“Be nice.” I chastised.
“I said it was delightful,” Ruby said.
“Yes, but you said it like it was in fact not delightful,” I said.
Ruby pulled my hair a little tighter, and I winced, giving Dilly an apologetic smile.
“If you had told me a year ago I was going to be standing in London watching Bash get married, I would have summoned a selkie and asked it for three wishes,” Dilly said.
“What does that even mean?” I chuckled.
Dilly ignored me.
“Only you would be late to your own party.” Dilly grinned. “Val went to prep the ship for tomorrow.”
“I can’t see her enjoying a ball,” I said.
“She said she’d rather cut her eye out than suffer in a dress one second more,” Dilly said.
Ruby muttered something about pirates before patting my hair down.
“Do not, and I mean do not, mess this up the rest of the night, Rosamund Beatrice Bailey,” Ruby said.
What did she think I was going to do?
Sneak out every ten minutes to fuck my husband?
Actually, it wasn’t a terrible idea.
She spun me and pointed a finger at me.
“Don’t make me kill your husband and make you a widow,” she said.
Dilly snorted. “Husband.”
I turned and gave her a wide smile.
“Husband,” I preened.
“Lord, give me strength,” Ruby said. “Let’s fix your face.
By the time Ruby deemed me ready for public viewing, my head was sore, and I really needed a drink. Dilly threaded her arm through mine while Ruby followed close by.
“This is such a dreary place,” Dilly said, scanning the brown hall.
“It certainly doesn’t feel warm.” Ruby agreed. “But neither does Lord Smith.”
I wrinkled my nose as I thought of the crotchety villain.
“I can’t believe that’s Bash’s father,” Dilly said.
“Edward.” I corrected.
We didn’t need any slip-ups.
Dilly waved a hand. “Fine, but I reserve the right to call him that when he’s being a moody asshole.”
“You must have a death wish,” I said.