Gabriel chuckled and gave her another kiss. “Nice try, daughter. Nice try.”
Dinner was announced a few moments later. Alex left to escort Rebecca inside, while Gabriel left to do the same with her mother, Genevieve. Everyone else followed behind them, chattering away and catching up. Though modern technology made it was easy to stay in touch these days, there was always something to be discussed, and something to tease or torment someone else about.
A month ago, Marcello had been the center of the teasing for falling in love with Grace. The month before that, it had been Alex, who had admitted a longtime love of Rebecca. She wondered what her siblings would have to say if they knew that she, too, may be married soon, and to a man she didn’t love.
When Finn came to her mind again, she tried to push thoughts of him aside, but goosebumps rose on her skin at the thought of seeing him again. He would be at the ball tomorrow night. Would they dance? Could she hope for a life with him?
As she sat down to dinner, some of her siblings probed her for information, but she remained tight-lipped. If there was something to tell, tomorrow would be soon enough. She knew she would barely sleep until they heard from Finn in the morning, and she fortified herself for the long night ahead.
Chapter 15
Finn strode back to his room in Brazenbourg Palace, a man quite upset with his brother. Henry was forcing Finn to travel with him to Valleria. It wasn’t for Finn’s company, oh no. Finn was going along because he was being treated as a teenager alone in the house for the first time. Henry didn’t trust Finn.
But then, Finn didn’t trust Henry, either.
Finn entered his room and went straight to his closet. He pulled out his suitcase and began throwing clothes inside; they could be ironed later if needed. All he really wanted to do was stay behind a little longer and gather more information. Jacob had pushed their meeting back to noon, as he was following a hot lead and needed more time. Finn couldn’t leave the country now, but he would have to.
Finn ran a frustrated hand through his hair just as his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled out his burner phone; he’d learned years ago that Henry had begun tapping his given phone, so he’d used a burner for any personal business.
Alex had messaged him with another request for an update. Didn’t he know that Finn would tell him as soon as he knew? He typed the same thing he had that morning and sent it back, only adding that Henry had requested his presence for an early departure. Finn was only half-worried that once he left the country, Henry would find a way to keep him out for good.
He prayed this was not one of those times.
Just in case, however, Finn took a small, pre-packed bag from a hidden panel in his closet. It was filled with money and a few momentos he’d tucked away of his parents. Finn might hope for the best but, when it came to Henry, he prepared for the worst. After grabbing everything, including a suit for the ball, he made his way out the door.
He also sent a quick message to Jacob letting him know what had happened. Tense though he was for Jacob’s call, the only bright spot would be seeing Arianna again. Just the thought of her caused an ache inside. He hoped they could have at least one dance together.
***
Arianna fluffed the layers of her full skirt again in front of her mirror. It was customary for all members of the royal family to wear something in a dark shade of purple, the royal color of Valleria, to most of the balls they held, the exception being their annual Holiday Ball in December. With her Mama, three other sisters, and two future or potential sisters-in-law as well, finding something to wear took massive amounts of coordination.
Arianna’s dress was a vision of elegant purple and silver in a wide spiral across her dress, each stripe streaming from a point on her right shoulder and growing larger as it fell down by her left foot. The fitted waist would enhance her God-given attributes on the top, and the layers of skirt would hide her God-given curves on the bottom.
The asymmetrical neck made a necklace obsolete, but she paired the dress with the same earrings and bracelet she had worn in Brazenbourg. If things did need to move forward with Henry, it would be the proper thing to wear. If things worked out otherwise, well, she would just have to deal with some comments in the papers about her ability to color-coordinate.
She picked up her tiny purse and began the journey towards the family room, where they would all gather before heading to the ball. The Royal Wing of the palace made it easy for the royals to have their own space as well as communal ones. The secret hallway that led from her bedroom could lead straight towards the communal family room, but it would be impossible to maneuver those passages in this dress. So, she was taking the long route from her royal apartment, down several hallways, to where they would meet.
As the sounds of voices grew louder, she could feel the excitement in the air, and Arianna couldn’t help but smile at it. A ball was always a fun occasion, and one celebrating their parents, even more so. All of them had come up with a surprise present for them; she hoped they liked it.
As she entered the room, she was lost in a crowd of purple silk and tuxedos, and momentarily blinded by the heavy jewelry all the women were wearing. Though some of it was fake, extra Royal Protection agents had been assigned to them all individually as well as to the ball; nothing would happen if they could prevent it.
Her parents, Gabriel and Genevieve, were the last to arrive. Genevieve looked resplendent in her own strapless gown of plum purple and rich gold, which came with a small cropped jacket that also shimmered in the light. Genevieve’s dark blond hair was wrapped in a sleek bun at the base of her neck, perfect for the crown she was to wear tonight. A crown was only worn for special occasions, and this was definitely one of them.
