Page 97 of The Billionaire's Royal Secret

She had promised to tell Nate after the gala tomorrow night, but until then, she needed her royal blood to remain secret.

“There’s no need to be nervous,” Victoria said, her voice soft, “I’m certain we’ll find you the perfect dress.”

Elena pulled her eyes away from the passing scenery and offered the woman a polite smile. She had to explain her behavior some way to them, otherwise, they may wonder if she’d lost her mind. “Oh, I must admit, I am a bit…concerned.”

“Aw, don’t be, Ellie,” Maddie answered. “They’ll have something that’ll be perfect for you, I know it.”

“Thank you. I’m afraid my…nerves caused me to…overreact to the typo.”

Victoria offered her a sweet smile. “It was a little extreme, though…don’t worry, Charles is quite used to dealing with female anxiety.”

“I hope he doesn’t judge me too harshly. I’m normally quite…calm.”

“It’s okay, Ellie,” Maddie said. “Daddy isreallyused to it. Last year, I insisted on a pink dress and two weeks before the gala, I changed my mind and wanted silver. And they were able to accommodate me, so that’s how I know you’ll find a dress.”

“Thank you, Maddie,” Elena said with a smile. “That makes me feel so much better.”

The car eased to a stop outside of the boutique, and they climbed to the sidewalk and entered the shop.

A chic brunette approached them with a grin. “Mrs. Kingsley, Ms. Kingsley, good morning. We have your dresses ready, and I think you’ll be pleased. And I understand that we have a new dress to search for?”

Her eyes fell on Elena, sliding up and down her form, assessing it for style suggestions.

“Yes,” Victoria said, placing an arm around Elena’s shoulders. “My son’s girlfriend, Ellie. I know it’s a time crunch but I’m certain you can help her find something lovely.”

“I’m certain we can.” The woman narrowed her eyes as she studied her again. “I’m thinking something with an A-line.”

“Oh, I do quite well in those,” Elena said with a nod before she flicked a worried gaze at her companions. “Er, that’s to say, I’ve always imagined I would when I see them in the magazines.”

“Well, let’s get to it, shall we?”

The woman whisked toward the fitting room as another associate delivered refreshments to Victoria and Maddie.

“Now, don’t worry, dear,” the woman said, “we’ll find you the right dress. Let’s start with a few of these that I’ve already pulled, and I’ll grab several more now that I’ve seen you.”

“Thank you,” Elena answered as another woman flitted into the room to assist her with fastening the dresses.

The original associate returned with an armload more of dresses as Elena stepped from the dressing room. “Oh, the first option. Lovely, but I’m not loving it.”

“No?” Elena asked as she stared at the understated black gown with an empire waist.

“The dark color’s nice on you, but I don’t like it,” Maddie said with a wrinkled nose.

After a sip of her mimosa, Victoria said, “Try another.”

She went through another three dresses without loving any of them. Victoria and Maddie agreed, and she went back into the fitting room.

She’d not had much experience with retail shopping before. She found it quite odd. Most of her dresses were custom made for events. And she trusted Caroline’s judgement implicitly when it came to her fittings.

She suddenly felt lost and alone. Playing two roles was taking its toll on her. She couldn’t wait for the gala. She hoped to find the courage to tell him who she really was so thecharade could end.

After another three dresses, they’d come no closer to picking one.

Victoria rose as she studied Elena’s reflection in the mirror, cradling the half-finished mimosa against her chest. “This one is nice, but it’s just not it. Don’t get me wrong, Ellie, the navy is lovely on you, but I just don’t love the dress.”

“What’s off?” the associate asked.

Victoria heaved a sigh as she narrowed her eyes. “Too sparkly. Ellie’s style is a bit more understated, I think. Do you disagree, Ellie?”

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