“Showing up with me to the ball is telling enough, Myron. You don’t want to overdo it. You’re going to ruin yourself by overselling yourself. True men of character don’t have to try this hard.”
“Careful, Alessandra. If you don’t sell me enough, I might just have to start extolling your virtues to the court. Or rather, your lack of them.” He laughs at his own joke.
Once he composes himself, he pulls me into the dance number among other couples on the floor. “Think what you will of me and my methods,” he says after one turn around the ballroom, “but my plan is working splendidly. I’ve already secured some invitations of my own. I shouldn’t need you to get me into any other events.”
“In that case, you don’t need me anymore.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. My connection to you is what is giving me the needed credibility. We will continue to associate regularly.”
“Credibility?”
“Yes, I’m looking for men to invest in my new business venture—Ow!”
I accidentally step on Myron’s foot, so caught off guard by the words. “You’re using me to get nobles to invest in a business venture?”
Myron takes me through the next set of turns in the dance, acting as though we’re not having any sort of argument. “Of course. If you will recall, I’m in quite a lot of debt. I need to get out of it. I’m looking to buy some sailing vessels to open up a trading line with the Kingdom of Estetia.”
I’m speechless for a moment. “You. You—the man who spends all his money on cards and dice—are convincing courtiers to give you their money so you can open up trade with a kingdom our Shadow King is planning to invade.”
Myron glares down at me. “I’m good at getting others to give me money. I’ve raised quite a lot already. Besides, it’s not like Estetia knows the king is planning to conquer them.”
My hair should catch fire, such heat emanates from my body. “You are going to sully my good name when you steal all this money to pay off your debts.”
“No. I’m not using it to pay off my debts. I’m going to buy trading ships. With the profits of my new business, I will then begin to pay off my debts.”
Our second dance together ends, and the orchestra strikes up a third song, but I walk away from Myron.
“Alessandra, I didn’t say you could cease dancing with me.”
“No, we can’t be seen dancing three songs in a row.”
He grins. “I own you. You will do whatever I say.”
“If we dance another dance, then you might as well tell the whole world my secret, because rumors about me will abound and the king will end our courtship. Three dances in a row is all but an announcement of an engagement. Then you will have nothing to gain from me.” The words are desperate, but Myron must see reason.
He sighs. “Oh, very well. I shall go find another partner, but don’t you dare go disappear from the party.” And blessedly, he leaves me.
I take the rest of the song to compose myself. I am courting the king. I will be rid of Myron very soon. Everything will go according to plan. No one makes a fool of me.
After a few more steadying breaths, I determine to salvage what I can of the evening and enjoy the party.
I stand by the wall, thinking to catch the eye of some man to encourage him to ask me to dance. I find one, a tall stranger with hair a deep red shade, his complexion sun-kissed, and his muscled body practically straining through the well-fitted formal attire. He gives me a polite nod and walks on.
Though somewhat irritated by the rejection, I remain undaunted and try to catch another’s gaze. I find a broad-shouldered blond with a handsome mustache and give him a coy smile. He returns the greeting enthusiastically and turns away from me.
What the hell?
“No man here will ask you to dance,” a feminine voice says from behind me.
I turn and find the owner, Lady Zervas, her gray-streaked hair falling over her shoulders in perfect ringlets. She hides her mouth behind a cream-colored fan, and her eyes reveal nothing of her expression.
“You are being courted by the king,” she says by way of explanation. “No one else would dare to approach you, save your … friend.”
Orrin also dared, but I suppose he doesn’t have a sense of self-preservation. He’s too busy saving kittens from drowning.
“If you will permit me to give you some advice,” Lady Zervas says, but she doesn’t ask it like a question. She plows straight ahead. “Deny the king your favors. You will only be unhappy if you resume this courtship. At best, he will hold you at arm’s length always, afraid to touch you.”
“And at worst?” I ask.
“That depends on what you fear more. Either he will die and leave you behind in this world, or he will wed another, and you’ll be forced to watch him happy with someone else.”
“Such bleak options.”
“I experienced all three for a time.”
“And which was worse? Watching him with another woman or knowing he was dead?”
She snaps her fan closed, a hard line set to her mouth. “The former, dear. Definitely the former.”
She turns from me, picking up her skirts in one hand and stalking away.
What a horrible woman.
My eyes catch on a spot of color in the room. Rhouben is dancing with his fiancée, his lips barely concealing a grimace as she prattles on about something. When they turn, she sees me and pulls Rhouben closer, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
I need to speak with Rhouben anyway, and insulting Melita is just a happy bonus. She’s been allowed to go far too long unchecked.
I approach the couple, waiting until they reach the outskirts of the dance floor before tapping on Rhouben’s shoulder. He stops, and his eyes light up with relief when he sees me.
“May I cut in?” I ask. “You’ll be married to the man soon, Lady Xenakis. It’s not sporting of you to keep him to yourself before then. And surely you would not deny the future queen?”
Before she can utter a word, Rhouben extricates himself from Melita’s clutches and twirls me into the dance.
“You’re a goddess,” he says into my ear. “You saved me.”
“Consider it a mutual saving. No one will dance with me. They all fear the king’s ire.”
“I don’t. And right now, I’m too bored to care about Melita’s ire. Or my father’s. We should sneak away.”
I give him a mischievous grin. “And do what exactly?”
“I should say something naughty, but I honestly don’t care as long as it gets me away from that woman. By the way, I have the money you requested in my rooms at the palace. I can get it to you as soon as we return.”
“That’s wonderful! And I have something that should help us. Eliades sent me a love letter. We can now imitate his handwriting. All I need is to get my hands on his seal to authenticate the letter we send Melita. I’m told Orrin will be back in the palace in just over a week. He no doubt has his seal with him, so we will have to wait until his return to steal it. Have you heard from your father?”
“Not yet. He has a habit of putting off reading my letters, but he’ll come once he reads it. I told him I withdrew five thousand necos from my account. That will have him here in no time.”