SPOV
"Don't say anything until we are out of the car," Eric ordered as I climbed into the Corvette. I didn't see any actual steam coming out of his ears, but maybe the humidity in Louisiana was too high for that. He certainly looked pissed. Eric drove to the French Quarter and eventually found a place to park. We walked a few blocks to a small coffee shop and sat at a table that looked out onto the street.
"Tell me about Sophie Anne," he said. I relayed our breakfast conversation to him. "She never stops, " he finally said, shaking his head.
"Now what?" I asked.
"Now we watch our backs. Since the direct approach didn't work, she will try something else."
"Am I in danger?" I asked. He was scaring me a little.
"Not physical danger, " Eric answered smiling. "Maybe I am being a little too dramatic. She will probably try to embarrass one or both of us. We should start by finding you a dress for tonight."
"You think the one she selected will be bad?"
"I guarantee it."
"Do you think we are being followed?" I asked.
"Maybe," Eric answered with a glint in his eye. For the rest of the morning, we pretended to be spies as we shopped for my dress and visited tourist attractions. I taught Eric how to speak in Pig Latin (apparently not something Swedish children learned) and we only spoke normally to shopkeepers and tour guides. Idiculousray! We ate a late lunch and headed back to the castle to prepare for our evening.
"Madame is in the library," the butler told us as we entered. We thanked him and handed off our shopping bags. I could get used to having a butler.
"I wonder if she has a pipe or a candlestick?" I whispered to Eric. He grinned and squeezed my hand.
"Did you enjoy your tour of New Orleans?" she asked me, once again sweet as pie.
"Yes, very much," I answered.
"Your clothes are upstairs in your room and Belinda will be here in an hour to do your hair and makeup," Sophie Anne told me.
"Thank you, but I prefer to get ready on my own," I said. What would this Belinda do to me? Eighties hair and clown makeup? We talked for a bit about the French Quarter and headed to our room.
"Try on the dress," Eric said with a smile. "I want to see how badly Sophie Anne wants to get rid of you."
I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and counted my lucky stars that Eric had insisted on shopping for something else. I walked into the bedroom and Eric just stared for a minute. Then he busted out laughing.
"That is possibly the least flattering dress on the planet," he finally managed to say. It was. The dress was somehow leopard print and horizontally striped at the same time. It fit fairly tight over my chest then flared out. Yes – flared out. With my DDs I looked like I was wearing a muumuu. I appeared to be either in desperate need of Weight Watchers or six months pregnant. "You must really have her worried," Eric said.
"I think I'll get a shower," I said.
"Is that an invitation?" Eric asked with a leer.
"We might miss the party," I answered.
"What a shame that would be," he replied, but didn't follow me into the bathroom. I had just passed up shower sex with Eric Northman. Well, for now anyway.
We walked down the stairs later, Eric in his custom tux and me in my ice blue, beaded dress that hugged all of my curves in the right way. Sophie Anne didn't bat an eyelash. She just smiled and informed us we would be part of the receiving line. Great. The guests began arriving and I was introduced to the wealthy and powerful of New Orleans - maybe all of Louisiana. There were even people from Oklahoma. Eventually Eric and I were able to slip away and get drinks.
"Do you know all of these people?" I asked.
"Some. Did Pam tell you about the women Sophie Anne had selected as marriageable?"
"No," I answered.
"All five of them are here tonight with their powerful family members."
"Great." Even without my muumuu, most of the women here were more beautiful and glamorous than me. "Did you ask me to 'date' you because you knew your mom wouldn't approve?" Eric led me out to the balcony and cupped my face in his hands.
"Pam chose you because you were the opposite of these women – kind and genuine and hard working. I went along with it because I was hoping to get into your pants," Eric answered with a grin. "Somewhere along the way I've managed to fall in love with you," he added softly. I opened my mouth to reply and nothing came out. Eric leaned down and covered my lips with his. Then he kissed my forehead, my eyes, my cheeks… He was working his way down the front of my dress when we were interrupted by Sophie Anne.
"Oh! There you two are," she said loudly. Great! Eric's mom caught us with his head in my cleavage. Were we teenagers? We broke apart and I blushed furiously.
"I think I will go freshen up," I said, wondering how much of my lipstick Eric was wearing. He grabbed my hand and pulled me back for a quick peck.
"I'll find you," he said as I made my way to the power room. I freshened my makeup and smoothed my hair. The way I looked a person would think I had been making out on the balcony or something. I giggled a little to myself. Eric seemed to have that effect on me.
Andre was waiting for me in the hall. "Follow me," he said. I decided if he headed away from the crowd, I was bolting. Andre gave me the creeps. Fortunately, he led me to the middle of the party, literally. We were in a large reception room, filled with guests. Waiters circulated with trays of champagne. A large stairway lead upward and a balcony full of people surrounded the room. There was yet another set of stairs and another balcony. I felt like we were at the state house or something.
"Look up," Andre instructed. "Sophie Anne's grandfather had this castle taken brick by brick from…
EPOV
"Eric, join me in my office for a moment," Sophie Anne suggested as Sookie walked away. I looked toward her retreating form. "I'll send Andre to fetch her," she said. Reluctantly I followed.
"I may have given Sookie the impression that I don't approve of her," Sophie Anne said, biting her bottom lip. She had missed her calling on the stage. No, scratch that – she acted all the time.
"Really? When you tried to bribe her to leave me or when you chose a truly hideous dress for her to wear tonight?" I asked, my voice getting louder. She actually looked surprised. Had she really expected Sookie not to tell me what had happened? Sophie Anne looked chastened.
"This is for her," she said handing me a beautifully wrapped package, " a peace offering." I hesitated. "You will find her and Andre in the main reception room." I guess I was dismissed. I took the present - shoe box sized, covered in black foil and adorned with a white and silver ribbon- and went to find Sookie.
SPOV
I politely listened to Andre describe the history of Sophie Anne's home. The details were a little tedious, but at least the topic was neutral. I smiled as Eric approached. I raised my eyebrows as he presented me with a small gift.
"A token of reconciliation from Sophie Anne." Hmmm. I doubted that. I assumed it wouldn't be an actual bomb – with me in the middle of the guests and all. "Take it," he coaxed. Timidly, I reached out my hands. The moment the box touched my fingertips, the lights dimmed and a spotlight shown on Eric and I. Crap! She had done a great job maneuvering us to the center of attention - literally. We were rats caught in a trap. "Play along," Eric whispered in my ear. I took a deep breath and prepared to be embarrassed in front of all of New Orleans.
I carefully opened the present – no snake jumped out, no paint splattered on my dress. Nestled inside a profusion of white tissue paper was a small, velvet box. Eric's face paled. He took a deep breath and got down on one knee. Good thing shock was an appropriate response. I couldn't have mustered any other reaction at that moment if my life depended on it.
"Sookie Stackhouse," he called out loud enough for all the guests to hear. " I love you. Will you marry me?" For a fake proposal on the spur of the moment, that was pretty good. I heard a few gasps from the guests.
"Yes," I answered boldly. That earned me an unfathomable look from Eric. He removed a beautiful antique diamond ring from the velvet box and slipped it onto my finger. The room broke into applause as he kissed me. I heard a few wolf whistles too. Suddenly we were surrounded by people offering their congratulations. I smiled until my cheeks hurt.
"Let's sneak out," Eric finally whispered in my ear. We practically ran to our room. I suppose if anyone noticed, they just attributed it to our excitement to 'celebrate' our engagement. I was engaged to Eric Northman. Well, pretend engaged anyway.