Page 65 of The English Queen

“I am ecstatic, Perry. I love him so much. He is the most wonderful person.”

Perry smiled. “I’m glad for you. We all are. Who would have thought it?”

“Trust me, no one is more surprised than I am,” Beth admitted. “But… I love him more than I’ve ever loved anyone. It is almost painful how much I love him.”

“I will be sick. Stop, stop!”

They sat down for the performance. It was delightful. The Soprano lead was vibrant and charming. The entire cast was alive. Beth’s friend, Pierce, played Guillot, an old rake. Beth was gleeful watching him. It was a perfect evening. Beth excused herself to the bathroom at intermission, taking Veronique so they could take turns holding up one another’s ballgowns. It was a delicate dance of pissing backwards on the toilet, a technique Beth’s mother swore by to save a ballgown. If it worked for The Queen, it was worth trying.

“Your mother is a genius!” Veronique laughed.

“She would know, I guess.”

Beth powdered her face as Veronique stepped to the side, scrolling through her messages. A woman sidled up to the vanity to apply her lipstick. Beth knew who she was. This was awkward.

“Your dress is… it is lovely,” the woman said in English.

“Merci.”

The woman’s voice wavered. “I’m not… I’m not upset with you. I… I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“You did not,” Beth insisted. “We’re both in the same place at the same time.”

The woman nodded and continued for a moment. Beth closed her compact, returning the powder to her clutch bag.

The woman blurted, “How… how is he?”

“He’s good. Great. Stressed right now… the job. But, happy. Very happy.”

The woman smiled and nodded as Beth turned.

“I… I want him to be happy. And… how could you not make him happy? You are… you’re everything you need to be. As I was not. I wish you both happiness. Many years. Tell him I send my regards. I am glad he is happy.”

The woman sounded choked up and sad, like she’d been holding this in for ages.

Beth nodded. “I shall. Thank you. I will pass it on.”

Beth left, grabbing Veronique by the wrist.

“Uh… hello to Bethany,” Veronique spoke in English before rotating back to French, “Who was that? What was that?”

“My soon-to-be-husband’s ex. The one who left him two months before the wedding,” Beth answered.

“Is he hung like a horse? How on Earth—”

Beth disregarded the question. “She’s pretty, yes. I think I frightened her. It was awkward, but I do not think she meant anything ill. He still has great affection for her. She hurt him, yes, but… he understood in the end.”

“What happened?”

“She couldn’t live the life. The institution destroyed them. And his mother did not help.”

“She’s beautiful. And kind.”

“She’s since married. Has children. Told Louis she wasn’t sure if she wanted them two months before the wedding. Broke his heart. Shortly after, she married someone else and now I think they have three.”

“Oof.”

Beth sighed. “Life is mysterious.”

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