Ivy sat down on her coffin with a thump. All the time she had thought Alex was being mean to Tessa, but he was really just in pain.
‘This isn’t fair,’ Ivy said. ‘His mother is trying to force you both into being someone that you’re not.’
‘I’d like to talk to her,’ Tessa said, ‘but she refuses to give me an audience. I just want her to see who I am . . . to see behind my uniform.’
An idea started to form in Ivy’s mind. One that might actually work.
‘I’ve a plan,’ Ivy declared, ‘and you are not allowed to say no.’
Chapter Ten
Outside the ballroom, Olivia was wringing her gloved hands together and pacing up and down – hard to do in a floor-length silk dress.
There was a buzz of noise from inside the ballroom, soft music and people chattering. Olivia wanted to know who was in there and what the room looked like. Ivy had said the decorations were killer.
More than that, she wanted to be inside so that she could avoid the whole walking-in-with-Alex issue. But, being part of the host’s family, her arrival had to be announced. She had strict instructions from the Countess to wait by this third entrance door once most of the guests had arrived.
The trouble was that she still hadn’t told Jackson about being presented with Alex.
I should have said something! Olivia scolded herself. But their moment in the library had been so delicate and so happy that she hadn’t wanted to mess it up.
She turned on the spot, ready to march across the hallway again and almost tripped on her hem, Ivy-style.
Get a grip! Olivia told herself.
She heard footsteps and looked up to see Jackson striding towards her. She had never seen him looking so handsome. He was wearing a tailored tux with satin lapels and shiny shoes. He had a handkerchief in his pocket the exact colour of her dress.
Jackson bent at the hips and kissed her hand. ‘Mademoiselle,’ he said, seeming to enjoy the formality, ‘you look stunning.’
Olivia felt her heart leap. This was such a special moment, but she was going to have to tell him right away. Any minute, everyone else would arrive.
She took a breath. ‘Jackson, I don’t want you to think anything of this . . .’
‘You mean, of this wonderfully romantic Valentine’s Day ball?’ Jackson asked, grinning.
‘Um,’ Olivia said. Being so sweet about this is only making it worse! she thought. ‘It’s not necessarily romantic,’ she protested.
Jackson started to dance with her, smoothly. She could smell musky cologne and wanted to just melt into his arms.
‘I think it is,’ he whispered.
Olivia closed her eyes. She had to tell him. ‘Jackson, before you arrived, I agreed with Alex that I –’
‘You two are such a great couple,’ came a voice from behind Jackson. It was Prince Alex, looking very smart with his hair slicked back, and wearing a white tuxedo.
Jackson pulled away from her and turned to face him. ‘Thank you.’
Olivia felt the panic rising up. This was the moment – Jackson was going to be stunned and probably super mad. He’d made so much effort to make her Valentine’s Day special and she’d ruined it.
Alex gave Olivia a wink. ‘You’re going to be the envy of the ball, walking in together.’
Olivia’s knees went weak. ‘Really? Thank you,’ she said, hoping he knew she meant for being so understanding.
Prince Alex turned to Jackson. ‘I hear from Ivy that you play a mean game of tennis?’
Jackson smiled. ‘I try.’
‘We’ll have to see how you do tomorrow, then,’ Alex said. ‘The courts at the palace are covered, so we can play year round.’
‘You’re on!’ Jackson said with a smile.
Olivia wondered what Alex was going to do about walking in with someone. ‘What about you . . .’ she began.
‘Don’t worry,’ Alex said. ‘Ivy sent word with Nadia that she’d rescue me.’
‘Your Highness,’ Olivia said with a curtsy. ‘You have been so nice, the whole trip. I’m very glad I got to meet you.’
‘That’s what friends are for,’ he replied.
The Countess clicked down the hallway towards them in a purple sparkling dress, incredible dangling diamond earrings and silver high heels. ‘Oh, good, you’re here! We’re just about to be announced. Everyone’s waiting.’
The Count followed behind, looking dashing in a grey morning suit with a deep red cravat. His moustache looked bushier than Ivy had ever seen it.
‘Have you . . .’ the Countess asked quietly. ‘Is your father feeling better? And where’s Ivy?’
Olivia bit her lip and shook her head. ‘I haven’t seen him since this afternoon. Ivy, er, she says she’ll catch us up.’ Whatever Ivy’s plan was, she hoped the Countess wouldn’t ask any more questions. I don’t know how long I can cover for her!
