Page 77 of Royally Wed
She held up a hand. “I’m ready. There’s nothing elseto be done here. Understood?”
Her voice was sharper than she’d intended it to be, but she couldn’t do this. She couldn’t stand there while James offered to find Asher and bring him back. If she let him utter the words out loud, she’d grab onto them like a lifeline. And she couldn’t do that. It was already too late.
James nodded. “Very well. The coach has been summoned from the Royal Mews andwill be at the palace gates momentarily.”
“I’d like to wait here.” She needed time to get her game face on, and time was running out. Every second counted. “You’ll let me know when it arrives and my father is ready?”
“Of course, Your Royal Highness.” He lingered for a moment, as if he wanted to say something else.
He didn’t have to. Amelia knew what he was thinking. She was thinking the samething.This isn’t right. I have feelings for another man.
But there was a soft knock at the door, and Eleanor poked her head inside. “Can I come in?”
Amelia had never been so happy to see a friend in her life. She pressed a hand to her stomach and took a steadying breath so she wouldn’t cry off all of her makeup. Because after all, what was more important than appearances? “You came.”
“Of courseI came.” Eleanor lingered at the threshold.
Amelia’s heart gave a little hitch. “How thoughtless of me. You’re here for your father.”
For a split second, she’d allowed herself to believe Eleanor was on her side, as she’d always been. But of course she wasn’t. There was no one on her side. Not even Asher. Not anymore. Amelia had ruined that, too.
“I’m not here for my father, Amelia. I’m herefor you.”
“You are?” Amelia choked back a sob. “I thought maybe after the way we left things...”
Eleanor shook her head. “Stop. Stop it right now. You’re going to cry off your eyelash extensions, and there’s no time to fix them.”
Amelia let out a laugh. It was just a small chuckle, but it was the first time she’d laughed since she’d left the queen’s sitting room that morning. “I’m so happyto see you.”
“I’ve known you my whole life, remember? I practically know what you’re feeling before you do.” Eleanor’s shoulder lifted in a half shrug.
Amelia sighed. “True.”
Eleanor had been right to be suspicious of Amelia’s attraction to Asher. She’d been right about everything.
“I need to tell you something,” she said. “Something important.”
Eleanor glanced over her shoulder, toward thehallway. “Wait. There’s something I need to say, too, and there’s not much time...”
“It’s over,” Amelia blurted.
Eleanor frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Asher Reed.” Amelia swallowed. Hard. “I swear. I... we...”
She didn’t know how to confess. She just knew that she had to, or her friendship with Eleanor would never be the same. Amelia was giving up so much. She couldn’t loseEleanor along with everything else.
“Amelia, stop. I don’t care about Asher Reed anymore. I promise. I have something...”
The jangle of a dog collar interrupted her, and at first Amelia assumed Willow had also decided that forgiveness was in order. She realized she was wrong when not one, but five corgis trotted into the room. Their arrival could only mean one thing—the queen wasn’t far behind.
Amelia’s gaze flew back to Eleanor. “What is it? Talk fast.”
She opened her tiny clutch handbag and reached inside. “Here...”
“Amelia!” Her mother barked as she swished into the room. Everyone jumped, including the corgis. “What are you still doing in here? The coach will be here any second. Your father is already waiting at the gate.”
Eleanor’s handbag snapped shut, and she lowered intoa curtsy. “Your Majesty.”
