Page 88 of The Prince and His Stolen Groom
Kit held up her hand. “I think I know where he is.” Once she had everyone’s attention, she explained, “He told us that he doesn’t experience time linearly. So, the Good Wizard who spent the last few days at the castle, helping with preparations, isn’t going to be the same version of the Good Wizard who officiates the wedding. The first one probably had to leave before the second one arrived, or they might cause a paradox.” She glanced at Franny and asked, “Right?”
Franny shrugged. “Makes as much sense as anything else.”
“Which probably means he’ll show up any minute now, never realizing he worried us,” I added.
We all looked toward the sitting room door, expecting him to enter with the same pomp and circumstance as when he’d first arrived. Nothing happened.
Father slapped his thighs and stood up. “No use waiting around here for him if that’s the case. We should all dress and prepare for the ceremony.”
Brendon’s father stood up and elbowed mine playfully in the ribs. “After all that confusion, we still get to be brothers from now on, eh?” They laughed and chatted on their way out.
Mother remained behind, still looking between all six of usuncertainly. Finally she asked Brendon, “Will you take Rick back to Bane with you?”
“Yes.”
“That’s probably for the best.” She stood and smoothed her skirts, then nodded goodbye to us and left the room. My stomach sank as I realized that might be the last real conversation we ever had.
Brendon interrupted my despair, pulling me up off the couch. He grinned, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Let’s go get married.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
I stared at my wardrobe, mind whirling like a carriage wheel stuck in the air as I realized I hadnothingto wear to my own fucking wedding.
An Honor Attendant’s job was to look nice and blend into the background. Months ago, I’d chosen a simple black and white color scheme, classic, elegant, unremarkable. Everyone’s focus would have been on Franny anyway, who had purchased a custom pink wedding dress.
Except with our roles reversed, everyone’s eyes would be onme. Hundreds of guests would watch me walk down the aisle. With the sudden change in program, they would scrutinize and question every detail. There would be no escaping their judgment.
I climbed into the wardrobe, sat in the corner, and firmly closed the double doors.
“Fred?” Franny called out, voice muffled by distance and wood.
I hid my face against my knees, making myself as small as possible.
“Fr-Rick, are you in there?”
If I stay here long enough, maybe all of the guests will leave. Brendon and I can just have a private ceremony. The kingdom will be fine, nothing in the spell says anyone has to witness the union.
“Iknowyou haven’t left your room. Mother posted guards everywhere, even at the bottom of the window.”
A crash startled me, and I thumped my head against the back of the wardrobe.
Light flooded the small space, half-blinding me, when Franny opened the doors. She stood with one hand on her hip, wearing an exasperated expression. “Is this normal wedding jitters or something else?” she asked as she held out a hand to me.
I shrunk back from it, but the wardrobe was too small to escape her. “Just give me a minute,” I mumbled.
She dropped her hand and sat down on the floor, scooting aside a piece of the door. She must have accidentally broken it the rest of the way off its hinges when she’d entered, which explained the crash. “Do you not want to marry Brendon? I know you said you would, but you’ve only known each other for a week.”
“It’s not about Brendon.”
“Then is it about Mattias?” she asked, her voice gentle.
I didn’t answer because I didn’t know the answer. It wasn’t specifically about him, even though so many people kept bringing him up. It was about what had happened after.
“Do you know why I always shop at Madame Trousers?” The clothes currently surrounding me were all her creations.
Franny hesitated before suggesting, “Because everything she makes is high quality?”
“Because after Mattias, every other shop owner turned me away. When I entered her shop for the first time, she greeted me with a smile and a cup of tea. Some other patrons were there, and one of them pulled her aside. I didn’t hear the whole conversation, but I did hear them say ‘serve someone likehim.’ Do you know what she said?”
