One by one, the instruments dropped out until only a solo flute played. The melody twisted and twirled as Fiora and Gustave circled each other. The dance was slowing, but Fiora’s pulse quickened. This was it. As soon as the music ended, she would make her confession.
But the music didn’t end. A woman’s voice joined the flute, transforming the solo melody into a sensuous duet.
Gustave slipped again, and Fiora caught him. She wished she could ask if this was part of the plan. She glanced at the orchestra, but couldn’t see the singer. The musicians looked puzzled.
Should she keep dancing?
The confused flutist finally stopped playing, but the singing continued. The woman’s voice grew until it filled the entire ballroom. What language was she singing in? The sound echoed too much for Fiora to make out the words.
Gustave stopped dancing, and Fiora crashed into him. He held her close, his arm around her waist to keep her from falling as he looked for the singer. Everyone in the ballroom did the same. The voice seemed to come from everywhere at once.
Then the doors at the top of the staircase opened, and a young woman in a golden gown stepped into the room. She glittered in the candlelight as she descended the staircase, her appearance almost as enchanting as her song.
Gustave’s arm dropped from Fiora’s waist. She reached for his hand, but he shook her off and walked slowly towards the singer, leaving Fiora alone on the dance floor. The woman smiled at him and kept singing. The candles seemed to move in time with her music, glowing golden around her.
She reached the bottom of the stairs and reached for Gustave. Her smile was bright and innocent, as if she were completely unaware of the commotion she had caused. When she stopped singing, the silence in the ballroom was almost as captivating as her song. Fiora’s breath caught in her throat. She knew that smile. She would know it anywhere.
Elspeth.
Her sister’s red-gold hair gleamed as she stood hand in hand with Gustave. Her green eyes glittered.
Gustave stood still as a statue, staring at Elspeth like a man entranced. Collette waved, trying to get her brother’s attention and sign something to him, but he didn’t notice.
“Your Majesty. Please forgive me for being late.”
Elspeth’s sweet voice rang through the ballroom. Her smile was pure sunlight. The space around Fiora seemed to darken as Elspeth glowed in her golden splendor.
“I suppose I can forgive you since you saved my life. Where have you been? I have been searching for you since that day.”
Everyone in the ballroom gasped. This was the mysterious girl who had saved Gustave on the beach?
Fiora shook her head. That was impossible. She hadn’t seen the woman’s face that night because of the cloak, but how could it have been Elspeth? Why would her half-sister have been on a beach in Montaigne? She was supposed to be in Kell.
Fiora looked to the royal family. Princess Collette and Dowager Queen Bernadine seemed just as surprised as she was. Perhaps even more so. Princess Serafina stood beside the dowager queen and watched Elspeth with fierce eyes. Elaine’s gaze was questioning as she looked from Gustave to Fiora.
Marquis Corbeau looked absolutely delighted at this turn of events.
Elspeth ducked her head in the shy, maidenly way that Fiora had seen many times before.
“Forgive me for hiding, Your Majesty. I was not sure if you felt the same way I did, and I could not bear to face your rejection. But the longer I waited, the more I could not stand to be apart from you. I decided the invitation to the gala was my best chance to meet you.”
The marquis puffed out his chest with pride and shot a meaningful look at Dowager Queen Bernadine. The queen looked from Fiora to Elspeth with a scowl.
“Please, what is your name?”
Gustave sounded so eager to know. Fiora swallowed her hurt, desperate not to cry. A chill spread through her chest as her body slowly went numb. Gustave seemed to have forgotten she existed.
How could he abandon her so easily?
“I am Princess Elspeth of Kell.”
It sounded like a song, the way she said it in her lilting accent. The guests gasped again. King Gustave’s mysterious savior was a princess? What could be more perfect?
“Princess Elspeth, will you do me the honor of accompanying me for the first dance?”
Elspeth nodded, and Gustave beamed at her. There was a bright light in his eyes. A light Fiora recognized.