Gabriel looked just as amazing and powerful as her mother did. He was dressed in a tuxedo and royal cape, complete with a crown as well. Arianna knew that her father would have preferred to wear his dress military uniform, as her brother Ethan currently was, but it could not be worn with the crowns her mother had insisted they wear.
Arianna could just picture them as they had been decades ago when they married. They had aged so well it seemed as though no time had passed, but for her father’s peppery hair and her mother’s curvier form, a requirement after nine children in eight pregnancies.
“You all look beautiful,” Genevieve said. “Positively beautiful.”
“We’re handsome, not beautiful,” Lorenzo said, puffing out his chest.
Genevieve walked over and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek, careful not to transfer her lipstick. “Lorenzo, dear, you’re beautiful. You’re my beautiful son, and you always will be.”
“Geez,” he said, looking abashed. “All right.”
“All right, what?” Genevieve asked with a smile.
“All right, I’m beautiful.” Everyone laughed. “Oh, shut it,” he told his brothers and sisters. No one listened.
“I, too, second your mother. Everyone looks radiant. We have been very blessed, dear wife.”
“That we have, dear husband.”
“Is everyone ready to go? Are we waiting on anyone?” Gabriel asked as he surveyed the room, mentally checking off each of his children he saw to glean if anyone was missing.
Everyone turned to Catharine, who didn’t like the attention for once. “What are you looking at me for?” Cat asked as she put her gloved hands on her hips. “I am here on time.”
“You’ll have to forgive us for being surprised by your punctuality, Cat,” Marcello said. He stood nearby with Grace tucked under his arm.
“Yes, my twin,” Alex said from where he similarly stood nearby with a smiling Rebecca. “You are not known for your timeliness. Even at our birth you showed up late.” Everyone chuckled at the long-standing joke.
Cat narrowed her eyes but wisely bit her tongue. “Well, I am here now, on time, and waiting for all of you to get going.”
“Hot date tonight, Cat?” Nate asked. “How much longer did Mama give you to g
et married?” Mama had given Cat an ultimatum when Alex and Rebecca had gotten engaged. She had to be at least engaged by the time the wedding came around, or else.
“Nathaniel,” Genevieve warned. “First of all, how did you hear about that? Secondly, leave your sister alone.”
“Mama, how am I supposed to leave something that good alone?”
Cat smacked Nat on the back of the head. “Like that. If you start thinking about it again, just smack yourself in the head, or let me know and I’ll do it.”
A number of voices rang out at once. “Can I?” “I’ll do it.” “I want to smack Nate.”
“Quiet,” Gabriel said in an even voice and the room quieted immediately; he had a talent for that sort of thing. “Leave both your brother and sister alone. Tonight is a night for celebrating, and that is what we plan to do.”
“Before we begin the celebrations, we have a gift for both of you,” Alex said and gestured to a pair of servants nearby, who brought out a very tall, thin box.
“What is this?” Genevieve asked as tears glittered in her eyes. “We weren’t expecting anything.”
Alex smiled. “We know. That’s why it’s called a surprise, Mama. Go ahead, please open it.”
With trembling fingers, both Gabriel and Genevieve carefully pulled out the prize with the aid of the servants. They both gasped when they saw it.
It was a painting of the whole family, including Rebecca and Grace as well as their parents.
“We didn’t pose for this,” Genevieve said.
Carolina, the artist in the family, spoke first. “You didn’t have to. It’s hard to get all of us together, so we gave the artist pictures of everyone when we needed to. Do you like it?”
“You didn’t paint this?” Gabriel asked his talented daughter.
“No, but a friend of mine did. I felt I couldn’t be objective enough.”
“It’s beautiful. Amazing. Oh, I can’t wait to see what it looks like above the mantel in the dining room,” Genevieve said. The dining room always featured a portrait of the royal family and, since Alex and Marcello had found the loves of their lives, the painting had needed updating.
“I’m so glad that everyone’s in the painting,” Genevieve said with a look to Rebecca and Grace.
Grace dabbed at the tears in her eyes. “I’m so honored to be included. I know Marcello and I aren’t engaged.” Grace was a widow whose first marriage had been abusive, to say the least. Though she and Marcello was deeply committed to each other, she just wasn’t ready to take that step yet, and the family completely understood.
“As if that matters, my dear,” Gabriel said as he walked over to her. “You’re family, whether or not you sign a paper stating so.” He dropped a kiss to her head, then walked over to Rebecca. “You are family, too, my dear.”
Rebecca’s eyes were shining brightly, as were the eyes of her parents nearby. “Thank you.”
Gabriel smiled. “Thank you very much for the very thoughtful gift. We love it almost as much as we love all of you.” As he looked around the room, his gaze stopped on Arianna’s. “Why doesn’t everybody start heading out. Alex? Arianna? A word, please. Rebecca, dear, please head out with your parents; Alex will be there shortly.”
