She had definitely made a terrible impression as the Jogra maharani.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed off from the door and went to the wardrobe.
She had approximately thirty minutes to take a quick shower, find something presentable, do something functional with her hair, and return downstairs.
Which, unfortunately, wasn't a lot of time.
???
Twenty minutes later, her bedroom looked like a small disaster zone.
Several outfits lay abandoned across the bed while jewelry boxes remained open. Two palace maids moved quickly around the room while Yamini stood near the mirror, trying not to panic.
“This one,” Savita declared confidently, holding up a wine-red silk lehenga.
Yamini barely looked before nodding. “Fine.”
The lehenga fit beautifully, which was annoying.
Because now she looked exactly like someone prepared to receive royalty instead of someone who had spent the previous hour wearing faded jeans while chasing kittens.
Savita moved behind her. “Please sit, maharani.”
Yamini obeyed while Savita worked quickly through her unruly hair, smoothing loose strands and pinning sections elegantly away from her face.
Another maid helped fasten matching earrings.
Yamini automatically reached for the jewelry box.
Her fingers paused briefly, then picked up the emerald pendant.
She fastened it around her neck.
The emerald fish pendant settled against the wine-red fabric.
Her reflection finally looked less like an exhausted photographer and more like someone capable of surviving dinner with Rani Suchitra Devi.
“Has the maharaja arrived?” Yamini asked casually, not wanting to sound too eager.
Savita looked surprised while adjusting the final section of Yamini’s hair.
“Maharaja came early to personally receive Rani Ma when she arrived.”
Yamini froze.
Bharat Jogra had come early to receive his mother.
Which meant he had known his mother was arriving.
And yet, he didn’t mention it to her, so she could return early, shower, and avoid accidentally presenting herself to the queen mother while wearing jeans covered in pencil marks.
Inconsiderate jerk.
Yamini stood. “Thank you,” she told the maids, forcing a smile.
Taking a deep breath, she walked downstairs.
The palace staff moved quickly and efficiently around the dining hall.
