She Kept the Trash, I Kept the Crown novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: Blue Flag

The engagement party had three hundred guests, a string quartet and a white tent that covered half the lawn.

Mrs. Trowbridge had planned it in nine days.

She kept touching my elbow to steer me toward the next donor.

"Smile, darling," she murmured. "The Slades' board is watching."

Kellan stood at my left, in a dark suit, with the spare pen in his inside pocket.

He had patted it twice since we arrived, and he thought each time: Still there.

Felix stood at my right with a tape measure poking out of his cardigan, looking at everyone's hands.

The pesto basket had gone into a locked cabinet in the boathouse, with its ribbon still on.

I wore the navy dress and kept the brass watch in my fist, ticking against my palm.

Three hundred people thinking at once is a roar, and the tick was all that kept it from becoming a headache.

Then Daphne came through the garden gate on Dr. Wheelock's arm.

She wore navy too.

Hers was silk, with a high neck, and she had pinned her hair up so her pearls showed.

Mrs. Wheelock walked on Dr. Wheelock's other side and did not smile at anyone.

"Guests of the Wheelocks," the greeter announced, and Mrs. Trowbridge's hand tightened on my elbow.

"I could have her removed," she said, very low.

"Not yet," I said. "Let her get comfortable."

Daphne crossed the lawn straight toward us.

She kissed my cheek and told me I looked radiant, and her thought under it was bright and brisk: Ten minutes to the first course. Stay near the pen, stay near the pen.

← Chapter 13 · All chapters · Chapter 15 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend