Yours, Kas
In a postscript, he offered a better explanation:
P.S. I’d like to grant Della’s wish to match you at this evening’s Summer Ball. It may not be your style, but it’s most certainly hers.
She chuckled at the way he capitalized Summer Ball, as if the children’s party was the event of the season. Smiling, her finger lingered on his name, scrawled so casually across the page.
Yours? Oh my.
Perhaps it wasn’t going to be a simple featfor Nesrina to end whatever had developed between her and the duke. She wasn’t an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but she was comfortable admitting the situation spilled far beyond the bounds of a standard, run-of-the-mill friendship.
Tamping down her intrusive subconscious, who kept murmuringmistressover and over again, Nesrina picked up the box from Lord Kahoth and set about unwrapping the paper.
Whenthefinaldropsof sunlight faded away and the clock struck seven, Aylin finished fastening the buttons up the back of Nes’s dress, then slipped from the room.
The gown from Lord Kahoth was... astonishing; all so she could match his adorable niece and make the princess’s wish come true.
That’s the reason why. Not because you’re a mistress,she tried to convince herself for the umpteenth time.
It was a masterpiece; an earthy green gauze embroidered with butterflies in shades of purples and blues. The fabric, embellishments, and billowing skirt were fit for a princess,thePrincess Della, in fact. The pattern was a tad juvenile for Nesrina’s tastes, but thecut? She assumed Della’s dress would not be a direct match.
The neckline was so low that, coupled with her stays, it left her breasts barely covered, hefted up to her chin. It was so close to scandalous that Nes wasn’t sure she should wear it in front of the children, but there was no time to change. And to be honest, she looked fantastic.
The twins’ chatter squeezed in through the gap under her door as they made their way down the grand stairs. So, she hurried after them.
“Ohh, Miss Kiappa, you look like a princess,” Ataht called out as she descended to the grand hall. The duke was crouched down, facing his nephew to re-tie the prince’s cravat.
“Why, thank you. You look like quite the young man tonight, PrinceAtaht.” The boy stood taller, grinning at her over the top of his uncle’s head. “Princess Della, you look fantastic too. Iloveyour gown.” She curtsied to them both, playing into the formal mood.
“Thank you, Miss Kiappa.Wematch,” Della replied, beaming at the last part, admiration shining in her eyes. And match they did, all except for their necklines, as Nes had suspected.
“Uncle Kas, isn’t she beautiful?” Della tapped him, and he glanced at her before standing to his full height and turning to face Nesrina.
She’d never cease to be surprised by how damn tall he was.
Behind him, Ataht bodily inspected his freshly re-tied cravat, undoing much of Lord Kahoth’s recent work.
“Don’t you think?” Della looked up at her uncle.
Following the princess’s gaze, Nes looked to the duke, expecting that pinched lip expression he loved to bring out in pleasant company. What she didn’t expect was his gaze upon her, a deep longing softening his eyes, and a small smile playing on his lips.
“She is beautiful,” Kas responded without looking away from her.
Suddenly self-conscious beneath his penetrating stare and the weight of a thousand years of social structure, Nes broke eye contact, focusing on the blue and yellow tiles.
“Shall we?” Kas asked, extending two arms to the twins and flashing her a wink she fought to ignore.
Over dinner, the duke shared that he had a surprise. Not only would their tutors and nannies be joining them that night, he’d also added many members of his household to the guest list. The prince and princess shrieked so loud Nes had to cover her ears.
Lord Kahoth claimed it was so the twins could enjoy larger group dances common at court. No matter his rationale, it was a lovely gesture, a wonderful way to make the evening more memorable for the kids. She told him as much, friend to friend, of course. It wouldn’t be wise to think of how well fatherly behavior fit the man.
Struck with a sudden idea, and desperate for a moment alone to reel in her unspooling thoughts, Nes excused herself from the table and ducked out via the side doors. Alone in the corridor, she kicked off her slippers andran. It was satisfying to give in to her baser instincts for a moment, though her flight wasn’t long.
When she was returning to the dining room, trying to pretend she’d been in the washroom, Nes found the duke and twins walking toward her. She was too late, and they were already on their way to the ballroom. At least she’d done what she wanted. All was well. Except for the fact that the duke was carrying her bloody shoes.
“Thought you might need these,” he whispered, waggling them just out of reach. Nes jumped and snatched the slippers from Kas’s hands before sliding them onto her feet, one at a time, hopping along as she followed the trio ahead of her.
She didn’t want to pause and risk missing the children’s reaction to the ball they’d dreamt up.
