She pressed her lips together, either because she was frustrated by him or because she was trying not to laugh. Most likely it was both. “Don’t try to change the topic. Why are you upset?”
“I didn’t know we were talking about that.”
“Alexios, what is going on with you?”
Looking over her shoulder, Alexios saw Lydia slipping away from the gathering behind a hedge. And if he wasn’t mistaken, she hadn’t gone alone. “Nothing you need to worry about, I promise. At least, not tonight. There’s one of the Moroccan princesses. It looks like she’s trying to catch your attention.”
He didn’t wait for her to leave. No, he was in too much of a hurry for that. Instead, he left her watching him with a suspicious glare as he strode off in the direction Lydia had gone.
As he got close to the hedge, he slowed down, walking carefully so he wouldn’t draw attention to himself. He walked around for several minutes, amazed and frustrated at the size of the prime minister’s garden, but finally he looked into the shadows under a blooming Jacaranda tree and saw a couple there, very close together.
“Ah hah,” he whispered. Let’s see why you’ve been delaying the wedding, dear Lydia.
Not at all hesitant at breaking into their romantic rendezvous, Alexios crept closer until he could see the features of the man Lydia was kissing so earnestly. It was difficult for a minute with the poor lighting and the fact that his face was hidden by hers, but at last he saw enough. It was Deacon Laxos, the ambassador’s son.
“This is certainly a lovely setting for a rendezvous between lovers.”
She gasped at the sound of his voice and wrenched herself around, staring up at him wide-eyed. “Alexios! We were just…we’re not…”
He chuckled. “It’s okay, Lydia. In fact, this is the best gift you could possibly have given me.”
Lydia looked as surprised as she was confused. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you are obviously in love with Deacon. And I am in love with Serenity. There seems to be a very simple solution here. It is time for our engagement to come to an end.”
Lydia’s mouth fell open. “But how? We can’t possibly break it off. There would be such a scandal.”
He shrugged. “We can get through it together. And, of course, I shall let you be the one to break things off. How does that sound?”
“I…I suppose that would work. When will we tell people?”
“I don’t know, but soon. We shall have to plan—”
His phone vibrated in his pocket then, and he reached for it immediately. “Pardon me…” he said, his voice distant as he turned his attention to his screen.
It was a message from Tymon. “Return to the palace. There has been an incident in New York.”
Chapter Twelve
Serenity lay in her bed, wide awake, staring out across the top of the laurel trees to the moonlit sky. After the emotional scene with Alex, she couldn’t sleep.
Clearly, she couldn’t stay here much longer. They were both at the breaking point and instead of getting over him, she was falling ever more deeply in love with him. And it seemed that he was struggling too.
Why couldn’t she have fallen for some ordinary guy back home? A stockbroker or a journalist? Or, dang it, even the hot dog vendor near her studio that had asked her out for coffee once? No such good luck for her. Instead, she had to go and fall in love with a freaking prince who had to marry for political connections. Even if he didn’t have the obligation of an arranged marriage, there was no way he could have married a girl with no family from America.
So she needed to leave before things got even worse. But where would she go? New York wouldn’t be safe, but it was the only place to have a successful fashion label. Unless she moved to Paris maybe.
But her depressed planning session was put on hold by a faint knocking. Surely someone wasn’t trying to come into her room at midnight?
She wasn’t scared because Tymon had spent time acquainting them with the high-level security system in place at the palace. Maybe she was imagining it.
Then her bedroom door was flung open, and Alexios strode in, his dress coat and bow tie missing, and his white shirtsleeves rolled up. Even in the dark room, she could see how wild his hair was, as if he’d been running his hands through it. But that was all she had time to see before he made it across the room and sat on her bed next to her.
“I had to make sure you were safe,” he said, cupping the side of her face with his hand.
She sat up, bringing her hand up over his. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone broke into your studio in New York.”
“What? How do you know?” She reached for his other hand, finding comfort in his strong grip.
“I’ve had surveillance on it and your apartment for two days now. I was afraid something like this might happen.”
Serenity looked up at him, at his worried expression highlighted by shadows and moonlight. “Why? He must know I’m not there.”
Alex moved his hand to her shoulder and ran his hand up and down her arm. “He wants you to be afraid. But don’t be. You’re here, with me, and nothing’s going to happen to you.”
“I want to see it.”
“Are you sure? It will be upsetting, and I want you to get some sleep.”
“I won’t sleep unless I see it.”
He sighed and nodded. “Okay. Come into the other room.” He paused. “It would be better if I was not in here with you anyway.”
Serenity’s heart skipped at his words, but she was more concerned with her studio and didn’t question him. She got up, and he led her through the door to a sofa, his hand on the small of her back more comforting than he likely realized.
He swiped his thumb across his phone and handed it to her. Her hand shook as she took it. Then her eyes locked onto the screen.
What had once been a sleek, orderly studio now looked like a wind storm and earthquake had struck at once. Tables were turned over, dress forms thrown around, pattern pieces scattered and torn. The next picture showed a pile of ripped fabric. From the colors and textures, she knew it was from her next collection. The last picture showed her mood boards that were hung along one wall.
