Chapter 25
Joshua very wisely arranged for one of the crawler buses to transport us to LeRoy’s the next morning.
It wasn’t really a bus, more like an SUV, as it sat eight comfortably, but the seating was arranged like a party bus with all of the seats facing inward.
It also had tinted windows, another nice bonus.
Leif rode up front with his dad, and I was happy to see that Joshua had not oversold him. Leif was a beast of a man, nearly a foot taller than his father and built like a football player. I had no doubt we were in good hands.
And while I hadn’t said anything to Sin, I also didn’t think we were in any danger.
I understood why he wanted the extra protection after the incident with the crawler, but LeRoy wasn’t about to let anything happen to us in the shop, and Joshua would be watching the crawler from his spot at the front door.
We’d be fine.
My Aunt Martha had brought a box of eggnog fudge for LeRoy and another for us to share, and Lila had made more snickerdoodles. I’d stuck two packages of Dr Pepper licorice in my purse, and Joshua had thoughtfully provided a cooler of Dr Peppers and other soft drinks, like it really was a party bus.
By the time we arrived at LeRoy’s, we were all sugared up, Joshua and Leif included. There was so much laughter and silliness that I pretty much forgot the possibility danger even existed.
Joshua, who’d told me he was taking no chances, parked and sent Leif out to be sure the street was safe and LeRoy was ready for us.
He was. With Joshua on one side and Leif on the other, we were escorted in. While LeRoy greeted us, Charlotte locked the front door. Joshua stood guard outside on the street. Leif was on his way around to the back.
LeRoy looked about to burst. “This is simply marvelous having you all here. I am sorry not to see the princeling again, but I completely understand not bringing him. Please, follow me through to the salon, and we’ll get things underway.”
I knew we wouldn’t make it through the rogues’ gallery without stopping, and we didn’t.
My mom and Aunt Martha had to look at the pictures, pointing out the ones they were in and what event they were at.
Lila and Zinnia oohed and ahhed at the gowns, and we finally sailed the rest of the way into the salon.
LeRoy had a beautiful silver tea cart set up with petit fours, tiny tarts, and truffles in gold paper cups. Next to that, he had champagne, Dr Pepper, and a selection of herbal teas. He was fully prepared. I gave him a nod of appreciation. It was nice to see my female relatives treated so well.
Granted, my mom was the queen and my aunt was Mrs. Claus, but he’d still gone above and beyond to make it special.
We all took seats on the couches.
LeRoy stood before us, hands clasped at chest level, the anticipation in his eyes unmistakable. “What a lovely girls day out this is. I am honored to have you all in my humble shop. Princess Jayne, if you’re ready, your gown awaits you in the dressing room.”
He gave me a quick smile. “I put it in there so you could have the first look at it.”
“I’m ready.” I stood up. “Off to the dressing room I go.”
LeRoy walked me to the dressing room, which was only on the other side of the couches, but I knew he wanted a few words in private.
The dress hung on one of the big hooks, still in a garment bag. He went in and unzipped it. “I’ve made all the changes we talked about, along with a few more. Everything can be adjusted, or even removed, as per your wishes. I just want you to be happy, comfortable, and, above all else, beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure, your highness. Charlotte will be right outside the door to assist you with the zipper if so required.”
“I’m sure it will be.”
“See you in a few.” He slipped out and closed the door.
I moved the garment bag out of the way. The dress was prettier than the original he’d had me try on.
I swore there were double the number of sparkles, and the skirt was definitely fuller.
The color at the neckline was the iciest blue, intensifying and darkening as the dress progressed, until the hem was the deep blue of the arctic sea.
The tiny crystals that had been scattered across the gown were color-matched to the section of fabric they’d been sewn onto.
I could only hope the dress looked half as good on me as it did on the hanger. Without looking into the mirror, I pulled it on and got it adjusted. LeRoy had lined the dress with a slip of stretchy, nude fabric that seemed to hug my body and tighten everything up.
I wondered if I could get him to put that in all my clothes.
With a sigh, I reached for the zipper and soon discovered I was right about needing Charlotte.
