Page 61 of Crown of Thorns
“Come ladies,” a tipsy Suzanne says to Dahlia and I. “Let’s go powder our noses.”
Dahlia looks at me, surprised, and I just shrug my shoulders. I don’t really know what this new friendship is either, but I will not look a gift horse in the mouth, or whatever the saying is.
We follow her to the ladies’ room and stand in front of the mirror fixing our faces and smoothing our hair before the paps get more pictures of us leaving the restaurant after a long evening.
“Oh, I love that lip color,” Suzanne says. “What is it?”
“I have no idea,” I tell her, handing her the tube of whatever Maeve had placed in my bag after helping me get ready. “I’m kind of terrible at girly things.”
She looks it over with delight before handing it back. “Oh that’s a great one. I have it in a different color, but I’ll have to try that one. It’s gorgeous with your coloring.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Suzanne says before giving me a warm hug and heading out the door.
“Well, that was weird,” Dahlia says. “Since when are you two besties and should I be jealous?”
“No,” I laugh. “You’re still my one and only. But she offered up a truce at the garden party and I could use a friend in the trenches.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “I’m just not sure she is one.”
“Only time will tell.”
“Yeah,” she agrees reluctantly. “I guess.”
Dahlia’s quiet as we leave the restroom. The crowd has thinned some, leaving me feeling unsettled again. I feel like I’m on a tightrope and I’m going to slip any second.
“Ready to go, hen,” Rhys asks softly as weapproach.
“Yeah.”
“It’s going to be a long day tomorrow. Let’s get you home to bed.”
“Okay.”
“Well, everyone,” Rhys turns to those still here, “we’ll see you tomorrow at the abbey!”
Cheers go up in our private room at the restaurant and he waves happily to everyone before wrapping his arm around me and leading me out of the building.
The hostess opens the front door for us then Leo opens the door to the car, all while photographers call our names and flashbulbs snap across our eyes.
“Good luck tomorrow, princess!” someone calls out and I smile and wave before climbing into the SUV.
“Thanks, I’m going to need it,” I mutter to myself.
“What was that, love?” Rhys asks as he slides in beside me.
“Oh nothing, I was just mumbling to-do lists to myself,” I lie.
“You’ve got nothing to worry about,” he replies, but we both know that’s not the truth.
We sit in silence as we’re driven back to the castle.
Truthfully, Iamexhausted. It’s been a long day, and the wine has been free flowing tonight. I’m sure tomorrow it will there will be plenty more, and while I’m not drunk, I am a little tipsy.
It wouldn’t do well for the king’s fiancée to be sloppy drunk, but I did have a good night if one canhave such an indulgence when worrying about their impending doom.
The night sky is black, and the moon is full as it hangs low over the sea, highlighting the castle on the cliff as it reaches for the sky. The effect is terrifying.
