Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Grandmother, do not refer to my butler with such vulgarity,” Victor cuts in.
“Rubbish! My daydreams about the chap, now those are vulgar.” The old lady blushes.
In shock, since Graham was only throwing around the L word earlier, not fiancée, I can't help but envy Alba. No matter how friendly she is, my jealousy writes itself across my face. Luckily, all eyes are on a prissy royal.
“Fiancée? This is absurd.” The princess rises. Victor nears her, eyeing her like a hawk, prepared to swoop in and save her from falling. I cross my fingers, hoping Mary faints and hits the floor. God, that’s cruel. Technically, I just want the playing grounds to be even. She fainted because of me. Why not because of Alba, too?
“Congratulations,” I say, finding it hard to smile as I once did earlier. The motto “You can't feel happy for someone else until you're happy for yourself” is in full effect.
Graham and Alba do appear genuinely happy as they thank me in unison.
At this exact moment, I notice that Princess Mary hasn’t and won’t acknowledge me with a glance. She places a hand on her pale forehead. “Graham, you daft fool. Where are my sons? These two boys before me are feral. No affluence whatsoever. One goes gallivanting around his dukedom with . . . with . . . a,” she stops. “The Queen?” She gulps. “Graham, have you warned Her Majesty?”
“No, I have not given Grandmummy the good news. Mum, I don't have any duties. It’s of no importance.” Graham places his hands in his pockets and looks down.
While the princess argues, Sarah scoffs. “Where is the bloody champagne? There are three beautiful women in the room. And this prissy—” Sarah looks at her daughter.
“Mother!” Mary grunts.
Sarah snorts. “Might I have just a—”
“Only tea or water for you,” Victor interjects.
“Oh, Vicky, I just knew our little Lux would make you happier. Why so tense?”
“Lux? Mother, you will have no association with her!” Princess Mary shouts.
“I do. She's sweet and tiny. Vicky loves her. I do too.”
The left side of my lips begins to twitch. If Victor’s own grandmother thinks—
Plop! The Princess faints.
Double cheer for me. Wait, did she faint because of Graham and Alba, or am I the culprit . . . again.
“We were hoping to have a tiny gathering, an engagement party while here, Lux,” Alba says as she and I stand in the archway of the sitting room. We, outsiders, watch as Burt raises smelling salts to Mary's nose.
Lady Sarah has been inching her way over to him for a while. Since Victor’s sole concentration is on his mother, he hasn’t noticed Sarah’s desire for Burt.
Hell, Burt hasn’t seen her googly eyes. Graham stands closer to us as if he’d rather be entirely removed from the situation.
Graham turns to us. “Yes, Lux, we were going to make the announcement tomorrow. Here, if that is okay with you, brother. Alba doesn't want it to be a fuss, and if it weren’t for my meeting Luxury, and—”
At the same time, I say, “Yes” to Graham and Alba having an additional wedding ceremony, Victor gives a constricted reply. “Graham, now is not the time. Our mother is having one of her bouts of—”
“To my recollection, Mum faints once a day.” Graham jams his hands in his pockets. “As I was saying, Luxury, I met you and, the life teaming in you, I . . . I wouldn’t have noticed Alba otherwise. She’s not one for partying.” Graham takes her hands. “Alba, let’s just have a quick event tomorrow, then we can head back to Australia.”
“Well . . . it is Valentine’s Day, but we should plan,” I begin, eyes still on Grandmother Sarah, who has dawdled near the sofa where her daughter is unconscious. She’s leaning forward, allowing her breasts to splay before an unaware Burt.
“Oh, Lux, it doesn’t have to be all grand and extravagant,” Alba says just as Sarah gives Burt a reassuring back rub. His eyes snap in her direction, offering what I assume was her desired effect because his face turns near her breasts. He staggers back on his haunches and hands the vial to Victor, face blanched.
“Nope, not over the top, but exactly as you envision it,” I reply. Alba gives a weak smile as I rub her shoulder. “Maybe in a few weeks, when the sun shines—”
“The sun rarely shines,” Victor cuts in.
“I'm sure England has its seasons. Although, I’ll have returned to my life by the next season.” I test him.
“You will not.” Victor cuts in with no emotion at all.
Finally, Mary gasps, but nobody’s attention is on her by now.
“Vicky, stop being so beastly,” Sarah says. “We’ll have an engagement party this weekend. Tomorrow, I have Valentine’s plans. Burt.” She starts toward where the butler is stationed near the door, but Victor is near her in seconds. She purses her lips, bats her eyes, and then asks him to gather the best bottles of champagne.