First at Last (Updated Version)

Chapter Twenty-Five

I took a deep breath and smoothed my trembling hands over my gown as my new ladies-in-waiting dressed me and prepared me for the wedding. I stood in my bedroom at the palace, staring at my reflection in the tall, gilt mirror.

I wore a white wedding gown with gold lace along the sleeves and in little patterns along the skirt. The lace sleeves reached just to my elbow and the skirt was just long enough to hide my feet and billowed out around me in a mass of tulle and silk. Strands of my hair were held back with a pearl comb, the rest fell past my shoulders in soft curls.

Alice stood with me as the servants worked on my wedding gown. She was very good at telling them what to do and giving them directions. She was the one who organized most of my wedding, with the help of the king and queen—mostly the queen.

Queen Alexia treated me like her own daughter, which had helped fill the hole in my heart left by the disastrous parting with my own parents. The king had begun to warm to me, but I did not think we would ever be close.

After William disobeyed his father by refusing to marry Alice, it had taken several weeks for King Henry to even glance in my direction. And several more weeks still before he deigned to have a conversation with me. It was only after a long talk with William—it was more of an incredibly loud argument—before King Henry decided to help with the wedding at all. But, after that, things began to get a little easier, less awkward between us. We were getting there.

Agnes finished lacing up my gown and smiled at me. "You look absolutely beautiful, Miss," she said, her eyes shining.

My face warmed and I smiled at her. "Thank you, Agnes."

Alice walked up beside me and met my eyes in the mirror. "She is right, Erika. You look amazing. And just think: by tonight, you'll be a princess! And married!"

I did not know what to say, so I just smild, nodding my head, and casting my eyes down so that I was looking down at the white silk slippers that matched my gown.

I released a nervous breath and turned away from the mirror to mile at my sister. I couldn't get rid of the nervous fluttering in the pit of my stomach. I felt like I was going to be sick or burst into song. I couldn't decide which, though. Perhaps both.

A moment later, there was a sharp knock on the door that led into the hall. One of my ladies, Charlotte, opened the door to reveal Poppy Thorel. Alice grinned and went over to greet her.

Their relationship was still mostly a secret, though Commander Gabriel and William knew now. It had taken a little getting used to for them, but they seemed supportive of the relationship. I had a feeling neither Alice nor Poppy would care much if they didn't, though. "I am to escort you to the wedding," Poppy said, puffing out her chest with an air of importance.

I nodded. "Of course," I took Poppy's arm and allowed her to lead me out of the room and through the castle to the gardens where the wedding was being held. Alice followed behind us, fussing with my hair and smoothing out my dress as we walked. I think she was as nervous as I was, if not more so.

I smiled and swatted her hand away when she tried dto fix my hair once more. There was nothing wrong with it, anyway. "Calm down, Alice."

She huffed, looking displeased. "My baby sister is getting married! You cannot expect me to be calm!"

Before we had even made it to the palace doors, I could hear the cheers and shouts. News of our wedding had spread like wildfire across Belhaven and it seemed as though the entire country had come to see me wed. They had to lock the gates at the beginning of last week so that people would stop breaking into the palace to share their congratulations.