Ivy took a seat next to Olivia at one of the round guest tables. Olivia was dressed in a gorgeous pink chiffon gown, her hair pulled back with a shimmery headband. The twins sat in silence, watching Alex and Tessa share their first dance to the Moonlight Sonata. Tessa’s dress was a stunning lace gown adorned with silk and tulle roses. Buttons lined the back of it, all the way from the neckline to the elegant train that trailed lightly upon the floor. Alex twirled his new bride around the dance floor, dipping her low and planting a sweet kiss on her cheek.
‘Now that,’ Ivy insisted, ‘is cheesy.’
Olivia turned to face her, pinching Ivy’s cheeks and tugging at them like she was a long lost aunt at a family reunion. ‘I know there is a hopeless romantic hiding somewhere behind that tough goth exterior.’
Ivy put her hands on her hips and gave her sister a ‘try me’ look. ‘Are you sure about that?’ Olivia rolled her eyes. Ivy smoothed down her black kimono-style dress and adjusted the chopsticks that were pinning her bun in place.
The music stopped and Prince Alex took the microphone. ‘We would like to thank each and every one of you for making our special day possible.’ Ivy noticed him wink at the two of them. ‘It is my great honour to present to you my bride, Princess Tessa!’ The crowd cheered. Tessa was wearing a delicate tiara on top of her elegant up-do. ‘And now, we’d like to invite you, our guests, to join us on the dance floor.’ He handed the microphone back to the lead singer and the band started up again.
Olivia raised the lens of her camera and snapped a few shots. Their article for VAMP magazine was due first thing Monday morning and Ivy still had a small pad of paper stashed in her purse for jotting down final notes. A Date with Destiny – Transylvania’s Very Own Cinderella Story, the headline would read. She hoped Georgia would eat it up.
‘Oh my darkness!’ Ivy grabbed Olivia. ‘Look over there!’ She pointed at the head table, where Vincenzo was offering his hand to the Queen.
Ivy covered her mouth in horror – and a little amusement. The Queen stared, blinking at Vincenzo’s outstretched hand. To Ivy’s surprise, Her Majesty accepted his invitation. She even managed not to look totally appalled. Ivy’s father was dancing with Lillian nearby, leading her in swift steps to the band’s tempo – Ivy could tell he was doing everything he could to take her in the opposite direction of Vincenzo’s flailing dance moves. Vincenzo was twirling around to the song like he was performing an act in the Nutcracker. Meanwhile, the Queen looked terribly confused and was just shuffling from side to side snapping her fingers. That was bad enough, but if Vincenzo managed to force the Queen into a conga line, Ivy thought she might literally die laughing!
Tessa tapped her mother-in-law on the shoulder. ‘Mind if I cut in, Your Majesty?’ Her new tiara sparkled under the twinkly lights.
The Queen fanned herself, a bright flush on her porcelain cheeks. ‘Be my guest!’ she said and scurried away as quickly as if someone had pulled the fire alarm.
Olivia flattened her hand over her heart, pointing to Tessa and Vincenzo. ‘Oh my goodness!’
Tessa curtsied in front of her uncle, who bowed in return and looked like he might almost burst with pride. ‘Shall we?’ asked Tessa. The uncle–niece duo waltzed around the floor, eyes shining and big smiles stretched across their faces.
‘Are you two behaving?’ Ivy and Olivia tilted their chins back to see their father standing behind them. His tie was loose around his neck and his sleeves were rolled up. He must have really been dancing up a storm!
‘Of course,’ they said together. Lillian pulled a chair up next to the girls, whipping a mirror out of her clutch bag and smoothing her hair back into place with a pocket-sized comb.
Ivy twisted in her seat. ‘You know, Dad, it was pretty cool what you did today.’
‘You act surprised.’ Charles frowned. ‘I’m cool. I’m hip.’ He turned on the spot, modelling his admittedly very suave-looking tuxedo.
Ivy mock-scowled at him. ‘Dad, the most recent music you listen to comes from the eighteenth century. But anyway, we’re proud of you for letting go of past grudges.’
Lillian stood back up, looping her arm through Charles’s. ‘Proud, indeed.’ She planted a gentle kiss on his cheek and Ivy tried not to giggle when her father’s face blushed three shades redder. The two excused themselves to take a stroll around the grounds and Ivy and Olivia waved them off.
‘I haven’t seen Dad this happy in ages.’ Ivy sighed, leaning back in her chair. Wedding guests passed by, balancing plates full of red-velvet cake and strawberries dripping with chocolate fondue.
In an unoccupied corner of the dance floor, Ivy spotted Helga and Horatio. Helga’s arms were stretched stiffly around Horatio’s thick neck and they were swaying a foot apart, out of step with the music. And there was the wedding planner, deep in conversation with a handsome man as she led him around the flower arrangements, pointing out the most spectacular stems.
‘I think Lucia’s luck could be on the turn,’ Ivy said. ‘And check out Helga and Horatio!’ She bounced in her seat, casting an excited look at Olivia, but her sister was staring down at the bright-blue rose she’d been carrying around since the moment she’d caught it.
Ivy reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand. ‘I’ve made a decision. I’m not –’
Olivia held up her hand. ‘Yes, Ivy . . . you are.’
‘But I don’t want to leave you.’