crowned there since King Seamus in the 12th Century.
All the festivities would culminate on August 25th, at the Queen’s Jubilee Ball, after she traveled by a gold coach through the countryside, from one coast of Aldayne to the other.
We were scheduled to fall in line behind her coach as it passed by Castlewick mid-afternoon, paying homage to the Royal Family Home and King’s Keep beyond.
I woke up early to breakfast in bed, with a perfect Aldaynean rose in a bud vase on the tray. “Good morning, Princess,” Auggie smiled.
I chuckled. “For someone leaving the decision up to me, you certainly are making your preferences known.”
He rubbed his hand up my bare leg. “I thought I made that known last night,” he said as he nuzzled my neck and his hand slipped between my thighs.
“Auggie,” I gasped. “Jorge and Darcy will be here any minute.”
That didn’t stop him. His fingers played me like a fiddle until I was quivering beneath him.
“Take me,” I finally begged. Now that he had claimed me, my body ached for him whenever we were apart.
“Can’t,” he quipped. “Jorge and Darcy will be here any minute.”
I laughed as I tackled him, pinning him to the mattress beneath him. He allowed a few passionate kisses, but he fought to control his hardening body.
“Tonight,” he promised with a kiss. “After you’ve made your decision.”
“That’s so not fair,” I protested with a giggle, my hand capturing the hardening shaft easily from his opened robe. It was his turn to gasp as I stroked him, bringing him to full length. I bent down to kiss the velvety head. “Tonight,” I promised before scooting out of bed.
I could hear him groan out loud as I headed for a bath, a victorious smile on my face.
Jorge and Darcy had arrived by the time I was done. Auggie had already given them a brief tour of the monstrous palace while they waited. Jorge was clearly overcome when I finally met him in Queen Sorcha’s drawing room. It was already so fabulous that he didn’t need to do anything to it to transform it into a magical kingdom. It was decked out in regal red with gold filigree. All he did was light the candelabras and we were ready to go.
He still played disco music though, which made it feel a little more like home.
He once again concealed my face from any remnants of Christopher’s abuse. He added some extensions to my already lengthening hair so that it was long and curled around my face, just like a princess. The eye makeup was platinum and dark purple, with dramatic black lines. It was as glammed up as I’d ever been.
“Are you sure this is appropriate?” I asked him.
“The Duke requested something dramatic and bold, just like his bride-to-be.”
I shuddered a little bit.
I think Jorge did, too.
Auggie also had input into the dress that Darcy ultimately revealed. The brocade dress was pristine white, with a dramatic off-the-shoulder princess neckline and a crystal-studded empire waist to accommodate my growing tummy. Aldrite crystals sparkled throughout the dress, catching the light and making me shimmer.
Added to the white silk gloves I wore, I truly felt like a princess.
“Darcy,” I breathed as I stared at my reflection.
She didn’t say anything, so I turned to thank her, but she had already left the room. Standing there instead was my prince, in a full uniform just like Ademar.
“Wow,” was all he could say as he looked me over. He finally walked closer, holding out a black velvet box.
“What’s this?”
“On loan from Her Majesty,” he grinned.
I opened the box. It was a stunning three-strand pearl choker. In the middle was a four-carat deep purple aldrite, surrounded with diamonds. “Oh, my God,” I breathed, nearly toppling right off the high heeled pumps I wore.
He steadied me by the elbow before he turned me to the mirror. I watched him as he pulled the necklace from the box and stood behind me to affix it around my neck. I lifted my hair as he clasped it into place.
I hardly recognized the woman staring back at me.
“This is from me,” he added before he produced another black box. He withdrew a diamond and aldrite studded tiara, which he placed on top of my head.
His hands landed on my shoulders. “Do you know who you are now?” he asked softly.
I couldn’t speak as I tried desperately to take it all in.
The clock sounded from the other room. “It’s time to go,” he said.