She laughed. “Oh, come on. You can’t fool me, honey. I could have seen that pink flush in your cheeks from twenty paces.”
“Ugh!” I raked my fingers through my hair. It was a little mussed from sleep, but mostly straight from the blow-out at the salon the day before. “He’s handsome, all right? There, I said it. But that doesn’t matter. He’s made it very clear he doesn’t want to be involved in this tournament and has shown no interest in winning the grand prize,” I told her, keeping my voice matter of fact. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he threw his round and exited the game early.”
Gemma scoffed. “Well, if he does, then he wasn’t the right one anyway.”
“None of them are the right one, Auntie.”
“How do you know that?”
“The only reason any of them are in this stupid contest is because they want the title, the money, the land. They don’t want me.”
Gemma frowned at me, her head slightly tilted. “It’s not like you to have such a lack of confidence. What’s going on?”
“It’s not an issue with my confidence. Under any other circumstances, having a bunch of men fighting over me wouldn’t phase me. I’d probably like it.” I smiled but it faded quickly. “While I was away, I had my pick of any man I wanted. Human or otherwise. But back here, in this haven, I know the real motive behind their eyes when they look at me.”
Apparently Gemma didn’t have anything to counter with and she gave a sad nod, all the spark drained from her eyes.
We continued looking at the gowns and shoes, keeping our conversation to comments about beadwork and stitching. When we finished going through everything, Gemma circled back around and picked up the hanger from the first dress she’d shown me.
“I think this one will look stunning on you,” she said, pulling the red gown from its sheath. “Do you want to wear it tonight? I can have someone over to do any alterations in a snap.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Would you like me to come back and help you get ready for tonight?” Gemma asked, her expression solemn.
“I’m not sure ready is an attainable goal, but sure. I just want to get this night over with.”
She gave me a wistful smile, pressed a kiss to my forehead, and turned to leave the room, promising to see me in a few hours.
Once the door was closed, I sagged onto the edge of the bed, laid down, and pulled the covers back up over my head. Before I drifted back to sleep, the image of a pair of emerald-green eyes flitted by.
Chapter 14
Distant drumbeats greeted me as I descended the grand staircase, Gemma trailing a few steps behind, at half past eleven. My father stood at the base of the stairs and smiled at our approach. “Well, don’t you two look lovely.”
“Naturally,” Gemma cooed. She linked her arm through mine when we reached the bottom. “What is that awful music?” Her mouth quirked in disapproval as she looked to my father for the answer. “This whole affair is macabre enough, Geoffrey. I hardly think a death march is necessary.”
My father scowled at her for a moment before slipping his congenial mask back in place. “It’s not a death march.”
“Sounds like one to me,” she muttered, squeezing my arm in solidarity.
As promised, she’d had her tailor come over and I spent most of the afternoon getting fitted in the dress. It hadn’t needed much work, but the process still took a few hours. In between getting turned into a pincushion, I’d managed to suck down some lunch. The last thing I needed was another fainting episode.
Gemma had returned around nine o’clock with two of her personal staff members. They gave us chair massages before applying our make-up and curling our hair into somewhat matching styles. Gemma had insisted that I stand out and inserted diamond-and-sapphire encrusted combs into my hair, the effect just short of wearing a full-on tiara. It wasn’t like I didn’t appreciate the jewels—I’d always been a sucker for all things shiny and sparkly. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend was a personal motto, but somehow, the darkness of the occasion sucked away even the precious stone’s allure.
“The Court is already gathered outside,” my father continued. “Awaiting Lacey’s grand entrance.”
Oh, good. So now we’re talking about me as if I’m not standing here.
“Let’s get on with it then,” I growled, flashing my teeth. “After all, we don’t want to deprive the ghouls of their show.”
“Lacey!” Gemma barked, clearly surprised by my acid tone.
My father, on the other hand, seemed to have expected it and didn’t so much as flinch. Instead, he leaned in, his voice low and dangerous. “I’ve followed through on my end of the bargain, daughter. You’ll do well to remember your own agreement.”
Gemma looked between us, her brows creased, but she didn’t ask for the specifics.
My lips pressed into a firm line and I threw my shoulders back. “Lead the way.”
My father held my gaze for another long beat and then turned, as if swooping an invisible cloak behind him. I rolled my eyes. And he thinks I’m the melodramatic one in the family.
A pair of servants opened the front doors and we walked through, Gemma and I giving my father a head start. Limestone pavers formed a curved path that led around the mansion to one of the many gardens on the grounds. The drumming grew louder as we rounded the corner. I missed a step when I saw the display my father had constructed. Gemma still had ahold of my arm and the stumble was imperceptible to the crowd awaiting our arrival.
Even from a distance, it was impossible to miss the spectacle. A white carpet ran off the path of stones, leading up a slight incline to a grassy knoll. Hundreds of vampires were gathered, illuminated by the glow of dozens of bright orbs of magic floating above the crowd. Plush chairs were arranged in a manner reminiscent of a miniature gladiator’s arena, the four rows staggered on risers, making the seating almost like that of a movie theater or auditorium.
The huge area in the center was also illuminated by magic. We walked closer and I scanned the crowd anxiously. It took me a moment to realize who I was looking for. But there was no sign of Matthias or any of the other suitors for that matter. As we neared, I saw another path leading away, in the direction of one of the guest cottages. I figured they were being kept there, waiting to be brought out right before their matches. My father wasn’t going to miss a chance to squeeze out one more drop of drama. All eyes were on him and he wasn’t going to disappoint.
“Since she was already here, I had Kimber do the enchantments,” he explained, unasked, as we got closer to the ring. “What do you think, daughter?”
I ignored his question. He glanced over his shoulder, his expression dark. “It’s fine,” I said, my voice terse.
“How is Kimber these days?” Gemma asked.
My father frowned at her. “How should I know?”
“You just said she was here, doing the enchantments,” Gemma replied.
“Exactly,” he snapped. “We didn’t sit down to tea.”
Gemma bristled but didn’t say anything. More than anyone, my aunt knew how and when to battle with my father. She’d had the most experience. She wasn’t a pushover, but she did have a tendency to give him a long leash before she yanked it back.
Maybe it was an art form I would learn in time.
I snorted. Yeah. Not likely.
Gemma shot me a sideways glance, misinterpreting my scoff.
The Court erupted into loud cheering before I could explain myself to my aunt.
“Come on,” my father said. “Keep up.”
At one end of the circle stood a platform with two tall chairs. They were the same chairs used for the Assembly of the Lords and Ladies meetings and any other official Court gatherings. There had been time when my mother would have been the one to take the second chair, beside my father, but those days were gone. As we’d dressed, Gemma informed me that my mother would indeed be in attendance, but clearly she wasn’t the one meant to sit at the dais.