Jessica nodded at Ginny. “She could if she wanted to.”
“That’s the point. She doesn’t want to. But she’s going to marry this guy and have his baby. Why shouldn’t she have two years of being a real princess before she has to let it all go?”
“That’s like saying you should eat a whole cake before you start a diet.”
Ginny laughed. “You mean, you don’t?”
Jessica groaned.
“Look, I am never, ever, ever going to be married. The mistrust my dad instilled in me will never go away. But I am getting married. To Dominic. For a bit over two years. Not forever. So it’ll be like playing house.”
Jessica sighed. “Playing house?”
“Yes. Just another facet of the charade. Because I know it’s fake, I’m not going to get hurt. But I also want to experience something I never would have if we hadn’t gotten pregnant and decided to marry for the baby.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Ginny sucked in a breath. “I think I do, but even if I don’t, it’s only two years. Once it’s over, it’s over. I will have no choice but to go back to normal. Especially with a baby to raise with him.” Satisfied with her conclusion, she changed the subject. “Did you bring something to wear tonight, or do I need to call the clothier?”
“Clothier?”
“He’s this guy, Joshua, who if you need something you call him, and he’ll call a store or designer and have it in the room within hours.”
Molly gaped at her. “So you can get us gowns for tonight?”
“If you need them. It’s all about not embarrassing Dominic in front of his father.”
Jessica shook her head. “I think you’re enjoying this too much.”
“Actually, this is the part I don’t enjoy. The part I won’t miss at all. There are lots of things about being a princess like the press and having a father-in-law who can have you deported that make this life hard. Not something I’d want to do forever.”
Jessica drew a deep breath. “Okay. Now I think I get it. You know you don’t want to be in this life forever, but you like Dom and you’re going to make the best of it while you’re here. So you’ll have no regrets and be ready to move on.”
Ginny sighed with relief. “Exactly.”
“Okay. Then I’m on board, too. What do you want us to do?”
“Nothing. This is the part I need to handle myself. I just haven’t figured out how yet.” She couldn’t exactly say, “Hey, let’s sleep together.” But she wasn’t the queen of seductresses, either. She was going to have to wait for her moment and take it. Given that he’d managed to avoid her for the past two weeks, that wasn’t going to be easy.
They called Joshua, who called his contact at a local boutique from Ginny’s suite. Four gowns were delivered within two hours, and Molly and Jessica made their choices before they returned to their rooms to dress for the formal dinner.
Ginny took special care with her outfit that night, wearing a coral-colored gown. She fixed her hair in the long braid again, the way she’d had it the night he’d kissed her.
When she finally came out of her suite, everyone was already there, including her mom—and the king, who was his charming best, and anybody with eyes in their head could see the reason was Rose.
After cocktails, they passed the small dining room where Dom and Ginny ate breakfast and lunch, and entered a much bigger dining room, something almost as fancy as the king’s. Dom let the king have the head of the table, taking the seat to his right and seating Ginny next to him.
The conversation ebbed and flowed around them as Ginny watched her mom, seated across from them at the king’s right. They talked about everything from sports to politics, and the king took great delight in sparring with her.
“He’s going to miss her when she’s gone next week.”
Ginny’s gaze snapped around to meet Dom’s. From the surprised expression that came to his face, she could tell he hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
“It’s okay. You can talk to me. We’re a team, remember?” She motioned from herself to Dom. “In this together.”
“Yes. But we don’t want to go too far.”
She turned on her seat, her taffeta gown ruffling and rustling, suddenly wondering if this was her moment. Everybody at the table was deep in conversation. Her bridesmaids chatted up Dom’s brother. The king and her mother were so engrossed, there might as well not have been anybody else at the table.
The best place for her most private conversation with him might just be in this crowded dining room.