Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I could only stare at her because I was still at a loss as to what she was saying. It was a grave mistake—my silence allowed for Lady Hathor to speak up.
“Emma says the best remedy for homesickness is to do things that remind one of home. And I thought, given how much you said you enjoyed dancing—”
“I said I enjoyed dancing?” I interrupted her onslaught of lies.
Unflinchingly she nodded. “Yes, Your Highness, you did, you spoke of the Malrovian Waltz. I do not know the step, but Emma says she does, and I believe it shall be a sight to behold. I have already asked the orchestra to play.”
It was only then that I noticed the dance floor was empty, and all eyes were upon us. Even the musicians were awaiting me…She’d laid out a trap and put live bait before me. For how could I now reject the poor girl before everyone, including her brother beside me, without being considered the very scoundrel she proclaimed me to be. I glared at her, and she glared right back…This was terribly unjust.
With no way out, I outstretched my hand toward Lady Emma and smiled. “Lady Emma, would you do me the honor of this dance?”
She took it with the greatest glee, and I led us forward…all the while thinking of how I would repay the horrid little prevaricator that was Lady Hathor for her transgressions. Not only had she lied about our conversation, but she’d also orchestrated these events, with little care for the implication it would have for my very first dance to be with this young girl…who did not know the steps as well as she claimed.
“Ah,” I hissed, stopping as she stepped on my foot for the third time.
“Forgive me, Your High—”
“It’s quite all right,” I lied through a forced smile and lifted my hand up again for us to begin.
As we spun, from the corner of my eye, I watched as Lady Hathor giggled with Lukas. I had misjudged her greatly. She was not an innocent little lamb; she was a conniving fox. The rumors were true—she was exactly as they said, she was a hunter. She wished to remove any idea that she was attached to me by immediately pushing me off to another young lady while she conversed freely with the gentleman of her choosing…her hero.
The more I thought of how she’d entrapped me with ease, the more annoyed I grew. Did she really believe she could brush me aside so easily? I stayed calm throughout the dance and several more missteps upon my toes before finally the piece concluded. Bowing to Emma, I turned toward where I had last seen her, but she was no longer beside Lukas…in fact, I could not see her in the room at all.
Where had she run off to?
“I’m sure every girl will be looking to learn that dance by the morning,” Lukas said as I approached him.
“I will not be dancing again so there is no need.”
“Then you will have danced only with my sister and that will prove to be…a conversation.” He smirked and I frowned.
I had forgotten, once a dance had been accepted, several others had to follow or else all of society would believe she was the one I sought to give my sole attention. This mess was all because of her! I wanted to ask him where she had gone but did not wish to expose myself to his queries on my interest in her.
“Why did your sister even learn the Malrovian Waltz?” I asked, changing the subject.
“How would I know? She must have seen it in one of her papers. She likes to dance.” He took another drink. “Did she do well? I did not catch much of it.”
“Yes, your attention seemed otherwise occupied.”
He smirked, taking a sip before answering. “Lady Hathor and I were speaking of art.”
“Art?” I repeated, confused.
“She is quite the artist. She was either completely smitten by my knowledge…or by the idea of becoming a countess.”
“Is that so? Then why did she depart from your side so quickly?”
“She excused herself for a moment. But I’m sure she wished to keep me on my toes, as they say, and not seem too eager, after all it is only the first night,” he mused happily while his gaze shifted to the next lady who passed us. “Have you thought of whom you shall dance with next? For a great many seem to be passing by us solely for your attention.”
It was then that I noticed the ladies who seemed to be walking past us slowly back and forth like ducks in a pond.
I was beginning to regret coming here at all. “I need some air.”
Hathor
I ran away to avoid being reprimanded by him or worse, falling victim to whatever he deemed would make us seem like the closest of acquaintances. The only problem was there was no place in the hall to hide, and so I had chosen to step outside and feel the warm evening breeze upon my face. Walking out onto the balcony, I leaned over the railing, resting my body against it as I looked up at the moon. It was so beautiful and felt so calm, I almost wished I could grab my brushes and paint.