course, lying in the middle of it all was a pair of white stilettos with clear crystals decorating the toes and along the side. Regina loved shoes and allowed everyone to choose their own style for the wedding. Alys had a similar pair; a bridesmaid gift from her sister. Her reasoning for the modern footwear was no one would see them under their long gowns. Everything else was Regency period accurate for the wedding.
She couldn’t believe how careless Regina was being with her wedding attire. If it were her wedding, she’d have taken better care of her shoes. Looking perfect for her big day would top her list, along with meeting her intended in front of everyone and saying her vows. Regina tended to be a tad unorganized. Why would she need to keep track of her belongings when she had everyone else doing it for her?
“Found them,” she called out from the back of the closet. “You hid them from yourself under a pile of clothes.” Alys grabbed the shoes and stood. She left the closet and found her sister sitting on the edge of the bed, a forlorn expression on her face.
“Hey, are you all right?” Alys rubbed her shoulder. “What’s bothering you?”
“Do you think I’m making a mistake?”
“Oh, honey, it’s not my place to say.” Was her sister having doubts? Didn’t all brides on some level? How could she make it better for her? “You love Trenton, don’t you?”
“I do...”
Good, that gave her something to work with. “Then what’s the real issue?”
“I always jump in without thinking. When he proposed, I said yes before he finished asking me. I was so excited and could already see how our future would go, but now...” Regina bit her lip. “I think I may have feelings for somebody else.”
Oh dear...
“Who?” Alys waved her hand, dismissing her question. “Never mind, I don’t want to know. Let me put it like this. When you close your eyes, who do you picture as the man you want to grow old with, build a family with, and wake up each day to their face lying next to yours?”
Regina closed her eyes. Her face remained calm and unmoving, lips parted as she breathed in and out. “Trenton.” A soft smile formed on her beautiful face. “I see him with me each day.”
“Then you don’t need to worry about your choice. You’ve already made it.”
Thank God... If Regina cancelled the wedding—Alys didn’t want to think about the backlash from it. Her mother, bless her heart, would be apoplectic. Crisis diverted, she needed Regina to finish dressing for her upcoming nuptials.
“I’m sorry I’m such a mess.”
Alys smiled. “From what I understand these feelings are quite normal.” She sat on the bed next to her sister and pulled her into a hug. “Now, I think we need to fix your makeup and get you into that lovely gown you picked out.”
Regina rested her head on Alys’s shoulder. “I know, you’re right, but can we sit here for a minute?”
Alys wanted to give her whatever she desired, but they couldn’t stay in their current position for very long. The wedding was scheduled to start in a half-hour. If they were going to be ready on time, they would have to start moving.
“Of course.” Alys rubbed her arm. “Only a moment though. Mama will come barreling in any minute and go a little cray cray at the sight of us. Neither of us is ready.”
Regina sighed. “Let’s get me ready.”
Alys stood up and held her hand out to her sister. “Come on, go sit at your vanity. Time to make you even more beautiful than you already are.”
Regina sat and started fixing her face. Alys went to the closet and grabbed both of their dresses and laid them across the bed. She settled herself next to Regina at the vanity, watching her apply her makeup. Her hair had been arranged earlier in a perfect chignon with curls framing her face. After more than thirty minutes, her sister sighed and set down her makeup brush and turned toward her.
Alys shrugged. At least her sister hadn’t