Page 63 of Crown of Thorns
“The bride is over here,” a tall, stylish man named David, waves me over and helps me up into the chair.
“Thank you.”
“Ms. Maeve says we’re doing soft hair with a delicate sweep pinned back from your face, soft glam with a brown eye, and a pink lip,” he reads from his check list. “But does that all sound good to you, doll?”
“Yes,” I answer with a smile because it’s nice to have someone ask what I want for the first time in what feels like ages.
“Good, good. Let’s get started.”
I sit back and relax as he begins to brush and curl my hair. I’ve always loved having my hair brushed. Again, it’s something that reminds me of my mom. I wish so much that she was here now. Would she be happy with the path I’m taking? Would she have protected me better? Or would I even be here now? I don’t know and the truth is, I never will. I was selected because of my bloodline and my parents’ political affiliations but now I’m here and it’s my wedding day.
While my curls set, the second stylist does my makeup in soft browns that will accent my dark eyes and still look good for early in the day. When she’s done, he lets down my curls and brushes them, so they softly frame my face. I was afraid I wouldn’t look like me today and somehow, Maeve directed them to make me into a slightly more decorated me and not someone else entirely as my life is shifting yet again.
When he places the tiara on my head, I hold my breath while Maeve and Dahlia gasp. It’s made of sweeping diamond loops that have giant teardrop emeralds suspended from the top of each, large diamond solitaires dotted along the top.
“She’s gorgeous, is she not?” Dahlia whispers.
“Aye, so stunning,” Maeve agrees in the hushed conversation, and I feel my heart warm. These women aren’t saying nice things to win me over, they’re saying them when they think I don’t hear them.
My hair stylist sweeps my hair back from my faceto frame both me and the stunning diamond and emerald tiara.
Maeve and Dahlia escort me into the bedroom where they’ve laid out undies and stockings on the bed. I slip off my pajama bottoms and pull on the lace panties and stockings, then they hold the dress open for me to step into. I slip my pajama top down my shoulders and slide my arms into the sheer sleeves while they button up the back, making it look like the butterflies are landing on my shoulder.
I sit delicately on the end of the chaise lounge while Maeve unearths a large velvet box and hooks the matching chandelier earrings in my ears. “We’ll swap the tiara for the necklace when we change your dress later,” she says. “It’ll be beautiful with that dress.”
Then I slide my feet into the heels as Dahlia comes back dressed in her beautiful, beaded gown, her hair swooped back in a delicate chignon and a diamond brooch pinned in her hair. She’s wearing delicate diamond studs and a matching tennis bracelet.
“Bridesmaid reporting for duty,” she says with a mock salute. Maeve and I both laugh, and they help me up from the chaise.
“Don’t forget your flowers ladies,” one of the stylists says. We both take small bouquets from a tray near her station.
When there’s a knock at the door, Maeve rushes to open the main door to the suite. My uncle walks in looking every bit the king that he is in his militaryuniform of his home country, our home country.
“You look beautiful, niece,” he says. “May I escort you to the abbey now?”
“Yes, please.”
“Very well then,” he says as he turns to offer me his arm.
I take it and let him lead me from the suite, Dahlia and Maeve trail behind me, helping with my train. We wait in a small sitting room where no one will see me while cars fill with the rest of the wedding party and the royal family and depart for the abbey.
When everyone has left, and no one has seen me, it’s time. We’re led out to a beautiful luxury car. Leo opens the door, and I slide in, sitting stiffly as my train is stuffed in as best as possible before my uncle slides in beside to me.
We’re halfway to the abbey before I realize that all that time spent waiting for the rest of the wedding party to depart was the perfect opportunity to escape.
That is if I wanted to, and I’m not sure that I do.
The streets are lined with people waving flags and cheering, just as Craig said they would be. It’s wild to think that they are here to celebrate my wedding. It just goes to show how much they love their king, Rhys.
The car pulls up to the abbey and as Leo and the driver get out to check the surrounding area and prepare to open the doors, my uncle turns to me. “I can’t tell you how proud you’ve made me, Estrella,” he says, using my full name. “I know that you will honor yourhomeland, your true homeland, and you will not fail against the Guardians of the Crown.”
And then Leo pulls open the door, and my uncle steps out looking regal and strong. He holds his hand out to help me from the car and I take it, almost desperately, because I’m so overwhelmed by emotion and the weight of this dress.
Dahlia is at the steps with the little girls who will precede us down the aisle. When I step out of the car, she comes down the steps to help straighten my train.
“You got this, sis,” she winks at me as she passes, making it possible for me to offer a real smile.
I can hear the music change inside the abbey. The heavy doors are pulled open and someone ushers in the little girls in their white dresses with big blue bows tied around their waists. Each holds a basket of flowers in their hands filled with petals that match the floral crowns on their little heads.
