Page 7 of If the Shoe Fits

Chapter Four

The lights around the palace sparkled in hundreds of colours, creating a magic atmosphere that I couldn't have ever imagined if I'd tried. I didn't know how they'd created it, nor what it cost, but the effect was striking.

If I was having a royal wedding, then this was the kind of thing I'd have. I'd not watched the ceremony on TV, I hadn't wanted to see my dream man with another woman, and that was always going to be a risk.

I walked boldly up to the entrance, knowing that my nerves would only get me refused entrance. Despite my stepmother's insistence, I had every right to be here. I was a Lady whether anyone liked it or not.

"Lady Sadie Parker," I told the man at the door.

"Greetings, my Lady, welcome to Her Majesty's Reception."

I dipped my head in acknowledgement and slipped through the doors. A guard was there, asking women to open their bags and frisking the men. I sighed. Such a thing shouldn't be a necessity, but in this day and age, the safety of the royal family was too important to risk anyone coming in with the means to draw blood.

Passing by without being searched thanks to Enrique's clever pockets, I made my way into the ballroom.

A gasp escaped me as I took in the sight. Everyone was dressed to the nines in an array of colours. The Queen and her new husband were sat on a raised dais, talking to another man, the three of them laughing jovially and like they'd known each other for years. She looked happy, and a pang of jealousy spread through me. What I wouldn't give to have that much joy in my life. To have that much happiness. I suppressed it quickly enough. It wasn't fair to begrudge the Queen this. She deserved to have a man who loved her as much as anyone else.

"Excuse me," an angry voice said as a woman barged past me. It took me a couple of moments to realise it was my stepmother and for panic to begin to well up inside me. I couldn't let her see me, not this soon into the evening. It would ruin all of my plans and all of my hopes.

Rita pushed past behind her, muttering her apologies to the other people being pushed out of the way. She looked back over her shoulder to reassure an elderly man who'd been knocked to the side.

Her eyes caught mine and they widened in realisation. That wasn't good. I couldn't have her telling her mother.

"Please?" I mouthed, hoping the one word was enough.

To my surprise, Rita lifted her finger to her lips and made the shh-ing motion. Hopefully that meant she'd keep my secret. At least, for now. But after the party was over, there wasn't any harm my stepmother could do. All I'd done was sneak out of our home, and she never explicitly forbid me to leave. She didn't give me enough thought for that.

"Thank you," I mouthed.

"You're welcome," she returned, neither of us making a sound.

Affection I didn't know I felt for her blossomed within me. Maybe after this we could actually be friends. It wouldn't be a bad thing after all.

"Please clear the dance floor for the bride and groom!" someone called.

A titter of excitement travelled through the crowd, and I totally understood it. I wanted to see this as much as anyone.

On the dais, Prince Albert rose to his feet and offered the Queen his hand. She beamed at him and took it, getting out of her own chair so the two of them could make their way down to the dance floor.

Classical music began to play, and the Prince drew his new wife into his arms. I couldn't tell what they were saying, but it was clear from both of their faces that they were exchanging sweet nothings as they danced. I hoped I could find that one day.

A second couple joined them in the dance and I glanced around, longing to see the man from the TV. I secretly wanted him to ask me to dance and even considered being so forward as to ask him if I found him. I didn't want to waste the opportunity which Enrique had given me. Not in this dress, with these shoes.

"May I have this dance?" a handsome man asked. But not my man.

Even so, it would be rude to say no and suspicious if I did.

"Of course."

He held out his hand and I took it. He drew me to the dance floor and into a hold.

"May I know your name?" I asked him. His suit suggested he was one of the wedding party, but not having watched it, I didn't know for sure.

"Vincent. And yours?"

"Sadie."

"You're not at Court much, are you?" He seemed curious and not lecherous, which was a nice combination. I didn't feel like he expected anything from me other than a dance.

"No, I don't attend Her Majesty at Court," I replied evenly.

"Because you don't want to, or for a more sinister reason?" he inquired.

I laughed lightly. "You don't even know that I'm qualified to come to Court."

"Please, you have gentry written all over you. And you look like the previous Lady Parker."

A blush rose to my cheeks. I loved the idea of him comparing me to my mother. It was a true honour.

"You appear to have caught me."

"Indeed."

"I don't recognise you either," I pointed out.

"I'm the Queen's closest adviser," he replied evenly. "A position which lets me know of a lot of things happening in this Court."

I nodded. "Must be an interesting position to work in."