Catharine & Edward Read Free Page A

someone specialized for that, if it does.”
    “It was restored just before my wedding,” Francine said. “I’ve aired it out a few times since then to make sure it was fine, and to fix anything that wasn’t.”
    “Really, Mama? Still, vintage dresses like that must be very delicate. We’d need someone to alter it, in any case. Someone we could trust.”
    Cat tapped a finger to her lips. “I think I may know someone. I’d have to reach out to him, make him sign all sorts of confidentiality clauses before I told him. You needn’t worry though; he’s nothing like Bocci.”
    Francine gave her an appraising look. “I wonder why you’ve never started your own fashion line, My Lady?”
    Cat blinked, her entire body stiffening. “Well, I’ve, er, designed, yes. However, that was with well-established designers. I haven’t done much designing and sewing on my own over the years.” At least none that she would admit to. Though she’d studied design at university, she’d never thought to pursue it full time. She was a princess, after all, and Alex had needed her help with royal duties.
    A princess with a dream was often doomed to bad luck.
    Rebecca smiled for the first time in hours. “I think that’s a great idea. You should do it, Cat, if you want to.”
    Fear, pure and simple, coursed through her. “I don’t know.”
    “You’ll be brilliant at it, My Lady.”
    Time to change the subject. “Perhaps. Anyway, let’s focus on your dress. Francine, why don’t you describe it for us? Then, we can take a look at it once we return to the palace.”
    Cat listened to Francine talk about the dress. When Cat caught sight of Rebecca brushing away some lingering tears, Cat felt swamped with both empathy and guilt. Rebecca deserved better than to have her wedding dress destroyed. Rebecca even deserved a better maid of honor than her.
    Cat remembered all too well the poor way she’d treated Rebecca when she had fallen in love with her brother. Though they’d both forgiven Cat for her actions, Cat hadn’t forgiven herself quite yet. If it hadn’t been for her, then maybe Rebecca wouldn’t have run from the palace, and straight into the clutches of a twisted man who had been bent on destroying Valleria.
    That was the past, Cat reminded herself. Her friend and almost sister needed her, and Cat wouldn’t let her down.
    Not again.

Chapter Three
    C at heard Edward’s footsteps behind her. Since their kiss a few months ago – truthfully, even before then – she could pick out the tread of his determined feet nearby. If she couldn’t see him, her other senses seemed to heighten and search for him.
    It was no less true now, even with five other Royal Protection agents surrounding her, Rebecca, and Francine as they entered the Royal Wing of the palace, and turned left towards the royal apartments within.
    “Papa should be bringing up the dress to my apartment soon,” Rebecca said.
    “Will it be safe there?” Cat asked. “I mean, from Alex? We wouldn’t want him to see the dress.”
    Rebecca approached her apartment door and the agent outside nodded once and opened it for them. “I’ll make sure he stays away. We can keep it in one of the guestrooms. I just don’t want anything to happen to it, and I’d like to keep it close. Trust me, I can convince Alex.”
    “Convince me of what?” a deep voice asked. Alex appeared from around a corner, dressed for work in a crisp suit and with a tie that matched exactly with Rebecca’s dress.
    Rebecca smiled, as she usually did when Alex was near, but this time the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Cat supposed it was the worry about her dress, and she knew Alex would miss nothing when it came to his fiancée, especially if she was unhappy.
    A crease appeared between Alex’s brows. “What’s wrong, darling?”
    Rebecca walked into his arms, which automatically wound around her. “I thought you were in meetings all day.”
    “I needed something from my home office. Now,