fabric.
Madeline rose from the cushioned little bench and walked over to it. “Bea, it’s perfect.”
After helping her slip the dress on, Bea turned her around, and Madeline saw a woman in a gown fit for a queen, but it took a moment to recognize the reflection as herself. The embroidered bodice fit her shape like a glove and showed off her waist and the flare of her hips, and the gown itself flowed out in gentle, feathery waves.
Bea grinned next to her. “I’m a genius. A genius.”
Madeline ran her hands down the fabric and marveled at it. “Thank you so much, Bea. It’s beautiful.”
“Don’t thank me. You’re the one who picked it out.” Bea handed Madeline an adorable pair of satin heels and a matching handbag. Then she held up the diamond and sapphire necklace. “Do you want me to help you put this on?”
Madeline stared at it and realized the necklace had served her well enough that evening and putting it back on was suddenly the last thing she wanted to do. “You know, Bea, why don’t you wear it? It suits you more anyway.”
“Are you sure?” A half second later Bea had it wrapped around her neck. “Well, if you insist.”
“So are we ready to go?”
“Not quite yet.” Bea ran into her closet and pulled out a box. Opening it, she lifted out a stunning pearl necklace. “This belonged to my grandmother,” Madeline gasped as Bea stood and held it up, “and I want you to have it.”
“Oh, Bea, I couldn’t possibly—”
“You can and you will. End of discussion. Now stand still so I can put this on you.”
Madeline admired herself in the mirror, and she would’ve cried tears of joy if she hadn’t known that Bea would’ve thrown a fit if she ruined her brilliant makeup job. A wave of emotion rushed over her, and she took a breath. Staring back at her was Madeline, more confident and stronger than ever before, but still herself. She didn’t have to worry any longer about fitting in with the Male Order elites because she fit in with herself. And just as important, she had two magnificent men by her side whose love was surely enough to move mountains.
“It looks beautiful on you.” Bea beamed at her. “Now let’s get going. The cotillion awaits.”
Chapter Sixteen
Madeline gasped when Dalton and Garrett held the doors to the cotillion open for her. Before her was the grandest, most elegant sight she had ever seen. The entire place smelled like flowers and expensive perfume, and as Madeline took more of the scene in, she saw that flowers decorated every horizontal space available. She shook her head. Bea had spared no expense.
Round tables lined the far wall, and elegant floral arrangements sat in the middle of each table setting, surrounded by sma
ll candles. A full orchestra sat directly across from the entrance, playing classical music. In the center of the room, couples danced with refined elegance and style, while around them, others milled about the grand ballroom, talking, hugging, brushing kisses on cheeks, and flirting. Men in perfectly tailored tuxedos stood around their women whose dresses were bursts of color, silk, and taffeta. While the gentlemen wore plainer white or black masks with minimal embellishments, the women’s masks were decorated with sparkling jewels, streaks of bright colors, and fluffy plumes. The gigantic crystal chandelier reflected crystalline globs of light around the ballroom, softly illuminating the whole scene. The thirty-foot high ceilings gave a feeling of airiness and grandeur, as did the ornate carvings on the square Roman Corinthian columns.
Madeline took the elbows her men proffered for her and let them escort her onto the black-and-white checkered marble floors. Madeline felt as if she was stepping into an eighteenth-century Venetian masquerade ball, and the masks made her think back to that blissfully erotic weekend in Argentina. “Bea, you did such a great job.”
“You mean her army of assistants did a great job,” Garrett interjected.
“Well, somebody had to direct them,” Bea said.
Madeline smiled. “Okay, everyone did a great job. It looks beautiful.”
Garrett grinned. “Yeah, I guess it does. I never thought about it before.”
Bea gave a martyred sigh. “Of course you didn’t. You’re a man.”
“Our table is just up here,” Dalton said into Madeline’s ear.
But before they reached their assigned seats, a spotlight fell on the four of them.
“And there they are, ladies and gentlemen, your generous hosts, Dalton, Garrett, and most importantly, Beulah Ellis.” The emcee’s deep, silky voice permeated through the entire room, delicately echoing off the high walls and ceiling, and all of the people in the room faced them and applauded politely.
Dalton and Garrett nodded and bowed, looking every bit like the New World royalty they were, and graciously accepted the gratitude of their guests while Bea blew kisses at everyone like a pageant queen, although Madeline saw her smile tighten when the announcer said her full name.
Madeline was unsure of what to do other than smile and look pretty. Not that she could really do anything, anyway, with her hands tucked into her men’s elbows. She forced herself to gaze slowly at the crowd instead of looking away, and thought she recognized some of the Kingstons, Bartletts, and the Caldwells mixed in with the crowd, but it was hard to tell, though, since everyone was masked.
“If I remember correctly, these remaining men still have yet to be auctioned,” the emcee continued.
She lifted her gaze to the stage and locked eyes with the handsome emcee. He smiled and winked at her, his boyish appearance and blond hair making him more teasing than flirtatious.
The emcee lifted the microphone to his mouth. “Gentlemen, if you wouldn’t mind tearing yourself away from those beautiful ladies, we’ll start the evening’s final auction.”
The crowd started buzzing with excitement.
Dalton looked down at her and pulled her hand up to his lips. Holding her gaze in his, he pressed a soft, chaste kiss to her knuckles. While the gesture might have appeared sweet to their audience, no one else but Madeline could see the erotic heat in Dalton’s eyes as his lips touched her skin. Then, releasing her, he took a step back, inclined his head in a mini-bow to her, and started walking toward the stage.
Garrett was not so subtle. He grinned, pressed a kiss to her lips, then whispered, “Make sure you get those bids up, babe. Everything we earn goes to charity.”
Then he quickly turned and went after his brother.