‘No matter,’ the Countess said. ‘You’ll escort me, won’t you, my husband?’
‘I would be delighted, my darling wife.’ They gave each other a quick kiss.
Olivia knew it would mean so much to her grandmother if her son would walk her into the ball, but at least she and the Count made such a cute old couple. She took Jackson’s hand and hoped they would end up like that.
‘The tradition is that Her Majesty enters first,’ the Countess said, looking back down the hallway.
As if on cue, the Queen turned the corner with two attendants carrying her impressive train. Her dress was deep red satin with sparkling beads intricately woven into heart-shaped patterns. Olivia thought she looked like a pretty version of the Queen of Hearts.
Everyone curtsied and bowed.
‘Dear Caterina,’ said the Queen graciously. ‘I am so looking forward to this evening. Happy Valentine’s Day. Thank you for hosting and for all that you do for me as a friend.’
‘Happy Valentine’s Day,’ the Countess replied. ‘You are most welcome.’
The Queen gave Alex a quick kiss on the cheek and stepped in front of the double doors just as they opened.
Olivia looked around for her sister, wondering why she hadn’t appeared yet. Does this have something to do with Ivy ‘rescuing’ Alex? she thought.
‘What a shame Ivy’s still not here,’ the Countess said, looking around.
‘Too late!’ whispered the Count.
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ boomed Horatio to the crowd that filled the ballroom.
Olivia was amazed by the dresses and the decorations. Over a hundred faces were watching the door in anticipation.
‘May I present Her Majesty, Queen Stephanie of Transylvania!’ said Horatio.
Everyone inside curtsied and bowed as the Queen strode in. She made her way around the crowd, wishing them all a Happy Valentine’s Day.
‘Shall we?’ said the Count to the Countess.
‘Wait!’ a voice called from down the hallway and Olivia glanced back, almost clapping with delight when she saw her bio-dad hurrying down the hall, looking suave in his black tuxedo with a black shirt underneath.
‘Wait,’ Charles said again, his face flushed. ‘I would . . .’ He paused and smiled awkwardly. ‘I would like to escort you in, Mother. If you would have me.’
He held out the crook of his arm and Olivia saw tears of happiness in her grandmother’s eyes. ‘Of course, my son. Of course.’
‘I shouldn’t have been so churlish,’ he admitted. ‘You’ve been nothing but welcoming to my family since we’ve arrived and I think it’s time for . . . for some harmony.’
In the doorway, Horatio’s eyes glistened. Olivia felt a bit tearful herself and couldn’t stop smiling.
I’m so proud of you, she thought, beaming at her father.
The Count proudly stepped aside so that the Countess could link her arm through her son’s. Together, they stepped into the doorway.
Olivia heard murmurings of surprise coming from inside the ballroom.
Horatio smiled as he called out, ‘The Countess Caterina L
azar and her son, the Viscount Charles Vega.’
They stepped in unison into the room and began to greet guests.
Horatio leaned over and whispered to Olivia, ‘This is my favourite Valentine’s Ball ever.’
Olivia beamed. ‘Mine, too.’ She turned to Jackson. ‘It’s us next, I think!’
He gave her a huge hug and then took her hand. ‘You’re the only girl for me, Olivia,’ he said and Olivia’s heart burst into happy confetti.
Horatio smiled at Olivia and said, ‘Miss Olivia Abbott and Mr Jackson Caulfield.’
Olivia felt like she was stepping on to the field in front of crammed bleachers, except for all the ball gowns. She smiled so wide her cheeks ached.
She glanced behind her quickly to see Prince Alex waiting in the hall with the Count. There was still no sign of Ivy. Where is she? Olivia thought.
Then, the Countess was introducing her and Jackson to the Mayor of Bucharest, who wore a dark tailored suit with a colourful sash across his chest. His wife was wearing a beautiful cream gown and sparkling tiara.
Next in line, Olivia was surprised to see Nadia, wearing a pretty floral dress and her hair all in curls. ‘Tessa did my hair,’ she whispered, her eyes shining. ‘And it’s all because of Ivy that I got to dress up!’
‘When did you last see Ivy?’ Olivia wanted to know, but Nadia was already speaking to the Countess.
‘You do look lovely, dear,’ said the Countess.
Nadia curtsied and then nearly fainted when Jackson reached out to shake her hand.
