But, sacrifices.
If Flicka suspected that there was any reason for a rush job with this wedding, she said nothing.
Her sharp eyes noticed that, while Wulfie had resumed drinking the occasional glass of wine with Flicka at dinner, Rae hadn’t.
She also noticed that, while Rae was a lovely and voluptuous woman, she was really,reallyvoluptuous in the boobies area.
When designers and tailors started arriving daily to offer wedding gown options and then to fit the dress, they took one look at Rae and raised the dress’s waistline, plus they left extra material in the bust and torso.
Flicka wasn’t stupid. She hurried up with the preparations.
Flicka and Rae were sitting in Rae’s study office, working one afternoon. Rae was writing a paper on something or other psychological, while Flicka emailed suppliers about food and napkins and table decor.
Rae lifted her head. “I feel bad about taking you away from your new husband so soon after you were married.”
“Oh, tosh,” Flicka said, glaring at her computer screen. “It’s no inconvenience at all.”
Rae laid her pencil on her wide desk. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Nothing to talk about. Is there anythingyouwant to talk about?” She raised her gaze over the top of her screen and looked Rae right in her eyes.
“Oh,” Rae said, turning a delicate shade of magenta. “Um, maybe?”
“I think it’s wonderful,” Flicka said.
“You do?” Rae said, her voice rising with hope. “I didn’t know how you would take it.”
“I think it’s lovely. I’ve always wanted to be an aunt and spoil the devil out of the next prince or princess of Hannover. That is what we’re talking about, right?”
Rae ducked her head. “Yeah.”
Flicka bounded up and hugged Rae around her shoulders. “I’m glad. I’m so glad. Wulfie needs another child. He keeps trying to mother me, and I’ve had just about enough of it. Did you know that hethreatenedPierre with bodily harm at our wedding?”
Rae laughed. “I told him he had to. He’s your older brother. That’s what older brothers are for.”
“Did any of your brothers threaten Wulfie?” Flicka asked, widening her eyes innocently while digging for gossip.
“Your eyes! You’re so funny. No, I’m the oldest, so I’m supposed to do the threatening. I went with a cast iron skillet and a branding iron.”
“Of course. Excellent choices. The traditional weapons are always the best. How many children are you planning?”
“I’m not sure. This one,” Rae put her hand on her stomach, “was a little less than planned, so I guess we’ll take it one at a time. Maybe a few. I’m from a big family, and it’s nice to have siblings to blame when you do something wrong.”
“I tried to blame Wulfie for breaking a vase once, but I don’t think he bought it.”
“Probably not. You’re considered an only child, birth-order wise, because Wulf is more than five years older than you are. Plus he essentially raised you, so he’s more of a father figure than a sibling, anyway.”
“I wish he’d been my father my whole life. I don’t remember much from before I went to Le Rosey. There were just a bunch of nannies shoving toys at me, dolls and some educational ones. I had a tutor come for a couple hours a day. I liked her. My mother was around a lot. I had tea with her every day, and she often took me for a walk in the gardens in the morning. I probably spent more time with her than any particular nanny, honestly.”
“Didn’t you have play dates or pre-school?”
“Oh, heavens, no,” Flicka said. “I kept handing my dolls to Wulfie whenever he came home from school. He was quite tolerant, considering that he was probably twelve or thirteen at the time. After he left every term, I drove the nannies crazy, asking for him.”
When Flicka looked over at Rae, the other woman had tears wobbling in her eyes. She said, “Oh, Flicka.”
“Oh, don’t cry!”
Rae flapped her hands. “It’s just hormones. Pregnancy does that.” She wiped her eyes. “I’m okay. That’s just such a sad way to grow up.”
