wonder you dress for dinner around here,” she added. “Black tie not optional.”
Julianna joined them halfway across the room. “Good evening, Izzy.”
“Hey, Jules.”
Niko noticed and liked the familiarity between the two women. Shopping must quicken the bonds of feminine friendship. Perhaps Jovan had been correct about Julianna being Isabel’s role model.
“You look lovely,” Julianna said.
Isabel smiled. “Thanks to you.”
A waiter appeared with the tray of champagne flutes. Niko took one and handed the glass to Isabel.
“No, thanks.” She waved him off. “Tonight’s going to be hard enough without adding alcohol to the mix. I doubt your parents would appreciate me dancing on the table.”
No, but Niko wouldn’t mind too much. He did, however, approve of her good judgment in refusing to drink.
Isabel studied one of the place settings. “I might have better luck dancing than trying to figure out what silverware and glass to use when.”
“Go from the outside in,” he said, remembering all the etiquette lessons forced on him even during the war.
“Watch what we do,” Julianna added. “You’ll do fine.”
Two little lines appeared above Isabel’s nose. She rubbed her hands together as if nervous. “Maybe I should get a plate to go.”
A flurry of noise sounded in the doorway. Niko stiffened. “My parents have arrived.”
“Don’t worry.” Julianna touched Isabel’s shoulder. “Just remember what I told you earlier.”
Isabel nodded, but she bit her lower lip. Uncertainty filled her eyes.
He almost felt sorry for her.
His father entered the dining room with a rare smile. He acknowledged Niko and Julianna before turning his full attention on Isabel. “What a lovely dress, Izzy.”
Niko appreciated the way his father was trying to make her feel comfortable by using her nickname. King Dmitar could intimidate even the most seasoned statesman.
She curtsied. “Thank you, King Dmitar.”
“I would like to introduce you to my wife, Her Royal Majesty Queen Beatrice.” Dmitar presented his mother, who wore a floor-length ball gown, a diamond necklace and matching tiara. No one would mistake her for anything but the queen. “Beatrice, this is Isabel, but her friends call her Izzy.”
Niko bit back a laugh. His mother would never call Isabel by anything other than her given name.
“We are delighted to have you back in Vernonia, Izzy,” Beatrice said.
What? Niko stared in disbelief.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Royal Majesty.” Isabel curtsied again only this time she swayed on her heels like a tree in a windstorm. A soft gasp escaped her lips. Panic flashed in her eyes.
Niko grabbed her elbow so she wouldn’t tip over.
She mouthed the word “thanks,” and shrugged off his hand. She didn’t look any steadier on her feet so he kept hold of her. “Isabel is still recovering from the long flight. I’m sure she would like to sit down.”
“Of course.” Dmitar motioned everyone to the table. “We have much to discuss.”
“Yes, we do.” Beatrice sat, and a waiter handed her a napkin. “But now that I’ve seen Izzy myself I agree with you, Dee. We won’t have any trouble.”
Isabel was seated across the table from him. She shot a questioning gaze to him and Julianna.
“Trouble, Mother?” Niko asked, curious what his parents had been discussing.
“Your father and I have been discussing Izzy’s future,” Beatrice said.
His mother’s words set off an alarm in Niko’s head. Waiters brought out the first course and set the bowls of soup on the table at the exact same time.
“That’s really nice of you all.” Izzy’s smile looked forced. “But it’s not necessary, Your Highnesses.”
“But it is,” King Dmitar countered. “All this must still be a shock to you, Izzy, but we are your family now. We don’t have much time. We must make plans for what is to happen next.”
“An annulment comes next, Father,” Niko said. “We will go to the
Julianna joined them halfway across the room. “Good evening, Izzy.”
“Hey, Jules.”
Niko noticed and liked the familiarity between the two women. Shopping must quicken the bonds of feminine friendship. Perhaps Jovan had been correct about Julianna being Isabel’s role model.
“You look lovely,” Julianna said.
Isabel smiled. “Thanks to you.”
A waiter appeared with the tray of champagne flutes. Niko took one and handed the glass to Isabel.
“No, thanks.” She waved him off. “Tonight’s going to be hard enough without adding alcohol to the mix. I doubt your parents would appreciate me dancing on the table.”
No, but Niko wouldn’t mind too much. He did, however, approve of her good judgment in refusing to drink.
Isabel studied one of the place settings. “I might have better luck dancing than trying to figure out what silverware and glass to use when.”
“Go from the outside in,” he said, remembering all the etiquette lessons forced on him even during the war.
“Watch what we do,” Julianna added. “You’ll do fine.”
Two little lines appeared above Isabel’s nose. She rubbed her hands together as if nervous. “Maybe I should get a plate to go.”
A flurry of noise sounded in the doorway. Niko stiffened. “My parents have arrived.”
“Don’t worry.” Julianna touched Isabel’s shoulder. “Just remember what I told you earlier.”
Isabel nodded, but she bit her lower lip. Uncertainty filled her eyes.
He almost felt sorry for her.
His father entered the dining room with a rare smile. He acknowledged Niko and Julianna before turning his full attention on Isabel. “What a lovely dress, Izzy.”
Niko appreciated the way his father was trying to make her feel comfortable by using her nickname. King Dmitar could intimidate even the most seasoned statesman.
She curtsied. “Thank you, King Dmitar.”
“I would like to introduce you to my wife, Her Royal Majesty Queen Beatrice.” Dmitar presented his mother, who wore a floor-length ball gown, a diamond necklace and matching tiara. No one would mistake her for anything but the queen. “Beatrice, this is Isabel, but her friends call her Izzy.”
Niko bit back a laugh. His mother would never call Isabel by anything other than her given name.
“We are delighted to have you back in Vernonia, Izzy,” Beatrice said.
What? Niko stared in disbelief.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Royal Majesty.” Isabel curtsied again only this time she swayed on her heels like a tree in a windstorm. A soft gasp escaped her lips. Panic flashed in her eyes.
Niko grabbed her elbow so she wouldn’t tip over.
She mouthed the word “thanks,” and shrugged off his hand. She didn’t look any steadier on her feet so he kept hold of her. “Isabel is still recovering from the long flight. I’m sure she would like to sit down.”
“Of course.” Dmitar motioned everyone to the table. “We have much to discuss.”
“Yes, we do.” Beatrice sat, and a waiter handed her a napkin. “But now that I’ve seen Izzy myself I agree with you, Dee. We won’t have any trouble.”
Isabel was seated across the table from him. She shot a questioning gaze to him and Julianna.
“Trouble, Mother?” Niko asked, curious what his parents had been discussing.
“Your father and I have been discussing Izzy’s future,” Beatrice said.
His mother’s words set off an alarm in Niko’s head. Waiters brought out the first course and set the bowls of soup on the table at the exact same time.
“That’s really nice of you all.” Izzy’s smile looked forced. “But it’s not necessary, Your Highnesses.”
“But it is,” King Dmitar countered. “All this must still be a shock to you, Izzy, but we are your family now. We don’t have much time. We must make plans for what is to happen next.”
“An annulment comes next, Father,” Niko said. “We will go to the
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