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He took her arm and escorted her down the massive circular staircase to the gold-accented foyer and through to the drawing room, where Nik’s family was gathered for drinks before dinner.
Her first impression of King Gregorios as he sat in a high-back chair near the windows was of flashing blue eyes the exact light aquamarine color of Nik’s, a thinning head of pure white hair and a lined face that seemed to tell the colorful story of his almost four decades of rule.
Nik placed a palm to her back and directed her to his father’s chair. King Gregorios stood as his son made the introductions, his vivid blue eyes inspecting her from head to foot.
“Ms. Ramirez,” the king said, inclining his head. “We had anticipated welcoming a countess to the family, but life takes unexpected turns, doesn’t it?”
Stella gasped. Nik’s fingers tightened against her back. “Behave, Father.”
The heat that she was sure heightened color in her cheeks was the only indication Sofi´a allowed that the king’s barb had landed. Queen Amara stepped forward and took Sofi´a’s hands. She was just as elegantly beautiful as her photographs, her silver hair caught up in a knot at the back of her head, her dark brown eyes discerning beneath sharply arched brows. “Sofi´a,” she murmured, brushing a kiss to each of her cheeks, “it is so good to meet you.”
The queen pulled back, a wry twist to her mouth. “Don’t mind my husband. The men in this family have a tendency to speak their minds as I’m sure you’ve learned from Nik.”
She forced a smile to her lips. “Somewhat. It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
“Amara, please. You are going to be my daughter-in-law after all.”
She blinked at the unreality of that. Then there was another Constantinides to meet as Stella stepped forward. More arresting than beautiful, the cool, blue-eyed blonde with those signature Constantinides eyes took her in with unabashed curiosity.
“So lovely to meet you,” Stella murmured, brushing a kiss to both her cheeks. “Don’t mind my father,” she said under her breath as she guided Sofi´a toward the ornately carved bar on the other side of the room. “He is who he is.”
Sofi´a kept her gaze firmly averted from King Gregorios. “It’s so nice to meet you, too. Nik has told me how close you are.”
“That I am the renegade princess, I expect?” Stella lifted a brow, eyes dancing. “And you are the scandalous American lover who destroyed an alliance. It’s a match made in heaven.”
She gave Nik’s sister a wary look as she poured her a glass of lemonade. “If it makes you feel any better,” Stella murmured, handing her the glass, “I can’t stand the countess. She is a cold fish. Nik would have been miserable.”
Sofi´a’s eyes widened. She wrapped her fingers around the glass. “What is that?” Stella demanded, manacling her fingers around Sofi´a’s wrist to twist it so she could see the sapphire. “I can’t believe Nik broke with tradition.”
“Tradition?”
“All Akathinian royal engagements are celebrated with a rare type of Tanzanian sapphire named for the Ionian Sea upon which we sit. You will be the first not to wear an Akathinian sapphire. Well, except for Queen Flora’s daughter.”
“What did she have?”
“Her eldest daughter, Terese, refused to have an Akathinian sapphire. She hadn’t been married two years when she and her husband had a huge argument. Terese took the car out and got in an accident. At the time, the queen was convinced it was because of the ring. Because she’d broken tradition. She was very superstitious.”
Right. Yet another strike against her and Nik.
“So the legend goes.” Stella waved a hand at her. “It’s foolishness. I’m so glad Nik’s not the superstitious type. I’m not wearing one if I ever marry. I’m a canary diamond kind of girl.”
Queen Amara strolled over to see the ring. “Nik has always been of his own mind. His coronation ceremony was very simple, bucking tradition. I hope he won’t deprive us of too many traditions around your wedding. We have such lovely ones.”
Nik joined them. “On that note, we’re planning an engagement party rather than a garden press conference.”
The queen brightened. “That’s a lovely idea. When will you have it?”
“In two weeks’ time.”
His mother looked horrified. “Two weeks?”
“It will be good for the people. They could use something to cheer about right now.”
