July was welcomed with much applaud by Eveline. It was the month in which everything calmed down a little bit. She finally had a feeling she could breathe a little more. The plans for the wedding were coming along greatly and the HeartChild foundation had received a lot of positive feedback by the public. The website was launched three weeks ago and Oliver and his team had managed to contact a couple of hospitals, including the St Thomas Hospital in which Evee used to work.

Most of her time was spend in meetings about the charity but tonight was an extremely important one for the future duchess. It was the official launch of the actual charity. The grand opening in which she would play the most important part. She had been incredibly proud of the work everybody put into it and couldn't wait for Harry and the public to see.

She knew everybody she loved and supported her would be there. Eveline had spent days working on a speech that would make Harry proud. She didn't want to fail him. This foundation meant the world to her, she had spent every second planning and organizing everything alongside Oliver. She wanted to make a difference in the world. She wanted to make a difference for the children, but most of all, she wanted to make Harry proud.

She had practiced her speech so many times, only stopping when Anna applied her nude lipgloss onto her lips. "I think you'll be fine, Evee." The older brunette smiled down at her, hoping to calm her down.

"I want this to go well. " She mumbled, looking at Anna through the mirror. "This means so much to me."

"You'll do brilliantly." The stylist reassured the blonde. "We're all done here." Anna couldn't help but stare at the future Duchess in the mirror. Even though Evee had looked gorgeous on multiple occasions, Anna couldn't help but think how this was the top of the bill. The way the golden dress hugged her curves in all the right places, the way her eyes had never looked so green than they did now, the gorgeous engagement ring wrapped around her finger.

"Thank you." The blonde replied gratefully, stretching her legs and carefully rubbing the hem of her dress to make it smooth.  "Right." She let out a big breath. "I'm going to find Harry and then we'll leave."

The venue where the opening would take place was near St Paul's cathedral. It wasn't a long drive but she wanted to be there on time. It would start at eight thirty. She made her way towards the living room, placing her speech in her clutch.

When Harry saw his fiancé for the first time that evening, he couldn't help but stare, lost for words once again. She didn't seem to notice that he did, fumbling with her clutch, nervously walking around in the kitchen, rambling her speech once again.

He always hated poetry. He didn't like literature, even when he went to Eton, he hated that class. Those cheeky poems he had to read. He didn't think he'd ever find someone worth reading them to and if he would, he didn't think he had the romantic bone in his body to do so. Looking at her now, all flustered, he realized she reminded him of a poem. A particular one of Lord Byron.

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes:

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o'er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express

How pure, how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent.

He smiled, remembering how much he hated learning that damn poem but now he seemed to look at it in another daylight. His thoughts were interrupted when she looked at him with a nervous smile, "You look good in your tuxedo."

"Tonight isn't about me, it's about you. You look beautiful." He couldn't help but smile, placing a light kiss on her forehead. "Are you nervous?"

She felt him squeeze her hand in comfort. "Incredibly nervous." Evee replied.

"It's your first official engagement and you're already opening your own charity. You should be proud of yourself."

"I had a lot of help from everybody." She muttered, looking at the clock. They should get going soon.

"Don't do that."

"What?" She questioned, looking at him in confusion.

"Always lowering your self-esteem. You did this, you should be proud of yourself. Give yourself some credit. Just enjoy tonight, okay? Think about the children." He gave her hand another squeeze and guided her outside the cottage towards the Range Rover.  "If it helps, I'm still as nervous to give speeches too and I've been used to it my entire life. It's normal."

She nodded her head, buckling her seatbelt. James and Bob were sitting at the front of the car.

"I love you and I'll be by your side the entire night." He smiled at her.

She gave him a grateful smile and sighed, looking through the window into the dark London streets. She could see the streetlights passing by and had to reminisce for a moment. She had come a long way from the girl she used to be.

The only speeches she used to give were drunk ones, on top of bars with a pint held firmly in her hand. She would slur curse words, wink obnoxiously at the older men staring at her and at the end of the night pass out on the kitchen floor, whether or not surrounded by a naked Fred.

But no man had ever looked at her the way Harry did.

No man had ever respected her as much as he did.

