Blue Dahlia (The Dahlia Trilogy of The Gilded Flower Series Book 1) by Vivian Winslow
Authors: Vivian Winslow
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Prologue
Dahlia can barely register the sound of the music coming from the other side of the door. A wave of nausea overwhelms her. She steadies herself on a white flower stand, nearly knocking over a cheap vase full of red carnations. It’s just nerves , she reassures herself. After all, she’s getting married today. She never thought this day would come so quickly.
She takes a deep breath as a woman opens the door. The sight of the empty room startles her. Not once did she imagine that Lily would miss her wedding. But they had promised each other to keep things low-key. The idea of eloping somehow made it all seem so much more romantic. Dahlia looks down at the ring on her finger—a silver ring they found while traveling in Costa Rica, inscribed with the words, Para Siempre , “Forever”.
Every step forward brings Dahlia a new sense of freedom. She’ll finally shed the Baron name, a name she’s come to associate with only misery and shame. Not that anyone in her family has ever done anything dishonest, as far as the public knows. But Dahlia knows that wealth and power come at a high price, and she wasn’t prepared to live the life that was laid out for her by marrying someone from her New York social circle.
Her heart thunders to the beat of the Bridal Chorus . She wants to roll her eyes at the convention of it all. She almost decided against getting married, but deep down she had to admit she didn’t want to have a child born out of wedlock. The expectant and happy look on the groom’s face assures her she’s making the right decision. Their child will be born to loving parents. They can make this work.
As the officiant drones on about commitment and marriage, Dahlia stares into the groom’s eyes, searching for any doubt that may be reflected in them. Instead, she sees only love and excitement. She swallows back her fears as he places a simple gold band with three small diamonds on her finger and speaks the words, “With my body I will worship you. Until death do us part.”
By the time she hears the officiant say, “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Dahlia’s assured he is her happily ever after .
At those words, the groom pulls her close and whispers, “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world, Mrs. Walker.”
Chapter 1
“You really must visit Miami sometime soon, Mrs. Baron,” Rodrigo says smiling. “I’m sure you and my mother would get along very well.”
“Oh, please, Rodrigo, call me Poppy,” Dahlia’s mother replies with her usual hand flip, the light catching on her 5-karat antique diamond and sapphire ring. Her mother always believed that looking understated was an under-statement—a philosophy Dahlia could never adopt herself.
Dahlia eyes them warily over her untouched Niçoise salad. One lunch at Balthazar and they’re on a first-name basis with each other?
Poppy takes a tiny bite of her steak tartar and daintily dabs her lips with her napkin.
“You two must’ve had a wonderful time in Aspen. Dahlia and Lily were both glowing when they returned. Shame I haven’t met your brother . . . .”
“Alejandro,” Rodrigo offers.
“Right,” Poppy pauses and scans the room. She politely nods at a corner table where three women are seated. Dahlia recognizes them as mothers of her high school classmates. Total bitches who enjoyed spreading lies about her to gossip magazines, but she politely waves as would be expected. Naturally, her mother and Dahlia having lunch with a handsome Latin gentleman at Balthazar will be news at the club by afternoon drinks—which commence at three o’clock.
Her mother continues, “Well, I’m sure if Alejandro is as charming as you, it’s no wonder my two beautiful daughters were unable to resist you both.”
Dahlia fights the urge to roll her eyes. She can tell by her mother’s tone that the flattery is disingenuous. Of course her mother wouldn’t approve of her and Lily dating new money—from Miami no less.
“Well, Mrs.
Dahlia can barely register the sound of the music coming from the other side of the door. A wave of nausea overwhelms her. She steadies herself on a white flower stand, nearly knocking over a cheap vase full of red carnations. It’s just nerves , she reassures herself. After all, she’s getting married today. She never thought this day would come so quickly.
She takes a deep breath as a woman opens the door. The sight of the empty room startles her. Not once did she imagine that Lily would miss her wedding. But they had promised each other to keep things low-key. The idea of eloping somehow made it all seem so much more romantic. Dahlia looks down at the ring on her finger—a silver ring they found while traveling in Costa Rica, inscribed with the words, Para Siempre , “Forever”.
Every step forward brings Dahlia a new sense of freedom. She’ll finally shed the Baron name, a name she’s come to associate with only misery and shame. Not that anyone in her family has ever done anything dishonest, as far as the public knows. But Dahlia knows that wealth and power come at a high price, and she wasn’t prepared to live the life that was laid out for her by marrying someone from her New York social circle.
Her heart thunders to the beat of the Bridal Chorus . She wants to roll her eyes at the convention of it all. She almost decided against getting married, but deep down she had to admit she didn’t want to have a child born out of wedlock. The expectant and happy look on the groom’s face assures her she’s making the right decision. Their child will be born to loving parents. They can make this work.
As the officiant drones on about commitment and marriage, Dahlia stares into the groom’s eyes, searching for any doubt that may be reflected in them. Instead, she sees only love and excitement. She swallows back her fears as he places a simple gold band with three small diamonds on her finger and speaks the words, “With my body I will worship you. Until death do us part.”
By the time she hears the officiant say, “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Dahlia’s assured he is her happily ever after .
At those words, the groom pulls her close and whispers, “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world, Mrs. Walker.”
Chapter 1
“You really must visit Miami sometime soon, Mrs. Baron,” Rodrigo says smiling. “I’m sure you and my mother would get along very well.”
“Oh, please, Rodrigo, call me Poppy,” Dahlia’s mother replies with her usual hand flip, the light catching on her 5-karat antique diamond and sapphire ring. Her mother always believed that looking understated was an under-statement—a philosophy Dahlia could never adopt herself.
Dahlia eyes them warily over her untouched Niçoise salad. One lunch at Balthazar and they’re on a first-name basis with each other?
Poppy takes a tiny bite of her steak tartar and daintily dabs her lips with her napkin.
“You two must’ve had a wonderful time in Aspen. Dahlia and Lily were both glowing when they returned. Shame I haven’t met your brother . . . .”
“Alejandro,” Rodrigo offers.
“Right,” Poppy pauses and scans the room. She politely nods at a corner table where three women are seated. Dahlia recognizes them as mothers of her high school classmates. Total bitches who enjoyed spreading lies about her to gossip magazines, but she politely waves as would be expected. Naturally, her mother and Dahlia having lunch with a handsome Latin gentleman at Balthazar will be news at the club by afternoon drinks—which commence at three o’clock.
Her mother continues, “Well, I’m sure if Alejandro is as charming as you, it’s no wonder my two beautiful daughters were unable to resist you both.”
Dahlia fights the urge to roll her eyes. She can tell by her mother’s tone that the flattery is disingenuous. Of course her mother wouldn’t approve of her and Lily dating new money—from Miami no less.
“Well, Mrs.
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