DUALITY /#Wattys 2021

Chapter 46

Ridley awoke with a start. Morning struggled into the suite, but the drapes hung so heavy over the balcony doors she had no way of guessing what time it was. The suite was so big she had to get up to see the clock on the mantel. 10:30 a.m! Ridley had never slept that late in her life.

She turned around and noticed a tray on the bedside table filled with shining silver dishes. She walked over and lifted the lids: oatmeal, with milk, sliced strawberries, blueberries, brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts all on the side. A carafe filled with steaming coffee, a little pitcher of cream, a glass of apple juice, a croissant, and a note from Chi.

You must have been exhausted. You didn't even hear me come in. I hope you slept well. Love, C.

Then, below that: P.S., this page is biodegradable. Please flush upon receipt. See you tonight. 

Not for lunch? Well, it was 10:30 a.m.

Ridley felt angry with herself for sleeping through one of the precious few meals they would have alone here together. Then it hit her: Chi had been in here leaving her breakfast while she had been asleep. Naked.

She wondered if her body had been completely under the covers. If not, she wondered if Chi had liked what he saw. Other than being short and small-breasted, before Sannah there had been nothing about Ridley's figure to cause her shame. Now, her breasts were bigger, but so was her stomach. Even her rib cage had ended up larger, as if Sannah had been too big for her to carry and had permanently expanded her. Ridley had worked off the excess baby fat, but she still had loose skin she could do nothing about, and the stretch marks! They covered her breasts and belly like lightning.

Certainly, Chi had seen a woman with stretch marks. At least, Ridley hoped so. She wondered, as she crossed the room to the closet Chi had put her things in, when the last time actually was that the King and Queen could properly be called man and wife. Scars or not, she had seen enough of Chi's figure that night in his room at the cabin to suspect that the drugs in Devane's initiation drink must have affected the Queen's sex drive as well as her feelings.

Chi wasn't a superficial person. If he loved Ridley, he'd love all of her. The certainty of that warmed her heart as she riffled through her clothes, looking for the thin robe she'd rolled up and left for Chi to pack.

A metallic shimmer in rosy copper gleamed in the overhead light. Ridley gasped, reached in, and pulled out a full-length ball gown, resplendent with an embroidered pattern in tiny jewels and scarlet thread on the bodice, gathered into festoons at the hem. A note fluttered to the floor.

Ridley fumbled the dress back onto the rack and picked up the note.

Hope you don't mind this hand-me-down dress of my daughter Hope's. I think you can make it fit you, and I thought the color suited you perfectly with your new hair. I have something special planned for us tonight, and I will see you at seven. Love, C.

And, P.S. The no physical contact rule, regrettably, is still in force. Again, please flush.

Ridley cast about, trying to remember any photos she had seen of the Princess in the gown. She couldn't. She wondered how old the Princess had been when she wore it, and what important state functions this gown had seen. What stories it could tell.

Reluctant to risk spilling anything on the dress, Ridley wrapped her robe around herself, jumped back into bed, and hurried through her breakfast. The coffee smelled heavenly and tasted even better. Tiny heating units attached to the serving vessels had kept everything warm. 

When she finished eating, she savored her second cup of coffee after she brought the dress over to the bed. She spread the gown over the covers and inspected it.