‘I don’t mind that,’ Tessa said. ‘That’s just how things work.’ But Olivia could see that Ivy was shaking her head.
‘I hope you will come and help us get ready,’ Olivia said. ‘And tell us all about what to expect at the ball.’
Tessa brightened. ‘Of course!’ She curtsied and left.
Olivia turned back to the box. ‘Should I open this?’
Ivy stood by her side, watching as she peeled back the shiny red paper. There wasn’t a card, but the box carried a prestigious department store logo, with ‘Krullers of Transylvania’ written in swirly writing beneath it.
‘You have to,’ Ivy declared.
Olivia drew in a breath and lifted off the lid. Inside was a thick garment bag and a scroll. She unrolled the worn-looking paper to read, ‘There is so much I want to say. I’ll start with this on Valentine’s Day: wear tonight this dress of blue, which shows the way I feel for you.’
The poem wasn’t signed, but she knew exactly who it had to be from. ‘Prince Alex,’ Olivia said, feeling her heart tumble like it was twisting its ankle after a badly executed high kick. She’d wanted a big romantic gesture like this from Jackson, and it being from Alex made everything feel that much worse. How could Jackson have known that she had to wear something special tonight?
‘I don’t want to see it,’ Olivia said.
‘Then I’ll do it,’ Ivy said. ‘We have to know how bad this is.’
She took out the dress, still in its black protective bag on its hanger, and hung it up on one of the wardrobe doors.
‘Drum roll,’ whispered Ivy.
To Olivia, it was a drum roll of doom.
She unzipped the bag and caught a flash of ice-blue silk. Then she pushed away the black plastic and gasped. It was a floor-length slim-line gown with a wide slash neck; simple, with one eyecatching detail: a wide band of ruffled silk at the waist. The hem curved like flower petals and the fabric felt smooth and cool. It was breathtaking.
‘Oh my darkness,’ Ivy breathed, as Olivia reached out to feel the cool, delicate fabric.
‘It’s totally gorgeous,’ Olivia said, amazed at how well Alex had guessed at her taste and style. ‘Whoever bought this has perfect taste.’ She looked at Ivy, feeling her eyes brim with tears. ‘But I can’t wear it. It would be like betraying Jackson.’
Ivy nodded and slipped an arm around her shoulders. ‘I know. This is what I’ve been trying to tell you. Alex needs to understand that you’re taken.’
Olivia felt like such a fool! Why hadn’t she seen this situation coming? ‘This is too much. I’ve got to tell him about Jackson. Now.’
Chapter Eight
As Olivia hurried away to find Prince Alex, Ivy decided that she’d go and see if her grandmother needed any more help with the party arrangements. She also wanted to ask something about Tessa.
She found the Countess in the ballroom – it wasn’t as big as the one at the palace, but it still looked incredible.
Individual black and red candles, not yet lit, hung from the high ceiling with invisible thread to look like they were floating. Tall glass vases filled with deep red rose petals sat on tables covered in rich velvet, and marble statues of Greek gods and goddesses were dotted around the edges of the dance floor. In one corner was a large mahogany dining table.
‘What do you think?’ the Countess asked as she poured more petals into one of the vases.
‘It totally sucks,’ Ivy said, and then realised her grandmother might not know the slang. ‘That means it’s the best.’
The Countess smiled and gave Ivy a quick hug. ‘I’m glad to see that you and your sister made up after yesterday.’
‘You were right, Grandmother,’ Ivy said. ‘We did talk it out and nothing like that will ever happen again.’
The Countess sighed. ‘It’s hard to say that, my dear. You see, when someone you love upsets you, you get even angrier than you would normally, because it hurts that much more.’
The Countess started arranging small name cards with black and red hearts in front of each place setting. ‘Your father would always help me with the decorations for the ball. I miss those days.’ She sighed and Ivy wanted to give her another hug. The Countess kept talking. ‘I miss my son more than anything and wish I could say the right thing to him, so that he would forgive me for turning him away all those years ago.’
The Countess sank down into one of the red velvet chairs. ‘Part of me wishes that he had never left Transylvania. But I am so grateful that he did because it means that now we have you and Olivia.’ The Countess reached out to hold Ivy’s hand. ‘Two wonderful granddaughters that I want to keep close to me forever. Families should stay together.’
Ivy gave her grandmother a hug. ‘I love that I’ve been able to meet you and I know Olivia is, too . . . But our home is in Franklin Grove.’
The Countess nodded. ‘I know.’ She wiped a tear away.
‘We’ll visit again and you can come to see us,’ Ivy offered. ‘I’m sure Dad won’t mind.’
‘Of course, darling,’ the Countess said and went back to arranging the name cards. ‘Your father will come around eventually. At least he came here with you this time. Who knows what might happen in the future!’
There was a silence and Ivy hoped it was true. She wanted her dad to love her grandparents as much as she did.
Then, Ivy remembered why she had come looking for her grandmother.
‘I hope it is OK to ask you this,’ Ivy began, and the Countess looked up.
‘You can ask me anything, Ivy,’ she replied.
‘Why don’t the servants get to enjoy the Valentine’s Day Ball with everyone else?’ Ivy asked, watching her grandmother’s face carefully.
‘They do, sweetheart,’ the Countess replied, looking concerned. ‘What do you mean?’
Ivy was relieved that the Countess wasn’t dismissive. ‘Well, I was talking to Tessa and she said she has to work at the ball. I didn’t think that was fair.’
The Countess frowned. ‘Hmm. Well, it’s true that the staff attend but they are there to serve drinks and keep things moving along.’ She paused. ‘But maybe we should work it out so that each of them gets some time off during the evening to enjoy the festivities, too.’