Chapter 10
In just a minute, Jake would be part of his first ever photo call.
He stood around the corner from the doors to the Amethyst Room where the photos would be taken, waiting for Catherine to join him . She had a phone call that ran longer than expected then had to get into a different outfit than she'd worn into the office.
With a minute to go before they were supposed to walk out, she hurried into the hall.
"Are you ready?" She was a bit out of breath.
He rested his hands gently on her upper arms. "They can wait until you catch your breath. Going out there before you did would probably be some kind of faux pas, wouldn't it?"
She took in a slow, deep breath, likely willing herself to get it under control. "Probably."
"Besides, I have something for you before we go out there. Jessica will tell them you had a business call run long." Jake let his hands drop and shoved one into the pocket of his slacks, bringing out a small velvet-covered box. "I know we're already married, but I did want to give you this."
He held out the box and opened it, revealing a ring she recognized.
Catherine gasped, negating her attempts to get her breathing under control. "It's my mum's," she whispered.
"Your father gave it to me. He said your mum wanted you to have it.
" Jake took it out of the box and slid it onto her outstretched finger.
"I know we're not nearly as conventional as most couples, but I wanted you to have something worthy of you and the position you hold, the role you fill for so many.
" He brushed a tear off her cheek. "No other ring would have been the right choice. "
"Thank you for thinking of it," she whispered. "It's perfect."
"All I did was mention something to Madeleine who then talked to your father. I didn't know what might be available or what you might want in an engagement ring."
She looked at the ring where it sat on her finger.
"I never really thought about what ring I'd want to wear as an engagement ring.
If I'd thought about it, I probably would have guessed I'd talk about it beforehand with the man I was going to marry one day.
We didn't have the luxury of that sort of time. "
"I'm glad your father thought of it and was willing to give it to me to give to you."
"I would imagine it was Mumeleine's idea many years ago. Maybe even Mum’s before that." Her eyes still watered, but she blinked the tears away. "It's perfect." Catherine turned, wrapped her hand around the inside of his elbow, and blew out a breath. "It's time."
Together, they turned the corner, and Jake saw two members of the staff - ones he recognized, but whose names he didn't yet know - waiting on either side of the door. Each opened one allowing them to walk through.
Outside, they strolled down a walkway then turned into the Amethyst Room. Jake had been told there would be a mark for them to stand on, but his glance at the floor didn't reveal one.
Catherine must have seen it or at least known where it was, because she used a bit of pressure on his arm to tell him it was time to stop.
The cameras clicked nonstop from just before they came around the corner, before they were even visible.
Just in case they tripped on their way? Probably something like that.
After a few seconds, one of the reporters took a half step forward. "Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, thank you for agreeing to meet us today."
Catherine gave a slight nod of her head. "It's our pleasure. We only have a few minutes before we have to get back to a meeting."
They had a meeting? He thought they were having lunch. Maybe that counted as a meeting? Or maybe they were counting it as a meeting to give them a reason to escape when she was ready.
"Tell us about the ring?" one of them called.
"It was my mother's," Catherine told them. She held out her hand so her ring finger was visible. "Papa saved it for me for when the time came. He gave it to Jacob who then gave it to me as a symbol of our marriage."
"Why did you get married secretly?" one near the back yelled.
Her grip on his arm tightened. "That is a topic we'll address another time.
It worked for us. Our two biggest disappointments were that my mother wasn't there, and, at the time, we weren't able to share it with the people we and my mother love so much.
We have plans to celebrate with many of the traditional wedding rituals soon.
Much of that will be along a route between here and the National Cathedral so the people we love so much can be a part of it.
More details will be available in the coming days. "
A few more questions were shouted their direction, but Catherine didn't answer any of them. Jacob hadn't said a word when she nodded and told them thank you.
They both turned, and Jacob rested his hand on her lower back as they walked back toward the doors of the palace. Once the doors closed behind them and they turned the corner, he felt tension leave her body.
"You did fantastic," he told her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side. "I'm proud of you. Your mother would be, too."
"Thanks. We're going to have to do an extensive interview sometime soon." She leaned her head against him as they walked toward the executive wing of the palace.
"But that's something for another day. Today, we'll focus on what we're given to deal with today. Tomorrow will take care of itself." They reached the side door to her office.
Jacob opened the door and stood to the side to let her walk in first. Following behind her, he closed the door then walked to the conference table with her. Their lunch wasn't anywhere to be seen.
Catherine looked around in confusion. "I thought it was supposed to be waiting for us."
He noticed it wasn't where she expected. "They set them over by the window."
She tipped her head slightly to the side. "Oh. It could be nice to eat over there." She changed her direction and took a seat at the small table next to the farthest window to the right.
Jake took the other chair. They ate their lunch in a silence he would describe as companionable rather than full of the awkwardness he expected.
When she finished, Catherine wiped her mouth on the cloth napkin then pushed back from the table. "Thank you for your support today. I appreciate it more than you know."
"Where else would I be? I'm a part of this just as much as you are. It's my job to support you however I can, however you need." He pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her.
She rested the side of her head on his chest. "I know. I appreciate that, too."
Jake wanted to chuckle at her repeated sentiment, but he sensed it wasn't the right time. "It's Friday." He rested his chin on the top of her head. "Why don't we get out of town? Go to the family house on the lake up north?"
The relief he felt in her shoulders told him she liked that idea.
"That sounds amazing. I'll see if we can. I don't think there's anything on our calendars this weekend." Her arms had looped around him, but now she tightened them slightly. "Thank you for taking care of me."