When the car finally pulled over by the venue, she realized how unconditionally and irrevocably in love she was with him. When Harry helped her out of the car, she couldn't help but cling on to him like nothing else mattered at that moment. She didn't care that they weren't supposed to hold hands, her arm wrapped themselves around his, hand firmly intertwined with his own. People were shouting at them and she only released him to shake hands with the public, ignoring the bright flashes in her eyelids.

When she shook hands with one older lady, she realized how big of a deal this all was. How did so many people know her name? It was the first time she actually shook hands, the first time she had one on one time with the public. She could feel Harry keeping his eye on her when he spoke to a couple of people himself, the familiar grin never leaving his face.

Bobby was by her side the entire time. When she spotted a little girl in the crowd, alongside her mother, Evee couldn't help but crunch down. "Hello, what's your name?"

"Amelia." She replied shyly, almost burying herself into her mother's pants.

"That is such a pretty name. Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Evee grinned at the little girl who nodded her head and bit her lip.

"I wanted to see a real princess." The blonde girl grinned at her.

"Oh, but I'll have to disappoint you, I'm not a princess. I can introduce you to a real life prince though. Do you want me to do that?" Eveline laughed when the girl eagerly nodded her head. "Bobby, go get Harry real quick, will you?"

Her security guard used the microphone in his ear to contact James, asking him to bring Harry over. His Royal Highness had warned him to not leave her out of his side so he wasn't planning on doing that. Eveline watched how Harry made his way towards her with a grin. She turned towards him, ignoring the way the little girl's mother was staring at the couple with a wide open gaze, "Amelia wanted to meet a real life prince."

Harry's eyes adverted from her own towards the little girl in front of her. He quickly crunched down to his knees and rubbed the girl's belly. "I'm sure she expected Prince Charming, I think she'll be a little disappointed with me, Evee."

Eveline couldn't help but laugh. They stuck around to talk to the girl and the rest of the crowd a couple of minutes longer but then were ushered inside. When the main event planner escorted them towards the big table in the front, Evee was surprised with her table guests. Her former head nurse, Janice, sat at the table with a big grin plastered on her face. Next to Janice was a man she had only seen once, the director of the hospital, Ron Kerr. They both stood up immediately when the couple approached the table.

"It's an honor to meet you." The director spoke towards Harry, taking his hand. He immediately turned towards the stunning looking blonde. "Mrs Delamane, it is such a pleasure to represent the hospital in your brand new foundation."

"The pleasure is all mine. I cannot say how wonderful it is that you have decided to get on board with this charity." Evee smiled professionally, inside she was squealing her head off. This was her former ex-boss, the big one. The one she didn't dare to make eye-contact with three years ago.

"It's a privilege that an old employer of our hospital has founded this on her own."

"Oh well, I've had a lot of help."

"She always underestimates her influence." Harry spoke, looking at his fiancé with proud eyes. In the dimmed light, she looked even more beautiful. He could see how everybody's attention turned towards them. The room was packed, there were at least fifty round, white tables. The room was filled with aristocrats, directors, CEOs and even royals as himself. He knew people were begging to get tickets to HeartChild's opening night.

He watched as Evee greeted Janice with kind eyes. The director tried to catch the prince's attention, "You must be really proud of her."

"I am incredibly proud of her. She's been working hard these past months." Harry smiled at the older man.

It was when the spotlight on stage went on that the whole venue quieted. Evee's eyes turned towards Oliver stepping on to the stage. Harry's hand was covering hers underneath the table and she watched in anticipation how the staff carried the still unrevealed poster on to the stage. When they finally placed it on to the easel, she nervously sipped from her champagne, ignoring how her stomach turned, she knew it was almost her turn.

Oliver turned towards the microphone and looked around in the room with a smile. When his eyes finally met Evee's, he smiled appreciatively. "We are delighted to have every single one of you here to participate and share in the HeartChild foundation. We all want to thank everybody for coming. It is with great pleasure and honor that I welcome the main character and founder of HeartChild on stage, Mrs Eveline Delamane."

