Page 6 of The Duke's Virgin

“Wow.”

My cousin looked over at me. Deadpan, he echoed my voice, right down to the flat American accent. “Wow.”

Suppressing a smile, I nodded and looked around, taking in the lighting, the overall feel of age and wealth and elegance. Overhead, the ceiling was painted, and I wanted to spend time studying it. I even considered it, thinking about how much it would exasperate Aeric, but decided against it.

“Exactly what has you sowowed, cousin Stacia?” he asked.

“This.” I waved a hand at the palace and shot another discreet look at the lovely ceiling overhead. “It’s kind of amazing, isn’t it?”

“It’s okay,” he said, tone bored. “You’ve seen whereIlive, Stacia. It’s pretty amazing too.”

I let the grin spill free as I met his eyes. “You don’t have to be jealous, Aeric. Your palace is very special too. In its own way.”

“In its…” He stopped and shook his head. “There are times when I wonder why I put up with you.”

“Because I’m the only person on earth who will actually tease you. You live for it,” I said as we followed the line winding through the elegant home.

It trulywasa palace, and it did rival the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, where Aeric lived with his family, although both were distinctly unique. I darted another look at the ceiling just as we moved into another room. Aeric leaned in. “If you like, I can ask if they have a divan so you can lay back and gawk at the ceiling like a typical American tourist.”

“Be nice,” I said, jabbing him in the ribs.

He flinched and muffled a laugh. “That’s not playing very nice.”

I ignored him and resisted the urge to crane my neck so I could see around the couple in front of us. We were almost to the doors. The music swelled, filling the air like a bubble waiting to burst, but it just…lingered, poignant and beautiful and bright.

When it finally ended, I let out a breath. “Wow.”

“You keep saying that,” he teased.

“The music is phenomenal.” I squeezed his arm lightly with my fingers. “I think I’m glad you talked me into coming.”

“I hardly had to twist your arm,” he said with a light laugh. “You were more than ready to get away from your parents for a while. Have you thought more about just staying the summer here? Longer if you wanted.”

“I don’t know.” He’d mentioned it earlier, but part of me felt like it was time I start looking for a job. I hadn’t gotten my economics degree tonotput it to use, had I?

“We do have a need for economists in Monaco, Stacia,” he said.

Startled, I went to look at him.

But I never quite finished the movement.

The ballroom caught my gaze and my mouth parted.

“If you saywowagain,” Aeric murmured, leaning in, “my feelings will be hurt. The Prince’s Palace in Monaco has a ballroom every bit as wonderful as this.”

He could be right.

But I’d never seen the ballroom fully outfitted for its intended use.

Chandeliers glittered overhead, golden with light, while shards of crystal sent fractals of that gold glistening in ten thousand directions. The ceiling, again, was painted, but this depicted a midnight sky and the light from the chandeliers picked out what looked like pinpoint pricks of starlight and set them to gleaming. More crystal and gold sconces gleamed on the walls, and painted panels depicting celestial scenes were interspersed with mirrors that reflected gleaming light back into infinity.

“Come, Stacia. We’re holding up the masses,” Aeric said in my ear.

I followed his lead and let him guide me down the steps, still staring and trying to take everything in. I was grateful for the golden lace mask covering my face, giving me some obscurity because I had no doubt I was gawking.

“There’s my friend, Geraint,” Aeric said, leaning in and pointing out a man just as he danced by with a slim, petite blonde. They wore masks as well, but nothing could hide the glowing smiles on their faces. “And his fiancée, Princess Katrina Von Brandt of Lichtenstein.”

“They look insanely happy.” I smiled, not quite sure what to make of the hitch I felt in my chest. The marriage between my parents had given me a somewhat cynical view of romance and love.

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