“Really?” I ask, crossing my arms. “Tell me. Go ahead. Get it out of your system now.”
Ida clears her throat. “I had someone look into her background. It isn’t pretty.”
I make a disgusted sound. “So what? Unless one of you is willing to tell me what kind of mysterious things Margot has done that I don’t know about…”
There is a silent moment where Ida and Erik look at each other, their frowns heavy. I shake my head.
“I didn’t think so,” I say.
A butler hovers in the doorway and clears his throat. “Pardon me, but the crown prince has a number of engagements to prepare for today…”
“Thank you,” I say to the butler. Swinging back to Erik and Ida, I shrug one shoulder. “Being the prince never ends.”
Then I turn and stride out of the room, following the butler.
Chapter Thirty-One
Margot
Getting out of the limo with twenty pounds of ballerina pink tulle zippered snugly around my body is a real struggle. I push myself up against the doorframe, cursing my own decision to wear this delicate, strapless ballgown. When I finally find my feet, I pat my hair discretely.
Are we really about to do this? My heart pounds. I look up at the fancy hotel we are at, praying that I don’t sweat in this dress.
Stellan is right by my side, offering his arm. He’s at his most dazzling dressed in a dapper tuxedo and his smile as he looks me up and down gives me chills.
“You look amazing in that dress,” he intones, his eyes taking me in. “You’re going to be perfect tonight.”
I place my hand on the inner elbow of his tuxedo jacket, exhaling. “Thank you. I won’t even bother to compliment you, because you always look perfect.”
He smirks. “Come on, then.”
He leads me past the bowing bellhops and valets, through the perfect pink granite lobby, and up a gorgeouspink granite grand staircase. We emerge onto the second floor and hear the party before we see it; strains of a string quartet escape from the ballroom to our right. He sweeps right past the people crowded around a set of wide double doors. I try to play it cool, lifting my head high like I belong here, but I don’t.
I am just pulled along withhim.
As we enter the ballroom, I notice people bowing. They’re definitely bowing to Stellan and not to me, but it still makes me uncomfortable. The party is already in full swing, the women in extravagant gowns, the men stunning in their tuxes.
It’s a Wednesday night, for god’s sake. Don’t these rich people have better places to be than here? Especially tonight, the night that Stellan and I are stepping out together as a couple.
My heartbeat gallops away in my chest. I suck in a breath.
“There’s Pippa,” Stellan says, nudging me.
I glance in the direction he nods. Pippa is right there, wearing the most amazing bright pink ballgown topped with an enormous bow. She turns and spots me, grinning.
I look up at Stellan, then go still. I want to go see Pippa, but I definitely don’t want to let Stellan down.
He leans in so close to my ear that his words are a kind of tease. “I’m afraid we have to say hello to a number of important people first. I promise you, the second we are through, you can go see Pippa.”
I grin, slipping my hand down to find his. “Is this okay?”
His lips twitch. “Very.” He kisses me on the lips and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. I can feel the gazes of the people around us turning curious.
I blush red as a ripe summer strawberry, straighteninghis lapel. “You can take me around to as many people as you want. At the end of the day, I get to be here with you.”
He smirks then leans down to whisper in my ear again. “Good girls get rewarded. Just something for you to think about.”
My blush deepens, going all the way down my neck. “You are wicked. A truly wicked prince.”
