by Cat Schield
A knock sounded on her door. Brooke’s pulse kicked up. Could Nic have come by to wish her good-night? But it wasn’t her handsome prince in the hall. Instead, her visitor was a beautiful, tall girl with long chocolate-brown hair and a welcoming smile.
“I’m Ariana.” Behind Nic’s sister were two maids loaded down with six shoe boxes and four overstuffed garment bags.
“Brooke Davis.”
“I know that.” Ariana laughed. “Even if the palace wasn’t buzzing about the girl Nic brought home, I would have recognized you from the pictures Glen emailed me from time to time. He’s very proud of you.”
“You and Glen email?” Earlier Brooke had learned that Nic’s sister had met Glen in Greece, but an ongoing correspondence was something else entirely. “I thought you’d just met the one time.”
“Yeees.” She drew the word out. “But it was quite a meeting.”
Brooke didn’t know what to make of the other girl’s innuendo and made a note to question Glen about Nic’s sister.
“Olivia told me her shoes were too big for you, so I brought you a few pairs of mine,” Ariana said, indicating the maids behind her. “They should fit you better—and I included some dresses, as well. That’s one of Olivia’s, isn’t it?”
Brooke couldn’t figure out what about the gold lace could possibly have caused Ariana to wrinkle her nose. “Nothing I brought with me is suitable for palace wear. I had no plans to come here with Nic.”
For a moment Ariana’s eyes narrowed in the same sharp expression of assessment her mother had aimed at Brooke all evening. At last the princess smiled. “Well, I’m glad you did.”
“So am I.” And for the first time in eight hours, Brooke meant it. “I’ve really been looking forward to meeting you. I thought your artwork at the villa was amazing.”
“Then you’d be the first.” With a self-deprecating hair flip, Ariana slipped her arm through Brooke’s and drew her into the bedroom.
“What do you mean?” Brooke let herself be led. From the way Nic had talked about his sister and from studying Ariana’s art, Brooke felt as if she and the younger woman might be kindred spirits. “Your use of color gave the paintings such energy and depth.”
Ariana’s eyebrows drew together. “You’re serious.” She sounded surprised and more than a little hopeful.
“Very.” Brooke didn’t understand the princess’s reaction. “I did my undergrad work in visual and critical studies.”
“My family doesn’t understand what I paint. They see it all as random splashes of color on canvas.”
“I’m sure it’s just that they are accustomed to a more traditional style of painting. Have you ever had your work exhibited anywhere?”
“No.” A laugh bubbled out of her. “I paint for myself.”
“Of course. But if you’re ever interested in getting an expert’s opinion, I have a friend in San Francisco who runs a gallery. He likes finding new talent. I took some pictures of your work. With your permission I could send him the photos.”
“I’ve never thought...” Ariana shook her head in bemusement. “I guess this is the moment every artist faces at some point. Do I take a chance and risk failing or play it safe and never know if I’m any good.”
“Oh, you’re good,” Brooke assured her. “But art is very subjective and not everyone is going to like what you do.”
“I guess I’ve already faced my worst critics. My family. So why not see what your friend thinks.”
“Wonderful, I’ll send him the pictures tomorrow morning.”
“And in the meantime—” Ariana gestured toward the wardrobe “—show me what you brought from home and let’s see if I have anything that will appeal to you.”
Brooke suspected the stylish princess wouldn’t be at all impressed with the limited contents of her closet, but she knew her fine speech about art being subjective would be hypocritical if she couldn’t back it up with action. For what was fashion but wearable art and even though Brooke’s wardrobe wasn’t suitable for a palace, it worked perfectly in her academic world.
The maids who’d entered behind Ariana deposited their burdens on Brooke’s bed. If the princess had brought anything like what she was wearing—a sophisticated but fun plum dress with gold circles embroidered around the neckline and dotted over the skirt—Brooke braced herself to be wowed.
“It feels like every day is Christmas around here,” Brooke said as dress after gorgeous dress came free of the garment bags. The variety of colors and styles dazzled Brooke. Of course, with her skin tone, Ariana could wear just about anything.
When the maids finished, Brooke pulled out her own dresses, shorts, skirts and her favorite kimono. Ariana narrowed her eyes in thought and surveyed each item.
“You have a great eye for color and know exactly what suits you.”
Coming from the princess, this was a huge compliment. Ariana wasn’t at all what Brooke imagined a princess would be like. She was warm and approachable. Not at all stuffy or formal. Brooke warmed to her quickly, feeling as if they had known each other for years instead of minutes.
“In California I blend in dressed like this.” Brooke slipped into the tie-dyed kimono. It looked odd over the gold lace dress she’d borrowed from Olivia. “Here I stick out like a sore thumb.”
“Hardly a sore thumb, although definitely a standout. No matter how you dress, your unique hair color will keep you from being a wallflower. No wonder my brother finds you irresistible.”
Brooke felt Ariana’s comment like a blow. “We’re just friends,” she explained in a rush, but her cheeks heated as the princess arched one slim eyebrow.
