Seduced by a royal knight

CHAPTER TWO

Alessio's mind wandered as he contemplated the possibility of dating anyone, whether from Reginaldi or elsewhere. He couldn't even entertain the thought. Frowning, he attempted to smooth out the wrinkles on his neck, realizing that he hadn't had the time or energy to pursue romantic relationships. Perhaps he should consider making time for himself, regardless of his duties in Reginaldi.

Feeling the need to take action, he reached for the radio to call his assistant, Matteo. "Matteo? Please make arrangements for me to join Princess Ginevra in New York tomorrow," he instructed. He grimaced, realizing that he needed to ensure he appeared presentable for her important dinner. "Oh, and also schedule a meeting with my hairdresser. Women generally appreciate new haircuts."

With that, Alessio acknowledged the need to attend to his personal appearance and make an effort to carve out time for himself, even amidst his responsibilities as a prince.

Camelia Salvatore, a wedding dress designer, was engrossed in her work when her right hand and aunt, Barbara Affini, entered her workroom. Camelia was meticulously pinning the white silk trim of a wedding dress on a raised platform, ensuring she didn't have to hunch over while working. Barbara expressed her disapproval, commenting on how their mother would be furious if she saw Camelia in such a state. She warned Camelia about the dangers of swallowing a pin and threatened to call Camelia's brother's firehouse to take her to the hospital.

Camelia released the pins and placed them in a pincushion shaped like a tomato. She sighed and asked Barbara's opinion on her work. Barbara responded, "Short." Camelia wasn't surprised; it was the same response she received every time. Camelia explained that the dress was intentionally short because it was a unique wedding dress. The styles of the 1950s and 1960s were currently popular due to television shows and movies set in those eras.

Barbara reminisced about the classic wedding dresses worn by Camelia's cousins, praising their grandeur. Camelia made a face, relieved that her aunt couldn't see her expression. Her cousins had walked down the aisle in dresses wider than they were tall, resembling plastic doll heads on top of tissue holders. Thankfully, the wedding dresses from the 1980s were considered outdated. Camelia realized she had invested a lot in materials like silk, tulle, and sequins, wondering why she had hired her aunt. In all likelihood, her uncle Sal had asked Camelia to give Barbara something to do after their youngest cousin got married. Sal wanted someone to take care of, and since he had recently retired, he couldn't fill the void himself. Additionally, Barbara was a skilled seamstress and incredibly reliable in her work.

Camelia appreciated her aunt's presence, even though there were moments of frustration. She knew she could rely on Barbara's expertise and dedication to create beautiful wedding dresses. Barbara was known for her exceptional needlework, which earned her the reputation of being a fabulous seamstress. Her skills made her an indispensable part of the team at Radiance Bridal Designs. Camelia, Barbara's niece, admired her talent and appreciated how Barbara's attention to detail made the dresses truly dependable.

Camelia and Barbara were in the studio, working on a dress together. The final fitting for the dress was scheduled for the next day, and Camelia asked Barbara if she would be able to stitch some additional details onto it.

Barbara sniffed and replied, "Piece of cake! I can add a few sequins to the skirt if you'd like." She asked, hoping for a positive response.

Camelia shook her head and said, "No sequins, please." She knew her client's taste well and understood that she preferred a more minimalist style. The client was known for her trendsetting fashion choices and would likely remove any sequins with her teeth before even leaving the fitting room.

Barbara persisted, "What about some delicate seed pearls then?"

Camelia considered it for a moment and replied, "No, let's keep it simple."

Barbara's shoulders slumped, resigned to the fact that her elaborate hand-beading, sequin-embellished, and intricate embroidery ideas wouldn't be utilized this time. Dressing clients in extravagant ball gowns with twenty-foot trains was a rare occurrence at Camelia's bridal studio, Radiance Bridal Designs. This particular dress they were working on was a classic 1950s-style reproduction, with a gathered halter neckline and a voluminous circular skirt complete with a tulle crinoline.

