PRINCE CHARMING: A Stepbrother Secret Baby Romance(26)
***
Olivia kept a safe distance from Quincy over the next few days. Part of her was embarrassed by what had happened, and the other part of her was mad about what had happened. She didn’t know what to do with him anymore, and the roiling feelings that kept building inside of her only made it worse. She was more confused than she’d ever been by a man and his actions, only made worse by the fact that he was her future stepbrother.
“Miss? Are you alright?” Allete asked as she pulled Olivia’s ballgown from the wardrobe and laid it out on the bed. “You have been awfully quiet.”
“Just a lot on my mind, I guess. I have to start thinking about my fall classes soon,” she said as an excuse. “And I haven’t gotten very far with my portfolio project, either. This ball is stealing another night from me.”
Allete smiled gently. “Believe it or not, this ball is work for you.”
“Not the type of work I need to be doing,” she grumbled and glanced at her unfinished paintings set up on the balcony. There were five half-finished ones of the surrounding fauna and one of the palace, tweaked a bit to a more fantastical version that went with her artistic eye, but so far, she hadn’t finished one of them. It was not where she wanted to be this far into the summer. Her professors were going to be checking in soon, and she needed to show them something accomplished besides half-finished works.
“Miss? Maybe you should speak to your mother about taking a day or two to finish,” Allete said. “I’m certain King Lamont will understand. It is for your education, after all.”
“I’m going to have to. The portfolio will decide my career.”
“You don’t just want to be a princess?”
“I don’t think I could make that into a career,” she deadpanned. “What would I do all the time? Quincy will be in charge when Lamont retires, not me.”
“You are still important. There is much good you can do here for the island and its people. You just don’t yet see the potential. With your art background, you could help the art schools and work with the team on revitalizing the city.”
Olivia had not thought of that. To see her paintings on walls of the city would be more than she ever imagined. Her only goal so far had been to get out of school and either go back and teach or pray a museum or patron would support her. But to be part of the revitalizing and painting of the city?
“Allete, that is a wonderful idea,” she conceded as the idea really started to come to life in her mind.
“I believe the king and prince would welcome such an artistic touch.”
“Prince, right,” Olivia mumbled, and her stomach plummeted. As much as she’d tried not to, the last few nights, she dreamed of him holding her, his hands moving across her body and to places a man had only ever touched her in dreams. “Well, I guess I’ll have to talk with the king and my mom about that later.”
Allete smiled and clapped her hands. Three more ladies came into the room, and Olivia felt her stomach fall even more. “Right, time to get you ready for the ball. You are going to impress everyone there! And I believe Edric is going to be there as well. I checked for you.”
“Edric? Really? What about his sister, Cheree? I liked her.”
“I believe the young lady will be in attendance, yes, though it may be in your best interest to make friends with some of the potential bachelorettes for Prince Quincy.”
“I’m not sure who he is even interested in.” That was a lie. He was interested in her, though that could never happen. “I don’t really know him well enough yet to judge whom he might fit with.” She moved to the center of the room as was the routine now for the ladies and Allete to get her ready. “As long as it’s not Gigi.” The ladies laughed and Olivia grinned, happy to know she wasn’t the only one who disapproved of the woman.
They gossiped and chatted as they worked Olivia out of her everyday clothes and into the sapphire and violet ball gown that had been made for her. The skirt was full and twirled out when she spun. It was strapless with a heart-shaped neckline, a low back shaped like a V, and beading that caught the light all throughout the skirt. Shimmery powder was brushed over her shoulders and along her chest. Her makeup was completed by Allete, as always, and last was the necklace, bracelets, and earrings. Each one was more extravagant than the last. The silver and blue bangles had been handmade on the island and pushed halfway up her forearms. The earrings were teardrops of colors, shifting from blue to violet, matching the necklace chunked with stones that sparkled.
“There… Now, I know I have told you this before about looking the part and wearing heels, but in light of the dancing that will occur all night,” Allete began as she pulled a box from the floor, “I had these made for you at the last minute.”
Olivia pulled the top of the box off and stared at a pair of handmade violet ballet flats. They had been embroidered with stars and moons along the sides and waves crashing into a beach on the toes.
“Allete, these are wonderful,” Olivia said as she pulled one out to look at it. “Thank you, really.”
“These shoes you will not ditch.”
The ladies laughed again, and Olivia hugged Allete tightly. “No, I promise.”
They helped her step into the shoes, and once she was ready, walked her to the door. Olivia had no idea what tonight was going to bring, but avoiding Quincy was going to be key.