CHAPTER 7
A va paced back and forth before going into her mother’s bedroom.
When she told Henry she had a plan to get her mother’s approval for their engagement to be announced at the Christmas party, it was a bit of a stretch.
The truth was, she wasn’t sure how to concoct the perfect plan because she wasn’t sure what the problem was with her mother.
She just knew they couldn’t announce their engagement without her permission.
It was one of the royal rules that had been upheld for decades.
The ruling monarch always had to give permission before a family member could marry.
All these years, her mother had always been in favor of the marriage, but it seemed like ever since her father had passed away last year, her mother had found all kinds of different ways to avoid the topic.
She hadn’t told any of this to Henry because she didn’t want to upset him. She knew his top priority was making sure everything stayed on track. Now, with Christmas just a few days away, Ava knew it was a moment of truth, and she needed to make this happen.
Ava took a deep breath. You can do this , she told herself. Just stay positive and upbeat. Let her think it’s her idea. Whatever you do, do not upset her , she could hear her father’s voice telling her. It brought her some comfort knowing she was still being guided by his advice.
“Okay, let’s go,” she whispered to herself. She held her head high as she walked into her mother’s bedroom.
The room was a stunning blend of timeless treasures and modern pieces, perfectly reflecting the queen’s forward-thinking spirit.
While the high ceiling and intricate crown molding honored the past, the stylish jewel-toned emerald-green and silver fabrics on the curtains and bedding added a fresh, contemporary touch.
There was also a touch of whimsy as white twinkle lights framed the tall windows, casting a soft glow over the room.
The Christmas tree in front of one of the windows was decorated with ornaments she had made as a child and with ornaments from children all over the world. While the tree was simple, she knew it was her mother’s favorite. The room exuded warmth and elegance, just like the queen herself.
A snow-white marble fireplace stood as the room’s centerpiece. The mantel was lined with framed photos of Ava and her mother looking happy together. In one photo, Ava was a little girl, and they were cheerfully posing with an old-world Santa by a Christmas tree.
“Mother, do you have a moment?” Ava asked as she nervously twisted her watch around on her wrist.
The queen was surveying stunning cocktail dresses. She gave Ava a bright smile. “Of course. Come in. I’m trying to decide what to take to Paris, but you know I always have time for you.”
Ava fought to keep smiling because she never felt like her mother had any time for her at all. She was always too busy being the queen. It was something she’d had to accept growing up. She knew she was very low on her mother’s priority list. Thankfully, she’d had her father.
Her mother held up a glittering gold gown. “Which one do you like better? This one, or the red one?” Her mother pointed to an equally spectacular red cocktail dress that was on a rack with a dozen other designer dresses.
But Ava couldn’t even see the dresses. She was too busy staring at Stormy, who was sprawled out across her mother’s four-poster bed, looking like he owned the place.
“What’s the dog doing in here? On your bed?” Ava asked, incredulous.
“Where would you like him to be?” her mother answered as she smiled at Stormy.
“I can think of a million places that aren’t here,” Ava snapped back.
Her mother covered Stormy’s ears. “Don’t you listen to her, Stormy. She doesn’t mean it.”
Ava gave her mother a look that showed she absolutely meant every word. Then she quickly checked herself. She knew this wasn’t the time to argue. She had to focus on what really mattered. Right now, that was getting her mother to agree to her Christmas Eve engagement announcement.
She knew she needed to shift gears fast and get them back on a safe topic.
She picked up a silver cocktail dress. She knew how much her mother loved fashion.
She studied the dazzling dress and smiled.
It was stunning. “I like this one, but they’re all lovely,” she said, meaning it.
She’d always admired her mother’s flawless sense of style and her ability to look dignified and elegant in royal fashion, while effortlessly staying on trend with designers who matched her vibrant personality.
Her mother smiled as she took the silver dress from Ava. “You’re right, this one definitely needs to come to Paris.”
“Are you going to a party?” Ava asked.
Her mother laughed. “Of course! There’s always a party in Paris.”
“Of course,” Ava said.
“We should go.”
Ava’s eyes widened with surprise. “To Paris? You and me?”
Her mother laughed. “Don’t sound so shocked. Yes, you and me. It has been forever since we’ve been to Paris together—”
“I was ten,” Ava interrupted, remembering it like it was yesterday. “You took me to my first brunch, and we went on a shopping spree after.”
“Yes,” her mother said, clapping her hands in delight. “And we got you that pink dress.”
“Celine designed it,” Ava said. “I remember. I loved that dress.”
“I did, too,” her mother said. “It was perfect for you.”
They shared a rare smile.
“We need another mother-daughter trip to Paris together,” her mother continued.
Ava nodded, willing to agree to anything to keep her mother happy at this moment.
Her mother’s smile lit up the room. “Wonderful! Let’s go in the spring. It’s my favorite time of year in Paris.”
Do it now , Ava urged herself. Hurry, while she’s in a good mood.
“That sounds great,” Ava said, smiling. “And before you go on this trip to Paris, I just needed to confirm really fast that you’re good with Henry and me getting engaged at the party like we’ve always planned.”
The queen turned to study several more designer dresses that were hanging on a rack.
Silence.
Ava took a deep breath before walking over to her mother. “We’re good, right?”
Her mother held up a forest-green sequined dress and studied herself in the mirror. “Proposals are usually more…intimate and romantic.”
Ava, confused, met her mother’s stare in the mirror.
“What do you mean?” Ava asked. “Father proposed to you at our annual Christmas party. That’s the tradition—”
“We don’t always have to follow tradition,” her mother interrupted.
Shocked, Ava was speechless.
“And for the record, that was always your father’s plan, not mine,” her mother said as she carefully put down the dress.
“What are you trying to say?” Ava asked. She was done trying to tiptoe around the issue. Something was going on, and she needed to figure out what it was. Now.
Her mother locked eyes with her. “Do you love Henry?”
Ava blinked several times. It was the last question she had been expecting.
“Do you? Do you truly love him?” her mother asked, looking deeply into her eyes.
To avoid her mother’s piercing stare, Ava walked over to the window. When she looked out into the royal gardens, everything blurred as her mind tried to process what was going on.
“I don’t have time for this,” Ava said under her breath.
“What?” her mother asked.
Ava winced. She hadn’t meant to say the words out loud.
Her mother crossed her arms in front of her chest in a rare, serious stance. “You don’t have time for love ?”
The disbelief in her mother’s voice was the last straw. Ava whirled around and faced her. “No, actually, I don’t,” Ava said passionately. “Father always said I have one job—to serve our people. Henry’s a duke. He understands this life. He’ll help me, just like Father always helped you.”
Her mother started to say something, then stopped herself.
“What?” Ava asked. “What were you going to say? Tell me. Please, help me understand what is going on. Why are you suddenly making this so hard?”
“I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy,” Ava said. “Or at least, I will be once we have this engagement out of the way.”
Her mother raised her eyebrows. “Out of the way? That’s how you think about one of the most important moments of your life?”
Ava rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t.”
The tension in the room was palpable as the two women faced each other.
Stormy looked from her mother to Ava and then back at her mother.
Her mother turned back to the dresses.
Ava waited for her to say something, anything, but all she got was silence. She finally gave up, realizing she was getting nowhere tonight, and left the room feeling like a failure.