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“The dresser will be in soon, along with the hair and makeup person. So, if you have any questions you think I might not want to answer with them in here, you should probably ask them now.”

Palmer thought for a second and replied, “You know what… Would you care if I just kind of watched the whole thing? It could be nice to include how the Queen gets ready in the piece.”

“Somehow, I doubt that’s what your editor is looking for,” Elizabeth said.

“Would it be okay with you if I interviewed members of your staff over the next few days since you’ll be busy? Maybe you and I could have another follow-up interview whenever you’renotbusy.”

“Palmer, how long can you really stay here? You must have a life to get back to in New York,” Elizabeth said instead.

“This is my job. I travel for it sometimes.” The woman shrugged a shoulder.

“Your family?”

“They live in Pennsylvania. I try to visit when I can, but I mostly make it home for Christmas. They come to the city occasionally. I have a younger sister. She’s got some special needs, and they spend all of their free time taking care of her, so it’s not always easy for them to get away.”

“What’s your sister’s name?”

“Camilla. She’s my favorite person. I wish I got to see her more often than I do.”

Palmer lit up when speaking about her sister. It made Elizabeth light up, too.

“How old is she?”

“She’s fifteen. My mom was a little older when she had her, and there were some complications. She goes to a special school, has friends, and seems to be doing well.”

“Ma’am,” Rebecca said upon reentering the room.

“Are they ready?” Elizabeth asked with a tinge of disappointment in her tone she hoped neither Palmer nor Rebecca had noticed.

“They are, Ma’am.”

“I’m sorry, Palmer. I thought I’d have more time.”

“It’s okay. I can still hang out, right?”

“Of course,” Elizabeth replied, smiling. “Do you want to see the tiara?”

Palmer laughed a little.

???

While her hair and makeup were being worked on, Elizabeth answered some questions Palmer calledsoftballquestions. Elizabeth answered them but found herself laughing more often than she probably should be. When her tiara was placed atop her head, Palmer stared at Elizabeth in the mirror. Their eyes connected, but after a long second, Elizabeth had to pull hers away.

“Miss Honeycutt, I have to put on my dress now,” she spoke.

“Oh, sorry. Right. I’ll just wait outside.”

“Thank you,” Elizabeth replied.

Palmer left the room, giving Elizabeth and her dresser space. Once she was in the dress and had another once-over completed by everyone, it seemed, Elizabeth made her way back out to the sitting room, where she found Palmer on the sofa, looking into the fire.

“Wow,” Palmer whispered when she turned to see her.

Elizabeth had chosen a black dress. It was appropriate since it was still the mourning period. She also had a white pearl necklace on that her mother had given her on her eighteenth birthday, along with the matching earrings. Her long hair was pulled up in a style she could only call theBreakfast at Tiffany’slook, with her tiara sitting at just the right angle. She hadn’t yet put on her gloves, but shehadput on the black two-inch designer heels.

“Are you ready yet?” Victoria asked, entering the room dressed in a black dress and heels of her own.

“Lucky you, Miss Honeycutt. You get to seetwotiaras tonight,” Elizabeth said, nodding in Victoria’s direction. “This is Victoria, my sister.”