As everyone else filtered out, Rebecca escorted by her parents, they remained in the room with Genevieve. A sense of dread filled Arianna’s stomach.
“Prince Henry and Finn are here,” Gabriel said, his eyes fixed on Arianna. “Alex and I greeted them when they arrived.”
“I assumed they’d arrived by now, but why didn’t you want me to greet them when they did?”
“I wanted to meet them without you. However, it was clear that one man was very disappointed you were not in attendance.” And it hadn’t been the man Gabriel had expected; it had been Finn, not Henry.
“Oh?” Arianna asked, slightly hopeful. She wanted to ask who, but didn’t dare. “Well, did you have a chance to speak with them?”
“Unfortunately nothing more than a greeting. We may step away from the ball sometime during the evening, or just wait until tomorrow. We may ask you to join us, depending upon how that conversation goes.”
Arianna nodded, then turned to her mother’s searching gaze. “Mama?”
“You do know that we only want the best for you.”
“Is that what you told Cat when you gave her an ultimatum? That you only want the best for her?” Arianna noticed Gabriel was very uncomfortable at the mention of Cat’s dilemma.
“I didn’t give her an ultimatum. I just strongly encouraged her to find someone, and soon. Besides, Cat’s situation is completely different and you know it.”
“Perhaps,” Arianna said, holding back her tongue against her mother’s meddling. She loved her mother, but a finer meddler there never was.
“Enjoy tonight, my child,” Gabriel said as he put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “This situation is a worry for another day, not tonight. Nothing will be decided right now.”
“Any news?” Arianna asked Alex, who shook his head.
“We didn’t have a chance to talk to Finn before the Ball. I’m going to pull him aside before we talk to Henry. By the indications he was giving me, he had managed to learn something.”
“Will you let me know as well?”
“I’m sure Finn will dance with you at some point; ask him then. Just be discreet when you do. You never know whose ears are nearby.”
“Yes, all right. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything revealing.”
“Good,” Gabriel said. “Now that we’re all on the same page, let’s go have some fun. Come, my beautiful wife; your party awaits.”
Chapter 16
Finn glanced around the tasteful and historical Grand Ballroom at the Vallerian Royal Palace. Delicate chandeliers hung sparkling near the ceiling, sending just the right level of light around the room, burnishing it in a soft gold. Everybody and everything seemed to shine like a jewel: the women, along with their dresses and jewelry, the table decorations, and even the men and the food lining the tables.
The Vallerian royals had yet to make an entrance. Though he had business with a few of them, it was only one he truly wanted to see: Arianna.
He’d been disappointed when Arianna hadn’t greeted their arrival earlier. Oh, Henry had put up a good front, feigning disappointment, but as King Gabriel had searched Finn’s eyes, he was sure the man knew what Finn felt for his daughter.
Finn reached for another glass of water, forgoing alcohol until he’d spoken with Alex, at least. He needed a clear head, especially if what Jacob had told him was true. Someone was indeed out to sink the royal family, but it was one of their own allies. Jacob was working now to find out who it could be; he had a short list, Finn knew, but it must be terribly shocking for Jacob to keep it so close to his vest.
A trumpet sounded and the noise in the room dimmed. A man Finn recognized as Tavin, Alex’s chief of staff, announced the royal family as they entered; he had been there to welcome him when he’d arrived earlier that day.
All of the woman were in stunning gowns featuring the dark purple of Valleria. When Arianna was announced, Finn lost his breath. She wore layers of dress that he wanted to peel off, and even from some distance away he could see she wore the same jewelry she’d worn in Brazenbourg. Had she done it for him? Or Henry?
Wishing his water was something stronger, Finn took a few long, unroyal-like gulps. As the icy chill settled in his stomach, it seemed to calm him.
Alex and his fiancée, Rebecca were announced, to the great delight of the crowd. Vallerians certainly loved their next generation of rulers. In fact, to Finn, it seemed as the crowd cheered even louder for them than they did King Gabriel and Queen Genevieve, who came out next.
“Finally,” Tavin began, “we wish to inform you that Her Royal Highness, the Former Queen Victoria, was unable to join us this evening.” Finn knew Victoria was Arianna’s grandmother, her Nonna as she called her, and mother to King Gabriel.
�
�Queen Victoria has been waylaid by the Medicane, which is the rare tropical-like storm that has settled in the Mediterranean. The storm made travel difficult from Her Highness’s home on the island of Ilva, but rest assured that she is safe and well, and wishes our King and Queen another forty years together.”
When the applause died down, both Gabriel and Alex gave a brief statement welcoming everyone, then kicked off the party. As the band began to play, most of the royals made their way off the stage and began mingling. The King and Queen opened the dancing, and Alex and Rebecca followed soon after. Halfway into the dance, others began to join in.
Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3) Page 17