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He turned around. “Before you go to sleep, there’s not a lot of reception for the first half of the trip or so. Once there is, one of the stylists at the palace will talk to you to get a feel for your style and what you like before she either goes shopping or has clothes brought in.”

“Clothes brought in?” Was her brain just slow to process it, or did that not make any sense?

“Yep. Some boutiques or designers will bring clothes to the palace so you can shop, as it were, there.”

“That’s handy.” And her kind of shopping, though she’d probably still have to try a bunch of stuff on. She didn’t relish that, but at least she wouldn’t be in a tiny changing room.

Her eyes closed, and she let herself doze. As they drove, she found herself sort of semi-aware of what went on around her, but not of everything.

The next thing she knew, they were in the garrison - wasn’t that what Josiah called the garage area? - and someone had opened her door.

“We’re here?” she asked, her voice groggy even to her own ears.

“Yep.” Josiah held out a hand to help her.

“What about the call with the stylist?” She removed the neck pillow then took his hand. She didn’t let go of it as they walked toward the door.

“They were able to look at enough pictures on your social media accounts and from all the publicity with your sister to get some ideas, at least enough to get started.” He dropped her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Now, let’s go get you some maternity clothes.”

Bekah leaned into him. “That sounds perfect.”

CHAPTER 14

A dinner date with his wife.

Something Josiah wouldn’t have expected a month earlier.

Much less his now obviously pregnant wife.

Where they were sure to be spotted and pictures taken and rumors flying.

They’d decided to have the palace press office put out a release at some point during dinner. They wouldn’t release it until there started to be whispers in the media. Someone would be watching them, and the photographers were sure to show up wherever they went.

This was, after all, their first real outing as a couple.

He knew Bekah was nervous about it all. She’d never eased into the public life. It would have been better to show up at a function where they weren’t the center of attention. After doing that a few times, they could have gone on a date where they’d be noticed.

She hadn’t said as much to him, not in so many words, but he’d seen her fussing with her hair, and she’d changed clothes at least twice.

“You look fantastic, Beks.” He reached over and took her hand, lacing their fingers together. “And youarefantastic. It’s going to be fine. I promise.”

He didn’t take his eyes off the road but heard her suck in a deep breath. “I know it’ll be okay. I’m still nervous.”

“It’s okay to be nervous. Anyone would be. Almost anyone,” he amended. “Evie married an international superstar actor. He probably wasn’t. She showed up at a benefit pretending to be Gen because Gen was sick. Pete knew right away because he and Gen were friends. I don’t think anyone else caught on.”

“Pete?”

“Sir Peter Barker. The biggest movie star to come out of Eyjania. He’s starring in a couple big movies series over the next few years. They’ve both already started.”

“I think I’ve seen a couple of them. If they’re the ones I’m thinking of, they were good.”

Josiah flipped on his blinker and let go of her hand to make a tight turn into the drive of the restaurant.

Fortunately, there weren’t actually any photographers there.

Yet.

It wasn’t a location they staked out often, but was one of Josiah’s favorites. Nice enough to have valet parking, but not too fancy. He’d heard it called “yuppie” once. That wasn’t a word he was familiar with. A quick Internet search said it was something about young people with good jobs and fashionable lives.