that I have you two to vent to does worlds of wonder.” Nika says.
“Thank you, girls.” Trying to hide my discomfort, I smile and take another sip of my champagne.
Brigid returns with a rolling rack full of dresses, smiling brightly. “Do you want to come look, ladies? Er… Your highnesses, I mean.”
Margot and Nika bound to their feet, eager to look at the dresses. I am slower to move as I follow them, wistfully touching the first dress on the rack, an off-shoulder cream number with full skirts. I run my hand down the satin, my mouth twisting sourly. “This dress is lovely. Actually, all the dresses I've seen today have been.”
Margot peeks her head out from behind a rack, her eyes bright. “Pippa, tell Brigid your size. Let's start trying on some dresses.”
I set my champagne aside and give Brigid a little smile. “Do you have a restroom that I can use?”
She smiles back at me. “Of course! If you go out this door, it's all the way at the end of the hall. Will be waiting for you when you come back.”
I press my lips into a smile and rush out the door that she pointed to, my face heating. I'm not a very good liar, not in the average proceeding of things anyway. I rush down the hallway to the ladies room. When I find it, it’s quite nice, all granite inside with a large mirror over the sink and a beautiful looking antique chair separate from the stall. Walking over to the mirror, I run a little bit of water and what a paper towel, pressing it against my face. I look in the mirror, my eyes scanning my own expression.
“This is too much,” I say to my reflection. “No one ever said that I was going to end up lying to Margot and Nika. What do I do about it?”
I sigh, steeling myself. If I can just get through this little part of my girls day out, I think I will be happier.
I turn and march to the door, opening it.
And I come face-to-face with Mrs. Olson, her arms crossed across her chest. She arches a brow.
“I haven't heard from you in some time, Sylvie. Did you forget about me?”
My skin flushes hot. I begin to tremble. “What are you doing here?” I drop my voice to a whisper, peeking out into the hallway where she's standing. “It's almost like you want be caught by the royal family.”
Ms. Wilson smirks at me. “I thought it would be better if you were motivated to give me what I want so I leave.”
Shooting her a glare, I reach out and grab her arm, pulling her roughly into the bathroom with me. I close the door, rounding on her. “This has to stop. I don't know anything. I don't want to be your spy. If you don't leave me alone right now, I'll call the authorities. I'm not joking.”
She gives me a cool little smile. “Aren't you going to ask me how Stella is doing?”
Her question catches me off guard. I frown. “I… I don't know…” I shake my head. “Just because I'm curious about this girl that you keep talking about doesn't mean anything. You think that you know who I am but you don't.”
Mrs. Olson clicks her tongue at me. She shakes her head. “I'm not here to listen to your lies, Sylvie.” She looks at her watch. “I do have to be running along. But I came here for reason. Your fiancé is going to get some very precious news at work today. And I need you to find out exactly what that news is. It's too sensitive to just talk over the phone, so I will be dropping in again on you, Sylvie.
I ball my fist up. Stepping closer to the middle aged woman, I show her my teeth. “I don't want to see you again. If you leave right now and don't come back, I can forget that all of this ever happened.”
Mrs. Olson doesn't even blink. “Oh, Sylvie. You need a display of force? Really? Something to show you that I'm not full of hot air?”
She pulls out his cell phone and types of brief message. I give her a look, turning to open the door. This woman is unbalanced and I should have already reported her to the police. There's nothing stopping me from doing that right now.
And yank open the door, sticking my head out. “Nika, Margot? Will someone please