With a slight twist of his head, Jake kissed her hair. "It's what I'm here for."
Standing in Jacob's arms was rapidly becoming Catherine's favorite place in the whole world.
Unfortunately, she couldn't stay there forever.
At least he'd kissed her again before leaving her office.
She only had another hour alone in her office before she welcomed a host of others. Details for her birthday ball were complete but the wedding festivities to go along with it needed to be finalized. They were getting close but they weren't quite there yet.
"The routes are finalized?" she asked Mr. Hopkins after everyone was in place.
"Yes, ma'am. You'll both leave and enter from the main gates.
" He drew his finger along a path from the palace gates to the National Cathedral.
"Once you've done the first looks and balcony wave, and so on, you’ll leave.
When you do, you'll travel in a horse-drawn carriage and proceed along this route here.
You'll turn right both times, so right out of the lane past the gates then come back and take another right down the lane.
The only portion you'll travel twice are these bits here and here.
" He pointed with the capped end of his marker.
"To and from the main road onto Cathedral Lane and back then back at the lane to the palace. "
"Good." She nodded like she knew what she was talking about. "We want to avoid going along the same route as much as possible. Those areas are impossible to avoid repeating."
"Exactly." The note of approval in his voice meant more to Catherine than she would have thought it would.
She was learning the lessons he and others were teaching.
"The spectator areas along those roads will be quite popular.
I would imagine there will be spectators lined up hours ahead of the actual event, perhaps even sleeping overnight beforehand. "
Catherine shook her head slightly. She didn't understand why someone would want to camp out for up to twenty-four hours in the cold and dark just for a glimpse of her and Jacob.
At most they'd get a wave and a photo or video.
Maybe she'd blow kisses. Jacob probably could too.
That might make it a little better for those waiting for them to go by.
They spent a few more minutes talking over some of the logistics, and what it would mean for the VIP guests coming to the ball and how they'd arrive.
It had been decided that they would arrive via the routes and main palace gates while Catherine and Jacob were on the other route both ways.
There would be a lull in the arrivals while the festivities were actually taking place at the Cathedral, but all of the spectators would have the opportunity to see some of the VIPs as well as Catherine and Jacob.
Hopefully, that would appeal to those willing to spend hours waiting for these kinds of things.
Finally, they wrapped up those conversations.
"What do we need to do in order for Jacob and I to go to the Novilacu Lake house this weekend?" Catherine asked Mr. Hopkins as he put his charts and other papers away.
"Is that what you want to do?" He turned the question back to her.
"We've discussed it, but if it's going to be a challenge or inconvenience a lot of people, we can make arrangements to go another time when we've had longer to plan." She didn't want to make life more difficult for others.
"It likely won't be a problem, ma'am. The security teams already assigned to you and the prince for the weekend will accompany you.
The house is already secure and has its own security team.
Just say the word, and we'll make it happen.
" He smiled kindly. The man had worked with her father for many years and had been on one of her mother's secondary teams before her death.
"I'll double check with Jacob that we want to go, but please start making tentative plans for the trip.
" Giving instructions to someone and expecting them to be followed, almost without question, didn't come naturally to her.
It would likely continue to come more easily as time went on, but it still felt odd.
"Yes, ma'am." He said it with a smile. "I'll be in touch as soon as plans are in place."
"Thank you."
Once he left, she exited through another door. At least in the palace she didn't constantly have someone right next to her. She knew she was followed on cameras throughout her time in the corridors, but that felt less stifling than having several large bodyguards with her at all times.
She arrived in the dressers’ offices a few minutes after leaving her own.
All the stylists were based in this area.
It contained sewing machines and everything else anyone would need to whip up a gown or other outfit at the last moment.
Designers often came into the offices to consult and for alterations.
One of Catherine's favorite designers already waited in the offices for her.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty," several people said in unison, more or less.
She acknowledged them with a nod. "I'm excited to see what we're working on today."
"I'm excited to show you." The designer sounded almost giddy. "I've got your wedding dress ready for a fitting. I think it's almost done, except for the fine detailing."
That would take significantly longer than sewing the satin together to make the base of the dress.
Catherine wasn't allowed to look in a mirror, or even really at the dress itself, until it was already fitted and pinned. She was then required to close her eyes while she turned around.
"Open."
The whispered instruction made Catherine take a deep breath before opening her eyes.
She almost didn't recognize herself in the mirror.
"Oh, sweetheart." Catherine heard Mumeleine's voice a second before she saw her in the mirror. "You look amazing. Your mother would be so happy for you." Mumeleine stood to the side of Catherine looking at her in the mirror.
Tears filled Catherine's eyes. "I hope so."
"She would," her dresser confirmed. "I knew her as well as almost anyone, and I know she would be happy and proud."
"Thank you." She smoothed the white satin over her abdomen. "The silhouette of the dress is perfect."
The designer held some beaded lace up against the bodice showing her where it would go. That piece was finished but the rest was still in progress. It would also line the hem of her skirt and train.
After a few more minutes of discussion, they moved on to her gown for the ball. She loved it, too.
Then everyone was sent away except for her dresser, an assistant, and Mumeleine.
"Now, we need to finalize the garments for the coronation," her dresser told her, though Catherine already knew that much. No one was to know exactly what she'd be wearing that day, a week after her birthday ball.
And then it would be officially official.
She'd be queen and the fate of her country would rest on her shoulders and her shoulders alone.
The enormity of it threatened to overwhelm her. With a deep breath in, she nodded to those in the room.
"Let's do this."