Married By Mistake

following her passion would. Things she’d suspected before, but never had the courage to test.
    When they arrived at the park, Casey and Brodie-Ann sprawled on the grass with their picnic lunch. It was a bittersweet reminder of that picnic Casey and Adam had enjoyed. And it was only a hop, skip and a jump from there to thinking about the one night they’d spent together. Casey had half hoped that, against all odds, she might have conceived Adam’s child that night.
    She hadn’t.
    So here she was, oozing misery, while Brodie-Ann couldn’t stop chirping about how wonderful Steve was, how incredible married life was. Her friend tapped her soda bottle against Casey’s in a toast. “Here’s to three months of wedded bliss.”
    “Happy anniversary,” Casey said gloomily.
    “You were right. Steve and I are made for each other.” Brodie-Ann grinned. “Things have been great since I figured out how that give-and-take stuff works.”
    She scrutinized Casey. “Speaking of give and take, have you seen Adam lately? As in, he gave you his Aston Martin and you took it?”
    Casey shook her head. “I keep thinking he’ll come and demand it back.”
    She didn’t state the obvious. That Adam was so anxious to avoid her, not even his precious car would bring him to her.
    Brodie-Ann patted her shoulder. “You’re doing great, Casey. Hang in there.”
    Casey nodded. Things were good. She told herself that every day. She had a book contract; she was getting by. And she no longer depended on people being unable to cope without her.
    The only goal she’d failed to achieve was the no-strings love. Because Adam had come with as many strings as every other person Casey loved.
    * * *
    A T SIX O ’ CLOCK , Casey drove to Eloise’s house. She climbed out of the Aston Martin and locked it for the last time, then mounted the steps to the porch.
    Eloise opened the front door.
    “Come in, dear.” She tugged Casey inside, then quickly shut the door behind her.
    “Is something wrong?” Casey looked around. “Eloise, what’s going on?”
    The foyer was festooned with streamers and flowers. A uniformed waiter hurried past her carrying a silver tray stacked with wineglasses. Down the wide corridor to the back of the house, Casey could see doors flung wide to the garden and—was that a marquee?
    “Eloise, tell me.”
    The older woman’s eyes danced above her guilty smile. “Just a little party, dearest. For my birthday.”
    “A little party?”
    “Fewer than three hundred guests, I promise you. Much smaller than last year.” She took her hand. “I’m sorry, Casey. I so wanted you to be here, and thought you wouldn’t come if I told you.”
    “I suppose Adam’s coming?” Casey grumbled.
    “Of course. He hasn’t been happy lately, and I thought a party might cheer him up.” Eloise’s eyes didn’t meet Casey’s as she added, “I don’t recall if I told him you’d be here.”
    Casey shook her head, indicating any attempt to match her and Adam up again would be futile, but didn’t comment. Eloise knew as well as she did that a party was the last thing Adam would want if he was under stress. Casey told herself that why he wasn’t looking happy wasn’t her business. He probably missed his car.
    She glanced down at her slightly rumpled cotton shift. It had seemed all right for a casual dinner with Eloise. “I’m not dressed for a party.”
    Eloise accepted that as agreement that Casey would stay. She smiled as she squeezed Casey’s fingers. “I know, dear, and I hope you won’t mind that I took the liberty of buying you something. A birthday present from me to you.”
    Casey couldn’t help laughing. “Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” She allowed Eloise to lead her upstairs to a guest bedroom.
    “Oh.” She was left almost speechless by the dress she found there—a strapless, midnight-blue silk creation that she knew just by looking would fit perfectly. And it did, hugging her curves as if made for her.
    “My hairdresser is waiting to do your hair,” Eloise said. “And I bought you this.” From a box on the bed she lifted out a mask, elaborately decorated with gold feathers and blue ribbons.
    “It’s a masked ball, darling,” she said, seeing Casey’s confusion.
    A sinking sensation hit Casey. Surely Eloise wouldn’t... “Tell me this isn’t a bridefest,” she demanded.
    Eloise snickered. “That’s a one-sided way of looking at it. There are several very eligible men coming