“I’m a princess, too. If that’s all it takes, I could marry Alexander.”
Did Father even consider me when he was making arrangements with King Gerard? I don’t want to marry a random prince, but he could have asked me if I was interested.
Hannah surprised her with a laugh, as if the very idea was ridiculous. “You don’t even want to be a princess. You would never marry Alexander.”
“Do you want to be a queen someday?” Evelyn asked.
Hannah’s smile faded. “What else am I supposed to do?”
Evelyn’s heart broke for her sister. “Hannah?—”
“Thank you for telling me,” Hannah said, the pleasant expression back on her face. “I should start getting ready. I need to be perfect tonight.”
She ushered Evelyn out of the room and closed the door.
It’s Hannah’s choice, not mine. I just hope she doesn’t regret it.
16
Games
Several lady’s maids descended upon Evelyn hours before the evening’s festivities were scheduled to begin. She was bathed, primped, and pampered within an inch of her sanity.
Three of the women were dedicated to Evelyn’s hair. They pulled the front sections away from her face and braided them together. The rest of her fiery curls were left long and loose. But it took a surprising amount of wrangling to get her hair to look natural.
When it was time to get dressed, Gabrielle and two assistants joined the other women in the room.
There are more people fussing over me than there are actually running the kingdom.
Evelyn was finally able to see her dress. The ballgown had a fitted bodice, a sweetheart neckline, off-the-shoulder cap sleeves, a laced-up back, and a full skirt. The material appeared weightless when she moved, like the skirt was a cloud floating around her. Something woven into the fabric shone in the light, giving the effect of moonlight reflecting off water.
The tiara Evelyn borrowed from Queen Camille was silver, with a fairly understated design, but it had the sapphires she wanted. The light blue of the dress and the dark blue in the tiara perfectly matched Leo’s eyes.
I’m sure no one else will make the connection, but I love it.
Evelyn met Hannah in the hallway. Her sister wore a V-neck, sleeveless, turquoise gown with lace appliques and a low back. Her tiara was gold with pearls.
“Oh, Evelyn!” Hannah cried. “You are so pretty. You really look like a princess.”
“You look like a fucking mermaid, Hannah!” Evelyn shouted at her sister. “A beautiful fucking mermaid. How is that even possible?”
Hannah laughed, which made Evelyn laugh, and then the two of them couldn’t catch their breaths. The few maids lingering in the hallway stared as the princesses lost their minds.
“What’s all the commotion?” King Tristan called.
The sisters reduced their cackling to giggling and gave their father a hug, careful not to wrinkle their gowns while Gabrielle was nearby.
“My beautiful girls!” he said. “The guests are being seated for the banquet now. The two of you will be formally announced last, to make sure everyone sees you. Are you ready?”
Hannah squealed with excitement while Evelyn blanched.
I will never be ready to be gawked at by every important person in a kingdom.
The three of them descended the stairs and waited outside the entrance of the ballroom, which had been decorated for the occasion. Branches of cherry blossoms extended from the walls, crisscrossing the room to create a pink canopy over their heads. Vines of pink roses hung on the walls, draped like garland between sconces. Tables were arranged around the perimeter of the room, leaving the center open as a dance floor. Bouquetsof pink tulips served as centerpieces. A long head table, raised above the others, was reserved for the royal families.
Too soon, it was time for the Connollys to be introduced.
“I present to you now His Royal Majesty, King Tristan Connolly of the Kingdom of Carrowmore, and his daughters, Their Royal Highnesses, Hannah and Evelyn Connolly, princesses of Carrowmore.”
