talking to him. She had wanted to ask him whether he was enjoying a final fling with some woman, but couldn’t bring herself to stoop that low.
When Jade and Kate had arrived a week ago full of laughter and excitement, they had tried to jolt her from her hiding place and as her wedding day rushed toward her, she had been forced to face the reality of what her future might hold.
“I hope I meet someone as gorgeous and as rich as Jack,” Kate said in all seriousness, flicking back her red curly hair as she bent to check Lara’s earrings were in place.
“Doesn’t a prince own the winery where you work, Kate?” Lara tried to take her mind off the thousand or so butterflies flapping in her stomach as she asked the question.
“Yes, but he lives in France and we never see him in Australia,” she moaned.
“Well, what about me? When I go back I’m going to put in for a job at my dad’s old property in the Outback and I hear this bloke who’s bought it is as rough and tough as they come.” Jade gave a louder moan.
“At least you won’t have to worry about handling the media, Lara, which is good.” Kate continued her part of the conversation. “Did you see that press conference Jack gave?”
“Yes. The palace media office arranged it,” She thought back to the excellent press coverage Jack’s conference had received and suspected he had agreed to it to satisfy the clamoring of the world’s media and to take some of the pressure from her.
Jade jumped in, her hands waving in the air with excitement. “Honestly,” she chirped. “I fell for him right there and then and when some stupid journo asked about the rushed wedding and he replied that he loved you and so why wait, I just about fainted with ecstasy.”
Lara couldn’t help laughing and the three girls chatted on, teasing each other as if they were giggling schoolgirls once again.
“I’m ready.” Her statement brought them to a sudden hush as they stared at her. She held out her hands for the other two to grasp. “I’m so lucky you are here and that I have your love and support,” she said, her voice shaky, bringing instant tears to the eyes of her friends.
“When we started boarding school and became the three princesses, we promised we would always be there for each other, no matter what,” she continued. “And even though I’m getting married I promise you I’ll still be there for the two of you.”
The three of them hugged each other as the years suddenly rolled away and for precious moments, they were eleven years old again, new girls on their first day at boarding school, lonely and shy in a strange and different world.
There was a light tap on the bedroom door and the girls turned. Lara’s heart leapt into her throat. Surely, it wasn’t Jack? He wouldn’t come here, would he? She was aware anything was possible with this man who did exactly what he wanted. This man who was soon to be her husband, for better or worse.
The door opened to reveal Queen Francesca. The three young women gave bob curtseys as she approached. Both Jade and Kate knew Francesca well having spent several holidays at the palace when Lara had asked them to join her.
Francesca was in a great mood as could be seen by her broad smile as she surveyed them. “Ah, my favorite people,” she beamed. “It will indeed be a wonderful day.”
“I’m ready, Mummy, but there’s nearly an hour to go yet.” Her nerves tighten another agonizing notch.
“Yes, I know, dear. I have your dresser, makeup person and hairdresser all waiting outside to perform any last minute adjustments but, if Jade and Kate don’t mind, I’d like to speak to you alone.”
The two girls rapidly disappeared and after they had closed the door, Francesca indicated Lara should sit on the edge of the bed and she sat beside her.
“We haven’t had much personal time together in the past few weeks what with all the details of the wedding to organize,” Francesca began. Gazing into her mother’s beautiful face, Lara saw the signs of strain with prominent worry lines around her mouth and eyes. She looked tired and drained and Lara recognized much of this had to do with Carl.
Lara herself had been mortified when she had first been told of Carl’s addiction to gambling and the millions of dollars he had accumulated