Page 9 of The English Queen

“And I will for sure be there. God, this is the best news!”

Rita teared up. “I never thought in a million years I would get a third baby. I wanted one so badly, Bruno. And without you… well, I wouldn’t have dared. We’re going to be terribly happy–baby or no…”

“But with a baby, even more.” Bruno kissed her again. “Only with you. Only with you.”

“You’re going to be a brilliant dad, Bruno.”

“I hope so,” Bruno chuckled.

“You already know what to do. You have the boys. I’m so ready. You will be, too. You’ll never feel ready, but you will be. Trust me. And I trust this time, I’m not alone.”

“You’re not. I’m not about to desert you with a newborn, baby.” Bruno laughed. “I’m not a monster.”

“I only say that because my parents are getting older and can’t just drop everything. And Vanna simply can’t help—”

“I get it. I’d suspect, if you wanted it, my mother would be glad to come and help, too. She’s helped my sisters. She’d relish being here. You have support, okay?”

“Thanks, darling. That would be nice, I’m sure.”

“We’re going to do great,” Bruno said. “The boys will be excellent big brothers.”

“They will, yeah,” Rita agreed. “They will be so good.”

“We gotta surprised them somehow. Let me think on it.”

“You’re adorable,” Rita laughed. “You’re so happy.”

“Of course, I’m happy,” Bruno said. “I’m about to have a baby with the person I am most in love with. And we’re going to do an amazing job raising a top-notch kid.”

“We better buckle up. Mum and Papa are releasing our engagement in the Times tomorrow. Get ready for a media blitz,” Rita warned him.

Bruno chuckled, “My mother will be so happy she can tell everyone. Damn.”

?????

The Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale are elated to announce the engagement of their daughter, Lady Mairead Ferguson, 41, the Countess of Lauderdale, to Mr. Bruno Sanchez, 30, originally of Mexico City, Mexico.

Lady Mairead helps manage the thoroughbred breeding operations for the Lauderdale Estate. Mr. Sanchez is the Senior Vice President of European Operations and Mergers and Acquisitions for Léon Spirits and Holdings. The couple currently resides together in London.

The groom’s parents, Mr. Raul Sanchez and Mrs. Silvia Sanchez of Mexico City, Mexico, are also pleased to celebrate this happy occasion. Winston and Gerald Thomas, the sons from Lady Mairead’s first marriage, are also happy to be included in these celebrations. This is the first marriage for Mr. Sanchez.

The wedding ceremony will take place on Friday December 2nd at Marylebone Guildhall with a select group of family and friends. A wedding reception will follow at No-Mad hotel London on Saturday December 3rd. Guests are expected to travel from the groom’s home country of Mexico and his mother’s home country of Switzerland.

There is no expectation of any public appearances regarding this engagement as it is a private, family wedding and life occasion.

Say Yes to the Dress

Beth had her pick of designers, in theory, but she knew in the end she would be stuck with a Belgian designer. The problem was she hated all the conceptual sketches sent her way. They were downright dowdy. Beth was twenty-eight. She’d be twenty-nine on the day she married Louis. She wasn’t fifty. And Beth’s greatest feature was her bustline. The idea of covering the girls up entirely was ridiculous. Modest and hideous were two different things. So, she complained to Veronique, her dearest friend, and Veronique suggested she ask their friend, Meghan, for sketches. Meghan Chalamet was a designer, after all.

Meghan’s dresses were a fantasyland of bright pops of colour and the most extravagant, luxurious fabric. She was also known for her cheerful shoe and bag collections. In fact, Beth was convinced she would wear a pair of Chalamet heels when she said I Do. She had just never considered asking Meghan to design her a beautiful gown. Why not?

To her absolute surprise, Meghan jumped at Beth’s request. She suggested something so extravagant Beth was shaken out of her pouty existence after the last trip to England. She was convinced they could get away with three dresses. For the civil ceremony, a simple tea-length gown with a pretty net fabric overlay and a bow at the waist. The sweetheart neck wouldn’t make Beth dowdy but would still allow for coverage to and from the registry office. It would, of course, require an expert corset design from one of Meghan’s dearest friends who did them. It would be simple. She could wear a hat to go with it.

For the ceremony, the same neckline would be utilised, but this dress would be made of duchesse satin–a warmer option for the full-scale ride through the city in an open car if the weather was hospitable. It was sufficiently buttoned up for a wedding in a Catholic cathedral. But the low scoop of the back and sufficiently not-elderly neckline would be just enough to keep it age-appropriate. Duchesse satin was a dream fabric for Beth. So, she glommed on. It evoked some of her earliest memories of her mother’s coronation and that of past royal gowns. It was perfect.

Then, a third dress for the reception. This one would be the sexy one no one would see but their guests or, if they chose to release pictures of the reception, only in very carefully curated form. It was like something out of old Hollywood. The dress was a column gown made of delicate crepe silk. With a plunging neckline and no back, it was daring. It was the sort of fun Beth was expected to have on her wedding day. And she would not be policed. After all? Who would police her? When you were queen, no one told you no.

She told Meghan she had the job.

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