Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3) (19 page)

“Will you let me know as well?”

“I’m sure Finn will dance with you at some point; ask him then. Just be discreet when you do. You never know whose ears are nearby.”

“Yes, all right. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything revealing.”

“Good,” Gabriel said. “Now that we’re all on the same page, let’s go have some fun. Come, my beautiful wife; your party awaits.”

Finn glanced around the tasteful and historical Grand Ballroom at the Vallerian Royal Palace. Delicate chandeliers hung sparkling near the ceiling, sending just the right level of light around the room, burnishing it in a soft gold. Everybody and everything seemed to shine like a jewel: the women, along with their dresses and jewelry, the table decorations, and even the men and the food lining the tables.

The Vallerian royals had yet to make an entrance. Though he had business with a few of them, it was only one he truly wanted to see: Arianna.

He’d been disappointed when Arianna hadn’t greeted their arrival earlier. Oh, Henry had put up a good front, feigning disappointment, but as King Gabriel had searched Finn’s eyes, he was sure the man knew what Finn felt for his daughter.

Finn reached for another glass of water, forgoing alcohol until he’d spoken with Alex, at least. He needed a clear head, especially if what Jacob had told him was true. Someone was indeed out to sink the royal family, but it was one of their own allies. Jacob was working now to find out who it could be; he had a short list, Finn knew, but it must be terribly shocking for Jacob to keep it so close to his vest.

A trumpet sounded and the noise in the room dimmed. A man Finn recognized as Tavin, Alex’s chief of staff, announced the royal family as they entered; he had been there to welcome him when he’d arrived earlier that day.

All of the woman were in stunning gowns featuring the dark purple of Valleria. When Arianna was announced, Finn lost his breath. She wore layers of dress that he wanted to peel off, and even from some distance away he could see she wore the same jewelry she’d worn in Brazenbourg. Had she done it for him? Or Henry?

Wishing his water was something stronger, Finn took a few long, unroyal-like gulps. As the icy chill settled in his stomach, it seemed to calm him.

Alex and his fiancée, Rebecca were announced, to the great delight of the crowd. Vallerians certainly loved their next generation of rulers. In fact, to Finn, it seemed as the crowd cheered even louder for them than they did King Gabriel and Queen Genevieve, who came out next.

“Finally,” Tavin began, “we wish to inform you that Her Royal Highness, the Former Queen Victoria, was unable to join us this evening.” Finn knew Victoria was Arianna’s grandmother, her Nonna as she called her, and mother to King Gabriel.

“Queen Victoria has been waylaid by the Medicane, which is the rare tropical-like storm that has settled in the Mediterranean. The storm made travel difficult from Her Highness’s home on the island of Ilva, but rest assured that she is safe and well, and wishes our King and Queen another forty years together.”

When the applause died down, both Gabriel and Alex gave a brief statement welcoming everyone, then kicked off the party. As the band began to play, most of the royals made their way off the stage and began mingling. The King and Queen opened the dancing, and Alex and Rebecca followed soon after. Halfway into the dance, others began to join in.

Alex was holding Rebecca close, both with ridiculous grins on their faces. They were clearly very much in love. The King and Queen, having raised nine children and spent forty years together, were also clearly in love but slightly more reserved about it in public. It was an interesting dichotomy to witness: new lovers and established lovers, side-by-side. Finn wondered if he would ever make it to forty years as a married man. There was only one woman he could ever consider for that position.

As if she sensed he needed to see her, Arianna came into view. She, too, was dancing, but Finn didn’t feel threatened by the man holding her, as he knew it was one of her brothers. Finn had told Henry he wouldn’t embarrass him, but seeing Arianna so beautiful and seemingly unattainable, made him want to claim her right then and there.

Finn gulped down the rest of his water and slowly made his way through the crowd. Most of the guests were Vallerian or related to the royal family in some way; there were only a few dignitaries from other countries, as he was, so he didn’t really know anybody or need to stop and chat along the way.

His mind and his focus was on her. She was like a beacon calling out to him, saving him. Could he save her, too?

“Your Highnesses,” he said formally when he approached them and bowed for form’s sake. “Prince Lorenzo, allow me to introduce myself. I am Prince Finn de Bara of Brazenbourg.”

“Of course,” Lorenzo said as he held out his hand and Finn shook it. From the side of his eye, he noticed Arianna blush, but she was otherwise composed. “We are happy you could join us for such a happy occasion.”

“We are honored to receive an invitation, thank you. Princess Arianna, I wanted to claim you for a dance this evening, at your earliest convenience.”

She smiled. “Of course. I’m afraid the next dance is spoken for, but please find me after that.”

Finn bowed again, hating the formality that went with being a royal sometimes. “Thank you, Princess,” he said and saw her blush deepen. “Prince Lorenzo.” Finn shook his hand and walked away. He’d have Arianna in his arms in maybe ten minutes, and that was all that mattered.

As Finn strode away from the dance floor, he caught Alex’s eye. Finn nodded and headed toward a darker corner of the room to bide his time. It didn’t surprise him when Alex found him barely a minute later.

“We’ll have to make this quick,” Alex said, after they, too, had bowed to each other for form’s sake. “I plan to hold my fiancée all night long and this is interfering with those plans.”

