have to cook. As much as she liked being alone, and as much as her father had cut back on staff, cooking wasn’t something she’d ever learned to do. Certainly not well.
Maybe that’s something she could do while staying at the apartment. Surely there were plenty of videos online she could watch and learn from.
Joss’s assistant stopped by the next evening and brought the box of clothes to the door for her but left before she actually talked to him.
Nearly three days had passed since she’d talked to a human in person. Joss called for a few minutes each evening, but that was it.
Saturday, she snuggled in front of the television and watched the coverage of the pre-wedding ball.
Her father was shown walking in. The commentator wondered where she could be. After all, she generally attended these things with her father in recent years.
A few cameras were set up inside, allowing a better view and letting the public see the ballroom as well as the royal family, who wouldn’t be arriving on the red carpet.
“According to our notes, next to arrive will be Prince Caleb. He doesn’t appear to have a date this evening, though rumor has it, he and Lady RoseMarie have rekindled their relationship. Since she is also the wedding planner, she’s most likely busy elsewhere this evening.”
The blonde announcer in the green evening gown nodded. “Or perhaps it was decided that bringing a new girlfriend to his brother’s pre-wedding ball was bad form.”
“That’s also a possibility.”
Minnie watched as Caleb entered the room alone, a bit surprised that he was introduced before Joss. After all, Joss claimed the title of youngest brother by four minutes.
The commentators continued talking about the dresses and who wore what designer, along with which couple in attendance likely wouldn’t make it to the wedding.
The male announcer looked at his notes again. “Next will be Prince Joshua. He’s also attending the ball solo.”
The female leaned in a bit more, like she had a secret to share. “That’s not terribly unusual for him. He has a bit of a reputation for wanting to play the field.”
Minnie rolled her eyes. Joss had no such reputation. But with all of his brothers settling down, he was the only one to talk about. Except Ezekiel, the future king, who never dated anyone. Ever.
Joss entered the room a few seconds later. His new tuxedo fit exceedingly well. Minnie knew she wasn’t the only woman to think so even before the female announcer said something about it.
She hadn’t said the same thing about Caleb, though the two men looked nearly identical, except Joss’s beard appeared to be a bit thicker.
Could it be because Caleb was believed to be in a relationship?
Prince David and Princess Jacqueline Grace came next. There were comments about how lovely she looked and how handsome he was and how much in love they looked, but the comments weren’t the same as they were for Joss.
Though they were about as far from conventional as you could get, it bothered Minnie that the woman - and likely hundreds or even thousands of others - were commenting on her husband and how well his tuxedo fit.
It was best no one knew they were an item, much less married, but Minnie still didn’t like it. At all.
Maybe once the marriage ended, because that’s how this whole thing would surely wind up, she wouldn’t mind as much.
But for now, as Prince Joshua’s wife, she wanted all of the others to keep their eyes off her husband.
It surprised Joss how much he missed Minnie at this event.
He’d only attended two with her before, and the New Year’s party didn’t really count, not since no one knew who they were. His mother’s birthday party was the only other one.
They’d talked for a few minutes before taking their seats, when she’d told him her father had moved them to a vegetarian diet. She also mentioned that she doubted he’d actually follow it himself.
Joss had seen him practically inhale his steak. Minnie admitted that’s why she didn’t feel bad when she ate all of hers too, though she had given Rosie a bit of a hard time about not having vegetarian options.
Her father was in the ball room. Joss hoped to avoid the man but didn’t know if he’d be able to completely.
The fact that it was a ball also meant he’d be expected to dance with pretty much all of the women in attendance, which would most of the evening. He didn’t think he