Page 81 of Rivals
“Only because we teamed up against our common enemy!” Daphne burst out. “That doesn’t count. We don’t actually hang out in real life.”
“So let’s change that.” Nina looked like she couldn’t quite believe what she’d said.
“You—what?”
“We’re all going to the League of Kings closing banquet next weekend, aren’t we? I don’t know about you, but I have nothing to wear.” Nina seemed close to smiling as she added, “We just got dirt on Gabriella, after all our hard work. We might as well celebrate by shopping.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever uttered that sentence in your life,” Daphne said weakly.
“Not really. I hate shopping,” Nina admitted. “But it’s kind of your hidden superpower, isn’t it?”
Daphne stared at her, shock transitioning into a wary confusion. “Iamthe best shopper in town. I know when inventory turns over at Halo, and how they run their sales—”
Nina laughed. “Oh, we’re not shopping at Halo. We’re shoppingmyway.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’ll see,” Nina said vaguely. “Now, come on—let’s get back out there.”
As they headed out the door, Nina surprised her with one more comment: “Gabriella was wrong, you know.”
“About Jefferson?”
“About everything!” Nina paused. “Except maybe her comment about your ass. Don’t let this go to your head, but I’ve always been jealous of it.”
It was such an unexpected comment from Nina that Daphne laughed, grateful and oddly touched.
Beatrice lay in the guest room near Louise’s chambers, staring up at the carved garlands that looped around the walls. She couldn’t sleep; her body was still on Pacific time, and this room felt so vast and intimidating. At home, she and Samantha used to joke that they lived in a museum, but at least it wastheirmuseum, its corridors and state rooms comfortingly familiar. The sheer scale of Versailles dwarfed Washington Palace, made her feel insignificant and small—which was precisely what Louis XIV had intended when he’d built it hundreds of years ago.
Earlier, when her tears had finally dried up, Louise had suggested that they get straight back on the plane and return to the conference. But Beatrice could tell that her friend was upset. “Let’s stay for a night,” she’d suggested. “We came all the way here. Maybe you’ll be able to see your father again.”
Maybe he’ll have another flash of his real self,she meant, but Louise had just nodded gratefully and thanked her.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway. Beatrice padded across the room and opened the door, about to ask for a glass of water—but it wasn’t one of the staff; it was Louise, who’d been retreating into her own room.
“Louise? Are you all right?” Beatrice asked, then cursed herself for asking such an inane question. Of course Louise wasn’t all right.
“I was with my father,” the princess said. “For a few minutes he was…alert again. He remembered me.”
The hallway was dim, lit only by sconces every few yards. Beatrice could barely see Louise’s face.
“I’m glad you got more time with him,” she said delicately.
The door to Louise’s room was open. Beatrice noticed, a little puzzled, that a faint glow came from the ceiling. It wasstars,she realized—the plastic glow-in-the-dark kind meant for children’s rooms. The sight of them was so incongruous with the grandiosity of Versailles, she couldn’t help but stare.
Louise followed her gaze. “Oh, those are my stars,” she said, speaking as casually as if she ruled the entire sky and not just France. “My mother hung them. She got out graphing paper and star charts, made sure it was accurate. We used to stargaze all the time.”
“That sounds lovely.”
There was a purring sound from the corner, where a fluffy Siamese sat imperiously on a cushion. “I take it this is Geneviève?” Beatrice asked, venturing forward.
“Don’t bother. She won’t come outside with us.”
“Outside?”
Louise nodded, having reached a decision. “We should go stargazing, shouldn’t we? Unless you’re tired,” she added.
Beatrice cast one last glance at the cat, who returned her stare impassively. “Stargazing sounds perfect.”
