I’ve only been back from prep school for a little over a month, and I know it’s only a matter of time until offers for my hand in marriage start to come in. If I ended up on the dance floor with him, it would be a reminder to everyone that I existed. He’s too poised and put together, and I find his charm to be annoying. Steven is everything I don’t want in a man. But honestly, that wasn’t the reason I didn’t want to. If I shared even one dance with him, people would talk. The only reason he was even giving me attention is because I was one of the only women here not falling all over myself to dance with him. Irritation flashes across Steven’s face, but he quickly masks it. There is only one person I was hoping would ask me to dance, but he’s been very scarce, even with this being his sister’s wedding. Maybe next time? I lie, and Steven's smile falters. People in these circles are always looking for gossip. Even now, people are within hearing distance, and I’m sure some are listening. I think he’s been waiting to get me by myself, but I’ve kept making sure I was never alone. Princess Glenda, would you care to dance? Steven asks, placing his hand on the back of my chair. Father had no control over him, and I can see how angry that made him. He didn’t need my father’s money, and he couldn't be bought.

It’s why Felipe took the path he did, choosing to make a name for himself. My father might love me, but he sees things in black and white. I hope it’s Felipe, because he sees marriage differently and he’s very protective of me. I’m actually not sure who will have a say in my marriage it might be my father or my brother. I didn’t know my brother could be such a sweetheart when it came to romance, but I guess love can make you do crazy things.įor me, it won’t be the same. In fact, he’d even planned and mapped out his life for it. He’d known for years that Amelia would be his wife one day. Then again, he had a hand in picking his bride. Now, seeing my brother dance around the ballroom with his bride, it gives me a hint of hope for something else. When I was old enough to understand what marriage truly was and how it worked in our world, I dreaded the idea. That I’d have to learn to live with whoever my chosen spouse was. With them as my only example, I was sure that’s how all arranged marriages went. I can’t even recall a time when they ever liked each other, so they never gave me romantic ideas of marriage.

Sometimes I wonder how they had three kids. That’s about as long as they can pretend to be a happy couple. Mom and Dad can’t stand to be in the same room with each other for more than a few hours. Growing up with parents like ours, it’s hard to believe that we could be matched with someone we could actually love. As I watch my brother, Prince Felipe of Andora, with his bride Amelia, it gives me a trace of hope that one day I too can find a love like theirs.

Naughty and Notorious by Alexa Riley