Playing the Royal Game

Izzy got to be her wonderful self while Allegra seemed to forget who she was. Two weeks before the wedding Alex had to fly to London to finalise the transfer of his business and would return on the eve of the wedding.

‘The eve...!’ There had been a row, of course.

Another one.

‘There is much business to take care of—when I am back, I will be back for good. We have our honeymoon to look forward to, we are away for a full month,’ he pointed out. ‘I am just away for two weeks.’

What a difficult two weeks it was, and though she adored spending time with Izzy, it was her fittings with Raymond that got her through—his endless chatter and the smiles he gave her—little shots of confidence that he seemed to inject with every pin he stuck in.

‘You’ve lost more weight.’ He was far from impressed. ‘Allegra...’

‘I’m not trying to.’ Allegra stood there and looked at her stick figure and sallow skin and wondered how in a couple of days she was supposed to transform into a radiant bride. She knew she was too thin. Even the queen was offering her croissants these days and she was accepting them too. It was just the nerves and the knot in her stomach and the loneliness that was like an endless furnace on constant high burn. ‘Things will calm down after the wedding.’ She had to believe that they would, that once they were more alone, once she and Alex were in an apartment, they could form a new normal, that she might find her place in a life she had not chosen.

‘Well, let’s get this off—it’s the last time you’ll see it before the big day.’

‘Shall I put the other one on?’ Allegra asked, but Raymond shook his head. ‘You might need to alter it.’

‘No need—it’s not anywhere near as fitted.’ She was curiously disappointed, for she truly loved the other dress. ‘Anyway, it’s been cleaned and it’s hanging.’

‘I wanted to see it.’

‘You’ll see it after the wedding.’ Raymond beamed, busying himself with his pins and tapes, trying to hide his blush. For he deliberately hadn’t brought it along today; he knew how much better it looked than the other, knew how much more suited it was to Allegra, and he did not want her to know that, did not want her disappointed with her choice of dress on the big day. She had, he knew, enough to contend with already—in truth he was worried about her. ‘So,’ Raymond asked. ‘What have you got planned? Are you off to spend some time with your family?’

‘Not till after the rehearsal tomorrow,’ Allegra said, trying to pretend it didn’t matter. ‘Anyway, my dad’s got to film his television show and can’t get here till the rehearsal.’

‘But the rest of them are here,’ Raymond said. He was worried about how pale she looked, figured she needed some time with her family. But, in fact, Allegra was petrified to see them in case she ended up breaking down and begging them to just take her home.

‘Alex doesn’t get in till lunchtime and then I think he’s got some royal duties tomorrow night, but I’ll be at the hotel, so if I want to see him before the wedding there’s only tomorrow afternoon.’

‘You’ll feel better when you see him,’ Raymond soothed. ‘You’ll remember why you’re doing this in the first place,’ he said.

She smiled and said she hoped so, but it was the loneliest day of her life when he had gone. She looked out of the window, could see the activity outside the palace, cameras setting up, barriers in place, all getting ready for the day that was fast approaching.

‘Allegra.’ She answered the phone to Alex. ‘How are things?’

‘Fine,’ she said. ‘I’ve just had my last fitting for my dress. How are things there?’

‘I’ve been busy,’ Alex said. ‘I am actually looking forward to having a full month off. Is everything sorted?’

‘Pretty much,’ Allegra said.

‘The book?’

‘It’s almost finished,’ Allegra said.

‘Really? Well done.’ He actually sounded proud. ‘Am I allowed to read it?’