‘Well, I’m sorry again about clobbering you on the ice,’ Olivia said to Nadia.
‘That’s OK. I should probably get back to work,’ Nadia said.
They gave each other a little hug and Olivia left the servants’ quarters. Her confusion about Jackson threatened to take over all the good feelings she was having being here with her family.
Ivy will be able to help, Olivia thought. Find Ivy.
Down the hallway, Olivia caught sight of Horatio wiping dust off a frame that no normal-sized person would be able to reach.
‘Hey, Horatio,’ she said, hurrying over. ‘Have you seen Ivy?’
Horatio frowned at her, looking behind him and back. ‘Did you spill something, Miss Olivia?’
‘Um, no,’ she replied, wondering why he would think she had.
‘Hmmm.’ His fuzzy eyebrows furrowed. ‘I have not seen Miss Ivy recently.’
‘OK, no problem,’ she said. ‘If you see her, could you ask her to find me?’
‘I shall,’ he said and went back to his dusting. As she walked away, Olivia heard him mutter: ‘How many twins are there?’
She wandered down the corridors, asking anyone she came across about Ivy, but no one seemed to have seen her. Down one hallway, she heard Prince Alex’s deep voice coming from a room. Maybe he’s seen Ivy, she thought, and headed towards the door.
Chapter Seven
‘And I’m sick of her telling me what to do all the time!’ Alex was still talking. ‘She’s a control freak, living her life through me. Doesn’t she understand? I need some freedom to make my own decisions!’ Alex sounded just like any other teenager complaining about his parents, and for a moment Ivy almost felt sorry for him – almost. But she quickly reminded herself that she was on a mission. I’ll get the truth out of him, she swore. One way or another.
‘Which is why I’m so glad that you’re here,’ Alex finished, giving her a big smile.
Ah ha! Ivy thought. Because you want to make your mom mad!
‘Because now I have lots of excuses to leave the palace.’ Alex sat back in the chair, relaxing.
Ivy adjusted her white skirt and tugged at the pink hairband that was starting to tickle her ears. She pushed away the guilty feeling for impersonating her sister. This was important.
‘Would your mom be mad that you were spending time with me?’ Ivy asked.
Before he could answer, a panel of books swung open, making Ivy jump. Alex stood up and Ivy watched to see who was coming in with her heart pounding.
Please don’t be Olivia, Ivy thought.
It was one of the Queen’s footmen, who bowed sharply and said, ‘Your Highness, word has been sent from the palace.’
Alex sighed.
‘You are to attend your mother immediately,’ the footman finished.
Alex looked like he was going to say something but he stopped himself. His body stiffened and Ivy realised that in front of the footman, Alex had slipped back into his role as prince. ‘Yes, of course.’ He turned to ‘Olivia’. ‘I’m sorry to leave you so abruptly.’ He gave a tense smile, and kissed Ivy’s hand. ‘Good day, Olivia. I hope to see you again soon.’
Ivy smiled and curtsied. Just when I was about to get the confession!
Alex disappeared through the panel behind the footman.
It doesn’t matter, Ivy thought. It’s pretty clear from his ranting about being controlled that he is using Olivia to annoy his mother.
Now all Ivy had to do was get upstairs, de-Olivia-fy herself and then convince her sister that Prince Alex was bad news.
But how?
She pulled open the door and blinked. She’d come face-to-face with someone. It was just like looking in a mirror.
Ivy gasped. ‘Olivia!’
‘Ivy?’ Olivia said.
‘I can’t believe you!’ Olivia stormed up the stairs to their shared bedroom, feeling hurt, confused and really, really un-perky.
‘I’m sorry,’ Ivy said.
‘You’ve said that,’ Olivia snapped.
‘If you’ll just let me explain –’ Ivy began.
Olivia whirled around, two steps above her sister. ‘This is the ultimate twin betrayal, Ivy!’
Ivy took a step down with her mouth open.
‘Switching without permission? It’s like . . . like body-snatching! Identity theft!’ Olivia marched into their room, not even holding the door open for Ivy.
‘Please, Olivia,’ Ivy said, pushing through the doorway.
Olivia struggled to keep her voice even. ‘I know you’ve been having trouble adjusting here but I’d never expect you to do this.’
‘But –’ Ivy was backing away, almost into the big wooden wardrobe.
‘Dressing up like me to spend time with Prince Alex is plain devious, Ivy,’ Olivia said.
‘If you would just stop shouting –’
But Olivia didn’t want to hear whatever Ivy had to say. Her own sister had been keeping secrets from her. She never thought that would happen.
‘Girls?’ came the Countess’s voice from the doorway, and instantly Olivia regretted yelling. ‘Girls, what’s the matter?’ Their grandmother’s glance flickered from Olivia to Ivy, wearing similar outfits, and realisation spread across her face. ‘I see.’
Olivia shot a look at Ivy.
‘Something has obviously happened between you two, and I don’t need details,’ the Countess said. ‘But you both should know that nothing that ever happens between you stops you being family.’
Olivia crossed her arms.
‘You are sisters – twins – there is nothing more important than that bond.’ She motioned for both of them to come over and give her a hug. Olivia didn’t want to refuse her grandmother but she didn’t want to be that close to Ivy at the minute, either.
She stubbornly waited for Ivy to go over first.
‘You, too, Olivia,’ the Countess said.
Olivia shot her sister a Death Squint and hugged her grandmother, making sure she didn’t touch Ivy at all.
The Countess pulled back and looked at them both. ‘There is nothing that can’t be resolved with a good talk. I’m going to leave now, and you are going to stay here until you work out whatever it is that caused all this squabbling.’
Olivia sighed and her grandmother took both her hands.
‘Believe me,’ she said. ‘Fighting with your family is awful.’