‘It’s incredible,’ Olivia whispered back, but she wasn’t really looking. Ivy wondered if her sister’s mind was somewhere else.
Horatio pulled to a stop and climbed out to open the car door. Ivy emerged to see four uniformed staff waiting at the ornate iron doors to greet them.
As she stepped out of the cold wind into the grand entrance, there was no sign of the royal family, but an older woman was calling out to a man who was adjusting light kits and reflectors at the bottom of a sweeping gilded staircase.
‘Perfect, daaahling!’ she said and swept her floor-length blue coat behind her. The golden flower embroidery on it flashed in the light. Her stark white curls were tamed by a wide clip with an enormous blue and green peacock feather.
Ivy knew that incredible style. ‘Georgia Huntingdon!’ she said.
The woman whirled around and her blood-red lips split into a wide smile.
‘Ivy, darling!’ She floated over and air-kissed her on both cheeks. ‘And Olivia!’
Olivia looked startled to see the editor of VAMP magazine.
‘As soon as I heard you two were in Transylvania, connecting with your noble roots,’ Georgia purred, ‘I simply had to capture the event.’
‘And we were happy to let her,’ the Countess said, air-kissing Georgia.
Mr Vega cleared his throat. ‘I wish you had consulted me first, Mother,’ he said quietly.
The Countess looked horrified to have upset her son. ‘Oh, darling, I –’
But she was interrupted by a voice from the top of the red-carpeted staircase.
‘I thought the palace would be the perfect backdrop for a photo shoot,’ said Prince Alex, who was watching them from above. He bowed to his guests before stepping lightly down the stairs. He wore a black suit jacket over a white T-shirt and jeans – he somehow looked modern and classical at the same time.
Ivy realised that everyone else had dropped into a little curtsy or bow and she hurriedly followed suit.
As usual, one step behind, Ivy thought. At least Georgia is familiar, like a little piece of home.
‘Welcome to the palace,’ Alex said to everyone, his glance lingering on Olivia.
Olivia curtsied again. ‘It’s an honour.’
‘The honour is mine,’ he said and reached out to kiss her hand.
Georgia leaned in to Ivy. ‘Looks like your sister has herself a royal admirer!’
The realisation hit Ivy like a stake in the gut. Alex likes Olivia! A second thought followed almost as quickly. But Olivia has a boyfriend.
Alex started pointing out features of the gardens at the back of the house, framed by enormous windows. He kept looking at Olivia intensely.
‘Oh yes,’ she said, ‘how pretty.’ Her breath misted on the glass as she gazed out at the garden. She had no idea how closely Alex was staring at her.
Georgia clapped her hands and three assistants with racks of clothing hurried out from a side room. ‘This feature is going to be even bigger than your first! I simply must have you on the cover of VAMP again.’
‘Oooh, costumes!’ Ivy breathed, wanting to grab a rack and run away with it. Georgia had fabulous taste.
‘Of course, this rack is all in your size.’ Georgia winked.
‘Ivy.’ Mr Vega motioned her over. ‘Are you OK with all of this?’
‘Are you kidding?’ Ivy replied. ‘A chance to play dress up with the VAMP magazine closets? As long as someone nudges me when I’m putting my foot in it – which I know is pretty often – this might be the best part of my trip!’
Mr Vega nodded. ‘If at any time you feel uncomfortable and wish to stop, or leave, just say the word. We are not obligated to stay.’
Ivy felt her heart sink. She understood that their dad wanted to protect his daughters, but couldn’t he just go with it for once? ‘I want to stay,’ Ivy said. ‘I want you to want to stay, too.’
Mr Vega looked away. ‘I am here for you and your sister.’
Ivy sighed. That wasn’t the answer she was hoping for.
Georgia called, ‘We’ll save the dresses for later, girls. First, I thought we would start with a group photo on the stairs? We’ll just wait for Her Majesty –’ The older woman suddenly stopped mid-sentence and dropped into an elegant curtsy.
Ivy turned to see the Queen walking down the hallway with two attendants. She was wearing a long-sleeved navy-blue fitted dress with lace detail at the open neck. She looked just as intimidating as she had in her formal gown.
‘Welcome,’ she said and nodded to the twins. ‘Please enjoy your time in my home.’ She turned to the magazine editor. ‘Shall we?’
Georgia immediately began gently coaxing the Count and Countess up the steps.
‘Wouldn’t Prince Alex and Olivia look good standing next to each other?’ the Countess suggested.
Alex moved instantly to Olivia’s side. ‘A fabulous idea,’ he said.
The Queen raised an eyebrow and Ivy could tell she did not like how much attention her son was paying to the only human in the room.
‘No, no,’ Mr Vega was saying. ‘I don’t need to be in the photo.’
‘Please, Charles,’ Georgia said. ‘This is a celebration of togetherness.’
Ivy realised what she was saying: as much as anything could, being in a photo with the Queen was a chance to show the vampire community that times were changing.
‘Come on, Dad,’ she said. ‘You can stand next to me.’ She grabbed his arm and pulled him up on to the third step.
As the photographer moved around the group, holding up a light-capture device in front of everyone’s faces, Georgia asked, ‘Ivy, Olivia, tell me, how are you finding Transylvania? Do you feel like you’ve come “home”?’
Ivy bit her lip. She wasn’t about to let slip how out of place she felt.
Luckily, Olivia came to her rescue. ‘We love Transylvania so far; and everyone here is very nice. Of course, we want to thank Her Majesty and the prince for their gracious hospitality.’
Ivy spotted that Olivia had side-stepped the home question neatly and wondered if anyone else noticed.
Georgia nodded and then turned to the Queen. ‘Your Majesty, may I ask what it feels like to open your house to a human for the first time ever?’
The Queen’s ruby earrings clinked as she tilted her head. ‘It is unusual, to say the least, but this is a very special circumstance,’ she replied. She nodded at the twins’ grandparents. ‘The Count and Countess are my closest friends.’