Under the Stars (20 page)

“I will ready my people to prepare for the wedding.” He lifts my hand to his lips.

“So soon?”

This feels so sterile. Contractual. Loveless.

But what did I expect?

“My darling, I have waited too long for a wife. The wedding will be scheduled two days from now.” He claps his hands twice, quickly. A footman appears from the side door leading to the kitchen. King Zarek whispers something in his ear and the man nods, returning the way he came. “I love breakfast. My favorite meal of the day.”

“Wait—two
days
?” I screech.

“Oh, darling, if you’re worried about your family, they’ll be here, no doubt,” he replies, with a smile on his face. But something punches me deep down and tells me he’s lying. I decide not to push further, in case I might upset him. If this ends badly for Legora, well, I don’t want to picture my family starving and battling the elements. So, I play naïve. Big smile, Andrina. Really big smile.

“What’s on the menu?”

He squints, like he’s thinking hard about it. “Ah, you’ll have to wait and see.”

Several minutes later the footman brings us our trays. On them are heart-shaped pancakes in strawberry syrup and cream. They’re so warm they melt as soon as they reach my tongue.

“If you ever want anything to eat, tell them and they’ll make it for you. You’ll never be hungry in my world.”

“Thank you.”

I push the plate away when I’m finished. My stomach is so small I can’t eat much. It would take a year to stretch it out.

“Join me this afternoon for a game of tennis.” I give him this
I-don’t-know-about-that
look, but he insists. “You can watch. You don’t have to participate.”

“Good. Because I’ve never played sports.”

“Well, that’s going to change. I would place money on the fact that you might best my footmen. And they love to play.”

“I am a fast learner…”

“See. I knew it.” He stands, and I do too. “Rest up for this afternoon. I don’t want you to be sick in this heat.”

I have to tell Daphne the news. I just hope she’s in my room when I return. This means that soon she and Ray will be together. Legally. Without consequences.

I lay on my bed, trying to figure out what I’m going to do for the next few hours, when Daphne barges in.

“So sorry, miss. Lost track o’ time.”

“Spend the night with Ray?”

She blushes, and I take that as a yes.

“Well, I have good news for you,” I say. “I met with the King this morning and accepted his proposal. So you and Ray can be together, and anyone else that has wished for marriage.”

I’m not sure if the shock on Daphne’s face is because she’s excited, or if she can’t believe I accepted so speedily. Either way, she snaps out of it.

“’Grats, miss.”

“Why do you seem worried?”

“I know yer tryin’ ta do the right thing by helpin’ the people, but there’s more ta bein’ a queen than playin’ dress up.” She keeps her head bowed, like she’s afraid to glance my way.

“We talked things over—what I’d do, what my responsibilities would be—before I accepted. I know this isn’t going to be easy, but if these people need help, I’m here for them.” I pause. “You think I’m making a mistake?”

“It’s not my place, miss. Jus’ don’ think the people will accept ya.”

“Is that why you wouldn’t say much yesterday? There’s no going back now, Daph. I’ve already given the King my answer, and we’ll be married in two days.”

She glances up. “Two days? That’s not enough time.”

“He says Valyad desperately needs a queen. It has to happen sooner or later, I guess.”

Placing her hands on her hips, she asks, “Well, who’s gonna fix ya up?”

I feel the grin spread through my lips. “I hoped it’d be you.”

With a shake of her head, she says, “The things I do for ya.”

41.

Things are kind of hectic the next day. Everyone’s running in circles trying to prepare for the wedding. Daphne says she’s never worked so hard in all her life. I tag along, helping her with whatever she needs.

The seamstress says she doesn’t have any white silk or embroidered cloth, and it would take weeks to make by hand. I think she’s just saying that, because nobody is excited to have a young queen. Especially one that came from the same life as them.

But Daphne sees right through her.

“Don’ tell me ya don’ have the materials! I seen them jus’ last week. Ya sayin’ that on purpose, ya crazy goat.”

The woman’s jaw drops. “Nothin’ of the sort! Just don’t believe someone younger than most of us should be queen.” As if her words aren’t enough, she juts her nose toward the ceiling.

Daphne begins to say something, but I grab her arm. “C’mon, Daph. We’ll just tell the King his wedding will be postponed because the seamstress refuses to make the dress.”

“I didn’t say that!” she yells. “Stop! I’ll do it. Just don’t tell him stories.”

“Good. Now show us all the white cloth you have stocked.” I can’t help but feel a little smug. By the looks of it, Daphne does too. Like we’re powerful. Like nothing in the world can stop us right now because the King is on
my
side.

The seamstress disappears into a back room.

“Ya have pull,” says Daphne.

“It’s funny that I just mention the King’s name, and she agrees to help.” Even as I speak, I keep my gaze directed toward the door. “Is what she said true? About me being too young?”

“Some people think so, miss.”

I glance at Daphne. “That’s why they give me curt glares?”

“Yes. They don’ think ya can handle bein’ Queen.”

“But I can. I mean, I will.”

“You’ll hafta prove them wrong.”

The pudgy woman appears from the supply room with bolts of white fabric. She drops them on the table in front of us.

“There. That’s it. All I got.” I’m met with a grunt. “Pick what ya want. Not like I have a say in the matter.”

“Well, then, that’s what I choose.” I lift the two bolts up so she knows. Daphne steps forward, explaining how much we’ll need for my dress.

When the materials are in hand, Daphne insists we get my measurements. “I want ta make the dress myself, if that’s all right.”

“I couldn’t imagine anyone else making it for me.”

A middle-aged woman with a flower wreath around her head stops me before reaching the room. “King’s orders. Need to know if your family and friends will attend. We have to make a guest list,” she says.

