As Amy went to change out of her wedding dress, she heard the television report in the background. She shuffled out of the dressing room and joined Renee, Kristin and Anna before theTV.
"While there is no official word coming from the Royal House of Avce, our reporters have uncovered these disturbing pictures of a woman currently staying in the castle after spending the night at Lucio Aussa's private castle in the DeskleMountains."
Someone had leaked news about their one night at the North Castle? She'd literally seen two servants the entire time, though there were clearly a lot more around. She hugged her waist and stared at the dark-hairedreporter.
"If the rumors are true, that this Amy Fields will be the newest princess of Avce, this reporter wonders if the royal family will be adding a possible criminal to itsranks."
Criminal? No one ever thought that about her. Amy felt cold and goosebumps rose along her nape. She turned toward the table and saw all three of the women looking at her. She lowered her gaze. Her sister had forced her to take awful sappy pictures of her and Lucio in high school. In rebellion, she’d snapped anguished self-portraits that she’d never developed, realizing she was being immature. In her defense, she’d been fourteen. "I cared about Lucio so much. Those were silly and reactionary, where I made faces at the camera. No one was supposed to seethem."
Anna quickly wrapped Amy in a hug that soothed her pride. Amy eventually ended it and stepped back. Anna fixed her crown. "We'll have you and Lucio do a few interviews this afternoon. Get dressed and look bridal. Those pictures can be seen as teen angst, if you say what you just said to thecameras."
Blood returned to her face and she nodded. "How did they even get thosephotos?"
"Your sister," Renee said withoutflinching.
Evie had never liked sharing anything with her, ever. The one Christmas "Santa" forgot to put all her toys under the tree until her presents were all found at Grandma's house played in her mind. Her mother had told Evie to share and her sister's face went red with rage. So yes, she believed that her sister was at the top of the suspect list, but Renee couldn't know that. "Youthink?"
Renee shrugged. "Who else would even know the photosexisted?"
True, except her parents, but they wouldn’t sabotage a potential royal wedding in the family. They’d wanted to be related to royals all her life, even if Evie was the favorite. Without guidance, no reporter would go through her parents’ spare room that was used for storage. Amy turned around and headed back toward the dressing area. Had her sister’s offer of help by the fountain been a ploy to lower her guard? "Good point. Let me get dressed. Help loosenme?"
"No problem." Renee followed her to the small room where she unsnapped and unlaced everything. Once the fabric was loose, Renee disappeared and Amy wiggledout.
She hung the dress on the hanger with care and redressed. Her feet into her flats, she went out and saw that Anna still waited for her, though Renee and Kristin were gone. Anna said, "I'll send a few clothing options into your bedroom for the interviews and hair and makeup. I want you to look like an angel for thecameras."
Seems like she’d get the full treatment. Anna Camilla was as kind now as she’d been in Amy's memory of those times she lingered on the lawn not wanting to knock on the door of the Aussa house and get her sister. "Thanks, Anna. I should go to my room and get the report ready forLucio."
"I know you’ll be a good partner to him, dear." They both made their way out, but turned to go in differentdirections.
Amy waved and took off. With hair and makeup, she'd not have a lot of time for research. She rushed to her bedroom, and fired up the laptop. She’d finished three out of ten programs when the makeup and hair ladiesappeared.
For the next hour, she hopped on the computer to run a few more in between whatever the beauty experts did next. With her hair in an updo and flawless skin that shone, she thanked them all. But once they were done, she printed her old report and put together seven out of the ten program findings into a new folder. She heard the light hum of the printer when the door opened. She jumped out of her seat, and stared into the warm gaze of the man she very much desired. "Lucio, I'm just printing the last ofit."
"Last of what?" He kissed her cheek and proceeded into the room and pulled off hisshoes.
Didn’t he remember? Maybe he hadn’t meant for her to actually help. She swallowed. "The reports. One is from the day we reconnected and the new one is my findings so far. I have more programsrunning."
He shrugged, took his shoes and headed to the closet. "Oh. I'll read it later. My mother insisted I change into a suit for ourinterviews."
She straightened her powder blue ruffled dress and followed him inside his closet. He sorted through his suits while she asked, "How was everything in the financialcenter?"
"Strange." Choosing three different options, he then turned to her. "By the time my brothers and I made it the scare was over and most of the perpetrators had fled. The ones we did apprehend were mostly teenagers who had no idea what they were being paid to do other than hold signs andprotest."
He sorted through the pants as if looking for one in particular. "I'm sorry you didn't get more. Perhaps the bombs match one of the profiles I pulled for you tocheck?"
His head tilted and he stared at her, puzzled. "Profiles? Where is thisreport?"
She pointed out to the bedroom. "On the printer. But you can read them on mylaptop."
He chose a navy blue suit, hung the other two and went toward her laptop. He flipped through the new report with the profile pictures and then grinned at her like she was an angel. "Amy, this is great. I wasn't expecting anything so detailed. I'll send these profiles to Babik, our general, to see if any of these men entered thecountry."
Relieved, she nodded, just glad to see that he realized she knew what she was talking about. She picked up a tie that was dark blue with powder blue lines. "The blue tie looks great and matches mydress."
He reached out and hugged her waist, looking into her eyes. "You look glamorous. I should have told you that when I walked in theroom."
Now her face felt hot. If she kissed him, she'd leave a trail of lipstick and they had to be on air in a few minutes. Instead she stepped back and held onto his wrist. "Thanks. I haven't done my makeup professionally since I was in a friend Deidre's wedding a few yearsago."
Lucio fixed the tie around his neck. "Did you invite her to ourwedding?"
