Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Hugo had to slap a hand across his mouth to hold in his groan. Queen Lilianna was helping to sabotage Dorian. He needed to put a stop to this. They were going to have Dorian’s marriage arranged before Hugo could say his vows.
Pasting a bright smile on his lips, Hugo strolled into the cheery yellow-and-pink parlor where Jessamine and Lilianna sat. A rosebud tea service was on the table along with two silver towers of finger sandwiches and treats.
“Good afternoon, Your Majesty, Mother. Forgive me for interrupting your tea,” he greeted.
“Hugo! Should you be wandering around? What if you stumble upon your fiancé? You’re not supposed to see him prior to the wedding.”
“If I were lucky enough to see him, I’d kiss him silly,” Hugo teased. He bent and brushed a kiss to his mother’s upturned cheek. As he straightened, he heard the queen clear her throat. When he looked over, he found she had also turned her cheek up toward him.
Jessamine swatted his arm. “Kiss your royal mother, you ridiculous boy.”
“Such bad luck,” Queen Lilianna murmured.
“Loving Ev will never bring bad luck,” he whispered as he kissed the queen’s cheek.
She giggled but quickly smoothed her features as if it had never happened.
Since the announcement of his engagement to Prince Everand, Jessamine Baker had become a regular fixture at the palace. To his utter amazement, she and the queen had become fast friends. Which was more than a little terrifying to Hugo, but at least his mother wasn’t the type to make outrageous requests or try to use her new clout to make others miserable. Her one and only concern was the happiness and well-being of her children.
Using some of the money he’d received from his initial rescue of Everand from the Wulia scouts, he’d purchased his mother a fashionable town house in Frostbourne so she could make trips back and forth from the palace to visit with her new friend.
“Please don’t start plotting Dorian’s marriage,” Hugo begged as he stared at his mother.
“Plotting? What a word. I’m his mother, and I love him dearly. How could you say such a thing?” Jessamine gasped.
“Not very kind of you at all, Hugo. Your mother wants the best for her children. And now she has me to help her in this endeavor,” Lilianna chimed in. “We will make sure Dorian and Augustine are well taken care of for all their days.”
Hugo swallowed another groan. He could hear Everand cackling in his mind. This was what he got for attempting to take on both mothers at the same time. He’d rather go head-to-head with King Victor again.
“Dorian is still young. Let’s focus on my marriage for a bit. Enjoy the day,” Hugo tried.
“Oh, my goodness, Hugo. You make it sound like I’m going to march Dorian down the aisle right behind you,” his mother chuckled, and the queen joined in.
The queen caught Hugo’s hand in one of hers and patted the top with the other. “I think you’re nervous about today. There’s nothing to worry about. Everything will go smoothly.”
That might be part of it. He’d been going for two days now as he met with event planners and Mr. Booth for his wedding suit, not to mention his entire trousseau for the honeymoon he and Everand were supposed to be taking to his new estate. They were also supposed to be traveling farther east to spend some time at the seaside, but Hugo was anticipating a week away from the world in his new manor with his new husband.
Of course, there were the countless foreign officials and nobles who had been pouring into Frostbourne for all the festivities prior to the wedding. Hugo’s cheeks were still tender from the nonstop smiling he’d been doing as he’d met endless streams of people.
The queen leaned forward to gaze at Hugo’s mother. “Jessie, I’m going to leave so you can have some time with sweet Hugo. After today, you’ll have to officially share him with me.”
“That’s fine since you’ll be sharing your wonderful son with me.”
Good grief, someone save me.
Not even Everand would be insane enough to wade into this nightmare.
Queen Lilianna rose and kissed Hugo’s cheek. “Don’t worry. Everything will go perfectly,” she reassured him before gliding out of the room, humming to herself.
“Come, Hugo. Sit beside me.” His mother patted the space on the gold settee beside her.
“We don’t have time, Mother. I came to tell you that Miss Ester is searching for you. The alterations on your dress are complete, and she wants you to return to your room for a final fitting,” Hugo stated even as he dropped into the spot she’d indicated.
“We can spare two minutes.” Jessamine scooped up one of Hugo’s hands. “It’s your wedding day. This will be the last chance we have to spend a few moments alone together. After today, your life is going to be a whirlwind, and you won’t have time for your old mother.”