I’d call that an ultimate princess perk.”
Great. The only two perks of being royal that she liked were sleeping with her sexy bodyguard and beating Mallory at, well, life.
Being the older sister—even once you found out you weren’t sisters—meant not getting riled at every little dig. So Mallory didn’t even blink at the taunt.
“Moncriano doesn’t celebrate it, but we do. I think your family would embrace sharing a meaningful holiday with us. I mean, at its core, it’s a day to give thanks. The House of Villani got their missing princess back this year. I’d say they’ve got a lot to be thankful for.”
Nodding, Kelsey said, “It’d be nice to be able to celebrate with family. Even if it isn’t the one we’re used to. You’ll be there, though. See? We’re starting our own traditions here. I’ll convince you to stay for good, just you wait.”
“I am staying.”
Whoops.
That had slipped out prematurely.
“Really?” Kelsey bounced up and down, and then squeezed her arm right above the emerald-and-diamond cuff. “Oh, Mal, that’s wonderful. Is it because of Christian? Because you’re in love with him?”
Mallory tried not to grit her teeth. Or turn around and bang her head into the rose-and-pink flecked marble column. Repeatedly.
Tonight was not the night to get into it. Not the time to reveal to her sister that the ticking clock on her relationship was about to go off. And that it would no doubt crush her beyond all knowing. “It is decidedly not because of Christian.”
“The ‘why’ doesn’t matter,” Kelsey said swiftly. “I’m just so happy.”
But it did matter. It had been rolling around in Mallory’s brain for two weeks, ever since they’d made up. At that moment, she’d still felt invisible. Like she didn’t fit here. As though she’d fit in better back home, in America. Get less stares, less attitude.
Then Mallory had remembered that it’s impossible to control other people’s actions. The only thing under your control is your own reaction. Changing her mindset, thanks to Duchess Mathilde’s wise words and Christian’s belief in her, was how she’d finally gotten through to so many for the orphan gala. How she’d finally found her groove here, career-wise.
Six months ago, she’d hopped on a plane with an hour’s notice to come to a foreign country for the adventure, but mostly to share the adventure with Kelsey.
That desire hadn’t changed.
The Wishner sisters might not share a last name anymore, but they still shared a love for each other. A belief that whatever they did was better if they did it together. So she’d be the best lady-in-waiting ever. She’d help Kelsey raise a record amount of money at the orphan gala, and then help her choose the next patronage and kick butt with that one, too.
And because she was a strong, twenty-first century, independent, kick-ass woman—she wouldn’t let her feelings for a man interfere.
It was precisely the life they’d planned to share together—just relocated four thousand miles to the east.
So Mallory smiled broadly at her sister-in-everything-but-name. “The ‘why’ is you. And me. What I want. Which is to share your life, just like we’d always planned. The two of us together make a great team. So what if we’re not in Manhattan? We can do great things together here.”
“I love that so much. You’re so right.”
“I’ve been telling you that for years. Glad to hear that it finally sank in,” Mallory teased.
“I’ve been a brat,” Kelsey confessed in a soft voice. “I’ve left you to carry all the weight of the orphan gala. I got distracted by Elias, and then by our fight, and the hundred other things that Sir Kai and the grand duchess keep piling on my plate. I’m sorry. I’ll do better.”
“I know. We both floundered in this transition. That’s over. Starting tonight. I mean, look at how fabulous we are.”
“Tiara twins. That’s us. Oops. Tiara trio. We’ve got to include Genny. Is that okay?”
“Yes. Of course. We’re both your sisters.”
And just as Mallory was about to well up, the door opened. Sir Kai bustled in wearing a frown.
“Your Highness, Lady Mallory, what are you doing? Nobody’s allowed in the banquet room yet.”
Kelsey passed him the almost empty plate. “Tasting the appetizers without making a scene. Which I certainly would have done, no matter how big the crowd, if that mousseline had touched my tongue. Blergh.”
He stroked his trim goatee. “Oh. That was a wise approach.” Then he gave a nod/quarter bow. “I do apologize. We should’ve had you in on the tasting with the chef,