Chapter 23
“Adelaide! Get your cute little butt out here!” Birdie crowed from the other side of the folding screen.
Dash swore under his breath behind me. “Hold your horses, ladies,” he hollered back. “There are about one million tiny buttons back here, and I can only work so fast.”
With a flourish, he secured the final button, quickly checking to make sure he hadn’t missed any. Satisfied, he grasped my arms from behind, leaned over my shoulder, and planted a kiss on my cheek. “Simply stunning, love. Now go show those impatient ladies that this was worth the wait.”
I huffed a laugh through my nose and, lifting the gown’s hem so I wouldn’t step on it, came around the screen to stand on the pedestal in the shop’s dressing room.
A collective gasp filled the room. I heard my mum start sniffling from where she sat on a sofa beside Queen Isobel and Evelyn.
Birdie, Mel, and Rosie were seated in Chesterfield armchairs surrounding the dais, the first two holding glasses of champagne while Rosie sipped a flute of sparkling grape juice.
The gown’s designer, Nicolette, stood near the back of the room, her hands clasped together in delight.
I turned to face the floor-to-ceiling mirrors while Dash arranged the train of the dress.
My breath caught in my throat as I took in the silk organza wedding gown.
Off-the-shoulder straps met in a sweetheart neckline and draped bodice before flaring into the full skirt.
A slit at one side showed my leg while still managing to be elegant.
I turned, peering at the back, where a row of fabric-covered buttons cascaded down the train.
It was sophisticated and classic, timeless with a few modern details—everything I had ever wanted in a wedding gown.
“Just a couple of finishing touches,” Dash said as he handed me a pair of opera gloves in the same white silk organza as the dress and fastened a cathedral veil edged in tiny pearls into my hair.
Satisfied with his work, he took a seat on the arm of Rosie’s chair, grinning down at the girl. “Isn’t she stunning?”
Rosie’s eyes were wide in adoration. “I’d say she looks like a queen, but she is going to be one!”
I smiled at her in the mirror before returning my gaze to the dress.
When Dash and I had met with Nicolette in January, I had described my dream wedding gown, figuring I had nothing to lose.
After all, the wedding wouldn’t really happen.
But Nicolette really had outdone herself, working in record time to create a masterpiece that fulfilled every one of my requests while keeping royal protocols in mind.
But I couldn’t deny the way things had shifted since Oliver and I told each other “I love you” two weeks ago.
We had spent every night together, most often in my suite since that was the space Shadow was most used to.
Neither of us had yet broached the subject of the wedding, although I knew that we needed to sooner rather than later.
I still hadn’t told him the real reason why I had been so reluctant to be with him, but it was easier to bask in the “honeymoon” phase than to bring the reality of my infertility crashing down around us.
In spite of all of this, I had been picturing what it would be like to walk down the aisle on June 1.
It was easy to imagine what a life with Oliver would look like, and not just for the work that I could do as queen, but because we had started to live it.
Brushing our teeth side by side, eating late dinners together in the palace kitchen, and waking up every morning with his arms wrapped around me.
If any of the staff had noticed the change in our sleeping arrangements, they had kindly kept it quiet, allowing us a semblance of privacy.
Nicolette’s voice pulled me out of my reverie, images of walking down the aisle toward Oliver while wearing this dress dissipating.
“If you don’t mind, I have a few adjustments I’d like to make.
” She approached the dais, a pincushion strapped around her wrist, and began surveying her work.
“We’ll need to bring the hem up just a bit, and I’ll make a few tweaks to the fit here in the bust. I will also tighten the straps slightly; I don’t like the way this left one is draping more than the right side. ”
“Of course, please do whatever you need to,” I said, turning back to face the room. Dash removed the veil to allow Nicolette better access to the dress while I moved as directed so she could work.
“I hear you ladies have a raucous bachelorette party planned for tomorrow,” Evelyn tittered as she took a sip of her champagne. Beside her, Queen Isobel barely suppressed an eye roll.
I laughed. “I don’t know exactly what Birdie has planned, but I doubt ‘raucous’ will be the right description.”
“She told me no penis-shaped paraphernalia,” Birdie chimed in dejectedly.
Evelyn reached over to pat Birdie’s hand. “Oh, that’s all right, love. You can bring all of that to me.”
