Twisted

2

October 1, 1983

Stevie smoothed her hands over her dress in her floor length mirror. She will admit that she looked good. Margi, her dress designer had done wonders with it. It was a strapless, nude based a-line dress. But there were black lace embellishing on the bodice creating an intricate waterfall-esque design that flowed into black chiffon at the bottom. She had paired it with a pair of Nude stilettos, six-inches, because she very rarely wore anything lower. Her hair was down her back in soft blonde waves. 

The courting ball, was simply a ball that is put on when a member of nobility is interested in finding a partner, but is having troubles on their own. Whether it be, lack of interest in the specific noble, a slew of relationships that ended badly, or just the fact that they've been unlucky in love. That last point rang true for Stevie. She had several relationships, but Don Henley cheated on her. Jimmy Iovine, embezzled money from her, Joe Walsh, beat her. And Paul Fishkin, ended up in an arranged marriage with a Spanish duchess. Stevie was never interested in marriage, but she knew that her kingdom would benefit more with two sets of rulers. A King and a Queen...so begrudgingly she was doing it. There were other bachelorette's at the party, only members of nobility though, because what fun would it be if there was only one pair of people dancing. 

She made her way downstairs to the ballroom, where she was announced. She drank, and she mingled, but then dancing started. She danced with suitor after suitor and talked to them on a more personal note, but there wasn't one that she really connected with. By the time four in the morning was nearing, she was about ready to call it a night, when a man approached her. 

"Your Majesty. Duke Lindsey Buckingham from Ellerton." He bowed to her. She looked at him. He didn't have to bow to her, but the fact that he did caused her interest to pique. 

She looked at him deeply. He was wearing a white button down paired with a pair of black pants. His shirt was tucked in, but he was by far the most dressed down of all the men that she met that night. He had brown curly hair and deep blue eyes, and when she looked over his body she could tell that he was lean, but muscular...A swimmers body, and she thought about her pool in the backyard. Though it was October, it was heated. She narrowed in on his package and she bit her lip. He didn't look horribly huge, but at the end of the day...size really didn't matter...well, it did, but they'd only have sex until she gave birth to an heir and then she never had to touch it again. 

"Dance with me." She states setting her glass of champagne down and holding her hand out. 

As they were walking out to the floor, a new song was starting. His hand found her hip and as soon as he touched her it was like his fingers were searing into her skin. They danced quietly for a while and then she sighed. 

"You are by far the most underdressed out of every one here." She states.

"Well, that's not entirely true. I started out with a vest and a suit jacket but I hate them." 

"Oh?' She asks.

"I think they're stupid. Suits are stiff and suffocating. I call them monkey suits." He shrugs.

"But they look nice." She states.

"Only for like two hours and then that's it." He explains. 

"Can I be honest with you?" She inquires.

"Absolutely." 

"I'm not a huge fan of this courting ball." She sighs.

"I think it's appalling." He tells her.

"Do you?" 

"Yeah, you ladies of the court are parading us men around here like lambs going to the slaughter. The only reason I came here tonight, is because both of my parents are dead and my mom's dying wish was that I found a nice girl to settle down with and start a family. I have two brothers. Both are married. One has a little two year old daughter, the other's wife is pregnant and I'm, as my brother Jeff calls me, the lone wolf. So I figured what the hell." 

"Marriage sounds appalling to me, but like you...it was my father's dying wish for me to get married and to have a solid relationship before I was crowned queen. Now however, my dad's gone and I officially become Queen of Everfi in January." She sighs.  

"So you want to get married before your coronation in January?" He inquires. 

"I can't...I physically don't have the time before January to get married. My coronation is slated for January 6th. I was hoping to be married at the end of January. Hold off on a honeymoon until May and then come June, well I guess it would be all systems go right." She gives a small smile. 

"Well I wish you good luck." He tells her.

"You're not pushing yourself on me." 

"No, you're human...why would I force something that's not there." He shrugs.

"Mmm, I like you." She tells him.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing." He chuckles.

"Good thing...Since we both think this shindig is a whole lot of fuckery, why don't we go somewhere else." 

"Like where?" 

"I have a heated pool." She tells him.

"Where did that come from?" He laughs.

"You're a swimmer." 

"I am. I swam competitively in High School. How'd you know?"

"Your body. It's lean, but muscular in your biceps and your calfs." She explains. 

"So do you want to take this to the pool?" He asks.

"I do...Come." She nods. They stop at the door, where Mick is standing post and he looks down at her. 

"Mick Fleetwood, Duke Lindsey Buckingham from Ellerton. I'm going to go for a walk with him. He's leaving his stuff here, but feel free to wrap everything up." She tells him.

"Yes your majesty...Sir." He nods to them as they push past him. 

"Alright, now that, that is taken care of. These are my private living quarters. The pool is right through those doors. I'm going to go up and change. I'll meet you out there." She instructs. 

He nods and she ventures towards the stairs as he shakes his head and heads out to the pool.