At nine o'clock my Mother knocked on my door and opened. She sighed at me as she walked into the bedroom, smiling and looking at me in the mirror. I smiled back at her.
"You look so beautiful Addison," she said in her blue dress. I turned to her and smiled broadly.
"Thanks," I said. "Do you think my hair looks okay?"
"Let me just pin this curl that you missed back," she said. I turned around again as she reached over and picked up a bobby pin off the dresser. She slowly and carefully pinned my loose curl up into my mess of other curls. "There. Did you want those roses in your hair?"
"Do you think that won't look too tacky?"
"No," she said honestly. "They match your dress perfectly. Queen Amelia found it for you?"
"I actually think his Highness picked it out."
My Mother didn't say anything as she put the red roses into my hair with pins. I bit my bottom lip and stood up straight when she was done. She stood next to me and smiled. Her blue dress highlighted her cleavage, and thin waist. A large bow was on her lower back, leading down the long skirt of the dress. My Mother used to get dressed up and go to parties for the Queen all the time. It was not something I was used to though. I was a little nervous to be honest.
"You found shoes?"
"I spoke to Carol," I said lifting my dress and showing my white heels to my Mother. "Who would have guess we're the same size?" We both laughed and my Mother walked out of the bedroom.
"You're actually a little late."
"That's okay," I said. "As long as we're there before Benjamin and Lady Marie I suppose its okay."
"They were supposed to enter at eight thirty," she said as we left the bedroom. "I left a little bit before that to go check on the kitchen and then came up here to get you. Sorry if we missed them already."
"It's okay," I said with some relief. I was actually happy I didn't have to endure the official announcement of Benjamin and Lady Marie's engagement. "I'll just slip in and all will be well. Don't worry."
Part of me wondered if my Mother had come and gotten me a little late on purpose. I didn't ask though. We arrived in the ballroom faster then I expected and my breath caught in my chest as we walked into the glowing room. It was a beautiful sight.
"Mom," I said looking at her. "You've really out done yourself."
"It's worth it," she said with a smile. "Benjamin is like a son to me and I want the best for him. Plus, Joann, the woman I'm training, did most of the planning. She's quite good at planning large parties."
I nodded and we entered into the large crowded ballroom, disappearing in with the people all around us. My Mother found Thomas and we spoke with him for a few moments before I spotted Benjamin and Lady Marie on the opposite side of the ballroom. I decided I'd better go say hi. I excused myself from my Mother and Thomas and walked across the room slowly towards Benjamin.
As I walked, I didn't see it coming, but I ran straight into someone who caught me around the waist.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," I said standing up straight and fixing my dress. "I didn't see you coming."
"It's alright," said the gentleman's voice. I looked up and couldn't help but smile at his dusty blonde hair falling in front of his crystal blue eyes. "I was distracted myself." He smiled. "I must say though running into you is a pleasant way to be brought back to reality."
I smiled and bowed my head.
"We should run into each other more often."
"I agree," he said. "I do get distracted often."
"If you'll excuse me."
"Don't be surprised if we bump into each other again."
I smiled. "I will be sorely disappointed if we don't."
I turned and walked away towards Benjamin who was still standing in the same spot. He spotted me as I approached through the crowd and smiled. When I reached him I bowed to him and Lady Marie.
"I've been looking for you," he said quickly.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I lost you in the crowd."
He nodded slowly.
"Hello Addison," said Marie. She looked gorgeous in a thin, straight, gold dress that was tight across her small breast and skinny waist. Her hair was down, straight and pinned back to be out of her face. She had a small tiara on her head and looked like a true princess. I frowned a little and then forced a smile.
"Congratulations again," I said kissing Benjamin's cheek and then Marie's. "I suppose we're going to have to be very close friends, Lady Marie."
"Yes, I suppose so," she said dully. She leaned against Benjamin and he wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her tightly. I blinked at her and then looked at Benjamin.
"What a party," I said looking around. "Are all of these people nobles?"
"Most of them," said Benjamin with a nod. "Parliament, Mother's family, Father's family, noblemen that Mother wanted to invite…Marie's family and friends."
"Who are all noble," Marie pointed out.
I nodded.