Mel, Dash, and I all choked. Isobel scolded, “Mother!” while Rosie let out a scandalized “Gram!” Birdie threw back her head in laughter.
“Oh, I do adore you, Evelyn,” she said, turning her hand to squeeze the old woman’s.
My own mother, meanwhile, looked unsure what to do with this odd group of individuals I had managed to surround myself with. I was glad to have her here though; even though I was an only child, I had always been closer with my dad, but it was nice to be able to share these moments with Mum.
After Nicolette finished making her adjustments to the dress, Dash helped me out of the gown, careful not to poke me with any of the new pins, and flitted off to take it back to Nicolette.
I took my time getting dressed, daydreaming about wearing the dress for Oliver and the look on his face when he saw me in it.
“Okay, blindfold on!” Birdie declared, whipping a silk scarf out of her bag.
I eyed her suspiciously as I buckled my seatbelt. “Is that really necessary?”
“Yes, ma’am. I told you that I was keeping everything a surprise, and that includes the location. I don’t want to spoil it by having you guess where we’re going on the drive!”
I huffed dramatically. “Fine.”
“Oh, don’t sigh like that. You sound like Eugene.” Birdie shook the scarf with a flourish before wrapping it around my eyes and securing it at the back of my head.
I chuckled. Much like Birdie and Knox’s dog, I was enjoying being melodramatic about this combination bridal shower-bachelorette party, even though I was not actually being put out in any way.
All I knew about the day was that I was spending the afternoon with Birdie, Mel, Dash, and other yet-to-be-revealed guests, and that the evening held an overnight excursion outside of the city.
Several minutes later, the car came to a stop and I heard the driver come around to the door. Birdie got out first, then grabbed my hand to help me out.
She led me forward a few feet before instructing me up four steps. I heard the door of a building open. “Everything ready?” Birdie asked someone.
“All set,” Mel’s voice answered.
The girls shuffled me a few steps inside and the door clicked shut behind me.
“Just a bit farther,” Birdie said, leading me with a hand on my elbow. Our shoes clacked against stone floors, and I thought I caught the scent of old books.
“Ready?” Birdie asked as she brought me to a stop. I nodded. “Three, two, one…”
She untied the blindfold and I blinked, taking in the sight before me.
We were in St. Jerome Library, the oldest public library in Wexstone and one of my most beloved places in Altborn.
Before me stood Birdie, Mel, Dash, Sabine, and Cora—another of the other women previously in the competition for Oliver’s hand.
Evelyn and her friends Hilda, Polly, Mildred, and Ida—a group we often referred to as the “Golden Gals”—were perched on burgundy settees.
A table to the side held bottles of champagne and trays of crudités, meats, cheeses, bite-size tarts, and miniature chocolate cakes.
A sign that read “Her Next Chapter” sat next to a bouquet of pale pink flowers accented with roses made from book pages.
It took me only a moment to realize that we were in my favorite room—coincidentally named The Courtwright Room.
It had always reminded me of the library in the animated Beauty and the Beast movie with its frescoed ceiling, gilt molding, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves covering every wall, and ornate mezzanine circling the room.
“How did you do this?” I asked breathlessly.
Evelyn spoke up from her seat between Hilda and Polly. “Perks of being royalty, dear.”
I flushed as everyone chuckled. I didn’t think I would ever get used to the privilege that came from being connected to the royal family. Although, if it included being able to spend uninterrupted time in the St. Jerome, I might be able to make an exception.
Birdie and Mel took my hands and pulled me to the circle of armchairs and settees that had been arranged in the center of the room, joining the Golden Gals.
“Now, I know you said nothing raunchy today,” Birdie pouted, “and I followed your rules.” This elicited a “psh” from Evelyn and Hilda.
I bit the inside of my lips to suppress a laugh.
“So instead, we’re going to spend a nice, low-key afternoon together, enjoy some snacks, have a few glasses of bubbly, and make sure you know how much we love you and are here to support you in this next chapter. ”
“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice catching with emotion. I squeezed her hand and cleared my throat, speaking louder. “Truly, it means so much to me to have you all here and to have your support. You’re all so very dear to me.”
“Spoken like a true queen!” Dash said. He clapped his hands together. “Now, let’s make good on that ‘few glasses of bubbly’ promise, hmm?”
Soon we were settled in with plates of food and delicate champagne coupes filled with the sparkling wine.