A light she had thought was reserved only for her.
She had been a fool.
Fiora did cry now. Silent tears ran down her cheeks as Gustave took Elspeth’s hand and led her to the dance floor.
He had asked Elspeth to accompany him for the first dance. Had he completely forgotten that he had already danced with Fiora? Did that not count now that he had found someone else?
Almost with realizing it, Fiora stepped back to make room for the couple. Elspeth took her eyes off Gustave for a moment and looked at Fiora with a triumphant smile.
And just like that, it was all over. Fiora might fool strangers by changing her hair color, but not her sister. Elspeth winked, and there was no missing the recognition in her expression.
Elspeth knew.
Fiora kept walking backwards, too numb to do anything but retreat. The front row of guests parted, making a path for her so she could disappear into the crowd. Fiora pushed her way past them, suddenly desperate for fresh air.
Music began. The orchestra played the same song, as if it truly was the first dance.
As if Fiora didn’t exist. As if she didn’t matter now that Elspeth had come.
Fiora tried to push to the edge of the ballroom so she could escape through one of the doors and disappear into the garden, but the guests pressed forward, eager for a look at the mysterious newcomer. The ocean glinted just out of Fiora’s reach as the crowd swept her away.
58
A million questions raced through Gustave’s head, but a golden fog swallowed them and swept them away. It swept everything away until he was only aware of the beautiful girl in his arms. Her smile was everything he had been searching for his entire life. It washed his doubts away until he knew only one thing for sure.
She was his love. His destiny.
“Marry me, Elspeth.”
“Of course.”
She said the words in a soft, lilting accent that was more song than speech. It thickened the golden haze in Gustave’s mind and steadied his resolve.
“Marry me tonight.”
Something flashed through her eyes. Triumph? If she hadn’t been his one true love and the light of his life, Gustave might have thought she looked a little vicious.
“Of course, Gustave. We’ll be married tonight. Now be quiet and dance with me.”
The music swelled, and Gustave spun Elspeth into his arms and dipped her towards the ground. He met his grandmother’s gaze as he did so. Dowager Queen Bernadine looked furious about something.
Why was she angry?
Gustave tried to remember the events leading up to his dancing with Elspeth. Had something happened to anger his grandmother before the gala started? He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had forgotten something important.
Had she asked him to do something for her?
He lifted Elspeth and stared into her brilliant blue-green eyes. She smiled at him and hummed along with the music. Her voice filled Gustave’s senses and his worry disappeared. He had been trying to remember something, but there was no use thinking when Elspeth looked at him like that.
He didn’t even remember getting dressed that morning.
Gustave looked down at his clothes, suddenly not sure that he actually had gotten dressed. He sighed in relief when he saw that he was wearing a light blue suit.
Why had he chosen that color? This wasn’t the suit he had planned to wear to the gala.
And why was he wearing a boutonniere?
Elspeth noticed him looking at the flower. She pulled the bloom from Gustave’s
collar and dropped it on the ground. Then she stepped on it, grinding it under her delicate shoe without missing a step in the dance.
Shoes.
Gustave wasn’t wearing any shoes.
How could he have forgotten to put on shoes?
He was dancing with the love of his life, and he wasn’t wearing shoes.
It was rather embarrassing. Thank goodness Elspeth didn’t seem to mind.
“You may propose to me publicly when the dance ends, King Gustave.”
He nodded, suddenly eager for the dance to finish.
59
The crowd jostled Fiora, pushing her through the room like the waves on a stormy sea. She gave up fighting and let it carry her. As long as she was moving, she had a chance to escape.
But somehow the mass of people pushed her to the front again. Gustave and Elspeth were still dancing. Still staring at each other like a couple in love.
Fiora gritted her teeth.