“I must say I’m impressed, new sister,” Bea said, bumping her hip against Madeline’s. “They sure are smitten.”
Madeline just sighed and watched them walk away. Oh, how she loved watching their smooth, masculine gaits.
The crowd closed behind Dalton and Garrett, and she started to follow them, but Bea stopped her. “We can get a little closer, but they’ll want to see you, so let’s not get too far into the middle of the crowd.”
Madeline and Bea found a place toward the back of the crowd where they had an unobstructed view of the stage. Dalton kept scanning the crowd until he found her, and when she smiled at him and waved, he visibly relaxed.
Bea giggled like a schoolgirl. “See? I told you. He hates not being able to see you.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Madeline replied, still maintaining eye contact with Dalton.
Bea handed her a bidding paddle. “There you go, Maddie. Let everyone here know they’re yours.”
No sooner had the paddle transferred hands than the emcee’s smooth, rich voice filled the air. “We’ll start at fifty thousand. Fifty thousand, ladies.”
Hands and bidding paddles went up everywhere in the crowd, and Dalton and Garrett just stood on the stage, their poses relaxed and confident. They looked so damn smug and cocksure that she was tempted not to raise her hand to teach them a lesson until she saw a familiar face in the crowd.
Darla.
Madeline’s hand shot up.
“Seventy-five. Seventy-five? Yes, eighty-five. Takers?”
On and on the bidding went, Madeline raising her hand whenever any number, no matter how exorbitant, was called out. Darla did, too, constantly eyeing Madeline with a smug smile on her perfect face.
“Oh, that little bitch,” Bea gritted through her teeth. “She needs to know when to give the hell up.”
Darla raised her hand for two hundred fifty thousand, and Bea let out a squeak. “That’s it!” Bea’s hand shot skyward for two fifty-five. “I don’t care if I’m bidding on my own family. That little harlot is not going to win if Beulah Ellis has anything to say about it.”
“Beulah?” Madeline asked in shock.
Bea winked. “It pisses me off. Anger is motivating.”
Together, Madeline and Bea got Darla up to three hundred fifty thousand before Darla started biting her lip.
“That girl is ridiculously desperate. I’m sure she ran out of money on her first bet, but she refuses to let go. I can’t believe I ever thought Dalton and Garrett would like her. I never realized that the perfect girl for them would come along all by herself.” Bea smiled at Madeline and squeezed her hand for a moment. “They’re all yours now, Madeline. Bring ’em home.”
“Four hundred,” the emcee’s now excited voice announced. “Any takers?”
Madeline glanced over at Darla and saw the other woman’s face redden. Darla raised her paddle to chest level. Madeline sucked in a breath, more than ready to keep the bidding war going. Then Darla gritted her teeth and lowered her paddle. Madeline was so busy smiling and enjoying her victory that she tuned almost everything out.
“…going twice,” the emcee called out, holding two fingers up.
“Madeline!” Bea urged under her breath.
“Oh, God!” Madeline shot her bidding paddle up in the air and waved it around.
The emcee cupped his hand over his eyebrows and made a show of searching the crowd for any last takers. Madeline rose up on her tip-toes and waved her paddle around more.
“Well, I see one lady in the back who looks like she just won herself a pair of Ellis brothers for the evening. Why don’t you come up here and claim your prizes?”
“Go, go!” Bea snatched the paddle out of Madeline’s hand and urged her forward.
Madeline held her dress up as she made her way through the crowd of unfamiliar, masked faces, trying not to feel self-conscious as she did. These would be the people she saw on a daily basis now. They were part of Dalton and Garrett’s world, and now that she was, too, there was no going back. She held her head up and tried to smile at everyone, especially since they were clapping for her, though she was nervous and shaking in her stilettos.
There wasn’t anything on her face, was there? No smeared lipstick or a hair out of place?
Dalton and
Garrett waited at the bottom of the stairs for her, and Garrett offered her his arm while Dalton brought up the rear. The polite applause grew louder as they crossed the stage together.
“Congratulations and well played, Miss…” the emcee said.
Dalton approached the blond man, who handed over the microphone. “Thank you, all, for coming this evening. I want to take this opportunity to present this beautiful woman, Madeline Spencer, our future wife and—”
“Wife? Did he say wife?” a shrill voice shrieked.
Madeline swiveled her head toward the sound in time to see Darla’s horrified, angry face. The woman shook so hard, her chandelier earrings vibrated. Darla opened her mouth to say something else and then Bea’s form shot across the distance separating them, her hair a bright streak of platinum blonde as she dragged Darla toward the back exit.
“—and the new head of philanthropy at Ellis Enterprises,” Dalton finished smoothly. Soon after, applause rose from the crowd and filled the air.
Madeline’s mouth dropped open when Dalton completed his sentence, but she hitched it up to a grin when Dalton turned toward her. His expression was full of so much love and devotion that she wanted to cry. She felt the familiar burn in the back of her throat and tried to swallow past it.
“That’s okay with you, isn’t it? I thought you might like organizing Ellis youth centers all over the state or even the country. There’s no limit to what you can do, Madeline. No limit at all.”
“Yes, it’s fine. It’s my dream come true, Dalton. Thank you,” she looked at Garrett, who tucked her into his side, “both of you. I never imagined this could ever happen.”
Dalton cupped her face in his big hands and tilted her chin up. “We love you, Madeline. For the rest of our lives, we will do everything we possibly can to make you happy.”
She closed the inches separating their lips and kissed him. “I don’t think I can get any happier.”
Dalton smiled, and the pure joy on his face made her heart feel as if it were about to burst.
Garrett’s hand drifted down to her ass, and Madeline whipped around. “Hey! We’re still on stage!”
Mitchell, Ava and Holiday, Sydney - A Bride for Two Tycoons [The Male Order, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 14