“Understanding and agreeing are not the same thing.”
“Magalie will supervise. I would do it myself, but I don’t want to.”
“I thought wedding gowns were your secret passion.”
Damien smirked. “Not wedding gowns, just overly sexual funeral dresses.”
Evelyn groaned. “Please don’t remind me. I’m scared to see what Gabrielle will put me in next.”
“She won’t sabotage a royal wedding.”
“How do you know?”
“Gabrielle has her own reputation to protect. I doubt she wants to be thrown out of the palace.”
“Can I do that?”
“No. Now, are you going to cooperate or do you need to be carried?”
She glanced down at how she had been swaddled. “I admit defeat.”
Damien waved a hand to loosen the duvet. “You have thirty minutes,” he said before leaving the room.
Evelyn shivered at the sudden loss of warmth around her. She hurried into the bathroom, where the tub was filled with hot water.
Maybe Damien isn’t so bad.
The dress fitting was fast. Gabrielle didn’t say a word, but the assistants understood the meaning behind every subtle movement. No one asked for Evelyn’s opinion, and she didn’t dare share one.
Afterward, Evelyn went downstairs with Rory and Simon. It wasn’t quite time for breakfast yet, but she decided to at least get some tea.
Just as Evelyn was about to open the kitchen door, she heard her name.
“Can you fucking believe he pickedEvelyn?”
I don’t recognize that voice. He must be a guard or kitchen staff. I can hear other people prepping food farther back in the kitchen.
“To be fair,” a second man said, “it was obvious he didn’t like Hannah.”
The first man laughed. “What a choice for a prince to make, huh? The prude princess or her slutty sister?”
Evelyn put a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp.
Is that how they see Hannah and me? Are we a joke to them?
“You can’t say shit like that anymore. Alexander is a king now, so Evelyn will be the queen.”
“Ah, yes. Queen Evelyn! Her Majesty, the Royal Whore!”
Anger and embarrassment warred inside of her. Rory tapped on Evelyn’s shoulder, but she ignored him.
“Keep your fucking voice down before someone hears you!” the second man continued. “Is there such a thing aslowtreason?”
“Who even cares? It’s not like she’s been discreet. You saw her and Alexander kissing under that tree the other day. Shedisappearedon the beach with that guy from Lochmatten. One guess as to what they were up to!”
“For real, shut up! You did hear Fontaine threaten all of us, right?”
“He’s the worst one! One of Hannah’s guards says Fontaine is in Evelyn’s roomall the time!”
