Page 202 of Night's Fall
That last part got a major thumbs down (though, only in my head).
I couldn’t believe it either.
In fact,Iwas beginning to get worried about it.
HadAlekseiforgotten?
His day was even busier than mine, so he wanted me to meet him at his office before the photo op and interview.Wewere going from there to thePalaceto sit down withGermaineto hash out howIwould answer the questions we’d agreed for the interview.Afterthat, the photo op (ugh) and vidding the interview (ulk).Iwould have my last class withMadamGarwah, and then we were going to swing by for a quick look-see ofSpikebackCastle(well,Iwould be looking and seeing,Alekseihad been there before).
I was a nervous wreck.
I was also far too busy.
Fortunately, my classes withMadamGarwahwere ending,Ionly had that one more (although her classes had become a hassle because of my busy life, truth told,I’dmiss her).Sothat would be something to tick off my to-do list.
ButNatawas quickly getting up to speed.ThismeantIwas going to need to accept some invitations, consider what charitiesIwould become a patron of, get on with my royal duties, andGermainehad warnedIneeded to make a statement with my first choices because they would define my reign.
No pressure there.
I managed to get all my designs in the studio’sSeam-Stitch.Theywould be ready by the skin of my teeth.Butonce the fittings were done, the shooting schedule was set to start within a matter of days, andI’dbe expected on set for the entirety of the three-month shooting schedule.
Intermingled with all of this,Ihad theMidnightMasque.Therewould be an engagement party shortly after.AndIhad a wedding to plan.
I wasn’t sureIwas going to be able to find the balanceAlekseisaid we’d find.
In fact, just thinking of my scroll through of the invites in the fileNatacreated,Iwas thinking it might be impossible.
I wasn’t twenty people.EvenifIdid this as my full-time gig, likeQueenCalisa,I’dhave to decline the vast majority of them.Thebeings who sent them had hopeI’dcare about what they cared about.Itwas going to suck to have to tell them, essentially,Ididn’t have time for them.
The mask beeped it was done, andLancetsaid, “Nopeeking.Youpromised.”
And again…
Gah!
“All right, no peeking,”Iagreed, wishingIhadn’t because this look was too important, and giving in toLancet’sdrama was ratcheting up my anxiety.
But he was my friend.Thiswas important to him as well, possibly more important, and he was excited about what he’d designed for me.
I didn’t have the heart to put a damper on that.
He swept the mask away.
Thirty seconds later, the mane-mate beeped, and then that was gone.
He took my hand and pulled me out of the chaise whileImade the prodigious effort of avoiding spying myself in any of the mirrors in my closet, of which there were a lot.
“Okay, close your eyes,Igot you,”Lancetsaid.
I closed my eyes, and he untied and divested me of my robe.
“Step in,” he ordered.
As he guided me,Istepped in.Ifelt a garment shimmy up my hips.Therewas some tugging, and my arms were engaged.Ifelt fastening, adjusting, a featherlike touch at my left collarbone, cinching at my waist, and thenLancetplaced my hand on his shoulder soIcould balance as he slid whatIcould tell were slingback pumps on my feet.
He took my hand and guided me where the three-angle mirror stood.
“Okay,look!” he cried.
