“Probably for a month, but the night before brought everything into focus. I was up all night battling with myself, with God, reading my Bible, and praying. Though one can never truly hear God from a place of anxiety. I mean, we had a wedding planned with fifteen hundred guests from around the world.”
Beside her, Chuck exhaled. “We had two hundred guests and I nearly sweat through my tux.”
“Caterers and wedding planners worked for months on two receptions. We’d paid for flowers and gifts. Our honeymoon was booked. Television crews and the media had been on-site for days. Above all, I loved you and your family.”
Coral stood, hands clasped at her waist, her expression somber. “I woke up that morning in such a state. I had no peace no matter how much self-talk and pumping up I did. I went for a run at six. Gus, I don’t run. I ate breakfast. I took a long bubble bath. I stared at my gown. Oh, I loved that gown. But peace just wouldnotcome. I wasn’t excited. I dreaded every moment of getting ready. I put my dress on, and instead of feeling like the princess I was about to become, I felt like a prisoner. Finally, I cleared the room. No one stayed, not even my mom. And I prayed in earnest. ‘Jesus, I’m all Yours.’” Her lips twisted. “That’s when the peace came and I knew I would not walk down Clouver Abbey’s aisle. I also knew He would take care of you. I truly did.
“I should’ve come to your room and told you. But I was too afraid. I’ll live with my foolish decision forever. I humiliated you and the House of Blue. In fact, when Lady Holland called to invite us to the wedding, I was sure she was joking.”
“Mum forgave you quicker than I.”
“But now you have and I’m so grateful.” Coral knelt beside him, hand on his arm, and peered into his face. “You’ve broken my last chain.”
“Do you forgive me? For not listening? For not caring enough to hear your heart? For not coming after you? For not allowing you to explain?”
“A hundred times over.” Coral kissed his hand, humbling him once again.
“In the sum of all things, you ran because you fell in love with God?”
“You know, you have something in common with Him.” Coral returned to her seat by her husband.
“With God?” Gus shook his head. “I can’t imagine.”
“He’s a prince. The Prince of Peace. Emmanuel, God with us.”
“Emmanuel?”
“Yes, God with us.”
Gus stood with an explosion of realization.Emmanuel?Was it possible…No.How? Why? Oh, now he had so many questions.
Then the old carpenter’s fiery eyes flashed before him and HRH Prince Augustus laughed. The joke was on him, wasn’t it? God bowed low to spend time with him. All those workshop sessions he’d been in the company of the Lord.
Emmanuel, God with us.
“The Grand Dining Hall of Hadsby Castle was resplendent with the Royal Blue china on display and a dinner of London broil, garlic potatoes, asparagus, and a chocolate cake pudding. Wine from The Haskells, port, and champagne were served along with platters of locally sourced cheese and fruit.”
–What’s on the Table Blog
“We’re told the guests are out riding today. Lady Holland is an avid equestrian. The queen and king consort drove a cart down to the mews to watch the guests ride out on a cold but sunny morning.
“Spectators report Lady Holland raced off with Prince John. Watchers were surprised to see Coral Winthrop Mays, the American heiress who left Prince Gus at the altar, on a white mount along with her new husband, an American cowboy sort of chap, riding alongside, gripping the reins with white knuckles, his horse on a steady course for a stand of trees.”
–Leslie Ann Parker, theMorning Show
“I was treated to a tour of the wedding gowns with Royal Trust curator, Glasgow Towns. They were stunning and so well designed. I’m told the staging was orchestrated by Daffodil Caron, whom I believe was responsible for the shot-heard-round-the-world. Her diary exposed Queen Catherine II’s secret child. TheUnknown Bridegown was a stunning silver organza with lace, and we’re told it will be donated to the local foster foundation for a lass aging out of the system. It was thrilling to see thePrincess Louisa. We’ve heard so much about it. But let’s begin at the beginning, the first gown to be preserved…”
–Sydney Fritz, News at Six, LTV-1
“That’s right, Farley, we’re on-site at Hadsby, about to enter the Queen’s Library to see theKing Titus. We’ll be back live in sixty seconds, after these words.”
–Perry Copperfield, Cable News PF
Chapter Thirty-Two
Daffy
Friday afternoon, Daffy met Mum for lunch, then went shoe shopping. Mum wentga-gaover a pair of Christian Louboutin’s and insisted on buying them.
