90
Leah got right back to work, dropping to her knees and edging her way around Brigit's skirt.
"Do you have a gown yet?" Brigit asked excitedly.
"No, actually," Ariana replied, realizing she was going to have to use her emergency credit card to secure a proper outfit for the NoBash. That was going to be fun to explain to Grandma Covington.
"Well, you'd better get on that soon," Brigit warned. Then her eyes lit up. "I know! Why don't we go shopping together? This Saturday? We'll get everyone together. It'll be so much fun!"
Ariana grinned. The idea of a shopping excursion with friends almost negated the irritating thought of putting on Briana Leigh's particular begging whine and explaining the charge to her crotchety grandmother.
"Okay. Sounds like a plan," she said.
"Good. So ... what's up?" Brigit asked. "You look all flushed." Her blue eyes brightened again and she clasped her hands in front of her. "Is it a boy? Did you meet someone? Did I tell you I asked Adam to the NoBash? He said yes!"
Ariana laughed. "That's great, Brigit. I knew he would. But no. No boys for me." Yet, she added silently. "Actually, I was just wondering . . . how do you feel about pranks?"
Brigit's grin widened. "I love them. As long as they're not being played on me."
"Of course. No one likes those," Ariana said with a smile.
She strolled over to Brigit's side of the room where there were a dozen framed photos hung around her bed. Some of the pictures featured Brigit dressed up in designer gowns, sporting to--die--for jewels
91
and tiaras, posing with young dignitaries and celebrities from around the world. But then there was a pic of Brigit and her parents in hiking gear, posing on a ledge at the side of a mountain. Another of her and her dad in a canoe somewhere, smiling at the photographer, looking for all the world like a perfectly normal father and daughter, rather than a king and his princess daughter.
"Who are we pranking?" Brigit asked.
"Allison," Ariana replied.
"Ooooh! Then I am totally in," Brigit replied. "Is this for the . . . you--know--what?" she asked in a leading voice, glancing down at Leah, who was simply going about her work.
"No," Ariana semi--lied. It wasn't as if Stone and Grave had asked her to prank Allison, but the prank was Stone and Grave--related. "She just needs a little payback for being such a bitch when we were living together."
Brigit giggled. "I like it. What's the plan? What do you need me to do?"
Ariana smiled. She knew she'd chosen the right accomplice. Brigit was definitely the kind of girl who lived life to the fullest and knew how to have fun. On the floor, Leah tsked under her breath.
"Oh, please, Leah. Like you didn't tear it up a little when you were in school," Brigit said. "I'm sure it'll be totally harmless, right, Ana?"
Ariana swallowed hard. "Of course."
"At least save the planning of this thing until I am out of the room," Leah requested, looking up at the princess. "The less I know, the less I will be able to tell if the king starts to ask questions."
92
Brigit laughed lightly. "Fine. We'll wait."
"Good." Leah placed her last pin. "There. All finished."
Brigit stepped down to the floor and looked at the hem, which was lying flat on the hardwood at her feet. "It's still too long," she pointed out.
"I know. I've done this for a reason," Leah said, shoving an extra pin into the cushion she had strapped to her wrist.
Brigit's posture collapsed. "Oh, no, Leah. Don't tell me you're going to get on me about this again!"
"About what?" Ariana asked.