Bab 249: Chapter 249
"Hello Erik. I just got your message. I hope you weren't waiting long." Maggie said, sitting down at the booth.
She met him a pub not far from the palace called Buckingham pub. It was darkly lit and Erik knew the owner, so he made a private area for them to talk.
"No. Not at all. How are things going with my brother?" He asked, taking a drink of his pint.
"Good. We have spent most of our time this last week alone or visiting places Auggie wanted to show me. It's been really nice." Maggie said, answering formally but wondering what the hell she was doing there.
"You and Pearl have a bond, a bond of trust. I can't imagine going through what you both did but you had each other and that is incredibly important for coping, I would imagine." Erik said.
"Yes. It was awful. There is so much shame with it. For both of us. Feeling betrayed like that. And I was before Pearl, in David's bed. I couldn't warn her because I didn't know. I will always feel awful about it." Maggie said, putting her head down.
Erik leaned forward and put his hand on hers. She looked up, surprised.
"It was not your fault. None of it." He said, looking at her with sincerity. Maggie nodded.
"I asked you here because I need something from you. A huge favor. It has to be kept secret. Only a few people can know about it. No one else. No one. Not Fi. Not Ian. Not Blake and Iris. Just you, Auggie, Bash and Dylan. That is it." Erik said.
"Ok. What is it?" Maggie asked.
"I trust you. And that it why I want it to be you that helps with this." Erik said. "I'm going to take Pearl to a church, a twelfth century church, in Scotland, in the middle of a field. And I'm going to make her my wife there the day after tomorrow." He said. Maggie looked at him, confused.
"What about the enormously elaborate, multi million dollar, nationally televised wedding happening in two weeks?" Maggie asked.
"That is still happening as well. But that isn't for her. That's a show. A state affair. Our love, our commitment to each other is not. I want to give this to her, because it is the right thing to do." Erik said.
"Wow. That is incredibly gallant and romantic of you. What do you need from me?" She asked.
"Sebastian's fiancée, who passed away a few years ago, was the daughter of a Scottish minister. He has agreed to perform the ceremony, in secret. It will be a traditional Celtic ceremony. The farmer that has the key to the church advised a late night ceremony, to avoid being seen. No one can know." He said. "I need you to go and buy a dress. A wedding dress for her, in her size. Simple. And a veil. She can't know. And I need you to go along with a story I am going to her. It's important she doesn't find out until we are on the jet."
"Why?" She asked.
"Because I don't want her to try to back out. She will. She always will try to do the right thing. A secret royal wedding isn't the right thing, morality wise." Erik said.
"She will try to talk you out of it." Maggie said.
"Yes. And we still have to make the big wedding happen. That's why no one can know." Erik said.
"Alright. I will help." She said. "Will this be a legal wedding?" Maggie asked.
"Yes. I'm not doing that to her again. Not a chance. This will be as legal and real as any wedding." He said.
"But you can't make it legal. If anyone finds out..." she said.
"I am telling my parents the day after that we are now wed. And that we will still go through with the show but no legal papers will need to be signed. If the media finds out, I could care less. Fuck it all." Erik said.
"The love you have her is so beautiful." Maggie said.
"It's in our blood, my brother and I. I hope you find that out. You deserve it. You have my blessing, I would love to have a sister. And I couldn't imagine anyone I'd prefer more than you." He said, smiling. "Thank you, Maggie."
"You are welcome. I love you both." Maggie said.
*******************
Maggie asked Jim to drive her to a small vintage boutique that she found on the internet. She didn't want to go anywhere fancy to draw attention. A woman greeted her at the door and asked if she could help. "Yes. I need a dress. A wedding dress. There isn't time for alterations so I thought a second hand shop might be my best bet. A petite size. Maybe a size two or four?" Maggie asked, sounding both hopeful and desperate.
"How tall is she? I just had a woman drop off a brand new Eliza Jane Howell dress for consignment that she never wore, but had altered recently. She was quite small in stature. Her wedding was canceled due to the groom not having a morally responsible stag party, if you know what I mean." The woman whispered.
"Ah yes, I see." Maggie said. "I would love to see it."
The shop clerk went into the back and brought out a gorgeous slim fitted bridal gown made with delicate embroidered tulle. Silver and ivory beads were carefully placed all over the dress to create an intricate pattern of vines and swirls that further emphasize the feminine figure of the gown wearer. A V neckline lead into floaty cap sleeves and an illusion sheer style high back, with a low cut solid material starting right below the waist. It was absolutely perfect.
"This is the Dalloway dress. Size four. It comes with a gorgeous three meter veil, floral crown and cape. It's a lovely dress." The woman said.
"I'll take it. All of it. And I'll need shoes. Size six." She said. The clerk looked surprised but happy.
"I will bag it all up, right away." She said.
Maggie smiled. She was proud of herself. If there was one thing about her that she trusted, it was her ability to get the job done when asked.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone