Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“Not true,” he replied, pushing up off the counter. “It’s for women the Titans men care about and you can’t argue against the fact I care for you. You know I do, so just give up on the excuses and text Brienne your RSVP as she requests at the bottom of that fancy little invitation.”
And that was that.
I’ve never been to a tea party before, but Brienne did not disappoint. The table is a feast for the eyes with a pristine white linen cloth upon which delicate china teacups and plates find their home next to polished silver cutlery. Centerpieces of fresh roses and hydrangeas in pastel hues lend a fragrant elegance to the affair.
Tiered silver trays hold finger sandwiches with crusts meticulously trimmed. They have tiny signs in gold calligraphy to identify them as cucumber and dill cream cheese on white bread, smoked salmon with capers and lemon butter on pumpernickel, egg salad with watercress on brioche, and chicken salad with almonds on croissants.
There are trays with scones, their surfaces breaking just so, begging for the clotted cream, lemon curd and strawberry preserves that sit in crystal bowls. My favorites are the sweets—petite pastries from mini éclairs filled with vanilla cream and topped with chocolate ganache, lemon tartlets with dollops of meringue, macarons in assorted flavors and fruit tarts displaying their glazes and garnishes like jewels.
The gentle clink of the champagne flutes announces the presence of bubbly alongside steaming teapots, which release the comforting aroma of Earl Grey and jasmine.
It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve seen outside Sophie and Baden’s wedding, and I’m not ashamed that I’ve taken a ton of pictures.
Jenna is a vision in a powder-blue, knee-length chiffon dress with a subtle floral print in a darker blue. She’s wearing white strappy sandals, and a string of pearls graces her neck with matching stud earrings.
Waving Brienne away, Jenna laughs. “That tea went utterly cold an hour and a half ago.”
Which prompts Stevie to stand up. To my shock, she did not show up in semi-formal attire as requested, instead rocking a pair of torn jeans, a Harley-Davidson tank top and biker boots. Her excuse was that she and Hendrix were going out for a bike ride later in the afternoon and she wouldn’t be doing that in a dress.
However, I get the feeling Stevie just didn’t want to dress up and guess what… none of the other women held it against her.
Stevie grabs the most current bottle of champagne from the ice bucket and proceeds to walk around and top off glasses. Reminiscent of the first night I met a handful of the Titan Queens at Callum’s house, we’ve been imbibing, and it shows.
“I make a motion,” Stevie says dramatically as she waves the now-empty bottle of Moët in her hand, “that all future high tea parties dispense with the tea and we just have champagne as the liquid refresher.”
“I second that motion,” Kiera says and points to the silver-tiered trays sitting in the middle of the round table. She’s stunning in a fitted lavender sheath dress with cap sleeves and a boat neckline. She chose a wide-brimmed hat with a matching lavender ribbon that perches jauntily on her head with her golden hair streaming down her back. “I also make a motion we do away with scones.”
“Hey,” Brienne scolds, whipping her head Kiera’s way. “I made those.”
“No offense,” Kiera says to her soon-to-be sister-in-law. “But those scones are dry as the desert, and I truly mean no offense because any scone I’ve ever tried is dry.”
“Not if you put enough clotted cream on it,” Danica says, looking posh in an emerald-green wrap dress with a tulip hem and three-quarter sleeves. She wears a pair of vintage ivory gloves and points a finger at Kiera. “I am not going to be in favor of doing away with scones. But I agree on the champagne.”
Kiera and Danica argue over whether the next party should include scones and I merely sip at my champagne, enjoying the cute, over-the-top bickering.
These women… I can’t even begin to describe how easy they are to be around. Even billionaire Brienne Norcross is so genuinely down-to-earth, I felt immediately comfortable as soon as I crossed her threshold.
Not all of the Titan Queens are here. Sophie’s on her honeymoon and Harlow and Ava left today for summer vacations with their men. Tillie’s still in New York, apartment hunting with Coen. Lilly is working at her family’s deli, and I find it adorable that apparently Boone is there with her. I met her at the wedding yesterday and my heart breaks for all she’s been through and yet swells with admiration when I see her resilience. She gives me hope.
I’m so lucky to be a part of this group and I feel quite grateful to Callum for pushing me to do this.