Cardigan

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Elle POV

"Dear, what are you doing here?" Pascale asks as she opens the door, finding only me behind it and not one of her sons trailing behind me.

"I thought we could have a girls' day just me and you I could do with it before me and Charles meet the boys,'

"Of course darling," she smiles brightly. "I hear Pierre crashed your trip,"

"He did, but it was nice the four of us being out there together,"

"You also found the dress it's absolutely stunning, it really is,"

"Thank you. I wish I could take the credit, but Kika saw that one and immediately got it for me,"

"I, for one, think you're going to be the most beautiful bride," I smile at her as her hands find my cheeks.

"I asked Arthur to give me away," I say.

"He never said,"

"I think he thinks it's a secret," I laugh.

"I know that this means more to you him giving you away,"

"It does it means he fully accepts mine and Charles' relationship,"

"And thst he has to share you, but I think he's come to terms with that especially with his new girlfriend,"

"Yeah, Carla is lovely. I think he's finally realised what me and Charles have,"

"I've always wanted a daughter. I'm glad your official is going to be one,"

"I'll always be one even if I wasn't marrying your son. You've been a mother to me for as long as I can remember, and it means the world more than you know,"

"I promised your mother that I would look after you and protect you. I'm only doing my job,"

"But you didn't have to. You didn't have to keep your promise, but you did. I mean, I know I have my own mother, but im glad that I gained you. You've shown me so much growing up. I hope that one day when I have children, I am to them what you are to me,"

"You have no idea how much those words mean to me,"

"I mean every one of them, your my bonus mum," she smiles at me.

"And you're my daughter," I smile back at her.

"Now shall we go to the spa?" I ask, causing her to nod, collecting her things.

~~~~~~

"Where have you been all day," Charles asks as I enter the apartment, sitting down with Arthur

"I've been with your mother. we had a girls' day it was really nice, actually,"

"Out mother loves you more than us. There is no way she's have a day like that with us two,"

"I hope not we have to get naked at the spa," I tease.

"Please don't ever put that picture in my head again," Arthur says.

"Sorry, but it was lovely. we talked about the wedding. I showed her a bit more of the dress,"

"It is a beautiful dress," Arthur adds.

"Which I'm not allowed to see, so please restrain yourselves from talking about it,"

"He's upset that I'm following tradition and not showing him before the wedding," Arhur gasps, shaking his head.

"Do you want your marriage to fail? You can't see the dress before hand it's practically a law,"

"A law?"

"Yeah, between wedding goers," he frowns, "or whatever they are called its just law. Okay, you can't see the dress or even know anything about it,"

"You and Kika are the exact same people it's scary," Charles says.

"I will give you one hint though,'Charles face lights up,"I cried when I saw her in it, and you know me, I don't cry so she must look beautiful in it,"

"So she made not only Kika but you cry too,"

"And Maman,"

"I guess you must look perfect in this dress then,"

"I mean, I don't want to gloat or anything, but yes, you could say that," I tease, sitting down between the two of them.

"Actually, we can't stay," Arthur says, standing up. "we have got a date ourselves,"

"Oh yeah, doing what exactly?"

"We're all going to find our tuxes, and yes, you won't be able to see it until the wedding it's tradition,"

"That's not the tradition," I smile, but he shakes his head.

"You wouldn't want our marriage failing now, would you?" I shake my head."Then I guess you can't see my tux. If I can't see your dress, I think it's only fair,"

"You have a point,"

"I'll see you later. I think Kika is coming while we go out, so have fun,"

"You two but not too much fun. you're a bad drunk,"

"I am not, but I promise I won't get drunk. we will leave that for the stag,"

"Have fun," he leans down, placing a kiss on my lips before leaving.