PRINCE CHARMING: A Stepbrother Secret Baby Romance(18)

Her gown was a lighter shade of blue than Olivia’s, but the skirt was much fuller and the beading was intricately done in floral patterns along the bodice. It was tight fitting and sleeveless. The jewels she wore were diamonds and pearls, finishing off the look and matching the tiara atop her head.

“You look amazing, Mom,” Olivia said once Melinda reached her.

“So do you. See? I knew you could pull off being a princess.”

“You look so like your mother,” Lamont said, and Olivia bowed in a small curtsy, too scared to do a full one and fall over. “Son. I trust you have everything well in hand?”

“Of course, Father, as I always do at these affairs.”

“Good, then I trust the two of you will have a splendid time. Shall we, my dear?”

Lamont and Melinda walked by, the latter squeezing her daughter’s hand in encouragement, then headed to the path made by the servants. Quincy took Olivia’s hand and they followed.

“What was that about?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Quincy said, but his smile hadn’t come back. “Nothing at all.”

***

Quincy wanted nothing more than to disappear onto the balcony that overlooked the bay and stare out over the water, but he couldn’t move from his spot. This was his duty as crown prince—schmoozing the local courtiers. He hated it with a passion, and being dressed up in a tux like this only made it worse. The only good part about this evening was getting to watch Olivia in that dress.

Everyone wanted to meet the stunning young woman who stood beside the prince, and by the tenth courtier, he could see the annoyance in her eyes though she kept a smile on her face.

“No, I’m not his date tonight,” she said politely to yet another woman with her husband and daughter in tow, just a year younger than Olivia. “I am his soon-to-be stepsister. My mother is Melinda.”

“Oh… Well, it’s very nice to meet you,” the woman, Aliza Pentacraft, said with a sudden brightening of her smile. “This is my daughter, Gigi, and she is delighted to meet you and to see the crown prince again, of course.”

Quincy fought the urge to ignore the hand the young girl offered her, but his instincts kicked in and he did, bending low over it as he kissed it. “My lady, it is good to see you again.”

Gigi smiled slowly and leaned in closer, holding tightly to Quincy’s hand. “As always, my Prince, I am happy to see you looking so well and vibrant.”

“Must be the lights,” he teased as he pulled his hand back.

“Will you save me a dance later, my Prince?”

He stared at her finery and the jewels that adorned her body. Her family must have paid a fortune to do her up like this and have her hair and makeup look like she was royalty herself. The dress was almost better than Olivia’s. Almost.

“I shall try my hardest,” he said with a bow of his head. “Ladies, gentleman.” The three Pentacrafts moved on down the line, and there was a bit of a gap for him to take a breather before the next person. He knew what his father was doing with this dinner. Usually, it was just the advisors and courtiers with their wives or husbands in attendance, but tonight, there was a wonderful turnout of daughters.

“Well, this is a very interesting evening,” Olivia said as she shifted from one foot to the other.

“What do you mean?”

“So many young women dolled up and available. My, my, I think your father is trying to tell you something.”

“I’m afraid you’re right,” he said as he glanced around the dining hall with its glass ceiling and walls. The view of the gardens was usually spectacular, but when he looked across the room, he met a sea of eager eyes and popping bosoms. “I feel like I’m an art piece at a museum.”

She laughed loudly until several faces turned to stare at her. “It could be worse.”

“How so?”

“Every time one of them comes up here, I get looks like they want to murder me in my sleep until they learn who I am.”

“You know, I thought I noticed several very intense glares there for a moment.”

“Trust me, they would love to be standing where I am right now.” He watched her eyes rove around the room, but the beauty of the night had worn off for her already. She looked exactly like he felt—bored and in need of a drink and some air.

Dinner would be served soon, then the dancing, and then maybe he’d get a chance to sneak out for a bit and take Olivia with him. “You know,” he said, leaning close so only she could hear him, “when your mother said she had a daughter, I was worried you would be this selfish, vain person who, the moment you realized you were going to be a princess, turned out to be obnoxious.”

Olivia shrugged. “What says I won’t still turn into that? There’s still time.”

“Because you’d rather spend money on paint than clothes,” he said. “And Allete has mentioned several times to Pascal how worried you are about the jewels you wear.”

He took the moment to glance over her dress again, and his eyes landed on her breasts. His hand felt her warmth again as if he were holding it as he had yesterday, completely by accident. It had felt strange at first. A spark he didn’t know he could feel with someone had lit within him. Of course, he’d lied and said he hadn’t seen anything either, but as he’d helped her up, he’d let his eyelids open just a peek. A peek was all he’d needed.