"Oh, Addy," Benjamin said. He didn't seem to hear Marie's comment like I had. I looked at him with a small smile. "There's someone I want you to meet."
He looked around the crowd quickly and then spotted someone he was looking for.
"I'll be right back," he said. "Keep each other company."
He walked off before Marie or I could object. I could tell she wasn't very happy about being left alone with me. I forced a smile.
"Where'd you get your dress?"
"Bea Das," she said looking down at it. "She's a personal friend of my Mother's. She designed this one and my wedding dress for me as a wedding gift."
"That was nice of her," I said slowly nodding my head.
"Who designed yours?"
"I don't know," I said looking down at it. "Benjamin picked it out for me."
I looked at her and forced a smile. That probably wasn't the best choice of words, but I decided I didn't care. If she was going to brag about her Bea Whoever designer dress I was most certainly going to brag about her fiancée picking mine out.
She just glared at me and turned to face another direction, taking a champagne glass from a passing waiter.
"Addy," said Benjamin returning. He had the handsome man that I had run into with him. "This is my friend from Oxford Jeremy. Jeremy, this is Addison."
Jeremy beamed at me.
"Told you we'd bump into each other again," he said taking my hand and kissing it. I felt my cheeks blushing with out control. I had never been kissed on the hand like that before. It was incredibly romantic.
"It's a pleasure Jeremy," I said with a smile. "But I don't think this counts as bumping into."
He smiled and nodded.
"Close enough I think."
"Jeremy, you remember my fiancée Lady Marie," said Benjamin drawing attention to his golden trophy. Jeremy smiled and bowed to Lady Marie. He took her gloved hand and also kissed it gently. The notion was less romantic to me now that he had done it to her too.
"A pleasure to see you again my Lady," he said with a smile.
"You also Jeremy," she said.
"Jeremy, Addison is a sociology and criminal justice double major," Benjamin said. I felt like he was forcing me and Jeremy together.
"Really?" said Jeremy with a smile. "I'm a criminal justice major. I'm currently training to be an investigator."
"That's cool," I said slowly. "I'm not really doing anything with my degree at the moment. Just got home yesterday from school actually."
"That's why Benjamin had to find you a dress then?" Marie said. "You don't have the money to buy one?"
I blinked at her for only a few moments and then looked at Benjamin, who again, seemed not to hear what his darling little fiancée had said. He was looking at a man who was approaching him quickly. Jeremy had heard what Marie had said and he was frowning deeply.
"Would you like to get a drink, Addison?"
"I'd love one," I said. He offered his arm and I took it.
"If you'll excuse us," said Jeremy politely. I had no means to be polite and said nothing as we walked away. Jeremy looked back over his shoulder as we moved to the bar were there were more drinks being served. "What a nasty woman."
"You agree?" I said once we reached the bar. I looked at the bar tender. "Do you have anything stronger then champagne back there?"
"No Miss," he said with a French accent. "Sorry."
"I'll have a coke then," I said.
He nodded and poured me a soda quickly.
Jeremy took some champagne and suggested we go out into the gardens. I decided I needed some fresh air after what that arrogant little bimbo had said to me.
"Do you know how they met?" Jeremy asked once we were out in the quiet, romantically light, gardens.
"No," I whispered. "I didn't even know they were engaged until yesterday when I landed at the airport."
"Aren't you Ben's best friend?"
"So it would seem," I whispered. "We grew apart when I went away to college."
"You just graduated?"
I nodded.
"I didn't realize you were that much younger then Ben and myself," he said. "He mentioned you a great deal. Always said he'd never hook you up with me though."
"You wanted to meet me?"
"Saw a picture of you one day on Ben's computer," Jeremy laughed. "Thought you were cute. Ben never told me why he was so protective of you."
"My age?"
"Yea, that'd be my guess," said Jeremy.
"Wasn't very protective of me today," I said glancing back at the glowing ballroom. We were walking farther into the gardens. I didn't care I really just wanted to get away from the damned party. I couldn't believe I had let Benjamin talk me into coming. I knew something like this was going to happen.
"He never hears Marie's flaws," Jeremy said.
"You've known them as a couple that long?"
"Benjamin met Marie our second year at Oxford."