Just then, Olivia heard Horatio say, ‘The Count Nicholas Lazar and his granddaughter Miss Ivy Vega!’
Ivy walked into the ballroom, feeling like she could take on the world. She was wearing her own fitted black dress with horizontal zipper decorations and a little paper red heart dangling from the zipper near her right shoulder. Best of all, she was wearing her clompy boots.
She felt comfortable, happy and little bit wicked.
‘I thought you were going to wear Georgia’s dress,’ Olivia said as Ivy and the Count approached.
‘I was,’ Ivy said simply.
‘And what about Prince Alex?’ Olivia wanted to know. Her face wore a mixture of awe, pride and nerves.
‘You’ll see,’ Ivy replied. She could barely contain her glee.
The crowd gasped collectively. One woman lifted her black lace fan over her face and another leaned over to whisper in her friend’s ruby-adorned ear.
Ivy already knew what they were seeing. She turned to watch Prince Alex and Tessa smiling at each other, standing in the doorway side by side, holding hands.
Horatio said, loudly and clearly, ‘His Highness Prince Alexander of Transylvania and . . . Miss Tessa Lupescu.’
Tessa looked incredible in Georgia’s dress. Instead of a braid, her long hair was tumbling over her shoulders. She was a couple of inches taller than Ivy and looked as stunning as any catwalk model. And in the high-heeled Victorian boots, she walked with the confidence of a model, too.
Prince Alex didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. It was obvious to all these high-society vampires that these two people were in love.
‘I thought I was the one who did the matchmaking,’ Olivia whispered, giving her sister a nudge. ‘Well done.’
Ivy looked over to the Queen. She looked stunned, one gloved hand on her heart. But as the happy couple began greeting guests, her face softened.
It was clear to everyone that they seemed to fit together so well. Tessa laughed nervously and Alex kept one hand firmly on her waist.
‘I just hope that the Queen might start to accept it,’ Ivy whispered back to her sister.
The band struck up the first song and couples moved on to the dance floor.
‘My beautiful daughters.’ Mr Vega appeared in front of them. ‘I must say thank you for bringing me here, for showing me what family is all about.’ He bowed formally. ‘If I could, I would dance with you both.’
‘Luckily –’ Jackson stepped over – ‘I can help with that. Olivia?’ He bowed and held out his hand which Olivia accepted.
Ivy chuckled as her father did the same for her.
While Olivia’s cheerleader training helped her pick up the steps very easily, and Jackson’s movie training came in handy for him, Ivy and Charles lingered near the edge, giggling as they pretended to dance.
Prince Alex and Tessa waltzed past in sync. To Ivy Tessa looked just like a princess should.
‘Thank you,’ Tessa mouthed as they floated past.
‘Not quite our scene, is it, Ivy?’ said Mr Vega as they waddled back and forth.
‘But I’m having fun,’ Ivy admitted.
Just then, the Queen walked up to them. ‘I believe you are responsible for my son’s happiness this evening.’
Ivy blinked and stopped dancing. Did that mean she’s not going to have my head chopped off?
‘The Lazar family has a way of changing things,’ the Queen said.
‘What do you mean, Your Majesty?’ Mr Vega said.
‘First,’ she said, ‘your parents have been pestering me for years about being more inclusive with humans and, secondly, your daughter has shown me that I should also trust my son’s judgement more than I have.’ She glanced across the dance floor at Alex and Tessa, then looked pointedly at Mr Vega. ‘Times do change, sir.’
She swished away, her train trailing across the wooden floor.
Ivy’s dad looked stunned, but he smiled. ‘That was a surprise,’ he said to Ivy, taking up her hands again and starting to dance.
Just then, the Countess clapped her hands. ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ she called. ‘Thank you very much for attending. We are so happy to have our family together on Valentine’s Day, knowing that there is so much love under our roof. We hope that you share those loving feelings and that you enjoy this song, chosen especially for my wonderful granddaughters.’
She signalled to the band. After the first few notes, Ivy recognised the song. It was ‘Together Eternally’ by The Killer Bees, one of her favourite bands.
Olivia hurried over with Jackson, Alex and Tessa. The Count and Countess came too, and the eight of them formed a circle, with the younger generation shouting out the words to the song.
For the first time since she’d arrived, Ivy felt like she truly belonged.
06 Love Bites - My Sister the Vampire Page 11