Page 111 of The Tsarina's Favorite
“Why not?”he asked as he released me.
“I have my reasons.Please.”
Drook’s face did not validate my assessment, but he nodded in agreement.
“Where are the others?”I asked.
“Part of the processional.”
“Will you please tell Klessa?”
“You can tell her yourself.”Drook glanced over to the other side of the hall.“As I am the one to stand up with you, Klessa is the princess’ bridal party.”
As if choreographed, two women, followed by their own detachment of guards, emerged from the doorway on the far side of the hall, one tall and stately, the other short and stately.Their measured steps held no hesitation.Alaina’s face held no uncertainty.Klessa, although usually self-assured, wore a light veil that obscured her face and any expression she may have been making.
Alaina would, as the tsarina intended, feel the insult of our chosen attendants, but for me, I could not think of any other I preferred if this situation must play out.I could not find two finer people in all the world to bear witness to my wedding and share the final hours of my life.
I stood, prepared to meet the princess I was to wed.
Alaina dressed as any traditional Ilyichian bride.Her satin gown reflected the soft candlelight that illuminated the ceremonial space.The gold chain woven through her braids sparkled against her dark hair.Velvet burgundy ribbons with strands of seed pearls tied her hair back and up.Her pearl and satin kokoshnik, stark against dark hair and skin, framed her face most becomingly.A necklace in a cascade of teardrop pearls hung from her throat.For all the cruelty and insults about her Altanian features from the court, even for all the teasing I had done about her unimpressive size, her radiance and serenity stunned me into dumbstruck admiration.
I bowed so that I could hide my embarrassment.Even in the blue brocade and sable robe, I still wore feathers and had nothing but what she herself had given me.I vowed to keep her alive tonight since that was the only thing I could offer.
“Rise, dearest Kaylay.”
I swallowed back my insecurities before I did as she instructed.
“You might have at least dressed up for our wedding,” I said, afraid that if I did not fall back on teasing, I would indeed become an emotional fool.I made a show of looking her over.“You didn’t even try, did you?”
“I tried more than you,” she said, her stoicism disintegrating as she tried not to smile.
“Nonsense.I wore my finest feathers.”
“Hmm.”Alaina took her turn to size me up.“So you did.”
“Shall we get this over with?”
“You are a most unwilling groom.”
Drook crossed behind us to speak to his wife.
“It is like any state marriage,” I assured Alaina.“They are rarely conducted between willing participants.”
“How relieving then, that we are like every other couple.”She reached out and took my hand, squeezing my fingers in reassurance.“Regardless of how this came about, I will take my vows seriously.”
“As will I.”Even if I only had hours in which to honor her.
“I KNEW IT!”Klessa pushed past both her husband and Alaina and threw her arms around me.“I knew it,” she mumbled into my shoulder.
Alaina released my hand in her surprise.
When Klessa withdrew, she lifted the veil so that she could allow me to appreciate her scolding look.The hair on her face had thinned and was shorter than last I had seen, enabling a better view of her facial features.And then it struck me.That maid who recognized me...had been Klessa!
“Why?”I reached up to touch her cheek.“Why would you shave your beautiful hair?”
“To get near you, you idiot.”She glanced over her shoulder at Drook and gestured to me.“Do you believe this?”
“I suppose.”Drook shrugged.“He was never the sharpest among us.”
