Sighing, I take another swig of wine. “Sorry, Mel. But someone needs to keep watch for Prince Hugo.”
It’s been a week since the Scorpion’s visit to my bedchamber, and so far I’ve heard nothing else from him. I can only hope he’s managed to confront the prince, but until I know for sure, I can’t relax.
Not until this is all over and the Scorpion is on his way home, several diamond necklaces richer.
“You need more wine, Ami,” Mel chuckles, pushing the goblet towards my lips. “Loosen up a bit and forget about that damned prince for a while. It’s all sorted anyway.” She leans closer, dropping her voice to a whisper. “We’ve got the Scorpion to scare him off, remember?” She laughs, but it does little to ease the tightness in my chest.
Humouring her, I take another swig, but it stopped helping three glasses ago. I only started drinking to calm my nerves. So far, all it’s done is made me wobbly on my feet and given everything in the room a soft, rosy hue.
“I’m going outside to get some air,” I tell her, swaying a little as I return my empty goblet to the table.
Camellia gives me a pitiful smile. “Alright but don’t stay out there too long. And please come and dance with us after?”
I nod. One dance won’t hurt. Besides, with this much alcohol soaking through to my bones, I should probably stay close to my sisters.
Shoving through the crowd, I make my way towards the arched exit, murmuring apologies as I squeeze past one couple after another.
I’m wearing my usual dance shoes, but they may as well be three sizes too big with the number of times I crash into unsuspecting guests.
No more wine tonight, Ami, I mentally scold myself as I stumble across the floor again.
I’m only a few metres from the archway when I feel a hand close around my wrist, and suddenly I’m spinning towards someone’s chest.
A squeal bursts from me. With a gasp, I slam my hands against their black doublet, stopping myself just before I collide face-first into the bold stranger.
“How dare you!” I seethe. “You know, it’s very improper—” The rest of the words get stuck in my throat as my chin tilts up.
“Good evening, Miss Ruby. You look radiant tonight.” The Scorpion’s heavy gaze bears down on me, a smile tugging at his lips. “May I have this dance?”
All the air whooshes from my throat. He’s here. It’s really him, even if he’s dressed far more formally than usual in a matching black doublet and breeches set that, in my wine-hazed state, fits him far too well.
Absent-mindedly, my fingers slip down the soft fabric covering his chest. He looks good. More than good, actually. Like a dark angel. And he smells like one too. The scent of rich leather and a forest at night fills my nose – the kind of forest that’s forbidden to enter, but I’d still absolutely let myself get lost in it. Beautiful. Intoxicating.Dangerous.
Scowling, I shake my head. “No,” I finally reply. “No, you may not ‘have this dance’. And it’s very rude to touch a lady without asking her first. Have you no manners at all?”
He chuckles, the low sound making my knees feel weak. “You’re drunk, Ruby,” he chides.
My breath catches.
Slowly, he draws closer until his jaw hovers by my neck. Then he inhales, deep enough that I worry he might smell the heat pooling between my thighs. “Just how much have you had to drink without me here to keep an eye on you?”
My cheeks burn. What is he talking about?
“That’s none of your concern,” I grumble.
“It is when you’re my client.”
With a huff, I yank myself out of his grasp. I already have eleven sisters to watch over me. I don’t need his supervision too.
“Ruby,” he warns, catching my wrist and forcing me back to his chest.
“Let me go,” I growl. Perhaps the wine is giving me more confidence than usual, but still – how dare he? How dare he touch me without permission, in front of all these people. And in front of Father!
Furious, I shake free of his hold. “I’m going outside for some air, so unless you have some good news to share, please excuse me.”
The Scorpion raises an eyebrow, but I don’t care. Pivoting on my heels, I head towards the archway.
“Your royal problem has been dealt with.”
