When she woke up the next morning, her head was clear. She could admit the truth. Thomas wasn’t the one for her. She should’ve had the courage to tell him just that, not wait to discover him with Blinky. Wasn’t she a strong, independent woman?
Yet the real conundrum was facing the rest of the truth. The challenge Blinky presented to her.
“You might consider that you’re in love with the prince.”
Yes. To the blazes, yes! Out of the frying pan into the fire. Worse than being engaged to the wrong man was being in love with the impossible one.
“Is this every lass’s dream?” Gus’s question pulled Daffy from her internal wrestling. “A garden of wedding dresses?”
“Not every girl, but most. We’re going to stage a couple of the grooms’ suits. Just to create an atmosphere.”
“Was this your dream? Staging wedding gowns and overseeing the secret repair of an ancient chair? Ratting around in dusty, royal antiquities for a living?”
“I love history andantiquities, so yes. But I’m also interested in corporate curating, acquiring art and collectibles for banks, businesses. A lot of companies are doing this now to give the work environment culture. There’s also a new trend in older companies of restoring and preserving their history through documentation, film—corporate museums where old products and technology and photographs are on display. But Mum offered me a job before I graduated, so I said yes.” A tear escaped and slid down the side of her cheek. She wiped it away before Gus could see. “I’m starting to think this is my lot in life. Settling. I’m content with good-enough instead of waiting for the best. I took the first job offered. Accepted the first man who proposed.”
“We all settle, Daffy. We all make choices to keep us safe.”
“Not you. You turned your broken heart into an engagement.”
“Which didn’t work.”
“Which you turned into a year as a bartender in Florida. Gus, you take risks.”
“Is that what you call it?” His laugh twisted around her. “I call it hiding. But I’ve learned my lesson. And what’s this about the first man who proposed? Your uni boyfriend? Didn’t he miss his chance?”
She turned to him. “The first day we were in Floridana Beach, I stood on the shore thinking how ordinary I was, so average. Run of the mill. I never do anything that scares me or challenges my fears. I didn’t even try for a corporate curator position. I said yes to Mum because it was easy. Because it was what she wanted. And I do have an affection for the House of Blue. Then Thomas proposed. I accepted him but I should’ve said, ‘Mate, you’ve barely told me you loved me.’”
“Daffy, what happened?”
She held up her left hand to show a bare ring finger. “He’s in love with Blinky.”
“The lass with blue eyeshadow up to her eyebrows?”
Daffy snort-laughed, batting back tears. “Opposites attract.” She walked through the dappled light toward the blue gown. “We’ll be done on Tuesday but I want to see the chair, so I’ll stay until it’s done. I’ll have to make up an excuse but—”
Gus touched her shoulder and turned her to him. “Love, are you all right?”
“I am. Embarrassed more than anything. Angry I didn’t demand more of myself, of Thomas. But at least we realized it in time.”
“He’s an idiot. I knew it when you said he gave you another woman’s ring.”
“I’ll tell him you said so.”
“Please do.” Gus hugged her close and she felt, heard, the rhythm of his heart. “Want to get out of here? Do something crazy?”
“Like what?” And yes, double yes.
“You have to say yes first.”
“How crazy?”
“Yes or no, Daffy?”
But wait. She’d only fall harder for him if she ran around the hamlet with the handsome, impetuous prince. Especially now that the barrier of being engaged was removed. Could she be such a glutton for punishment?
“I’ll get my coat.” She dashed toward the guest wing. “By the way, that’s a yes.”
He flashed his famous smile. “See you at our stairs.”
