A Player for A Princess

“Not entirely.” The way he says it causes a humming beneath my skin.

“Behave,” I whisper. “It took me twenty minutes to get into this thing.”

“I’ll do my best to beat that time getting you out of it.”

My hand is in the crook of his arm, and I’m thankful we don’t have to walk too far. The ball is across the palace in the enormous grand ballroom behind the lavish grand staircase. Guests are being led in from outside, presented, and then they descend to join the party.

“At least we don’t have to walk down those stairs,” I say, going with him through the double doors and across the black and white tiled floor of the grand foyer.

Ava is across the room at the head of the line with Rowan. She’s dressed in an elaborate gold lamé gown in an Egyptian Cleopatra theme. It’s form-fitted with an enormous mermaid-style skirt. A turquoise line leads up the center of her body to a brass loop between her breasts holding the top together. Around her neck is a collar necklace made of hundreds of tiny turquoise plaques. Her dark hair is parted in the center and two chains drape down the sides from the crown of her head. A shining gold mask covers her eyes.

“She’s Claudette Colbert!” I say to Cal. “No wonder she wanted to surprise me.”

“Exotic,” he says with a nod. “It’s perfect for her.”

Rowan stands beside her in a matching costume. He’s Caesar, wearing a knee-length tunic with alternating gold and leather strips, his tan, lined torso bare. A small collar of tiny gold rectangles is around his neck and on both biceps are gold and beaded cuffs. He looks amazing.

“Sexiest couple alive?” I glance up at my escort.

He winks and kisses my cheek just beside my ear. “They’ve got nothing on us. Just wait til I find you under all those petticoats.”

“I’m not wearing panties,” I say wrinkling my nose, and he groans.

“Can I start searching now?”

That makes me laugh more, and he leads me to the dance floor as the music plays. I’m in his arms, our bodies pressed together as we sway. I watch my sister from across the room of maskers, and I figure she’ll be swamped with guests all night. I’m so happy she’s blissed out with her king, but I wouldn’t trade all her social obligations for anything.

My chin rests against Cal’s shoulder as I study the guests dressed in every type of costume imaginable, from elaborate Venetian-style carnival to simple tuxedo and evening gowns with Zorro masks. I can’t stop looking at the dazzling display surrounding us.

“I thought it would be more To Catch a Thief,” I whisper, “But it’s more anything goes.”

“The only rule was to have your face covered.” The song ends, and Cal takes my hand.

A woman in an elaborate lavender costume composed of a vast network of beads and lace with a matching face mask and enormous headdress steps to us.

“MacCallum?” I recognized that voice. “Is that you?”

He

turns and takes a step back. “Mother. You look… Startling.”

“It’s an Antonio Baroque original,” she scolds, but Cal is right. Her white mask with dark eyeholes is nightmarish. “Your brother made a bold choice.”

“I think he looks great,” Cal says. “Very intimidating.”

“I’m sure it’s the influence he’s under—” She’s going after Ava, and I’m about to snap back a reply when Cal wraps an arm around my waist.

“Have a lovely night, Mother,” he says, curtailing my knee-jerk, mother-hen response.

“They look incredible,” I grumble, feeling the heat under my skin. “She’s just an old stick in the mud.”

“She is old,” he says with a grin. “And you’re going to have to stop letting her get to you.”

“Never!” I pretend-shout. It wins me another little kiss.

“I’m going to get us champagne.” He steps back and lifts my hand, kissing each of my knuckles. “Stay right here until I get back.”

“Shirley Temple for me,” I remind him.