“Ugh,” Birdie huffed as she reapplied her lipstick. “At least your hat is cute, and you don’t look like you’re wearing a frisbee.” She pointed to the hat perched on top of her own head.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Birdie,” I giggled, “your tea hat looks beautiful with your outfit. Very Royal Family Chic,” I said in my poshest accent.
Birdie laughed. “I don’t know how you people grew up wearing these things. I’ve been worried all morning about it falling off my head or that the wind is going to take it.”
“You’ll get used to it. And if you don’t like it, let your stylists know that you prefer fascinators with headbands.” I gestured at my own headpiece, showing her the headband barely visible under my hair. “They’re typically my go-to.”
“Oh!” She perked up. “That sounds much better. Noted, thank you!”
We exited the bathroom and I moved to peek out of a nearby window, taking in people gathered outside the palace gates, all bundled warmly and waving flags. The sun had come out during the coronation ceremony and was now shining merrily on the crowd who cheered with joy as they waited for Oliver’s appearance on the front balcony in about thirty minutes. He would receive a salute from members of the armed forces, followed by a litany of photo ops and, eventually, the coronation dinner.
I was already exhausted simply thinking about it. As I watched the smiling crowd, I reminded myself that they were the reason I was doing this. As much as I hated lying—and I knew deep down that Oliver did as well—I loved my country and my fellow Wexstonians. It did not escape me that they would have stood outside for hours to demonstrate their support and loyalty.
It was what Oliver deserved, to have so many people showing up for him today. Because even with his faults, Oliver was a good man and would be a great leader for this country.
Smiling to myself, I recalled the way his eyes hadwidened almost imperceptibly just before the high priestess had handed him the jewel-encrusted golden sphere. I was certain that it would have been missed by anyone who didn’t know him so well, but I could see just how nervous he was. Despite myself, I had found my eyes welling with pride. Only someone who cared very much would be anxious in that moment. To me, it spoke of his lack of hubris and the ways in which he sought to serve his people well.
If I was going to be taking part in this ridiculous ruse, at least it was with a man who I knew, down to the depths of his soul, was good.
“Hey buddy, you’re all right. This is going to be our home for a little while. Don’t get too used to it though, okay? It’s not permanent,” I cooed as I opened Shadow’s crate. He glared at me as he skittered into the spacious palace suite and slunk under the enormous four-poster bed covered in a plush cream duvet and an array of overstuffed pillows. A soft blush-colored throw blanket laid at the foot of the bed, one of the corner tassels hanging down. Shadow batted at it with his paw from under the end of the bed.
“Well, you seem to be fine.” I laughed.
I took in my surroundings. The bed and two matching nightstands took up one half of the room while an ornately carved desk and two armchairs took up the other. Across from the bed, one doorway led into a sitting room, while another near the armchairs led into the bathroom. I had already peeked into the bathroom and nearly fainted at the sight of the massive bathtub. My lips tipped up in a smile as my eyes landed on the enormous gift basket filled withbubble bath, bath bombs, and a note written in Oliver’s tidy handwriting:
A little something help you feel more at home.
-O
Cream walls held gold-rimmed art, making the space feel elegant without being overzealous or showy, while a fire roaring in the fireplace added a cozy ambiance. I could easily picture myself curled up in one of the damask armchairs with Shadow in my lap, reading a book and sipping on a cup of tea. Maybe this place wouldn’t be so bad after all.
My moving into the palace had been a point of contention between Oliver and me over the last couple of days. I insisted that I was perfectly fine to continue living in my house for the duration of the engagement, but he had countered that it was customary for royal fiancés to move into the palace once the engagement was made public, and it would help security if we were under the same roof. If we wanted to continue to sell our engagement as genuine, it would start us off on a bad foot for me to bypass living there.
I had finally acquiesced, under the condition that I was able to bring Shadow with me and that we have our own space, unconnected from Oliver’s, under the pretense of propriety.
And so I had packed a couple of suitcases for myself along with Shadow’s food and litter box and had given my house key to Louis, the Master of the Household, so he could organize delivery of the cat and my personal effects to the palace during the coronation dinner.
I perched on the side of the bed and breathed a sigh of relief as I slipped off my heels for the first time in aboutten hours. I couldn’t wait to get out of my dress and shapewear, too.
I was working up the energy to get up and wash my face when I heard a soft knock at the sitting room door. “Come in,” I called, sliding my feet to the floor and padding out of the bedroom.Please don’t be anyone looking for information out of me tonight,I silently prayed. I was so tired I could barely remember my own name.
To my relief, Rosie’s sweet face peered around the door. “Hi!” she said with a little wave. “I’m about to go to bed but wanted to let you know that my rooms are just down the corridor.” She smiled a bit sheepishly.
I gave her a wide smile and waved her into the room, settling on a cream settee in front of another ornate fireplace. I patted the space next to me and Rosie hopped up, tucking her feet underneath her.
“Thank you for letting me know you’re nearby,” I said, squeezing her hand. “I feel a bit like a fish out of water right now, and it’s nice to know there’s a friendly face just down the hall,” I added with a wink.
Rosie smiled again, broader this time. “I’m happy to show you the ropes! And the best places to hide when you really don’t want to talk to anyone.” She giggled, blushing a bit. It reminded me of her brother. I was looking forward to getting to know this precocious twelve-year-old better.
“I will definitely take you up on that offer,” I said, joining her in her laughter.
Rosie gasped and her eyes widened with delight as she spotted something just behind me. I turned to find Shadow prowling into the room. “You have a cat?!” she exclaimed, clearly elated at the prospect.
I lowered my hand, rubbing my fingertips together and giving apspspsto encourage Shadowto come over to me. When he did, I scooped him up and placed him between us on the settee. I made a mental note to apologize in advance to the cleaning staff for the copious amounts of black Maine Coon fur they would be vacuuming off the cream furniture on a regular basis. They surely would be glad when we were gone.
“This is Shadow,” I introduced, scratching the cat behind his ears. “He loves when you scratch him right here.”
