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 alongthis 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 theNovilacu 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 foralterations.
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."
