Love on the Line - Deeanne Gist [91]
He held his arm out to Georgie, his eyes conveying pleasure and admiration. “The band’s taken their seats on the rostrum. Should we head to the pavilion?”
Nodding, she thanked the girls, then hooked her hand in his elbow. She’d never been escorted to a festival before. Much like the young girl she’d seen earlier, she’d always been on the outside looking in.
But today, she was with the handsomest man in attendance. And his overalls were growing on her by the minute.
“As president of the Plumage League, I’ll be crowning the Maifest Queen,” she said. “They’ve reserved us seats up front.”
He changed course, heading toward the royal procession, which had parked just outside the pavilion. Courtiers laid a red carpet walk for Her Royal Highness. Squires stood ready to escort her when the signal was given.
Luke and Georgie slipped into their seats just as the band played “God Save the Queen.”
“That’s my cue,” Georgie whispered. She had no trouble discerning which hat Mrs. Spuhler had made. Lilies-of-the-valley trimmed its brim. A collection of white silk loops covered its bandeau, while streamers of polka dot netting held the confection in place.
She fell in line behind the little Montgomery and Cutler cousins proudly carrying their queen’s train. After all were assembled on stage, the band concluded their song, the crowd quieted.
Judge Yoakum presented Miss Ottfried with her regal insignia of rank and the scepter of sovereignty. The girl smiled her thanks, then turned to Georgie, her eyes frosting.
For the first time, Georgie realized this honor would be bestowed upon the girl not only by her father’s nemesis, but with a crown in direct protest to her father’s very livelihood.
Georgie’s step faltered. The election by popular ballot for Maifest Queen hadn’t been held until this morning. It never occurred to her the recipient would be Miss Ottfried.
Still, the winning hat was deliciously stylish. Would be the envy of any woman.
Swallowing, she lifted her arms and settled it on Miss Ottfried’s head, carefully securing it with a hatpin. She smoothed a streamer of netting underneath the girl’s chin, up the other side, and began to tie the ends together.
Of the same height, they stood toe to toe, nose to nose. Georgie lowered her gaze. The girl had the loveliest eyes she’d ever seen. A light, light brown surrounded by a dark brown ring.
“You look beautiful,” Georgie whispered. And she meant it.
In a lily-white moiré silk dress with bead trimmings and pearl ornaments, Lillie bore herself with dignity. “Thank you.”
Georgie finished the bow, fluffed it, then stepped back and made a low curtsy. The applauding crowd cheered. Miss Ottfried stepped forward to make her acceptance speech while Georgie slipped off the platform and back to her seat.
Luke surreptitiously squeezed her hand, but she didn’t dare look at him. Her feelings were too jumbled. Too confused. Not just about him, but about the Ottfrieds.
She’d thought of the milliner as an object, an obstruction, a hindrance to her birds. Not as a father with a beautiful and gracious daughter.
Behind that thought came the realization he’d had to sit in the audience and watch. Watch the bane of his existence crown his most treasured possession with a hat representing a cause he diametrically opposed. A crown his daughter would be required to wear the entire day.
Heat moved from Georgie’s neck clear up to her hairline. She forced the blush away, refusing to feel guilty about campaigning for her birds. Nor would she feel guilty about the hat. It was stunning. Gorgeous. And his daughter looked every inch the queen.
The ledger at their booth with three hundred thirty-seven signatures flashed through her mind. Three hundred thirty-seven women had pledged not to wear or purchase hats with bird parts on them. Even hats on special, 2-for-1.
She took a deep breath. Before the day was through, more would certainly add their names to the list. Had Mr. Ottfried brought any non-bird hats to sell? What if the women misunderstood and thought they had to quit frequenting shops which