The woman was clearly running with the royal theme, as the flap was laser-cut into an ornate crown design. Rather than being the envelope I’d thought it was, the whole thing opened out to reveal a pop-up silhouetted bride and groom. Appearing to look into each other’s eyes, they stood on what looked like a stage, while a chandelier dangled above their heads.
“You see those pockets?” Mum said, indicating yet more fancy laser-cut sections. “The invitation goes in one, and the RSVP in the other.”
“That’s some creation,” Leo said, while I mouthedWhat the…?behind my mother’s back. Clamping down on his lips, Leo did his best not to react.
“Isn’t it,” Mum replied, taking Leo’s words as a compliment. “Obviously, we need to talk venues. I mean, have we organised one yet?”
I winced. There was the wordweagain.
“Because I can’t send these out if I don’t know where the ceremony’s taking place?”
“We loved Gregbrook Manor, didn’t we, Tess?”
“We did,” I replied. “It had this fabulous glass-domed orangery that led out onto the perfect courtyard, complete with French fountain.”
“A French fountain?” Mum said. “That does sound perfect.” Her excitement built. “Please tell me you’ve booked it?”
“We were tempted. But the place is just too big,” Leo said.
“Is there such a thing?” Mum asked.
“There is when you only have twenty-seven people and a dog to cater for,” I replied. “Honestly, Mum, the space was huge.”
“And everywhere else is either already taken or not for us,” Leo continued. “But don’t worry. We’ll let you know as soon as we’ve organised somewhere.”
“I understand,” Mum said.
Her cogs began to turn. Wondering what was going on in that head of hers, I narrowed my eyes. Watching her, she reminded me of a supervillain devising a dastardly scheme, and not for the first time, I wished I had the power of telepathy. “Whatever it is you’re thinking, Mum, forget it,” I said.
Mum snapped back into the room. She fixed a smile on her face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Chapter 26
Istood under the hot shower, trying to wake myself up. Hardly surprising, considering I’d endured the worst night’s sleep imaginable. I’d spent hours tossing and turning, before finally drifting off. But thanks to a nightmare I simply couldn’t escape, even then my slumber was far from restful. It didn’t matter how many times I forced myself awake, I kept falling back into the same horror.
As in my earlier dream, it was the day of my wedding. But instead of being in a garden, surrounded by friends and family, I was in the bridal suite of a castle with just my mother for company. There were no luxuries to enjoy. The room was freezing and with only a bed and the four bare stone walls that surrounded us, it felt more like a prison cell. I had on Mum’s awful Princess Diana wedding dress, but it must have shrunk because it was too small at the back.
Mum groaned as she pulled at the fastenings, trying to get them to meet, all the while hissing at me for not heeding her warning about my eating. When she did manage to secure everything, I couldn’t breathe and putting my hand up to my chest, I was forced to take short sharp gasps to get oxygen back into my lungs.
Wheezing, I tried to explain that the dress was crushing my ribcage, but Mum didn’t listen, let alone notice the pain I was in. She simply smiled and kept telling me how beautiful I looked.
I shuddered. As dreams went, there was a lot to unpack in that one.
I slammed off the water. It seemed no amount of hair-washing, soaping up, and rinsing could shake the fuzziness from my sleep-deprived brain and grabbing a towel, I stepped out of the shower, dried myself off and got dressed.
Dragging my feet as I went, I was in no mood to herald the new day, but as I headed downstairs, I hadn’t even reached the bottom step when I was confronted by Leo’s good humour. I frowned, as the smell of cooking and the sound of whistling floated on the air. The last thing I needed was his chirpiness. I needed silence and caffeine.
“Do you have to?” I asked, as I entered the kitchen.
Leo turned his attention to the dog. “Sounds like someone got out of the wrong side of bed this morning, eh, Otis?”
I flopped onto a chair and placing my elbows on the table, rested my chin in my hands.
Leo smiled as he plonked a plate of waffles and the desired cup of coffee in front of me.
“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to sound harsh.” I straightened myself up and pushed the plate away.
While Otis appeared hopeful due to my lack of appetite, Leo looked at me, aghast. “Is everything okay?”
