Page 66 of His Royal Request

“Just Anne.”

“Thank you, Anne.”

Mum leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “When this is all over, we’ll spend more time getting to know one another.”

Charlie nodded emphatically. Mum walked away greeting guests as she moved to join Dad.

“Are you going to be okay?” Isla asked Charlie with a smirk.

She shook her head. “Leo and Anne. Your parents asked me to call them by their first names.”

I nodded. I loved that she referred to them as my parents, not the king and queen. “Yes, I know.”

She turned to me. “That’s a big deal. I thought that happened later on in the relationship. I’m supposed to have to work for it.”

Isla laughed. “Oh, honey. You have worked for it.”

* * *

The wedding ceremony started at ten but the procession to the chapel started an hour before. Michael planned to meet with me over an hour ago, before I left, so I could introduce him to Charlie, but he was nowhere to be seen. He and Charlie were supposed to be there before me and my family arrived. It wasn’t like I could delay the entire wedding party because of one person. Well...I could try.

“Have you seen him yet?” I asked Ronan for the twentieth time in the past few minutes. He was sitting in front of my window watching for his car to roll in.

“Still no. I would have told you.”

I buttoned my gray waistcoat before sliding into my shoes. “How long do we have?”

“Seven minutes.”

Michael could get here in time for a quick introduction. If he hurried. I didn’t bother checking my phone for an update. Michael was notorious for not answering calls or texts.

“Let’s head down then.” I slipped on my morning coat, grateful I didn’t have to wear my full ceremonial uniform.

We got to the steps out front where the carriages were already prepped and waiting to carry us to the chapel.

“Five minutes.”

I nodded. Nicole was climbing into the last carriage, her bridal gown overflowing from the small door. Her mother and two other women were shoving the fabric in, but it didn’t appear to be working.

“This should be interesting.”

Ronan looked where I pointed and laughed. “That’s quite the dress.”

“It’s surprising she went for something so…” I trailed off, unsure of the best word.

“Bold?”

“No.”

“Big?”

“No.”

“Loud?”

“I think that’s it. She complained about the attention at the garden party but that screams ‘look at me’.”

He shrugged. “It’s her day. She probably didn’t want to get upstaged by anyone.”