The bride-to-be had requested a short, wavy 1950s hairstyle and a small silk cap with a delicate net veil. Camelia carefully smoothed the skirt of the dress and took it to the alteration studio for Barbara to work her magic. As Camelia caught a glimpse of herself in the three-way mirror, she couldn't help but notice her own disheveled appearance. Her ivory blouse was wrinkled, and her navy pencil skirt had twisted around her waist, causing the back slit to be somewhere along the front of her thigh. She quickly tapped her reddish hair back into its 1940s-style roll.

Seeing Camelia self-grooming, Barbara finally smiled and said, "You look just like those old pictures of my dear mother. God rest her soul."

"Thank you, Aunt Barbara," Camelia replied, blowing her aunt a kiss and readjusting her skirt with a regal air. She probably needed to touch up her lipstick as well. While bold red lips were typically appropriate, they required more maintenance, and she had to be careful not to trip and leave a big red smudge on the pristine white fabric of the dress. But that's what one did for fashion, or at least, for her grandmother's sense of style.

Camelia hopped onto the raised seat at her design table. Before she could uncap her cherry-red lipstick, the phone rang. She picked up and answered, "Radiance Bridal Designs, this is Camelia speaking."

"Hi, I've been browsing your website, and I was wondering when I could come in to try on your dresses," said a young but confident voice from New York.

Camelia flipped through her appointment book and responded, "We can schedule you in for Friday."

"Is tomorrow around lunchtime possible?" the caller asked eagerly.

Camelia wrinkled her nose. She had planned to take the afternoon off for the opening of an art gallery in Manhattan where her friend Flick knew some of the artists. However, if this potential client was accompanied by a relative who might be paying for the dress, she couldn't afford to turn them away. "No, that's fine. What time works for you?"

"Noon?" suggested the caller.

"Great," Camelia agreed, thinking that she might still be able to attend the gallery opening since it started at two. "And your name?"

"Ginevra Di Rossi," came the reply with a perfect Italian inflection.

Camelia chuckled and said, "My full name is Camelia Isabella Salvatore."

"I think your ideas are amazing," Ginevra said excitedly. "I looked through wedding magazines, but everything in there is too extravagant. I don't want a huge, puffy dress or a slip that looks like I forgot the rest of my dress. And don't even get me started on the mermaid style. I want to be able to move at my wedding." She sounded a bit sad as she finished speaking.

Camelia wrote down Ginevra's name in her schedule. "I'm sure you can find something you love. Take another look at my website and write down some styles you'd like to try on." She gave Ginevra directions to her salon in Brooklyn. Camelia wanted to find a place in Manhattan, but even the less expensive neighborhoods were too costly. However, Ginevra didn't seem bothered. "My brother and I will see you tomorrow. I'm so excited! It's my first time wedding dress shopping!" Ginevra's quick decision-making could be good or bad, depending on her preferences. Either way, it was an opportunity. They said goodbye, and Camelia hung up.

Barbara appeared at the door again. "Who was that, my dear?"

"A lady is coming in tomorrow around noon to try on the dresses," Camelia replied. Her aunt made a disappointed face, her penciled eyebrows drooping. Since Camelia had planned to take the afternoon off, her aunt scheduled Uncle Sal's annual colonoscopy. Lucky Sal.

"I'll make sure to keep you updated. And who knows? Maybe she'll want a little more embellishment on her dress." Barbara brightened up. "That sounds wonderful! I have lots of ideas."

"Great. Write them down. Or, better yet, draw them," Camelia suggested with a confident gesture.

"Camelia, you know I can't draw to save my life."

"Ask your granddaughter Teresa to draw it for you. Is she a good artist?"

"Oh, well..." Her aunt hesitated, fluttering her fingers at her chest. "I'll have to see. My ideas might not be very good."

"You won't know until you try." Her aunt was a product of her time, discouraged from going to college and encouraged to get married right after high school. It was about time her aunt focused on herself instead of her family. Her family would be grateful too. "But I can definitely alter that dress. I know I'm good at that."

"You certainly are," Camelia reassured her with a smile and checked the selection of fabric samples she had. They were fantastic. Her new bride would love them. Unlike her aunt, she felt a bit insecure about her abilities. Camelia loved unique dresses, but she didn't always have a unique mindset.