Alex put his hand over the screen. “That’s enough.”
“No. I want to see.” He was trying to spare her, she knew, but it was too late. She’d already seen the letters painted in red across the boards.
Reluctantly, Alex moved his hand so she could read what the letters said.
Where R U?
He took the phone from her limp fingers and tossed it across the bed. He gathered her closer, and she clung to him, seeking the shelter of his arms. Curled up on his lap, she didn’t care about Lydia or their future or their past. Right there, in the present, she needed him. Her whole body trembled, but his arms were steady.
“You’re safe, my love. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Jade found them there the next morning. But she didn’t freak out or even comment on finding them curled up together on the couch. She’d simply said, “Tymon told me what happened. Are you okay?”
Alex tightened his arms around Serenity in a quick embrace before he untangled himself and stood up. His tux looked rumpled, but despite that, morning stubble, and messy hair, she thought he’d never looked more attractive. She couldn’t believe he’d spent the whole night there holding her, even though it couldn’t have been comfortable for him.
“I’m doing okay,” she said, sitting up, her eyes never leaving Alex.
His expression was hard and somber. “I’m going to go talk to my team. I’ll be back.”
“I hope so,” Serenity said. “Lydia is coming to choose the dress design she wants. I need someone to play referee between her and your mom.”
He gave an enigmatic smile. “Well, you won’t need one for long. But I’ll be there.”
Then he left, and Serenity and Jade stared at each other in puzzlement.
Jade shrugged. “Well, I don’t know w
hat that meant, but what are we going to do about the studio? Ben isn’t even there. His plane should be landing here any time now.”
Serenity shook her head. “I don’t know. Get a cleaning crew and the rest of the team over there to salvage what they can for starters. Right now, let’s focus on what we can do. Let’s get Lydia to choose a design. Because I need to leave sooner than planned.”
Jade nodded as if she understood. And she probably did.
A few hours later, after a breakfast of coffee and chocolate croissants and a lot of work, they were almost ready for Lydia’s arrival.
Serenity looked at the antique clock on the wall and hurried to set up the display boards with the three different wedding dress designs she’d completed for Lydia to choose from. They were each vastly different from each other, one very old-world and traditional, one modern and rather scandalous, and one a nice compromise between the two.
“Well, this is definitely going to go smoothly,” Jade said, viewing the three final sketches that Serenity had stayed up late last night to finish.
Lowering her eyelids, Serenity shook her head. “What on earth am I supposed to do? No dress on earth would please both of them. And you can’t say that they’re not all amazing.”
“They are. Scrumptious. Whatever she doesn’t choose, you have to save for our upcoming season.”
Serenity thought about the Mediterranean charm of Cristonia, the frayed hems of the little girls she’d met, and the exquisite lace and linens she’d found here. She blinked and drew in a deep, excited breath, realizing she’d found the inspiration for her next line. She pointed to the first dress, the old-world one. “That one will be part of the fall/winter show unless Lydia choses it. Which she won’t.”
Jade raised her eyebrows, looking unsure.
“With some adjustments,” Serenity assured her, draping white fabric over each of the display boards. “To give it an edge. As soon as we get the dresses done for the little girls, you can help me make a mood board for the line.” A knock on the door ended their conversation. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
It was Alex. He nodded at them both and held Serenity’s eyes. The tension that had hung over him that morning had not lessened any. “They’re coming behind me,” he said, as if to give them warning.
Just as he’d warned, the queen came in the open door, Lydia right behind her, as well as…Ben.
Serenity wasn’t surprised to see him, since she’d been expecting him, but she wondered how he’d met up with his royal hostess already. She wanted to ask but had to go through the proper greetings for the queen and Lydia.
When they were done, the queen smiled at her. “Look, we met your handsome fiancé on our way here. Please, don’t mind my presence. Feel free to greet him. I do not mind public displays of affection, especially in a case such as this.” She looked critically at Alexios as she said the last bit.
Serenity stared at her, probably rudely, but she couldn’t care less right then. Was the queen suggesting that she kiss Ben? Right there in front of everyone?
Her eyes shot desperately toward Jade, but she only shrugged helplessly. And then, Ben was there in front of her.
“Hey there, baby,” he said. “I missed you.” Then he put his arms around her waist and pulled her close, pressing an enthusiastic kiss on her stunned lips.
Now Ben was an attractive man. He was not much taller than her, but kept himself very fit. He had a charming sort of conceit about him that was not at all out of place in the fashion world and a bright, friendly personality. With his carefully shaped and trimmed beard, manicured nails, and close-cut brown hair that was long on top and flopped forward in to his eyes, he was definitely not someone she minded playing her pretend fiancé. But despite his good looks, sexy cologne, and minty breath, letting him kiss her was awkward to say the least.
She tried to calm down, to relax her stiff frozen posture and at least look like she was enjoying it.
We’re acting. This is an act. I can do this.
When he at last released her, she stepped back in relief. She clenched her fists, put her hands on her hips, then crossed her arms—all in an attempt to keep from wiping her mouth.
Looking at Alex just made it worst. His jaw was so tight she was afraid he might break a few teeth. And the way he was glaring at Ben?
