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“He didn’t,” Astrid said. “Funny story. She proposed to him after the polo. Sort of off-the-cuff. He accepted. He’s cool like that. Secure in his masculinity. It’s the twenty-first century!”
Well, that would be interesting to tell him. I was unsure that would fly with Rick. He did not strike me as the type of man who would tolerate a woman proposing. However, I loved Astrid’s original assertion. This was a fairytale I could get behind.
“So cool!” Ingrid brimmed.
“That’s so… not what I expected. Where is the ring?” Odette asked.
“They are fitting it,” I said. “I will have Mamma’s ring. It was willed to me.”
They stared at me, tears in their eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I said. I felt even more guilty for using the ring for this sham marriage we had agreed to.
“No, no, it’s beautiful,” Astrid said. “You should have it and keep it in the family. She wanted you to have it. Papa would be happy, too.”
I teared up again. “I wish she were here. I wish he was, too. I miss her every day, of course, but I need her here for this.”
“You have us,” Astrid said. “Always and forever. Okay? We will make it through. We will get out of the regency and help you get on with your life. A real life.”
“Yes, a life with a wedding and a husband and babies,” Odette said.
“Maybe in a bit on the babies,” Astrid winced.
I nodded in agreement.
“Will he sleep in here with you?” Ingrid asked in a sweet baby voice. “Does that mean we cannot come in here anymore?”
“Oh, sweetheart,” I said. “He will be here sometimes in the future, but you are always my sisters. He won’t come between us. He likes you three. We will have a different rhythm someday, but we’re always sisters, okay?”
They nodded.
“Now, it’s bedtime. We have a full day tomorrow of preparations… whatever that means. So, off to bed!”
The little girls scurried off. Astrid remained.
“Stay with me,” I asked. “I don’t want to be alone.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
Astrid pulled the sheer curtains of my canopy bed closed so we were in a dark tent. When we were little and Mamma was sick, we’d do this. And when she passed, we did this, saying it warded off evil spirits. Namely, we lied to ourselves and said it kept Celeste away. Cuddled together in the dark, we tried to fall asleep.
“You fancy him, don’t you? Admit it!”
“I do. I thought she would wring my neck. I wanted her to leave. I wanted him to kiss me again. This time, it would have meant something. Astrid, the way he was holding me… it made me feel faint. It made things… tingle. But if he’d even so much as asked me about sex, I would freeze up. I know nothing. I don’t even know how to learn?”
“Books,” Astrid said. “I will give you some of my favourites and you can learn everything.”
I was doubtful that her books would teach me anything. However, they couldn’t hurt as I was a rank amateur, and must figure it out in a few months. I’d soon be lying in bed with a man who knew far more than I did.
Part Two
The Team
Eighteen
Rick
Several days after I committed to marry her, I entered Alexandra’s room. It was a first to make a it month before seeing a woman’s bedroom. I expected it to be sterile expanse, but it was a sanctuary of sorts—lovely and homey. Pinks and florals peppered in with ivory. It was very feminine.
