Page 92 of The Howling
“Have you seen the size of me?” I run my hand over my stomach. “And this is only a month gone.” Bessie has had to adddarts to the wedding dress, not that you’d ever notice. “There is no backing out now.”
“Like you ever would. You love Reavely. It’s as plain as the nose on your face,” Kaitlyn says, heading over to the sideboard near the window where the Duegar have set out food when I wasn’t looking.
There’s a soft knock on the door and Lilburn comes in, followed by Gloriana.
“There’s a Bluecap lurking in the vaulting,” Gloriana says with a shudder. “You want me to get rid of him?”
A little spark of magic flutters from her fingers.
“That’s just Linton. He’s a massive creep but he means well,” I respond. “He helped us defeat Lord Soulis.”
“Got to be a first time for everything.” Lilburn shrugs, joining Kaitlyn by the food.
I see Gloriana give it a sidelong glance as she huffs at what’s on offer and places a large shallow square basket on the bed.
“I have a wedding breakfast fit for a queen,” she announces, pulling back the red and white gingham cover.
The scent of fresh baking fills the room. My stomach rumbles. And then the nausea hits.
I make a run for it, down the hall to the bathroom where I lose what’s left of the tiny amount of food left within me.
“Hey,” Kaitlyn says as I lean my forehead against the cool wall. “You okay?”
“I didn’t think I’d be like this today. It’s been coming at me for a long time, but…” I look up at her. “I’m nervous and I don’t know why.”
“I’m sorry about the backing out thing,” she says.
“No you’re not.” I give her a weak smile.
“Well, okay, it was still a good joke. But honestly, I didn’t mean it.”
“And I have no desire to back out of this wedding either. I just wish I could settle my nerves.” I sigh.
“Come on.” Kaitlyn offers me her hand. “Gloriana says she has something which will help.”
“Is it chocolate?”
“Might be.”
“She knows her stuff.”
Kaitlyn smiles and I take her hand. “If you want to go back beyond the veil, I’m sure Reavely can help arrange it.”
“There’s nothing for me there.” She shakes her head sadly. “Nothing I want to go back to anyway. Gloriana has given me a job, and I have a little room above her bakery. It’s not much, but I’m not a prisoner of the Faerie, and that has to be a good thing.”
“I agree. But you know, whatever you need, I’m here for you,” I say.
“And I’m here for you. With chocolate.” Kaitlyn smiles.
We head back to my room. I don’t see Linton, so I wonder if Gloriana has done something to him, although I can’t honestly imagine much bothers the Bluecap.
Lilburn is predictably tucking in to the food Gloriana has brought with her. The witch gives me a good looking at as I enter.
“Sorry,” I say.
“I was exactly the same on all of my wedding days,” she trills.
“All?”
