The Rose Princess by Ivy Hollins

Author:Ivy Hollins [Hollins, Ivy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2019-11-10T16:00:00+00:00

The Wedding

All too suddenly, the day of the wedding had arrived. Talia awoke early, even earlier than on the day of her betrothal ball, for the wedding was to take place at noon.

“Oh, the dress!” one of the ladies twittered, sweeping Talia’s curtains open. “Such a dress! I’ve never seen the like. You’re going to look so beautiful, your highness.”

Talia yawned and said nothing. She hadn’t seen the fully finished gown, true, but she’d suffered through enough fittings that any sense of anticipation was well and truly dulled. After the first visit to the city, the Duchess had decided that the delicate princess should not be exposed to the noxious fumes of the world outside the castle. Madam Decours had therefore paid regular visits to the castle, accompanied by a small army of seamstresses. Each time, Talia had stood patiently while she was prodded and poked, and each time a cluster of new dresses appeared in her wardrobe shortly afterwards. The wedding dress, though, had been saved until last. Even Talia had seen only the basic form, not the final gown.

“Look!” Amber said, pulling open the doors to the dressing room with a dramatic flourish. “What do you think?”

The ladies all gasped, even though they had presumably already seen the gown before they woke their mistress. Even Talia had to admit she was impressed. The dress was the palest shade of pink, made of foaming lace that would spill from her shoulders to pool behind her in a glorious train. Winking gemstones clustered amidst the folds, sending dazzling light across the room. It truly was a splendid gown; Madam Decours had outdone herself.

“What, still in bed?”

The Duchess swept in through the bedroom door without any warning. One dismissive glance sent the ladies-in-waiting scattering out into the sitting room.

“There’s still plenty of time,” Talia said, trying her best to look dignified - not easy when she was still in her nightgown, with her hair mussed from sleep.

The Duchess’s lip curled.

“I’m not sure there will ever be enough time to make you a suitable bride for my son,” she said. “But you’re pretty enough, with effort.” Her voice lowered and she bent closer, her face utterly devoid of emotion. “Do not ruin this day for me, Talia. Disobey me, and you will have cause to regret it. As will all those you care about.”

She swept out of the room again, apparently content with that vague warning. Talia sat there, frowning at the wedding dress as her ladies-in-waiting filed back inside.

“You’re a lot more than pretty enough,” Amber whispered in her ear.

Surprised, Talia turned to look at her. There was an expression of fierce loyalty on the girl’s face.

“Thank you,” Talia whispered back, oddly touched. Maybe she had been wrong to fear Rhys. It seemed that Amber was not so easily swayed, after all.

The ladies dressed Talia up like she had never been dressed before. Layers of silk and lace went under the dress, each more delicate than anything ever seen in Merrivale. Then came a delicate tiara, made of twisted silver and glittering diamonds.

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