I could only manage the zipper to the halfway point.
The cape attached at the shoulders made getting zipped even harder.
I stopped trying and went toward the door.
“Charlotte? You out there? I’m ready to be zipped up. ”
“I’m right here, Princess. Coming in.”
She opened the door enough to slip inside. She looked oddly nervous. Then again, that was not the usual crowd of moms and aunts out there. I turned so she could access the back and tried to reassure her. “I’m sure they’re going to love it.”
“LeRoy does incredible work.”
I moved my hair out of the way, and she zipped me up.
“Oh, your highness. You look … absolutely beautiful.”
I hadn’t actually looked yet. I waited until she stepped back to let go of my hair and have a look in the mirror. I inhaled at the sight of my reflection.
“I look like … myself.”
Charlotte’s brow furrowed. “Were you expecting someone else?”
“No, I just …” I laughed as I shook my head.
It was hard to explain, but whatever LeRoy had done to the design of the dress or with that stretchy inner fabric, the body in the mirror looked like mine again.
Not that there was anything wrong with the body I’d earned becoming JJ’s mom, but I had expected something different.
I was still very curvy, so maybe it wasn’t quite the old Jayne. But I wasn’t mad about what I was seeing. In fact, I thought I looked pretty hot.
LeRoy definitely had his own kind of magic. I nodded. “Let’s go show them.”
Charlotte gave me a quick smile and bent to get the cape. “It’s going to be a hit, I’m sure.”
I opened the door and stepped out, climbing up onto the raised platform.
The mouths of the four women sitting before me dropped open. Lila shook her head. “I did not look like that after having Sinclair. You look fantastic, Jayne.”
“You do, Jaynie,” my mom said, a glass of champagne in one hand. “Just regal and perfect.”
LeRoy was standing off to the side, but I could see his reflection in the mirrors. He was smiling like he was about to burst.
My aunt sighed. “It’s dreamy, that’s what that dress is. Dreamy.”
Zinnia, who’d been eating a truffle, nodded. “You look like Hollywood, honey.”
LeRoy came closer. “What do you think, Princess?”
“I love it. You did a great job.”
“Thank you. I am very pleased you’re happy. I need to mark that hem, and I also see a few places for improvement.” He had an ivory velvet pincushion attached to his wrist. He plucked a pin from it. “May I?”
“Of course.” I stood very still so that I wouldn’t accidentally get stuck.
“There,” LeRoy said, stepping back.
I looked at myself again. I couldn’t really see a difference, but maybe the waist was more defined?
“Are you comfortable?” he asked.
“Very.”
“Excellent. I’ll have the dress finished and sent to the palace as soon as it’s done. If you need anything else”—he turned toward my entourage—“if any of you need anything, do not hesitate to call. I will make myself available.”
Then he bowed to me. “It’s been my pleasure, Princess.” He sidled closer. “Any word about that invite? I don’t need front row, wouldn’t dream of it, just a seat. I want to be able to get a picture, you know, for my wall.”
“I’m still working on it, but I’ll get you something, I promise.” One more reason to reach out to Flora Merriweather again.
“You are the best. Thank you.” He smiled brightly. “I will leave you in Charlotte’s capable hands.”
Charlotte went back to the dressing room with me and came in to unzip me. I held my hair up. “Thanks for your help.”
“It’s my honor, your highness.” She unzipped me but didn’t leave.
“Do you need to take the dress?”
“No, well, yes, but that’s not why …” She shook her head, her mouth bent in an unhappy grimace, and dug into her pocket. She drew out a folded piece of paper. “I found this shoved through my mail slot this morning.”
She handed it to me. On the outside was scrawled For the Princess. I looked at her.
Again, she shook her head. “I didn’t know what to do with it, but I thought you should know.”
I opened it. In the same handwriting was, Your son is not the true heir. I read it again, anger rising up in me, but the determination to find out who was behind this was stronger. “You did the right thing. Thank you.”
“They’re wrong. He is the true heir. Whoever wrote that is repulsive.”
I took a breath. “I could not agree more.”