Page 113 of The Rest is History
REBEKAH:
Truth
LAUREN:
Stay strong gorgeous girl.
See you Sat for the uprising of the queens.
SLAY QUEENS SLAYYYY
CHARLIE
I wouldn’t blame Elodie if she didn’t show up today. I was seriously tempted to pull a no-show myself. It’s five past ten and there’s no sign of her yet as I pace Clock Court, my stomach churning with the anticipation of seeing her. I wasn’t even able to eat breakfast before I came out.
She may be dreading having to spend the day together, but I’m dreading it more. Hampton Court was the place where I allowed my feelings for her to surface. Where I allowed myself to act on those feelings. To build a relationship with her, however clumsily I did it. We’ve even consummated our relationship here, in those upstairs rooms.
Being here with her while we both played our roles has been one of the most magical experiences of my life, and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to survive seeing her as Anne. Her dark hair pulled back under that iconic hood. Those pearls at her white throat. Unlike Henry, I can’t isolate myself from her. Shutter her and her undoubted magical powers away.
I’m a sitting duck.
The huge clock is showing ten-ten and there’s no sign of my queens. This is most unprofessional. I nod curtly at some curious visitors and continue to pace. And then I spot them.
Oh, holy hell.
They’re coming for me. All six of them. In a line that makes them look more like theOcean’s Elevencast than a gaggle of Tudor queens. They sweep across the courtyard in their long gowns. Elodie’s among them, chin held high, looking so fucking magnificent, so regal, it takes my breath away.
Only a madman would walk away from a woman like that.
I suppose that makes me and Henry total lunatics.
The queens are closing in on me. Instinctively, I look to my right and left for an escape route. I feel as though I’m about to fall prey to a pack of wolves, but although some visitors are watching this whatever-it-is unfold with curiosity, no one looks interested in coming to my rescue.
I’ll have to battle it out alone. I aim for bravado.
‘Good morning, my queens.’
They stop in front of me and my eyes run over the group, lingering longer than they should on Elodie. She meets my gaze, challenge burning in her eyes.
More than challenge.
Defiance.
And it turns me on.
She’ll keep her head held high today, I can tell, despite the number of questions we’ll both inevitably have to endure from colleagues who still think we’re an item.
That’s my girl.
Shelby steps forward. ‘Here’s how it’s going to go, fuckface. Today you’ll go back in time to when you played nicely with your first wife. Tess will keep you company because she’s the only one saintly enough not to punch you in your pretty face.’
‘But—’ I begin, and she silences me with a hand.
‘We do not require any commentary from you. Oh, and stay the fuck away from the rest of us, because someone’s bound to punch you if you get too close.’
And they turn and walk away across the courtyard, taking Elodie with them.
ELODIE
