Page 12 of Forbidden Earl

She escaped to her quiet office, opening her laptop to check her email for any issues when two princesses and Donna Smith walked into the department. Cassidy sat back. “Can I help you?”

There was no hiding Princess Renee’s pregnancy despite the chic maternity dress, but Cassidy kept her thoughts to herself, more curious about what the three of them wanted from her—it was obvious they had something in mind.

Renee asked, “Lady Cassidy?”

No one called her that here. She lifted her chin and stared at them. Princess Kristin’s hands trembled. Strange. Cassidy stiffened and said, “Here, I’m just the IT Department.”

Kristin stepped forward with a huge smile on her face and her hand on her heart. “Are you the one that sent my Antonio to me?”

Her computer program. Cassidy’s thick hair fell out of her ponytail as she glanced at Donna. Donna must have told the princesses without realizing she preferred to be on the down-low. Cassidy tried her best to pick up her hair and tie it back again. “It wasn’t me. It was my computer program, Your Highness.”

Renee walked around the front counter and locked her arm with Kristin’s. Cassidy remembered that they were best friends. “Come with us. We hear you’re getting married as well and you clearly could use a makeover to match whatever dress you want for your wedding.”

“I was going to make appointments for this afternoon, in town,” Cassidy said—not taking offense to the bald statement because she’d created that persona on purpose. “I wanted to surprise Remy on our wedding day.”

Donna walked beside her with an open smile. “You’ve made us happy, Cassidy, and we’re hoping we can help you too.”

Princess Kristin nodded. “Definitely.”

“It was just my computer program.” Cassidy shrugged as if not personally responsible. She realized that they wanted her to go with them down the hall. The wedding gowns?

“I didn’t mean to sound rude,” Renee explained, glancing at Cassidy’s messy hair. “You’re the first noble I’ve met here who hasn’t done their hair in some updo and wear pearls and diamonds every time we meet. You seem like one of us.”

Unlike other ladies born into nobility, Cassidy also worked for a living. But she kept quiet and crossed her arms. “I don’t want to talk about my impending nuptials.”

Donna slightly coughed so Cassidy turned and stared as Donna asked, “Do you not want to get married to Remington?”

Cassidy pushed her long hair out of the way. None of them really understood, but at least with Remy, she wouldn’t have someone else depending on her for everything. It was a small start. She shrugged off the question. “I will marry Remy, but I’m protesting as much as possible.”

Kristin crossed the room with a smile. “Well, you’ll need a dress too and there are enough for hundreds of brides on those racks. Please pick one as my thanks for bringing me my Antonio.”

A dress was on her list of things she needed to handle today. She uncrossed her arms and followed them out of her office to the hall. “Okay, thanks.” Could this be viewed as charity? Would it be wrong? Pride aside, she didn’t have the funds to buy the kind of dress Remington would expect her to wear and he was all about appearances. “But no one tells Remy. If I must marry him, then he can see my new look on our wedding day, not before.”

All three nodded and Cassidy prayed they meant it. They walked closer to the door.

“You look cheery,” Cassidy said to Donna. It would be good to hear that her computer program had once again made two people happy.

“I am,” Donna said, her eyes sparkling.

What a nice lady. Cassidy placed her hand on Donna’s arm as they neared the door. “Donna, be on the lookout for my sister if you can.”

Donna blinked. “Why?”

They walked inside a space that was white on white with wedding dresses. “Wait a second.” Cassidy was friendly with the queen and went to pay her respects, then quickly returned to Donna.

Remembering Chelsea barging into her room, and how angry her sister had been about losing both of her potential bridegrooms in a day and in that rant, she’d hinted at more trouble to come. “I think she’s up to something. Chelsea was angry about something that happened, not that she would tell me what. Just be on high alert.” All the women in the room were lovely, well-dressed and styled as befitted royalty. If Cassidy had to cut her hair today, she’d do it. Across the room, the queen caught her eye and waved her back over.

“Your Majesty?”

“Aren’t you curious about when you will be married?”

Cassidy should have realized her mother would want to secure the match right away—but not even twenty-four hours had passed. “Did you set a date?”

The queen gave a regal nod. “Your wedding is scheduled in two days, on Saturday. I’m looking forward to sitting with Gigi—how is she?”

“Frail. I hope that she will be up and about.” Cassidy would have added more, but then Donna patted her hand and redirected her to the dresses.

“Blackwell and your Lord Sky are riding their horses today,” Donna said. “We should be okay for now.”

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