If she couldn’t push through the crowd to the balconies, then the only exit was the staircase to the main hallway. Everyone would see her as she ran up it, but Fiora didn’t care. She just needed to get out of here. Her vision was blurry from tears, and she wasn’t sure if they were caused by the pain in her feet or the ache in her heart.
Perhaps losing Gustave’s affection had worsened the effect of the curse.
Fiora looked down at her ring, expecting to once again see a dull, gray orb. Instead, the pearl still shimmered. Streaks of pink and blue danced in the candlelight.
A streak of gold had replaced the gray.
What did that mean?
Fiora wiped away the tears that were blurring her vision and stared at the gem, trying to make sense of the swirls of pearl and gold.
Maybe the magic was broken. How could Gustave love her when he had abandoned her for Elspeth?
Or perhaps Gustave had never been the one who loved her. Perhaps someone else secretly cared, and Fiora had been too distracted by Gustave to notice.
That seemed unlikely. What were the odds that Fiora would manage to catch two men when years of effort had failed to catch one?
Maybe Dale had fallen in love with her after she retrieved some of his precious forks.
Fiora snorted in spite of everything. That would be just her luck.
“Lady Mer!”
Fiora jumped as Collette’s voice cut through the music.
“Please, come join us.”
Collette gestured to the small group of royals standing beside her. Princess Serafina and Elaine were studying the dancing couple with suspicion. Dowager Queen Bernadine looked fierce, but her expression softened when she caught Fiora’s gaze. She raised her hands to sign something, then dropped them with a frustrated shrug.
Fiora understood. What was there to say?
She eyed the staircase. It was freedom. She could run up and-
And do what, exactly? Swim out to sea and hope the mermaids found her? At this rate, her legs would give out before she made it out of the castle, and she still didn’t have her voice.
Collette grew tired of waiting, walked over, and grabbed Fiora’s hand. She pulled the reluctant princess over to their group.
“I’m sure he was just surprised to find the girl who rescued him,” Collette signed. “He’ll come to his senses in a moment.”
Fiora shook her head.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not! He invited you to the gala then abandoned you. Gustave is usually more considerate than that. I am so sorry, Lady Mer.”
Fiora blinked, surprised at the apology.
“It isn’t like Gustave to get carried away like this,” Dowager Queen Bernadine said. “I’ll speak with him as soon as this dance ends.”
“You don’t have to do that. He doesn’t owe me anything. We’re not-”
Fiora stopped. She had been going to sign that she and Gustave weren’t engaged, but that was rather obvious. They weren’t even officially a couple. Apparently she had simply been a convenient companion until someone better came along.
“Stop it,” Collette said. “Whatever you’re thinking, just stop it. He was surprised and wanted to thank her for saving his life. As soon as the dance is over, he’ll come to his senses, and we can talk about this.”
Fiora took a deep breath and tried to relax. Maybe Collette was right. The pearl still glowed with magic.
“Or perhaps it is love at first sight,” Marquis Corbeau said. “And with a princess!”
Everyone glared at him, but the marquis’s smile didn’t waver.
“You may not care about such things, but I have been trying very hard to find someone suitable for Gustave to marry. I find this turn of events quite fortuitous.”
He gave Fiora a significant glance. She rolled her eyes. Before Collette or Dowager Queen Bernadine could comment, the music ended. Gustave kept one hand on Elspeth’s waist and waved the other to get everyone’s attention. Collette and Bernadine tensed, ready to rush out to the dance floor and intercept Gustave as soon as they could.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, my apologies. I know you came here to celebrate my birthday, but plans have changed.”
Fiora shared a nervous look with Collette. This didn’t sound good.
Then Gustave took Elspeth’s hand and knelt in front of her.
“Princess Elspeth of Kell, will you marry me?”
“Yes, of course.”
Fiora’s heart sank even further as her breath caught in her throat. He was proposing?
How could she have been so very wrong about his feelings?
Collette let out a little gasp and covered her mouth with her hand. She looked to her grandmother. Dowager Queen Bernadine was signing furiously to Thomas, ordering him to wheel her across the room so she could stop this nonsense.
