Read The King Takes A Bride (Royals Book 4) for Free Online

expert skill.
    Before Chey knew it, they were through. She glanced back to the doorway. Mattias was gone.
    “I still think this dress looks like someone puked on it,” Natalia said, vacating the dais without looking at Chey.
    “Natalia!” Esta gasped, shot Chey an apologetic glance, and stepped down.
    “She's allowed not to like it. But she'll wear it if she's going to be in my wedding,” Chey said, asserting her power over the decision. Natalia could wear mint green or dress like a honey bee for her own wedding. Chey cared little. For this event, Natalia would acquiesce to the rules or be thrown out of the line up, council be damned.
    Natalia made an unladylike noise and disappeared around the corner of the mirrors.
    Hanna approached, clipboard in tow, the phone coming down from her ear. “Miss Sinclair, it's come to my attention that the Crown Prince will be arriving in several hours. Now that we have the first fitting, you should probably consider taking an hour of etiquette lessons before getting ready with his Majesty to greet him.”
    “How about a half hour of lessons?” Chey suggested, glancing aside to Hanna. “I have a private meeting with his Majesty at three and I'd like to eat something before then.”
    Hanna bobbed a nod, making notes in her folder. “Very well. I'll let Mister Urmas know you're on your way for lessons.”
    Chey inclined her head. That suited her fine. Turning back to see the girls begin to file out from the dressing area, she said, “Thank you for taking the time to try the gowns on. Irma will let you know if you need to have another fitting before the wedding.”
    Esta and Krislin said their goodbyes with sunny smiles and pleasant demeanors. Aurora, quieter than the rest, acknowledged with a simple nod on her way out. Natalia and Katrin ignored Chey completely, taking a side door into the hallway, heads bent together while they gossiped.
    Hanna, once more wearing an uncomfortable expression thanks to Natalia and Katrin, made a gesture to the phone as if conveying the teachers were expecting her for lessons.
    Glad to put the experience behind her, Chey departed in the wake of the others, refusing to let Natalia get under her skin.
    She had more important things to look forward to. Like a rendezvous with a King.
     
    . . .
     
    The seclusion of the King's Garden appealed to Chey's need for some time out of the spotlight. Ten steps past the doors, lush foliage closed in around the cobbled walk, providing a layer of greenery between her and the castle. It increased as she followed the walkway, intent on locating Sander somewhere among the stone pavilions, benches, trees and hedge shaped archways. A fountain burbled to her left, vying with the trickle of a stream that meandered through the well maintained landscaping.
    She found him on a footbridge, hands in the pockets of his dark slacks, shoulders stretching the jacket snug across his back. Bathed in dappled sunlight, the King of Latvala stood facing away from the path, one hip resting against the white wood railing. In that moment, Chey wished she had her camera. The picturesque scene would have made a poignant portrait, fitting for a space among all the others in the halls of Kallaster castle. One could almost imagine what thoughts must be rolling through Sander's mind while he contemplated the striking garden.
    Loathe to disrupt him, she was nevertheless drawn forward, magnetized by some other-worldly pull.
    “You're late,” he said without glancing over his shoulder, proving his senses were as honed and sharp as ever. He sounded vaguely amused.
    “My half hour of etiquette training turned into two and a half despite my best intentions. Then I had to cram lunch down my throat or wind up heaving over the toilet because I was starving to death.” Chey rested her cheek between his shoulder blades, enjoying the play of muscle under her skin.
    “How is that coming? And what happened with the fitting? Did my sister show up?” He