I produce my notepad out of the secret pocket of my dress, jotting a few notes to myself.
At least three hundred people here that I can see; I wonder how many more are walking around, ducking behind the hedges, out of my line of sight.
I pause, my pen poised. Then I sigh and put my notepad away.
Ever-present, rising high in the background, is the palace. The tan brick façades and squat dark roofs look austere in comparison to the lively party fanning out in the palace’s wake.
I feel more than a little out of place, even though I’m in a rented ballgown just the color of my hair. Feeling like a huge piece of salt-water taffy, I look down at my carefully beaded taffeta gown. I stand out from the crowd. Normally that’s a good thing, but here…
Here I feel like even more of an outsider than usual.
A young woman in servant dress comes up to me with a tray of drinks, smiling a bit. “Champagne?”
“Ja, thanks.” I pick up a flute off of the tray. The servant smiles and swishes off to the next group of people she sees. I sip the wine, wrinkling my nose at the tiny bubbles that burst on my tongue. It tastes awfully sweet.
I look around for a friendly face. Someone to talk to. Pippa assured me that she would be here, but as I sweep my gaze around the hedges and fountains, she’s nowhere to be seen.
I do see someone I know, though. My mouth turns down at the corners. Standing on the far side of the party, chatting to a bunch of other guests in tuxes and ballgowns, is Anna. She glances my way and shoots me a wry grin.
Oh god. I have to move. Whirling away before she gets the idea to come over and bother me, I look around, lost. A large group of people catches my eye. I stalk toward them, spying a lovely statue of what appears to be a nymph playing a lyre.
As soon as I get close, I see Stellan standing apart from the large group, a slight frown on his handsome face. As I approach, he loosens his bowtie and pulls it off, stuffing itin his black tuxedo pocket. When he notices me, he smirks.
Something about that light blue gaze of his makes me blush and squirm. I hesitate.
Should I keep going? Or should I pretend that I didn’t see him and just go somewhere else? Before I can make up my mind, he makes it up for me.
“Margot!” he calls. “Come here.”
Making a face, I sigh and continue walking until I’m about two feet away. Then I stop; this is close enough. If I get closer, he might think that I am inviting his attentions again.
And I’m definitely not.
…right?
No, definitely not.
He gestures to the garden around us. “Welcome to our little soiree.”
I chew on my lower lip and scan the garden. “Shouldn’t you be talking to… well… everyone? I’m sure that almost everybody here wants some alone time with the heir to the throne.”
He looks over to the big group, then shrugs. “They do. And I’ve given them what they wanted for the past hour. Now it’s time for me to do what I want.” He tilts his head. “Do you want to go on an adventure?”
I step closer, looking at him with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. “I thought I was supposed to be here, swooning over how glamorous this whole party is?”
Stellan grins, sweeping his gaze over the garden area. “Are you impressed by this little get together? This is just a regular Thursday night.”
My lips curl up at the corners. “Even if that’s true, I’m not exactly dressed for an adventure.”
He arches a brow, his gaze wandering down to mydress. He gives me a knowing smirk. “We’ll be all right.” He jerks his head toward the tall hedges. “Come.”
I huff out a laugh as he turns away toward the maze. He just expects me to follow him. Then again, if I were born into royalty, wouldn’t I expect the same?
I trail after him, picking up my pace when he disappears behind a tall hedge. Grabbing my dress, I jog after Stellan as best I can. As soon as I turn the corner, I stumble right into him.
My hands land on his hard abs. My eyes widen. I look up at him, my breath constricting. From this close, his ice blue eyes crackle. He bites his bottom lip, smirking a little as he grabs my upper arms to steady me.
“Careful,” he says, righting me. “We wouldn’t want a repeat of yesterday, would we?”
