Claire…
Claire Mills plopped down on her mother's worn settee and tried to take a deep breath. Which wasn't easy. The corset she'd been forced to wear was cutting off her air. And it didn't help that her shoes were pinching her feet as well.
Claire preferred her usual attire – the loose pants and the oversized shirt that had belonged to her father.
"I hate this dress." She muttered, pulling at the lace which was itching her throat.
Her mother, who was re-tying her sister Alex's hair ribbon ignored her. Actually, Claire thought with some resentment, she'd been ignoring her most of the morning.
Alex however, glared at her. "Stop fiddling with the lace. You're going to tear it."
"It itches!" Claire snapped back.
"Mom, the wedding's in an hour. She hasn't even fixed her hair. It looks awful." Alex whined.
Their mother, Jody, sighed deeply. "I'll fix her hair when I'm finished with yours."
"My hair's fine." Claire muttered.
And it was. It was clean and she'd brushed it. And it wasn't like she was the one getting married.
She was however, the maid of honor. Which was why she had been doing her best to be agreeable. But really, her sister was the bride from hell.
"It looks like a mop." Alex snapped. "I should have asked Sara to be my maid of honor."
Claire rolled her eyes. Sara was Alex's best friend. And really, Claire had been surprised she hadn't asked her.
"There," Jody said, stepping back and pointedly ignoring the bickering. "You look beautiful."
Secretly, Claire had to agree.
Alex's dark hair was swept up and tied with a white lace ribbon. Her dress, which their mother had spent countless hours fitting and sewing, was also covered in lace with fitted sleeves and a billowing skirt that pulled in tightly around her tiny, cinched in waist.
She looked liked a princess, Claire thought.
Which reminded her…
"Do you think Prince Castiel will show up?"
Jody smiled softly. She was not unaware of her older daughter's crush on the handsome prince.
"Of course, he will."
"He'll have his new husband with him." Alex pointed out. "I can't wait to see him. He's really handsome, isn't he Mom?"
Jody sighed. She worked in the kitchen of the Angelous estate and had seen the new prince several times and had made the mistake of telling the girls what a beautiful boy he was. Now Alex had one more thing to tease her sister with.
"Yes, he's very handsome." She agreed. "Now come over here, Claire. Let's see what we can do with that hair."
"My hair's fine." Claire snapped.
"Come." Jody ordered. "Sit."
Claire scowled, but got up and sat down in front of her mother.
"Are you going to put it up like mine?" Alex asked.
"I think that would be nice." Jody said, looking at Claire for permission.
Claire sighed. "Whatever Alex wants. It's her wedding."
Alex, who was admiring herself in the mirror, glanced over and nodded her approval.
"So, do you think Prince Castiel loves him?" she asked, returning her attention to the mirror.
"He doesn't even know him." Claire pointed out. "It's obvious his new husband just married him so he could be the prince."
"The marriage was arranged by the King and Queen. I don't think the boy had a choice." Jody said. "Anyway, he seems very nice. And it's good that Prince Castiel has a mate. I've always felt sorry for him living alone in that big manor."
"He was happy." Claire argued. "He works at the orphanage every day, so he's not lonely. And I think Prince Castiel prefers to be alone. He's like me. I don't ever want to get married either."
Alex scoffed. "Who's going to marry you anyway? You walk around in those old clothes all day and smell like the stable."
"At least I work. Besides, I think horses smell nice."
Alex laughed. "Yes. I know you do."
"There," Jody said, stepping back to admire her daughter who's long blond hair was now swept up and tied with a lace bow. "You look beautiful, just like your sister."
"Thanks." Claire said dismissively. She stood up and returned to the couch. Her damned shoes were hurting and she felt foolish all dressed up like this.
Claire held no delusions that she was beautiful like her sister. Alex favored their mother. She was dark haired, petite and fine boned. Claire on the other hand was tall and sturdy like her father had been. And Alex had always had the attention of all the boys in school, while no one paid much mind to her.
Not that she cared.
Alex could marry that weak minded Samandriel Colins and have six kids and grow old before her time if she wanted to. But Claire was going to take care of herself. She already had a job, working in the stables at the Angelous Estate as well as helping out at the omega orphanage that Prince Castiel had founded.
Claire liked her independence. If she'd had the choice, she would have become a soldier in the King's Guard. But that option wasn't available to a mere girl.
Which didn't mean she couldn't do her best to protect the prince.
She smiled softly when she thought of her prince.
Prince Castiel was handsome and noble and kind. And brave too.
He was the only person she might have considered giving up her independence for.
But that was never going to happen. Not now, anyway.
She just hoped this boy – Prince Dean – was good enough for her prince.
She'd find out soon enough though.
And, if she found out he was just using him, then she'd…well, she wasn't sure what she'd do.
But one thing she did know above anything else, was that she'd protect Prince Castiel with her life.
"Claire?"
Claire broke away from her thoughts and looked up to see that her sister and mother were waiting at the door.
"It's time to go." Jody said with a beaming smile.
Claire nodded and smiled back.
And then she got up, wincing as the damned fancy shoes that her sister had forced her to wear, pinched her toes.