“You seem to be quite in love, Alex. Rebecca is a lovely woman, and you’re both very popular with the crowd, it seems.”

The pride on Alex’s face couldn’t be hidden, and neither could his broad smile. “I’m a damn lucky man, I know. I found the perfect woman for me and my country.” Finn wondered if he had, too, in Arianna.

“Well, this shouldn’t take long,” Finn said, and proceeded to tell Alex about his initial findings.

“One of our allies?” Alex said, his eyes narrowing. “How can you be sure?”

“I trust this source with my life, and I don’t trust easily. It doesn’t look good for you. My contact is searching for more proof now before confirming who it is.”

“Even if they have proof, how will they prove it to the world? I can’t think of any of our allies who would want us dead or destroyed this much.”

“Neither can I, but you’d know best. My advice is to go and enjoy the night with your pretty fiancée, and leave the worrying to the rest of us.”

“Will you be dancing with Arianna later?”

“As soon as the next dance is done.”

Alex nodded. “Give her a discreet update, if you can. There are a number of ears listening and nothing is safe.”

“Not even this conversation?”

Alex’s face spread into a smug smile. “I’m not worried about this conversation, as we’re standing far enough away from other people. Besides that, I’ve got a jammer in my pocket which disables any electronic devices nearby. We finished testing it a week ago, and it came through with flying colors.”

“Top secret stuff. Why are you telling me?”

“So you won’t worry next time we speak. None of the others, save Marcello and my father, have a jammer on them most of the time.”

“I’ll remember that.”

The next song started and they turned towards the dance floor. Finn knew Alex was searching for Rebecca, but Finn’s breath caught when he saw Arianna’s dance partner: Henry. How had Henry found her so quickly?

“Ah, there’s Rebecca,” Alex said, sounding almost relieved.

“Afraid someone else will want to dance with her?”

Alex pursed his lips. “Of course not. I just want to ensure we have plenty of time together, that’s all.”

Finn laughed and slapped Alex on the shoulder. “Well, what are you waiting for? Don’t let me hold you up. I’ll find you if something comes up.”

Alex nodded and shook Finn’s hand before walking back towards a smiling woman who seemed as eager to be in his arms as he was in hers.

Finn spent the rest of the song analyzing - overanalyzing, really - every movement Arianna and Henry made. Was her smile at him real or forced? Did she keep her distance from him for propriety’s sake, or because she didn’t want to be near him? He just didn’t know.

When the song ended, Finn made a beeline for her. Henry would see them dancing anyway, so there was no need to try to hide it.

Arianna’s lips were in a thin line. “Thank you for the dance, Henry.”

“Let’s dance again. We’re to be married soon, anyhow,” Henry said.

“She hasn’t agreed to that,” Finn said as he stepped up to them. “And you should learn how to hold your tongue,” he said in a low voice. “If anyone had heard you, the Vallerian royal family would have been most displeased with you.” Henry’s eyes glittered with anger, but he didn’t respond.

Finn took hold of Arianna’s slim hand. “Besides, she’s dancing with me next.”

“Is this true, Arianna?”

“Yes. Prince Finn asked me and it would be inconsiderate considering the current negotiations between our countries.”

“Yes, yes. Of course,” Henry said quickly, not wanting to offend her or her family. “Please, by all means. Dance together.”

Finn saw annoyance flash in her expression and completely understood; Henry made it seem as though he’d given her permission to dance with Finn, when she didn’t need his permission at all.

“Come, Princess,” Finn said, leading her deeper onto the dance floor.

He twirled her once and then settled her in his arms, in a loose but close grip. They were certainly closer than she and Henry had been, but Arianna never complained. While they stared into each other’s eyes, Finn could feel Henry’s eyes fixed upon them, even from his perch some distance away.

There was tension in her body he didn’t quite like. Was that because of Henry? Or him? “What’s wrong, Princess?”

She was quiet for a moment before she spoke. “I don’t think Henry likes you very much.”

“I don’t, either. Did he say something to you?”

“I won’t repeat it, but he seemed to think that you weren’t very loyal to Brazenbourg.”

That bastard. “It’s not true.”

“Of course it isn’t. I told him so.”

Finn’s eyebrows went up. “You told him he was wrong? About me? I would have loved to have seen that.”

Arianna bristled. “Yes, well, it wasn’t true. I had to defend you.”

Hope budded in his chest, along with an emotion he’d rarely felt before: love. No one had ever defended him to Henry since his parents had died. “Thank you, Arianna.”

Her eyes were soft. “You’re welcome, Finn.”

He seemed to remember they were on a public dance floor and cleared his throat. “How are you otherwise this evening?”

“I’m very well, thank you. How are you?”

Finn didn’t like the proper mask she’d just slid into place again. “You’re being very polite.”

“Shouldn’t I be polite to you?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking about doing something to you that’s not polite at all.”

She swallowed. “Oh?”

“Oh, yes.” He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear. He remembered Alex’s comment about who may be listening in and revised what he originally thought to say. “Let’s just say there’s something very appealing about your lovely dress.”

“Is there?”

“Yes. The beautiful woman inside it is very tempting.” He held back the urge to bite her ear or kiss her throat.