“But he talks about you all the time and he brought you to meet us.”
“It’s not what you’re thinking. I went to the island to convince him to return to California. To Glen and the Griffin project. And when he was summoned back here sooner than expected, he didn’t want to leave me alone in Greece.”
“He must be in love with you. He’s never brought a woman home before.”
Brooke relaxed a little. “That’s because the love of his life wouldn’t fit inside an airplane.” Seeing she had confused Ariana, Brooke explained. “As long as I’ve known him, Nic has been committed to the rocket he and my brother hope will one day carry people into space. There’s been no room for an emotional connection with any woman.”
“And yet here you are.”
“Until a few days ago I didn’t know he was a prince or that he needs to marry a citizen of the country or an aristocrat so his children can rule someday. Obviously I’m neither.”
“He wouldn’t have kept something like that from you unless he was worried about hurting you.”
“That much is true.” Here Brooke hesitated, unsure how much to explain. In the end, she decided to trust Ariana. “I’ve had a crush on him for years. When I showed up on Ithaca, he told me everything. He didn’t want me to hope for a future we could never have together.”
“Did it work? Did you stop hoping?”
“I’d be crazy if I didn’t.”
Like her brothers, Ariana had her father’s warm brown eyes flecked with gold, but she’d inherited the intensity of her gaze from her mother. “But you two have been intimate.”
Hating to lie, Brooke pretended she hadn’t heard the soft question. Instead she chose a dress at random and announced, “I love this.”
Luckily her selection was a flirty emerald-green dress that she could see herself wearing. Brooke held it against her body. As she looked at her reflection, she noticed the dress had no tags, but Brooke doubted it had ever been worn.
“I’ll take your nonanswer as an affirmative.” Ariana’s musical laughter filled the room. “Try on the dress.” While Brooke obeyed her, the princess continued, “I’m sorry if I was blunt and please don’t be embarrassed
.” The gold bracelets on her slender wrists chimed. “My brothers are very hard for the opposite sex to resist. Thank goodness Gabriel and Nic are honorable and not ones to take advantage. Christian is like a child in a toy store wanting everything he sees.”
And getting it, too, Brooke guessed. “Please don’t tell anyone about Nic and me. It’s over and I wouldn’t want to cause any needless problems.”
Ariana nodded. “That dress is amazing on you.”
The empire bodice cupped her breasts, the fabric ending in a narrow band of a darker green ribbon. From there, the layers of chiffon material flowed over her hips, the hem ending just above her knee. Brooke stared at herself in the mirror as Ariana guided her feet into strappy black sandals.
“It brings out the green in your eyes.”
“I feel like a princess.” Brooke laughed. “I guess I should because it’s a dress fit for a princess. You.”
Next, Ariana urged Brooke into a hot-pink sheath with a V-shaped neckline and bands of fabric that crisscrossed diagonally to create an interesting and figure-slimming pattern. It had a sophisticated, elegant vibe that Brooke wasn’t sure she could pull off.
“I understand you are having breakfast with my mother tomorrow. This will be perfect, and I think you should pair it with these.”
Ariana grabbed a box and pulled out a pair of white suede and black velvet lace ankle boots that were amazing, Brooke waved her hands in protest. “I can’t. Those are just too much.”
“You must wear them or the outfit will not be complete.”
At Ariana’s relentless urging, Brooke slipped her feet into the boots and faced the mirror, accepting immediately that she’d lost the battle. “I never imagined I could look like this.”
Ariana’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Why not? You are very beautiful.”
“But not refined and effortless like you and Olivia.”
With a very unladylike snort, Ariana rolled her eyes. “This is just how I appear here in the palace. When I go to Ithaca, I assure you, I’m so different you’d never recognize me.”
“Do you spend a lot of time on the island?”
“Not as much as I’d like. It’s an escape. I go to paint. To forget about the responsibilities of being a princess.”
“I imagine there’s a lot that keeps you busy.”
“It’s less now that Olivia is here.” Ariana selected five more dresses and put them into Olivia’s wardrobe with three more pairs of shoes. “That will do for now, but you will need a long dress for a party we must attend the day after tomorrow. It’s the prime minister’s birthday.”
“Are you sure I will be going?”
“Absolutely. The event is always deadly dull and having you along will make the whole thing bearable.”
While the maids returned the rest of the dresses to the garment bags, Ariana squeezed Brooke’s shoulder. “I am sorry you and Nic cannot see where things might lead between you. I think you would make him very happy.”
“Actually, I drive him crazy.”
“Good. He has always been too serious. He needs a little crazy in his life.” And with that, Ariana said good-night and left Brooke to her thoughts.
* * *
The corridors of the visitors’ wing were quiet as Nic made his way back to his temporary quarters. The tranquillity would vanish over the next few days as guests began to arrive for the week of festivities leading up to the royal wedding. The conversation he’d had with his parents after dinner had highlighted their expectations for him. The women in the dossiers had been invited to the palace. He was to get to know each of them and make his selection.
As he’d listened to his mother, Nic realized he’d been in America too long. Although he’d grown up in a world where marriages sometimes were arranged, he’d grown accustomed to the notion of dating freely without any expectation that it might end in marriage.
He’d almost reached his suite when the door to the room beside his opened and two maids emerged carrying garment bags. Their appearance could only mean he had company next door. It hadn’t occurred to Nic that Brooke had been placed on this floor, much less in the room beside his, and his suspicion was confirmed when his sister came out of the room a few seconds later.
“Nic!” She raced across the few feet that separated them and threw herself into his arms. “How good that you’re home.”
She smelled of the light floral perfume he’d sent her the previous Christmas. He’d asked Brooke to help him pick out the perfume because he’d sensed the two women were a lot alike. Seeing his sister’s good mood upon leaving Brooke, he knew he’d been right.
“I’m happy to be here.”
Ariana pushed back until she could see his expression, and then clicked her tongue. “No you’re not. You’d much rather be in California playing with your rocket.”
“I’m done with that.” The accident and Gabriel’s marriage had seen to that.
“It’s not like you to give up.”
Her remark sent a wave of anger rushing through him. The emotion was so sharp and so immediate that he could do nothing more than stand frozen in astonishment. The loss of Griffin. His obligation to give up his dream and come home to marry a woman he didn’t love. None of it was of his choosing.
But without this call to duty, would he have stayed in California and started over? The accident had been a disaster and his confidence was in shreds. Was that why he wasn’t fighting his fate or figuring out a way around the laws that were in place so he could choose whom he married?
“Nic?”
As quickly as it had risen, his rage subsided. He shook himself in the numb aftermath. “Sorry. I’m just tired. It’s been a long day. And I didn’t give up.” He gave her nose an affectionate tweak the way he used to when she was an adorable toddler and he an oh-so-knowing big brother of ten. “I was called home to do my duty.”
Ariana winced. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” Her contrite expression vanished with her next breath. “I met Brooke tonight. She’s wonderful.”
He was starting to wish his siblings would find something about Brooke to criticize. It was going to be hell bidding her goodbye and it would have been easier on him if they behaved as if falling for her was a huge error in his judgment.
“I’m glad you think so.”
“If you’re going to visit her, you might want to hurry. I think she was getting ready for bed.”
For a second Nic wasn’t sure if he should take his sister’s statement at face value or if she was trying to get a reaction out of him. He decided it was the latter.
“This is my room.” He indicated the door to his left. “I didn’t know where she was staying in the palace.”
“Why are you in the visitors’ wing?”
“Something about my room flooding.”
She gave him an incredulous look. “Who told you that?”
“Gabriel.” Nic was starting to suspect something might be up. “Why?”
“Because I stopped by your suite earlier and it looked fine to me.” She smirked. “I think our brother is trying to play matchmaker. You and Brooke all alone in the visitors’ wing with no one to know if you snuck into each other’s rooms. Very romantic.”
“Damn it.” Now he had another dilemma facing him. Confront Gabriel and return to his suite in the family wing or pretend he and Ariana never had this conversation and do what his heart wanted but his brain protested against.
“Honestly, stop being so noble.” It was as if Ariana had read his mind. “Gabriel followed his heart. I think he wants the same for you.”
“And then who will produce the legitimate heirs to ascend the throne?”
His sister shrugged. “There’s always Christian. He isn’t in love with anyone. Let him be the sacrificial lamb.”
Nic hugged his sister
and kissed the top of her head. “You are the best sister in the world.”
“So are you going to choose Brooke?”
“You know I can’t and you know why.”
With a huge sigh, Ariana pushed him away. “You are too honorable for your own good.”
“I know how this whole thing is making me feel. I can’t do that to Christian.” He paused and looked down at her. “Or to you.”
“Me?”
“Have you considered what would happen if both Christian and I failed to produce a son? The whole burden shifts to your shoulders.”
Ariana obviously hadn’t considered this. Even though the constitution wouldn’t allow her to rule as queen, she was still a direct descendant of the ruling king and that meant her son could one day succeed.
“Okay, I see your point, but I think it’s terrible that you and Brooke can’t be together.”
“So do I.”
Nic watched as his sister retreated down the corridor. For several heartbeats he stood with his hand on the doorknob to his room, willing himself to open the door and step inside, while Ariana’s words rang in his head. Brooke was getting ready for bed. They were isolated in this wing of the palace. He could spend the night with her and sneak out before anyone discovered them. But how many times could he tell himself this was their last time together? Just that morning he’d been on the verge of saying goodbye.
He pushed open the door to his room, but didn’t step across the threshold. He’d invited Brooke to Sherdana; it would only be polite to stop by and find out how her day had gone. If he stood in the hall, they could have a quick conversation without fear that either of them would be overcome with passion. That decided, Nic strode over and rapped on Brooke’s door. If he’d expected her to answer his summons looking disheveled and adorable in her pajamas, he was doomed to disappointment.