LITMIR.BIZ

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stomach was fluttering over and over. Her food tray lay on the table untouched. She couldn’t even think about eating.

      One of the palace staff had come and set her hair in rollers—a silent girl who’d been ruthlessly efficient: tugging the rollers into place within a few minutes, with strict instructions not to remove them until five minutes before she was ready to leave.

      It felt so unreal. Even her face in the mirror looked unreal. The black kohl she occasionally put around her eyes had been smudged uselessly across one cheek. It had taken her two attempts before it looked anything like it should. And the red lipstick seemed too severe. It was a perfect match for her dress—together they would look magnificent—but next to her white skin and dark hair in the bathroom mirror she felt she looked more like the Wicked Queen in Snow White.

      Doubts were creeping into every corner of her mind. Alex had asked her to come. His reasons seemed valid. But she was just an ordinary girl who knew nothing of visiting dignitaries or the traditions of other countries. At first this had seemed exciting, flattering and little fairytale-ish. Now it seemed terrifying. Every handshake, every nod of her head, every word she said could be wrong.

      The last thing she wanted to do was embarrass him.

      Maybe things would be better if she stayed in her room?

      The door handle creaked and the door edged open. Ruby gasped, her hands automatically going to her bra-covered breasts and her bare abdomen.

      But it was Annabelle, dressed in pink pyjamas and with sleepy eyes. She didn’t seem the slightest bit concerned to see Ruby half dressed.

      ‘Is something wrong Annabelle?’ She knelt on the floor next to the little girl.

      But Annabelle’s eyes were wide as she looked at the sparkles on the red dress. She let out a little squeak of excitement and pulled her thumb from her mouth, reaching over to touch the dress.

      It swung on its hanger, making the sparkles move like little stars in the sky.

      The thumb had left a smudge on the delicate fabric, but Ruby didn’t care. ‘Do you like it, Annabelle?’

      The little girl nodded. So Ruby let it swing some more, sending the sparkles further. She lifted Annabelle into her arms and swung her around, then picked up an abandoned book from the floor.

      ‘Let me take you back to bed,’ she said, slipping her arms into her satin dressing gown and padding next door.

      She read the caterpillar book until Annabelle fell asleep. She almost wanted to stay there. It would be so much easier falling asleep next to Annabelle than putting on that dress and going out to meet the world.

      Alex had asked her to accompany him. What exactly did that mean?

      She was Ruby Wetherspoon from Lewisham. She couldn’t speak any other languages. She didn’t know how to address dignitaries. There was every chance she would seriously offend someone by not shaking their hand the correct way. Her stomach was turning over and over.

      Annabelle looked so peaceful. Her attachment to Ruby was growing. It was Ruby she’d seek out now when she was looking for company. It was Ruby she wanted to draw pictures and play games with.

      And these last few weeks had brought changes in her demeanour. She wasn’t quite so shy. She was gaining confidence. She was interacting better with the children at nursery. She might not be talking, but every day Ruby heard more sounds and expressions. It was almost as if a tiny little valve had been released and she was becoming more comfortable.

      Last night Ruby had been convinced that the humming along to Finding Nemo was becoming a murmur. She’d been careful not to react. She’d stayed exactly where she was, letting Annabelle lie in her arms until she’d fallen asleep and then gently sliding her arms out from underneath her.

      The thought of going away and leaving this little girl was starting to play on her mind. The hospital in the UK had started to ask her for the date of her return. It seemed reasonable. She hadn’t expected to be here this long. But the days had quickly turned into weeks, and the weeks into months. Euronia was starting to feel like home—no matter how many times Polly phoned her and told her it was time to return to London.

      She wasn’t sure she wanted to leave Annabelle.

      She wasn’t sure she wanted to leave Alex.

      Where had that come from?

      Her face flushed and she walked back into her own room, shedding her dressing gown and pulling the red dress from the hanger and stepping into it.

      She sucked in her breath and slid the zip up at the back. It fitted perfectly—just like everything the palace had provided. The silver sandals were elegant, but comfortable. The only thing missing was jewellery.

      Nothing really suited. Her plain gold earrings and chain looked paltry next to the designer gown. Maybe it would be better with nothing at all?

      She smiled at her reflection in the mirror. With the rollers removed her dark hair was hanging in curls, covering her shoulders. The boning and the crystals on the dress gave her a more curvaceous shape than normal. And now, with the dress in place, her skin didn’t look quite so pale or her lips so red.

      Her hands trembled as she took off her gold earrings.

      Tonight she was going to a ball in the palace.

      Tonight she was going to a ball with her own prince.

      Just for tonight she might actually be a princess.

      Just for tonight she might actually look as if she was worthy of Alex.

      And tonight, for the first time, she might actually feel as if she was part of a couple—even if it was only in her head.

      * * *

      Alex had been pacing for the last thirty minutes, wondering when Ruby would appear.

      The palace was buzzing. It had been over a year since there had been a ball at the palace. When his mother and father had ruled there had been several balls every year, all raising money for various charities.

      Alex had given some instructions on which charities he wanted to support, and the various people he wanted to invite. But all the details had been dealt with by his staff.

      In less than a few minutes over a thousand people would be in the palace. He had guards in all corridors, letting the guests know which areas were open to the public and which were not. The corridor that held Ruby and Annabelle certainly wasn’t.

      He walked along its length, cursing himself for not saying goodnight to Annabelle earlier. He opened her door just a crack—she was already sleeping, her book and a stuffed caterpillar beside her on the bed.

      He walked across the room and dropped a kiss on her forehead before quietly closing the door behind him. His fingers tightened around the black velvet box in his hands. He was still unsure. This felt right—he just didn’t know how Ruby would react.

      He knocked on her door before he could change his mind.

      She opened the door and met him with a smile. ‘Hi, Alex. What do you think?’

      There was a tremor in her voice. An uncertainty.

      He couldn’t speak. He must have the dopiest smile on his face right now. What did he think? She’d just blown him away!

      Ruby was always gorgeous—usually understated, but gorgeous nonetheless. But he’d never seen Ruby the grown-up.

      The scarlet dress was stunning. Elegant without giving anything way. Hugging her curves but sweeping the floor and keeping everything covered. The beads along her bodice sparkled in the dim evening light snaking through the windows. Her hair had been styled into large curls, covering her bare shoulders. She was wearing more make-up than usual, but it was perfect. Highlighting her flawless skin, dark brown eyes and red lips.

      He held out the black box towards her. ‘You look almost perfect,

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