Page 377 of Reign

“Why did you do that?”

“You’re panicking.”

“I am not panicking.”

“You’ve changed three times.”

“Because the dresses were terrible.”

“You called the first one beautiful last week.”

“I was wrong.”

“And the second?”

“Also wrong.”

His thumbs move beneath my cheekbones. “You’re going to be fine, princesa.”

I look toward the mirror. “You don’t know that.”

“I do. You look beautiful.”

“This is one of mine.”

“I know.”

My attention returns to him. “How?”

“I’ve seen it in your sketchbook.”

Of course he has.

I look down at the dress, smoothing one hand over the pleated waist.

“It looked better on paper.”

“It looks better on you.”

The certainty in his voice nearly calms me.

Nearly.

“But is it good enough for Evelyn St. Clair?”

“You’re good enough for anyone.”

“Luciano.”

“This dress is good enough for Evelyn St. Clair.” He waits until I look at him. “Your work is brilliant. She already knows that, or she wouldn’t have asked to meet you.”

I take a deep breath.

“She asked to meet me.”

“Yes.”

“Evelyn St. Clair asked to meet me,” I remind myself.