Evee watched how Oliver clapped his hands along with the rest of the room. Harry gave her an encouraging smile when she stretched her legs and gracefully walked herself towards the stage. When she finally stepped behind the microphone, she couldn't help but grin. "Thank you, Oliver."

The blonde finally turned her attention towards the room, trying not to look straightly at the beaming grin and lovesick eyes Harry gave her.

"As a nurse, I have watched the tears fall of those who stand by. I have felt helpless as I watched at their side. I tried to give hope when there was no hope left. I have realized that sometimes silence is better than words and a gentle touch, a simple nod is more than enough. I have held parents who recently lost their child, even though I couldn't hold it back together myself. There were times in life when I sat down on my own and wondered what the point of it all was. Wondered why God was so relentless.

And then I would show up at my unit and I'd hear the loud music. I'd see their little feet dance around, one hand holding a fake microphone, the other an IV stand. I realized that I could learn a lot of things from these children. The way they would stare at a rainbow from behind their hospital window. The way they would wipe away my own tears. The way they made me a better person. Even the way they smiled when they heard that one particular prince would visit the hospital." Evee looked up and smiled at Harry, trying not to cry.

"It is for them that I started this foundation. HeartChild is committed to actively raising the quality of life for every sick child. We want all children, regardless of race, creed or circumstance to achieve their full potential. Our task is to make it possible. We want to give them the brightest smile they deserve. It is a goal that I have set up for myself since the day I graduated and I will not stop before I achieve it." Evee could hear herself speak fiercely. The room interrupted into loud applaud and she waited until it toned down.

"Your continued support for this new charity will help create a smile upon thousands of children's faces. I am blessed and grateful for everyone one of you showing your interest. To everybody having the trust in HeartChild, I cannot express my words of gratitude. I hope you have a wonderful evening. Let's raise our glasses to every innocent child in Britain, fighting their own battles. Let's raise our glasses for the incredibly brave parents. And last but not least, let's raise our glasses to laughter, for it can heal. Thank you."

She watched how the entire room raised their glasses at her speech and immediately after the whole room applauded once again. Oliver grinned at her, implying Evee to come stand next to the easel and hold one side of the curtain that covered the new HeartChild poster. She watched how he counted down and pulled off the fabric to reveal the poster. She clapped her hands along with the rest of the room and stared down at the poster.

On it stood a little girl she once knew, a girl that brought laughter to Eveline's life. It was as if she never went away. Eveline couldn't help but cry, she tried to wipe away her tears as soon as possible. The familiar brown eyes stared at her from the poster, a big wide grin on her face.

Somewhere in crowd sat the girl's parents. Evee knew they were there, she had invited and called them herself but she didn't know how proud Rosa and Jack O'Connor were of her. When Eveline finally left the stage to sit with Harry, he immediately stood up to give her a hug.

He intentionally didn't want to speak tonight, this was Eveline's night, not his but Oliver told him how important it was that he did. He gave his fiancé a quick kiss and took his place onto the stage. He could feel everybody's eyes on him when he turned towards the microphone.

He turned his attention towards the blonde sitting in the front. "I am proud to stand here today, not as a prince, not as a member of the royal family but as your future husband. The first time I saw you at the hospital, I knew you were very special. You told me straight away that the children were your main priority and you didn't have time for me." The room chuckled. "There is literally no better person I can think of to found a charity like this. You have invested yourself into this charity with every inch of your heart and soul so I would like to thank you, Evee, for always being yourself. I want to thank everybody that helped make HeartChild happen, every sponsor, every team member. For all of you have created a platform that will change thousands of lives. To HeartChild."

The crowd applauded once again as he left the stage to sit back next to his fiancé. She initially wanted to jump on him, kiss him eagerly and thank him for his kind words but she knew she couldn't. They were so many cameras capturing every moment the two shared. Evee smiled gratefully with tears in her eyes and wrapped her hand around his. "You're amazing, you know that right?" She mumbled into his ear, listening how jazz music took over the room. "I love you."

"I love you too. Let's have a toast." Harry spoke, making eye contact and raising his glass. "To the girl that introduced us."

Evee nodded her head, her eyes shifting towards the poster still standing on stage, "To Maja."

"To Maja."