Disclaimer: I did the disclaimer first chapter…if you didn't read that I feel bad for you.

A/N: So seriously, I'm the only one who reads these books? I feel so bad for me…LOL

Sex will be in later chapters.

Accidentally in Love

"Kate, if you don't sit still I can't get this right!" Leonora said with a sigh as she adjusted yet again a ribbon in my hair. I sighed, this sucked, and it really sucked. It was only a few hours before the ball and she was having her way with me. Why did I let her do it? Why couldn't I run away to mom and the temple and get out of here?

"I don't want you too!" I exclaimed.

"I have to get this up so you can get on your dress. Doing this afterwards would ruin the dress!" Leonora said, "And I love how it looks, Meg outdid herself this time."

"I can't believe you're forcing me to do this princess, I hate it," I muttered.

"Oh, that reminds me, take this dance card," she said and a small sheet of cardboard labeled with everything one would need to get a guy's signature on it. "I'm sure you'll fill it up in no time."

"This just doesn't feel like me," I said in a huff, "Why can't I just wear a suit?"

"Because that's not very ladylike and would spoil my plans," she said in a sing song voice.

"Plans?" I asked in a dangerous voice.

"Plans to show you off tonight, you are a pretty young lady and I want to show it to everyone!"

I frowned. "You scheme just as much as Peppardine."

She smiled. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I grimaced as she pulled a strand of my hair. "OW! No, I mean it. I don't care what you're trying to do but don't hook me up with anyone!"

"But why would I do that?"

"Because you're an evil princess," I muttered, "And I will kill myself if you are up to something."

"You always say that but you never do it," Leonora said.

"That a challenge princess?" I asked.

"Don't take it as one," she said sweetly, "I was just saying you wouldn't."

"I hate this."

"Oh come now Kate, don't struggle."

I grumbled something she couldn't understand. This sucked…it really sucked.

Rutaro

I adjusted the cuff on my right wrist a little forcefully. I didn't realize I had agreed to do something like this until Peppardine finished and I had said yes. I hated balls, sure, they were fancy and elegant and everything that I loved to see, but Peppardine was forcing me to go to get me to mingle with people.

"Are you ready to go yet?" Peppardine asked me and I turned to glare at him, standing smugly in his outfit as I kept adjusting my own suit in the mirror. I was wearing the same as he was in, a Victorian style outfit but rather than the deep blues and blacks he had I had a mixture of crimson and black velvet.

"I can't believe I agreed to do this," I said sullenly. "I can't believe you tricked me into doing this."

"I didn't trick you into anything. Your pride got you into this," he said with a smile and came up to me, helping me to adjust the collar. "Besides, you'll be the talk of the ball."

"There are much men better looking than I," I said. It was true, in truth, I was a little wide around the waist and wasn't muscular. "I'm not looking to be the talk of the ball."

"I am looking for it, for you I mean. You'll be the talk, women will come over to you in droves," Peppardine said.

"Are you trying to hook me up with someone in particular?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.

He smiled at me, a grin that told a mischievous tale. "I wouldn't do such a thing."

"You would and you most likely are. What are you trying to do? Are you trying to get me to fall in love with one ball, with some rapturous little girl in a mask who I'll never see again?" I asked.

"I wouldn't be that cruel even if that was my plan, which it's not," he said. "Come along, we don't want to be late. And don't act all moody! I will not have an angry Rutaro coming to a ball." I followed along, however reluctant I might be. I knew he was up to something, I knew it!

TBC