Katherine and Walden
She'd spent hours in front of the mirror tonight. Not putting on make-up, or doing her hair, or any of the other things she'd normally do in front of a mirror, but practising her smile. She'd always thought she could lie easily, smile easily when she didn't mean to, but judging by both Cassandra's and Jacob's reactions her smiles weren't good enough.
Only when she was satisfied that it was good enough for those she needed to convince, she moved from the mirror and got dressed in the robes she'd picked for the evening. She knew she'd never laugh or smile honestly around Macnair, or any of them, but honestly wasn't required, and only her friends would know the difference. This would be good enough.
Once at the wedding, the menu of which was definitely different from what her mother was planning, there were far more food and there was enough to last for many hours. But though she ate, the food tasted little, her mind too preoccupied with what she had to do. When the opportunity arose, she did the one thing she wanted most to avoid. She walked up to her future husband, her practised fake smile on for the world to see. "Mr Macnair," she greeted with a respect she did not feel and a bravery she'd never knew she possessed. "I hope you don't mind, and if you're busy I can certainly leave, but I was hoping for a word tonight," she said. "Seeing how it will be our wedding in a few weeks, I was hoping to get to know you better."
Getting to know him was the last thing she wanted, but she'd play the part needed to get the information needed. She could do this, she reminded herself. Though her face looked calm enough, however, there were still traces of fear in her eyes she just wasn't schooled enough yet to be able to hide.