Jillian begins filling glasses with ice, and I take a moment to study the room. It’s a mix of modern and traditional, and nothing like what I expected. I smile to myself. Not a single speck of gilt or red in the room, much to my surprise.
Helene is nothing like I pictured, either, for that matter. When I see her on TV, she’s dressed more “royal.” Conservative dresses and hats and her hair neatly pulled back. If I didn’t know I was going to meet her this evening, I don’t know if I would have recognised her with her hair down, wearing a zebra blouse.
“I’ll start with our mission this evening,” Liz says, leaning forward in her chair. “I think it’s safe to say we’re all bloody furious over what Dishing Weekly did to Bella this week.”
“It’s mad,” Victoria spits angrily. “And then to see these cowards behind their keyboards commenting on Bella in such a cruel way makes me livid.”
I furrow my brow. Oh, Lord, I didn’t go to the various social media sites to see what people were commenting on the articles. I never even thought past the story itself.
My stomach knots a bit more. It only begins with the headline. Then it gets a life of its own when the public gets a hold of it.
“Which is absurd because Bella is beautiful,” Clementine interjects.
“Try telling her that,” Liz says. “She’s gutted by this. Worse, she believes it.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, the girl has hips and breasts. Not everybody is built the same, and that’s a beautiful thing,” Amelia says. “And I think we should celebrate that.”
“How do you propose we do that, when all Bella wants to do is hide her body now?” Victoria asks. “That’s what she told me. She said she wants to wear something dark and flowy to the wedding.”
“Oh, absolutely not,” Helene says. “I will not allow her to hide, not this time.”
Liz looks at me. “Bella has always been shy. And she’s always had a shell around herself, ever since we were kids. She hates the media attention that comes with being a York. It takes a lot for her to come out of it. Bella only does it when she has to, like making an appearance at Ascot or Trooping the Colour. She was already anxious about the wedding. And this has just made her want to retreat even further.”
Oh, no. I think about Camden and what happened at Ivy Cottage last Friday night. I know she was hurt when he shifted all his attention to Victoria, but this adds a whole new layer to it.
Jillian begins to fill the glasses with gin. “I think Bella has struggled in the shadow of both of you girls. It’s nothing either of you has done, but you are two very distinct, strong personalities. It was easier for her to hide between you than to dare try and shine alongside you.”
Victoria appears thoughtful as she takes in her words. “She’s always done that, compared herself to us. Bella even calls herself the bland sister, which drives me mad. We’ve get into rows whenever she says that.”
“It’s protection,” Clementine says. “Poke fun of yourself first before anyone else can. I’ve done that with my facial paralysis. Try to act like it doesn’t hurt even when the words crush your heart.”
I shift my gaze to Clementine. Her facial droop is so slight, I would never have noticed it.
Except for the press screaming about it in awful articles.
Sickness washes over me as I can’t help but think of myself. What will they say about me that would cause me to break down in tears?
Or worse, shame Xander?
Jillian begins pouring tonic over the gin in the glasses. “Helene, what do you think we need to do?”
Helene leans forward on the sofa. “What I’m going to say is not going to be popular.”
I find myself holding my breath at her words. What on earth could that mean?
“But,” she continues, “I think Liz and Victoria need to stay out of it.”
“What? But why?” Victoria cries, looking aghast. “We’re her sisters!”
“No, I don’t agree with this at all, Helene,” Liz says, her eyes flashing. “Bella needs us.”
“No. She needs to stand on her own. To make decisions outside of her sisters. If you two are involved, she’ll feel no matter what she does, it will pale next to you two beautiful girls. I can see her resisting any suggestions you two