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“It’s Ophelia,” comes through the door.
“Speaking of optics.” Nico strides to the door, pulling it open. “Duchess.” He bows.
“Nico.” She glares at her son. “I want to talk to all of you.”
I realize that Holter and Castor are standing. My plate clinks as I put it down. My mouth is full of one of the little orange sandwiches. This one tastes more like a macaron than bread. To think I hadn’t ever had a macaron until I moved to Boston. And now look at me. Still trying to get back to Boston.
“Oh, you’re wearing a dark outfit.”
“It’s very pretty. Thank you again for letting me borrow some of Kai’s clothes.”
“Yes, well, you’re going to need to go shopping. First thing tomorrow.”
I glance back at the closet stuffed with clothes. But then again, they aren’t mine. “Oh,” is all I can think to say.
“You’re going to be the guest of honor at the ball, the day after tomorrow. And if you did as well as you did at the docking, you’ll have every eligible merman at your beck and call.” She claps her hands.
I blink up at Ophelia, my lips sucked in. I’m not great at being the center of attention. At school, I’ve learned to wear baggy clothes, no makeup. I want the male-dominated field to know that I mean business. Here, I suppose I’m going to have to do the opposite.
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you study. But really, you’ve already learned all the governors. There are a handful of others you need to know. You can dance?” Castor asks.
“Uh.” Tension fills my forehead. Because that would be a big fat no.
“Remember not to use that phrase. ‘Uh.’ It makes one think you don’t know what you’re saying.” Ophelia cocks her head at me.
“I took a dance class when I was four.”
“Four, well that’s remarkably young. How many years did you take lessons?” Ophelia holds her hands in front of her.
“One. They told my dad I wasn’t ready. And he never brought me back.” I almost remember the day, but it might be my uncle telling the story over and over again that I remember. How Marlee did so well and I was just sitting in the middle of the floor playing with my tights.
“I see. Well, after we get you a dress, we will have to work on that as well.” Ophelia cocks her head at Nico as if to say couldn’t he have made sure the girl could dance before biting her.
Nico glares back.
“I can try.” I shake my head. “I’ll do my best.” I’m pretty sure I won’t sit in the middle of the floor and play with my dress. But I’m also not guaranteeing I won’t trip. The simple box step Bass taught me took hours.
12
Annabelle
“No, it’s lovely.” Really, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever put on my body. “How much is it?” I smooth the fine fabric over my hips. “It’s heavy and light at the same time.” I smooth my hands down the side of the gown, and my fingers catch on the side. “It has pockets! A ballgown with pockets.”
“Yes, of course it does.” The clerk, Rockney, looks at me momentarily like I’m insane and then continues on. “The fabric shimmer is a new process that the Permula scientists have come up with. My mate is quite fond of it.” He beams when he says mate.
“I can see why. I really like it.” When I take a step, it changes from gold to blue and back. I kind of want to say FU to the guys and get it in green. “Does it come in any other colors?”
He blinks. “Yes, but...”
I’m causing the sales clerk to have a heart attack that a mermaid from Glyden would think to wear anything but gold and blue.
“Do you want it shortened, or is the length good?” He’s crouched next to me, playing with the hem of the gown.
“No, this is a good length. But how much is it?” When he hustled it into the dressing room, I saw a tag swinging from the back of the gown. Actually, it was the only thing similar to shopping back home. Back in high school, I went prom dress shopping with my best friend. I knew I couldn’t buy one. We didn’t have money to buy a new dress. I wore a borrowed bridesmaid dress from my aunt’s friend.
He smirks.
“What?” I look down at him.