“I’d like for my family to be here. They’re in Legora and don’t know that the wedding is tomorrow. It’s all so sudden.”

The woman smirks. “Of course. I’ll send for them right away.”

Before I can take two more steps, a footman approaches with a slip of paper in his hand. “The meal is one of the most important events for tomorrow. Aside from your wedding, obviously. But we need to know your preference on a few items.” He flips the paper so it’s facing me. The list is a mile long. Appetizers. Main Course. Dessert. Each with at least ten different options.

“I think I’ll go with the sprout rolls for the appetizer, sharsan for the main course and for dessert, um, the chocolate surprise.”

He bows out, heading toward the kitchen. What will Malik think about cooking all this food? Or will he be allowed to attend the wedding?

“So what’s the surprise?” Daphne asks.

“I have no clue. Just sounded entertaining.”

Daphne locks the doors behind us upon entering my chambers. She says there should be no more interruptions, so she can concentrate.

She measures everything from head to toe. “I jus’ wanna make sure yer day is perfect,” she tells me.

“I need to locate the King when we’re finished.”

“Oh?”

“I’d feel awful if Malik wasn’t there. I don’t want him preparing my food; I want him to be sitting with me, eating it.”

“I don’ see why he couldn’t.”

Later, when I visit King Zarek in his study, he’s not too thrilled that I missed his tennis match. On top of that, I have to bring up the subject of Malik and his role in the wedding. The King says, “We need all the cooks we can get tomorrow. Have you seen the guest list, my dear?”

“Yeah, it’s lengthy, but that’s not the point. Malik’s my friend. I don’t want him to work on the day of my wedding.”

The King sighs. “Very well. He is permitted to attend. But only because you begged for him to.”

“I didn’t—”

“Ah, ah.” He tick-tocks his finger at me. “Let’s not argue tonight. Tomorrow is our day, and I don’t want anything to ruin it. You need your sleep as much as I do. Run along, sweetheart. I’ll see you when the sun wakes.”

Is it possible to feel so alone the night before you vow to spend the rest of your life with someone?

42.

“It’s yer day, miss,” Daphne says. “Ya hafta look like a queen. You’ll be one.”

All of this preparation and work by people, who may or may not want a new addition to their monarchy, seems surreal.

“They don’t like me much, do they?” I ask. “Like, none of them.”

Daphne’s eyes drop to the floor. “They’re used to the Old World. Don’ take it personal.”

“Well,”—I inhale a deep breath—“maybe I can be the one to change their minds.”

“I hope so, miss. Someone needs ta.”

She finishes pinning areas of my dress that need to be tightened. The front is too long and will have to be hemmed so I won’t trip. How embarrassing would that be?

“—an’ if it was me, I’d be havin’ a lovely time. But what do I know? I’ve only seen two weddings in mah life.”

I attempt to focus on what she’s saying by nodding and using the occasional “uh huh”. My mind is only thinking about Mama and Mattie. As bothersome as all this is, I just want my family to be here. If they were, I’d feel a little more at ease with the situation. I’m still uncertain if Malik will show.

“Ya haven’t heard anything I said, miss.”

I knew she’d catch on. “I’m sorry. It’s just…I have a lot to consider right now.”

Daphne stands, her arms enveloping me. “I know it happened fast, but you’ll be all right. You’ll see.”

I hug her back. “I pray you’re correct.”

Pulling away, she places the pin cushion on the vanity. “Let’s get ya out of that dress. I’ll hafta take it to the seamstress for finishin’ touches.”

I don’t mind. It feels like sandpaper around the midsection.

“I meant ta ask ya… What did the King say about Malik?”

“He eventually said Malik could attend. But I don’t know that anyone’s told Malik.” I stare at my bare stomach, wondering if the King will see it tonight. I don’t even know how
that
ritual goes.

“If I have ta, I’ll go tell him myself.” She playfully smacks my arm. “Now put some clothes on while I give the seamstress a piece of mah mind.”

I fall back on my bed, the feathered mattress hugging me. More than anything, I want this day to be finished. Too much has happened in too little time and it makes my head spin. As long as my family and friends are there, that’s what matters most.

And only the heavens know how much I miss my family.

All of this is for them. If they could live here with me, I’ll never worry about if they’re hungry or if the clothes on their backs have too many holes or if they have a warm place to sleep.

“Can I come in?” Malik asks, wrenching me away from my thoughts. He stands at the door in his kitchen outfit.

“You don’t look like you’re ready for the wedding…”

“Turns out they need all cooks tonight. Something about a big event taking place.” He snorts at his pathetic joke.

I’m not laughing. “I told the King I wanted you there. He said it was okay.”

“Well,” he pauses, glancing at his clothes then back at me, “apparently not. Congratulations, by the way. Hope it works out,
my lady
.” He performs an exaggerated bow and exits.

I stomp off toward the King’s chambers, which are next door to his study. Several men I don’t recognize are stumbling around, laughing at nothing in particular.

Governor Hadi notices me.

“What are you doin’ in here, girl? You’re supposed to be gettin’ ready for your wedding,” he says, slurring his words.

“I need to speak with His Majesty. Is he here?”

Hadi closes the short distance between us, wrapping his arm around my neck in a tight hug. Like I’m one of the guys.

“Of course he is.” He leans in close and whispers, “But it’s bad luck to see him before the wedding.”

His breath is putrid. I refrain from gagging.

“I won’t look at him. I just need to talk with him about the guest list. Seems there’s been a mix up.”

Hadi laughs and pats me hard. A little too hard. “I’ll go get ‘em.”

“There’s no need to find me when I’m in the next room, Governor. Honestly,” the King says. “Leave us.”