Page 78 of Royally Wed
“Oh hello, Eleanor.” The queen’s gaze flitted back and forth between her and Amelia. “What is going on in here? AsI just said, the coach is on its way.”
“I know, Mum. James is to let me know when it arrives. We were just having a little girl time. That’s all.”
Her mother squinted, reached for the tiara atop Amelia’s head, and gave it a little push.
Amelia flinched.“Ouch. What are you doing? That thing is anchored to my head.”
The beauty squad had attached it with enough pins so it would stay put in a tornado. Keeping a tiara in place was considered Princessing 101. Even Amelia couldn’t screw it up.
“Good. I was just checking. We wouldn’t want any unexpected surprises today, would we?” Her mother’s gaze narrowed.
Eleanor cleared her throat.
Amelia glancedat her, and then focused once again on the queen. “Of course not.”
“Right.” She gave a firm nod. The glittering crown on top of her head didn’t budge. “This is an important day. Not just for you and Holden, but also for the country. For Britain.”
Amelia swallowed. “I know.” How could she forget?
The queen clapped her hands. “Come now. You don’t want to keep your father and the rest of the countrywaiting.”
The corgis swarmed at her feet as she headed for the door. The pack seemed less chaotic than usual today. Quieter. Calmer. Bee glanced over her furry little shoulder, as if checking to make sure Eleanor and Amelia were following.
They fell in line behind the monarch and her dogs. Amelia’s full tulle skirt trailed behind her, weighing herdown. James entered the room just as they wereabout to exit, probably to announce the coach’s arrival.
“Allow me to assist you, Your Royal Highness.” He bent to gather the hem of Amelia’s gown in his arms.
“Thank you.” She paused, twisting to see if she could somehow help. But when she turned her head, her gaze snagged on the open door to the Blue Room.
It was pristine. The bed was made and the blue carpet was crisscrossed with fresh vacuumlines. Amelia glanced at the corner, half-expecting to see Asher’s cello in the spot where he always kept it. The instrument wasn’t there, of course. None of Asher’s belongings were. The only indication that he’d ever been there at all was Willow’s stubborn presence in the center of the bed.
She’d abandoned the pack, which was tantamount to corgi treason.
“I think I’ve got it,” James said.
“All right, then.” Amelia faced forward again and made her way down the Queen’s Hall, toward the palace gate facing the quadrangle, where the coach would be waiting to carry her and her father to the Mall.
Everything was happening so fast now. Too fast. Her head felt fuzzy. Amelia forgot that Eleanor was walking alongside her until she said something.
“It doesn’t look like we’re going to haveany more time together before the ceremony, so here. Take this.” Eleanor opened her bag and removed a small bundle of lace, tied into a square with a blue satin ribbon.
Amelia turned it over in her hand. “What’s this?”
“You know—something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue...”
Amelia smiled. “... and a silver sixpence for your shoe.”
When Amelia’s brothers had gottenmarried, she and Eleanor had talked about the tradition and vowed to gather the appropriate items together for each other on their respective big days. Amelia’s throat grew tight.That day is today.
“You remembered,” she said.
“Of course I did. We’ll always be friends, Amelia.” Eleanor reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Always. Remember that.”
The promise was almost enough to takeaway the sting of never getting to tell Asher good-bye. Almost. “I will.”
“You can tuck the lace square into your bouquet. It’s your something old. The lace is from Jane’s wedding gown. There’s a diamond horseshoe pinned inside, something new. And the silver sixpence. When you get to the church, you have to open it so you can put the sixpence in your shoe.” Eleanor squeezed her hand so hard thatit hurt.
Amelia doubted she’d have either the time or the opportunity to untie the bundle, fish out the sixpence, and get it into her Jimmy Choo. “I’ll try.”