Oh man. This was bad.
“Aren’t you too sweet together?” The queen looked positively cheerful. “Don’t you think so, Alexios?”
“Just darling,” Alex agreed, though his voice had that singular dryness he was so good at.
Serenity was done with awkwardness. Stepping forward, she invited the queen and Lydia to sit in front of her display and revealed the first design. “Lydia, I’ve been so honored to create these designs for you. Each of them is different, but all of them are inspired by you and Prince Alexios and your beautiful country. This one is inspired by the history and craftsmanship of Cristonia with handmade lace, a corseted bodice, and a long train.”
Lydia’s expression was closer to a wince than the smile Serenity thought she had intended. So much for diplomatic training.
Oh, how lovely,” Queen Mona said. “So elegant and stately.”
Serenity sighed, feeling a storm on the horizon. “This second dress is inspired by your preferred style and voluptuous figure. It is on trend with subtle ruching on the side and careful draping that will be flattering for your figure, Lydia, while the sheer fabric over the shoulders, back, and plunging neckline will show your assets off yet still preserve the mystery that every bride wants for her wedding day.”
“Oh wow. I love this one,” Lydia said. “It’s perfect—just what I wanted.”
“What?” the queen demanded. “You can’t possibly wear a dress like that! In fact, I won’t have it. Next!”
Lydia’s dark brows pinched together as she cast a sidelong glare at her future mother-in-law.
Refusing to let things fall apart before the third dress was even shown, Serenity hurried to pull the fabric away to reveal the last design. “This dress is inspired by your relationship with Prince Alexios. It is simple, unadorned, timeless. With an empire waistline and made of brilliant white Mulberry silk with delicate embroidery in an olive branch motif and cubic zirconium beads, it will shimmer and reflect the light you will both be to this nation, while reminding them of the unity you seek to bring between different parties.”
It was a rather overdone sales pitch, perhaps, but she desperately needed both of them to be on board with this dress. She watched their faces carefully. Both of them were intrigued, their heads tilted in almost exactly the same way as they studied the design. Hope began to build inside her.
“I don’t hate it,” the queen said. “In fact, I think it is very tasteful. The olive branch design embroidery is very subtle, but just the sort of thing that will get people talking. And it will no doubt be very flattering on Lydia.”
Serenity sighed as softly as she could manage without giving away her anxiety too much. With the queen happy, she looked to Lydia. “It will be your dress, Lydia. What do you think?”
To her surprise, Lydia wiped her eyes with a tissue. Serenity hadn’t even seen her cry. “Oh, it’s so lovely. I never imagined a dress could remind me of all the reasons I accepted Alexios’s proposal. Yes, this one. I love it.”
The queen nodded, pleased. “Wonderful. It’s decided.”
Serenity’s relief nearly overwhelmed her.
“Lydia?” Alex asked, breaking into the tender moment. He gave his fiancée a meaningful look that Serenity could not interpret and asked, “Are you sure you want this dress? I mean, it doesn’t seem at all your type of thing.”
Lydia bit her lip and looked apologetic, but somehow in an insincere way that set Serenity’s instincts on edge. “But I do like it. And what it stands for. Won’t I look stunning on our wedding day, dear Alexios?”
Serenity looked between them, trying to decide why on earth Alex was once again looking like a thundercloud. She’d k
nown a storm was coming, but she hadn’t expected it to come from him.
Alex stood perfectly still in front of his mother and fiancée for a long minute, then gave Lydia one long, hard look. “You and I will be having a discussion later.” Then he strode out of the room without another look back.
“Well,” said Jade brightly, coming forward with a smile, breaking the sudden tension. “Let’s get just a few more measurements now that we have the design, and we’ll get a muslin version made up for a fitting.”
As Lydia stood and moved toward the small stool where Jade directed her, Serenity added in somber tones, “Yes. And we’ll have that done soon, then we’ll return to New York to finish the actual construction of the dress. We’re very lucky to have Ben here for this stage. He’s a wizard at making patterns.”
“And at kissing, I saw,” Lydia said, looking at her with a sly expression as she held up her arms for Jade.
“Uh, yeah. That too.”
Shudder.
Chapter Thirteen
Alexios couldn’t believe Lydia hadn’t taken the chance to break up their engagement! The plan had been so perfect.
“There’s just so much pressure on me,” she said when he’d dragged her into his office after meeting with Serenity. “And I’ve decided that as much as I love Deacon, it is nothing compared to the love I have for my country.”
More like she preferred marrying a prince to an ambassador’s son.
He wanted to be a gentleman, but he wasn’t going to be forced into this marriage. Not now. So he’d given her an ultimatum. “Well, you can continue to love your country. But you and I are not getting married. You have three days to make our breakup public on your terms, or I’ll do it on mine. Which may or may not include scandal for your family, since you were the one caught kissing someone else.” Never mind that he’d wanted to do just that to Serenity. This was the only way he could be free of Lydia without causing the blame to fall on his family and wreck their country’s stability.
Lydia had stormed out, and he hadn’t heard from her since. Today was the third day, so her time was running out.
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