Page 138 of Night's Fall
“They’re going to hurtle questions at you,”Germainewarned. “Noresponses.Atall.Smile.Andthen smile more.Don’teven dip your head or tip it.Itcan be taken as a response.”
“You may hold his hand.Youmay lean into his arm.Butthat is all,”MadamGarwahput in. “Hemay touch you.Guideyou.Ifhe puts his arm around your waist, you may reciprocate.Standclose.Walkclose.You’recommunicating connection.Solidarity.”
I nodded.
“You’re also communicating romance.Happilyever after,”Germaineadded. “You’reliving every girl’s dream.Actlike it.”
“But with modesty.Decorum,”MadamGarwahsaid.
“They’ll tell you to kiss.Don’t,”Germainesaid. “Thathas to happen with the engagement op.”
The idea of a ton of photographers snapping pics of me kissing my male did not sit well with me.
But this was my life.
Again,Ihad to get used to it.Ihad no choice.
“Lex will probably speak.They’llask about the assassination attempt, and since they deserve an answer, he’ll assure them you’re both fine.Whenhe does, whatever he says, gaze at him as if every word out of his mouth is a drop of nectar,”Germaineordered.
That was probably the only thingIcould manage to do authentically.
“Move, shift, adjust, give them different angles, different shots,”Germaineinstructed. “Theyhave fifteen minutes.They’llbeg for more as you walk away.Justkeep smiling, waving and walking.Lexwill know how to work it.Followhis lead.”
“Right,”Isaid.
“Set theUltraat clean, day, timeless, bright, healthy, fresh.Nothingheavy.Nothingsmoky,”Germainedemanded. “You’reyoung.You’refalling in love with the male who’s destined for you.You’restarting a fairytale life by assuming a role that’s millennia old.Femalesneed to like you, trust you, relate to you, envy you.Malesneed to want to fuck you.”
“I say!”MadamGarwahbarked at her. “Manners!”
“I’m not wrong,”Germainetold her.
“You are not, indeed.However, there are many words you could have used and did not.Weare in the presence of the futureQueenofNight’sFall.Itis now whereyoumust learn never to forget that.”
Germaine visibly clenched her teeth.
I was stuck back onyou’re falling in love with the male who’s destined for you, because, bottom line…
I was.
And that was a lot.
But asGermaineseemed to be gearing up to have a throwdown withMadamGarwah,Ihad to wade in.
“She can be herself with me,”ItoldMadam.
Germaine sent me another measuring look.
“You don’t expect respect,MistressLaura, you demand it,”MadamGarwahretorted.
“I’d rather earn it,”Isaid.
Both of them gave me a measuring look then.
MadamGarwah’seyes lit beforeGermaine’sdid.ButIgot approval fromGermainetoo.
Phew!
“Lex will land right on the west lawn in hisJetPanther, or better, hisOpuStar.It’sless flashy, more luxurious,”Germainesaid. “Youwait.He’llhelp you out.He’llwalk you to the delphinium field.Thatwill be your backdrop.There’sa gravel trail to it, and it’s been dry, so your heels shouldn’t sink in.Evenso, watch your step.He’llthen guide you back to the craft, and you’ll take off.Beaware, they’ll be snapping pics before you even land.Socontrol your facial expression in the craft, coming and going.There’sa blockade on airspace above theSceptredIsle, so no crafts can get close to you there.Butother airspace isn’t blocked, even if it’s regulated.Soif they manage to get an approved course anywhere near you or within a long-range lens, they’ll snap you.Beaware.”
