Page 55 of Crown of Thorns
But Maeve, and even Dahlia, can’t complain about this dress because it’s both elegant and understated, exactly how I hope they see me. I’m not a lot and pretending to be too much will feel fake, like a Halloween costume.
My dress has a high boatneck and is fitted to the waist where it gathers in thick pleats as it falls to the floor in tiers of fuchsia, teal, and white flowers. My dark hair is left to fall in a soft blow out and my eye makeup is in dark browns to highlight my dark eyes, but the rest is left soft.
Massive teardrop shaped aquamarines surrounded by diamonds hang from my ears and a matching braceletof teardrop aquamarines suspended by four rows of diamonds is wrapped around my wrist.
I will never stop being shocked every time Maeve or Rhys hands me a velvet covered jewelry box. I’ve learned that if it comes from Maeve, it’s a loan from the royal vault, if it comes from Rhys, it’s a gift and is now part of my private collection.
Apparently, there is a vault somewhere of things that belonged to my mother during her tenure as the wife of the heir to the throne. I want to see it, but also, I don’t. Material things, no matter how grand, will never bring them back to me. But I do wish for more memories of them, along with the time that was stolen from us.
I slip my feet into the black velvet Aquazzura heels and look at the clock. I’m going to be late if I don’t leave right now. The reception and dinner are in the Finlay dining room. It’s fancier than the dining room used for everyday dinners but not as grand as the one used for state banquets.
I make my way through the suite with a quickness and head down the hall. If I’m late, Saoirse is sure to make my life more of a nightmare than it already is. Or worse, she’ll humiliate me in front of everyone at dinner.
Thankfully, when I make it to the lobby, no one is there yet, and I pull in a deep breath. The door to the sitting room that opens to the Finlay dining room is cracked and I wonder if anyone is inside yet. I start topush the door open when angry voices stop me in my tracks.
“It’s time you did your job,” a man snarls. “I’m tired of waiting for you to quit twiddling your thumbs.”
“I’ve been trying,” Saoirse replies.
“Well try harder!”
“Do you know how insulated she is?” she snaps.
“I don’t care. You were supposed to get rid of her.”
“I’ve been trying,” she insists. “Can’t you see that?”
“What I see is a whiny little girl who has been absolutely useless to me,” the man snaps. “She should have been dead weeks ago.”
Does he mean me? I always knew my accident was no accident at all, but to know that Rhys’s stepmother was behind it is terrifying. Will they try again?
“I was told that the accident would be fatal.”
“It was fatal, you simpleton! The driver died, not the girl. Do you even know how to carry anything out?”
“I married the king, I had his baby, I’ve done what you’ve asked of me,” she says quietly.
“Don’t get me started on that brat of yours,” he says. “You have a job to do and it’s time you did it.”
“Or what?” she asks.
“Or it’ll be time to find out what happens to people who I no longer need… or want.”
“What are you doing skulking about?” Lady Thomley asks quietly from behind me, making me jump.
“Shh,” I hissed. I can’t let the people in the sittingroom know that I heard them. At least not yet.
Lady Thomley tips her head to the side and studies me before the others interrupt her inspection.
“I’d hate for something to happen to either you or your mutt,” the man threatens.
“But that’s your granddaughter,” Saoirse pleads.
“I would sell her in a heartbeat for the Serpents,” he says. “You should know that better than anyone.”
“But—”
“This wedding cannot take place.”