Thomas was signing back just as quickly, trying to reason with her.
“We’ll be married tonight,” Gustave said.
“Out of the question,” Bernadine said.
But the crowd’s cheers drowned her words. The guests all seemed to think they were witnessing a great love story.
Perhaps they were.
Suddenly, even standing was too much effort for Fiora. She had trusted Gustave and been very wrong.
And now she was out of time.
She slumped towards the floor, but someone caught her and wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her upright.
“Do you know her?” Princess Serafina asked.
She held Fiora upright with a firm grip and studied her with a look that said she already suspected the answer. Fiora shook her head anyway, denying everything.
“I should go.”
“Sorry, I don’t know sign language.”
Serafina didn’t sound sorry at all. Fiora looked to Collette and Bernadine, but they were staring at Gustave as he brought Elspeth over to meet them.
Fiora’s half-sister looked angelic in the candlelight. Her eyes glowed. Possibly with love, but Fiora thought it looked more like triumph.
But she might be a little biased.
Fiora tried to pull away from Serafina, but her legs wouldn’t hold her. She stumbled, and the princess of Santelle tightened her grip.
“You aren’t well, Lady Mer. Massimo, help me support her.”
Prince Massimo came over and tucked himself under Fiora’s spare arm.
“Do I still have to dance if there’s a wedding?” he asked, sounding rather cheerful.
“There won’t be a wedding,” Serafina said. “There’s no way they can prepare for a royal wedding in one night.”
“Blast.”
Marquis Corbeau hurried forward to meet the couple.
“Your Majesty, let me be the first to offer my congratulations! If the young lady will come with me, I have a wedding gown that will suit her quite nicely. We can be ready for the ceremony within the hour.”
Elspeth curtsied.
“That is most kind, Marquis. I will also need a wedding attendant.”
“I’m sure
Collette would be delighted,” Gustave said.
Collette was too stunned to do more than blink in response. Elspeth nodded at her.
“Yes, of course your sister should attend me. As should mine.”
She turned to Fiora with a serene smile.
“Lady Mer?” Collette said.
Elspeth laughed.
“Is that the name she’s been using? Your Highness, surely you recognize my older sister, Princess Fiora of Kell?”
60
Gustave kept his arm wrapped around Elspeth’s waist. The touch helped convince him that she was real. This was not simply a pleasant dream or imagined song.
“Princess Fiora?” Collette said.
She took a step back and stared at the dark-haired woman. Gustave supposed that Fiora resembled Elspeth a little. Mostly in the eyes.
But why was everyone so shocked by his love’s announcement? There were plenty of royal guests at the gala. What was one more?
“Princess Fiora, would you be willing to serve as my bride’s wedding attendant?”
It seemed a reasonable question, but everyone stared at Gustave as if he had something very shocking. Even Prince Leonardo and Princess Lenora looked surprised. Grandmother still looked furious. Why was she so angry?
“Please, Fiora?” Elspeth said.
Fiora gave Elspeth a long look, then met Gustave’s gaze.
Her eyes made Gustave’s breath catch in his throat. Even filled with tears, they were beautiful and teased at a memory buried in the back of his mind. Why did she look so heartbroken?
Elspeth hummed a tune under her breath, and golden rain washed away Gustave’s concern for Princess Fiora.
He should be more concerned with making his true love happy than placating the feelings of a stranger.
“We would be honored to have you in our wedding party, Princess Fiora,” he said.
The princess closed her eyes for a moment, and tears spilled down her cheeks. Then she met Gustave’s gaze and nodded. Elspeth grinned.
“Wonderful. Now, Marquis, I believe you said something about a wedding gown?”
“Gustave, this is ridiculous,” Dowager Queen Bernadine said. “You can’t actually mean to marry this girl tonight.”
Princess of Mermaids Page 32
