“I can’t.The Royal Trust must always appear before Her Majesty in uniform. Anything else is a breach of protocol. My boss could reprimand me. Even sack me, if she had a mind to.”
“Your mum is your boss, and your prince—me—is telling you to come and see the queen. Now, who do you mind?” He leaned down so his lips almost touched hers. “Me or your boss?”
“Gus?” Mum stood at the head of the guest corridor. “Where is Daffy?”
“She’s just here.”
“Tell her to come.”
“I’m not dressed, Your Majesty.”
“You mean to tell me you’re standing in front of my sonnaked?” The queen’s voice spiked high.
“Good grief, Mum. She’s in trackies.”
“We’ll wave protocol for now.” Mum motioned for them to follow her to the Grand Gallery.
With Daffy beside him, he gained a deeper sense of purpose. He belonged to someone. Therightsomeone. He wasn’t alone.
Daffy raised the lights by the switch on the wall and spotlighted the gowns as the rain drummed a continuous beat against the skylights.
“Daffy, please walk me through the display.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Daffy curtsied, then stood just off Mum’s left shoulder. “This is your wedding gown. Designed by—”
“I’m really more curious about the blue gown at the end.” Mum moved ahead. “Can we start there?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Can you explain this?” Mum flicked her hand toward the dress, then waited, arms folded. “Is this some sort of joke?”
“No, ma’am. This is the dress for theUnknown Bride. Lucy and I—”
“Where did you get it?”
“A vintage shop. In the Old Hamlet.”
“Surely you recognized it.”
“I did, ma’am, yes. In fact, finding it was very surreal. There was this woman, Adelaide, who gave me a large box with the dress inside. She acted as if I was expected. I was very surprised. How did it get there?”
“I’ve no idea but take this down.” Ice weighted Mum’s words. “Now. And throw it away.”
“Throw it away?” Daffy said.
“Mum, what’s going on?” Gus stepped between his mother and the woman he loved. “What’s wrong with this dress?”
“A-Adelaide had it, Your Majesty.” Daffy’s voice trembled as she stumbled with a defense. “She said Emmanuel told her to give it to me.”
“Emmanuel? Well…” For a moment, the queen seemed to soften. But only a moment. “I saidtake it down.” Then her expression lost all light. “Burn it.”
“Wait—burn it?” Gus said. “Mum, isn’t this the dress you wore to your twenty-first birthday? You’re typically very sentimental about—”
“I know when I wore it.” She clenched her hands into fists, then eased her fingers open. “Just please, take it down. Find another dress for theUnknownBride.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Daffy looked at Gus. For what? Help? Guidance? He was as flummoxed as she.
He offered the smallest of nods.It’ll be all right.
