Chapter 206
Cassie
The dress was the most beautiful and exquisite thing I’d ever seen in my life. I hadn’t had a wedding dress, so that didn’t count and even if I had , I doubted anything could top what was hung up in front of me.
“Oh Cassie.” Cathy came up behind me. Making me jump. I turned to her.
Instantly she read my face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I lied.
“Then why aren’t you dressed?” Reaching out she touched my cheek and frowned. “You’re a little warm Cassie. Are you not feeling well?”
“I feel fine.” And I did. “I’m just nervous.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about Cassie. This party is in your honour.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. And that was part of the problem. I wasn’t used to being honoured. I’d never done well with being in the spotlight. “I’ve just never been to a party as his wife before. We attended one before the accident but he didn’t acknowledge me as his wife and went with Megan.” I trailed off. “Will she be here tonight?”
Maybe that’s what was making me pause. The thought that she was going to be here. I had promised Julian that I wouldn’t doubt him anymore but the claws of jealousy still held on. It didn’t matter how much I tried to loosen their grip.
Cathy didn’t even hesitate. “Yes, most probably.”
I respected her for her honesty. “And that’s why you need to pull yourself together.” She lowered her voice to a whisper , her eyes darting around almost like she thought someone might be listening.
“You don’t trust her?”
She shrugged. “The king trusts her and I trust him. But-“ she winked at me. “She does need to be put in her place and you wearing that dress, standing tall and proud next to Julian. Will do that. He loves you very much.”
“I know.” I did believe that or at least I was starting to believe it anyway. “I know I’m being crazy for feeling so insecure around her but-“
Taking my hands Cathy, turned me to her. “Cassie, you are his queen. The mother of his heirs. It’s time to start thinking like one.”
I nodded. Maybe she was right. “Ok.”
“Then let’s get you into this thing.” She snatched the delicate red fabric and I winced back. It was so flimsy, panel after panel of silk leaves, sewn together over a sheet sheath. One wrong move and the whole thing would be ruined.
Not that Cathy seemed to care. Turning to me , she motioned for me to drop my robe and put my arms up. Which I did quickly.
She let the dress fall over my body, lacing it up at the side with thin, almost invisible thread.
“There’s no way I could have gotten into this by myself.” I said as she finished the job quickly.
“And that’s why I’m here. It’s a little big but that is just because you are still so thin. Still,” she turned me around and smiled. “A custom gown should fit you properly. I will talk to the dress maker. He needs to do better.”
I stared down at myself. It felt snug and not to big at all and one glance at the mirror and I knew I looked beautiful.
Like a princess.
No, not a princess, a queen.
“Sit down and I’ll bring the jewellery. That’s the final touch. Your hair and make up are perfect already.”
I stared at myself in the mirror. Taking in the sweep of my lashes that perfectly ringed my eyes and made them look big and exotic looking. My lips were glossy, their natural colour. Even my usually wayward hair seemed to be on its best behaviour. Pulled and twisted , with loose soft curls framing my face.
I looked good.
Better than good.
“The king has asked you to wear the rubies tonight. And I have to say I think he is right. Red is definitely your colour. I’ll be back.”
She disappeared only to appear five minutes later. “Sit.” Opening green velvet boxes she first produced a crown.
“I can’t sit in this dress.”
Laughing she shook her head. “Luckily I’m tall enough to reach them isn’t it.” She placed the crown on my head, securing it with Bobby pins that had appeared like magic out of nowhere.
“The necklace and the crown go together and-“ she froze. Her eyes glued to the empty box in her hand.
There was no necklace.
“Where?” Wildly she looked around. “I don’t understand. Julian got these out especially. I saw him order them from the vault. They are the jewels of a kings mate. I need to speak to him. There’s no other jewels here and-“ she was frantic. And I could hear her heart pounding away. If she carried on being worked up then she was going to have a heart attack.
Reaching out, I touched the back of her hand. “It’s ok, they probably forgot to put it in the box. I don’t need to wear a necklace.”
“But you can’t wear the crown.”
“Then I won’t wear the crown.” I shrugged. “Honestly I felt a little silly in it anyway. The dress is-“
“Not enough. You need something.”
“There’s a small diamond necklace in my jewellery box.” I rushed over to it. Pulling it out. Nothing fancy. Just a small square diamond on a thin gold chain. A graduation present from Forrest.
Cathy eyed it warily and then she sighed. “I think it might work better because of its simplicity but the King is going to be furious.”
“Why would I be angry?” Julian’s voice barked out and we turned to him.
“The jewels aren’t-“ Cathy began to say and stopped.
Julian swept past her, coming to a stop in front of me. His eyes wide in wonder and his mouth open.
“Cassie-“ he breathed.
I blushed.
“You look- goddess I don’t have the words to describe how you look. Wow.” His eyes raked over me. “You don’t need any flashy jewels.” Taking the necklace for me, he moved behind me to secure it around my throat. His hands sliding against my skin and making me shiver with need.
“My wife is the most beautiful gem of them all.”
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