I glanced up at Jeremy. He was about the same height as Benjamin.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty seven," he said. I nodded my head. He was the same age as Benjamin. "And you?"
"Twenty three," I whispered.
"Would you like to sit down?"
"Sure."
We sat down on a bench slowly.
"Where do you live Jeremy?"
"London," he said. "Benjamin invited me out here for the weekend. I'm staying until Tuesday."
"Long weekend," I said with a soft smile.
"It's the only vacation I'm going to get for awhile," he said. "I figured I'd take advantage of it."
"As I would have."
"You live in the palace?"
"Only currently," I said.
"Do elaborate," Jeremy smiled.
"My Mother lives here," I said. "And I have no where else to go right now."
Jeremy nodded.
"I have my own flat in London."
"I would hope," I smiled at him.
"You have a beautiful smile."
"You already knew that."
"I wanted to let you know."
"Thank you," I smiled more studying his crystal blue eyes. Jeremy was staring at me too and making me melt slowly. He was an extremely handsome man, and he had yet to give me a reason to think of him as anything but a gentleman. He reached out slowly and stroked my cheek.
"Ben would never forgive me if I kissed you," he whispered.
"Why should he care?" I whispered back. "I'm a big girl…I can take care of myself."
Jeremy smiled.
"You sure?" he asked brushing loose curls behind my ear. His fingers tickled my skin as they moved down my neck to my bare shoulder…across my collar bone…and softly…daringly over my cleavage. He barely touched my flesh but it was enough to send jolts through my body.
"Maybe I could use some help," I smiled.
He smiled more and leaned in, kissing me deeply with cool gentle lips. I closed my eyes as he wrapped my body in his arms, holding me against his chest and slowly kissing me more. I had to give him credit, he was an amazing kisser. He lowered his head to my neck and began to suck lightly. I giggled a little, like a twelve year old girl, and pulled away.
"I don't think we should go that far just yet," I whispered.
He nodded.
"You're right," he said then stood up. "Can I ask you to come back inside with me and dance?"
"Of course, I'd love to," I smiled taking his hand.
He led me back inside and we moved onto the dance floor where other couples were dancing closely together. I was surprised to see my Mother and Thomas dancing slowly to the music. I didn't pay too much attention to it though as Jeremy wrapped his arm around me and placed his hand on my lower back. I put my hand on his shoulder and he began to lead us in a slow waltz.
"You really do look beautiful," he said.
"Thank you."
"But I think I prefer the tee shirts and jeans from that picture Ben had," he smiled. "Looked more natural."
"I agree," I said. "I've never dressed up for anything like this before."
"Really?"
"Yea," I said.
"I was in a band when we were in college," he said. "Played gigs at weddings and parties like this. Had to wear a tux."
"Sounds sexy," I complimented. "What do you play?"
"Guitar."
"Do you sing?"
"Of course."
"Alright," I laughed. "Do you sing well?"
He laughed and nodded.
"Yes, I was the wedding singer."
I laughed.
"That's a good movie."
"With Adam Sandler, right?"
"Yep," I smiled. "One of my favorite actors."
"He is pretty good."
I nodded and stepped a little closer to him. We danced for the next few moments in a calm silence, just close to each other and enjoying the other's presences. Jeremy stepped back suddenly and stopped. I stopped and looked up to see Benjamin standing next to Jeremy.
"May I interrupt?" he asked with a smile.
"Of course," said Jeremy. He bowed to me and I bowed in return.
"Thanks Jeremy," said Benjamin patting his friend on the shoulder as he walked away. I watched Jeremy as he walked away and slowly bowed to Benjamin.
"Your Highness," I said softly.
He lifted my chin and smiled at me.
"Come here," he said motioning for me to come close to him. He took my hand and my waist gently and shivers crawled through my body. I looked up at him with a small smile. "How are you?"
"Oh, fine," I said.
Benjamin glanced in Jeremy's direction.
"You seem more then fine."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No of course not," he said quickly. "How do you like Jeremy?"
"He's a gentleman," I smiled. "Because he's afraid of you."
Benjamin laughed a little as we spun around the room.
"Why is that?"
"Thinks you're protective of me."
"He wanted to meet you when we were in college. You were a freshman in high school. I wasn't going to let my horny bastard of a friend meet you when you were still young and innocent."
I looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"I lost my virginity when I was a sophomore for goodness sakes," I said. "And I do believe that we had some good times when you came home from school my senior year."
"That was different."
"How?" I said. "You were a horny bastard then."
I looked up in his eyes and saw a glimmer of something I hadn't seen in a long time, not since I was a senior in high school.
"You were more to me then a one night stand."
"I don't think this a good time to be talking about that," I whispered.
Benjamin nodded his head and frowned.
"I'm sorry."
I didn't say anything as the song ended. We bowed to each other and Benjamin hugged me.
"I'm happy you're home Addy," he said. "I need you here."
I laughed a little.
"Why?"
Benjamin looked around him at the crowd of people.
"Do you want to go outside?"
I blinked a little. Of course I wanted to go outside and listen to Benjamin talk. But what would people think if they saw Benjamin and me going out into the gardens? What would Marie think or accuse me of?
"I don't know if it's a good idea Benjamin," I whispered slowly.
"Don't be silly," he said taking my hand. "I want to talk to you."
I didn't argue and followed him out into the gardens. I couldn't believe that only a few moments ago I had been out here making out with Jeremy. I knew I wouldn't be lucky enough to make out with Benjamin too…all in the same night.
Benjamin led me to a bench on the patio and we sat down slowly.
"I doubt you need me here Benjamin," I whispered. "I don't know why you would."
"Because Addy," he said. "You're my best friend. I'm getting married in four months and I'm going to be King soon after that. That's a lot to take in over a short amount of time."
"Yea," I nodded in agreement. I thought about how my best friend, whom I still had strong romantic feelings for (even if I wouldn't fully admit it to myself), was getting married and my Mother was dying of cancer. I think my problems out weighed Benjamin's, but I didn't say that out loud.
"You've always been there for me Addy and I haven't always been there for you," he said. "You listen and you're strong. I don't know how you do some of the things you do."
"What do I do?" I asked. "I went to school over seas. That's the extent of my adventurous side."
"You grew up with out a Father," Benjamin whispered. "Even though love destroyed and betrayed your Mother you've never given up on it…even though I ruined love for you, you still haven't given up on it. You're incredibly optimistic for someone in your line of work who sees death and murders everyday."
"I don't have a job," I whispered. "And Benjamin what's the point of all this? I don't understand how that makes you need me here."
"You give me strength," he said squeezing my hands. "You are my best friend, Addy. I don't know how I can describe it any other way. I want you here for everything I'm going to go through. I need your help and support."
I squeezed his hands in return and smiled.
"I know," I whispered. "And I want to be here for anything you need me for."
I just wish I was here as more then your best friend, I added in my head. I frowned slightly at my thoughts as I leaned forward and kissed Benjamin's cheek softly.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you too," he said in a different tone then I had. It was a more friendly tone. I don't think he realized how serious I was when I said those three words. Not that it mattered, I reminded myself. He was getting married and I didn't love him like that anymore. (Riiight). He hugged me tightly and I hugged him in return.
"I should get back inside," he said. "I'm sure Marie will be looking for me. I shouldn't leave her alone for so long."
I frowned slightly thinking in my head that she was a big girl and honestly wouldn't mind time away from him.
"Alright," I said. "I'm just going to stay out here for awhile."
"Are you alright?" he asked standing up and looking at me in concern.
"Oh, yes, I'm fine," I said forcing a smile. He smiled at me, leaning over me and kissed my forehead. He pinched my cheek affectionately and walked away quickly back to the ballroom.
Jeremy appeared out of the light of the ballroom a few minutes later and smiled at me as he approached with two glasses of champagne. I smiled. He really was a gentleman.
"Hey," he said sitting down next to me on the bench. He offered me a glass and I took it, sipping it slowly.
"Hey."
"You look tired."
"Just all partied out," I smiled.
"Want to get out of here?"
I looked at him.
"Where are you staying?"
"One of the suites on the second floor," he said. I smiled at him and finished my champagne.
"Do you still think I can't take care of myself?"
"I think I could take care of you better," he smiled kissing my shoulder.
"Want to put money on that?" I asked with a grin as I stood up. Jeremy smiled and stood up, taking my hand.