Inside, the tavern is raw, candlelit chaos. Piles of broken glass decorate the floor, while stumbling men climb over each other to hurl their orders at women.
But these women don’t look like the servants at the palace. The women here are dressed in strange gowns that swing freely around their calves and push their busts up to their chins.
Chairs and tables lie upturned on the floor, with the occasional collapsed person joining them. The air is heavy with the stench of smoke and alcohol, as if there’s been so manydrunks here for so long that even the walls are beginning to feel woozy.
The moment we step through the doorway, the noise quietens and the hungry gazes of at least thirty men all land on me – each of them sizing me up like I’m the next drink to be served.
Kaz presses me to his side, placing a possessive hand on my hip. The move forces most of the men back to their drinks. Not all of them seem to care, though. I still feel several stares burning onto my skin and undressing me with their heavy gazes.
“Kasimir!” someone cheers from across the tavern.
I glance up to see a large man with greying hair charging towards the two of us. His aged cheeks are flushed red with alcohol.
“Mr Bailey,” Kaz waves back, grinning. “It’s been too long since we last spoke, my friend.”
Friend?I scoff internally. Keep your enemies close, I suppose.
The man hurries over and exchanges pleasantries with Kaz while I struggle to maintain the smile on my face. Until finally, Mr Bailey turns to me.
“And this must be the lovely Scarlett,” he muses.
“Certainly,” Kaz replies, his green eyes meeting mine with a wink.
Slipping Mr Bailey a demure smile, I present my hand as he swipes it up to place a single kiss against my skin.
Of course, as per Kaz’s letter, my name tonight is not Princess Amaryllis. It is instead Miss Scarlett Diosa. She’s a real dancer, a prima ballerina from my kingdom’s royal opera house and practically ballet royalty.
Scarlett’s famous everywhere for her perfect technique, striking red hair, and endless fouetté turns. The pressure toconvince them that I’m her is immense, but it’s also not the reason for my nerves as Mr Bailey lowers my hand.
“Scarlett and I met after one of her performances in the inner city,” Kasimir lies confidently. “As soon as I laid my eyes on her, I knew that she’d be mine, and we were engaged within the season.”
Playing the part, I smile up at him dreamily before presenting a wide-eyed Mr Bailey with my glittering engagement ring. His surprise matches mine from one hour ago.
Kasimir had slipped it on moments before we left, insisting that just being by his side wouldn’t be enough. The men here needed proof I was ‘taken’.
Part of me suspects that the whole thing is just an excuse for Kaz to touch me more. Not that I’m opposed to that. But the butterflies in my stomach are certainly finding the ring, along with the extra touches, very distracting.
“I’m so glad you could both make it tonight,” Mr Bailey says with a grin. “And thankyou, Miss Diosa, for offering to grace us with one of your performances. As you can see, we have a full house tonight in anticipation for your show.” He gestures to the overflowing bar.
“It is my pleasure,” I reply, dipping my head graciously.
“Now,” the gleeful man continues, “I’ve had a stage prepared for you, and we’ve found a pianist who’s willing to play the music you require. Do you need any time to get ready, or can I announce the start of the show?”
My heart sinks a little. If only he knew what this show was really for.
“I just need a quiet space to warm-up,” I tell him truthfully.
“Of course.” He clasps his hands together. “Let me show you to a private room.”
Kaz watches me carefully as I tie my shoes, wrapping the pink ribbons twice around my ankles before knotting them and tucking the ends out of sight. Then he continues to stare as I stretch, even letting me use his forearm as a barre to go through my warm-up.
While I’ll admit the offer of help was nice, it’s much harder to hold my arabesque stretch with my hands wrapped around his strong arm and my nose inches from his chest.
Just as I’m completely losing myself in his scent of wild forests, I catch a glimpse of the glittering ring on my finger again. The sight of it makes my stomach dip, and my ankle gives way, sending me crashing into his chest.
“Falling for me already, Ruby?” Kaz teases as he helps me back onto my feet.
My cheeks burn, but I don’t give in to him. Instead, I shoot him a scowl as I shrug his hands off me. “I could never fall for someone who thinks it’s acceptable to steal from innocent tavern owners.”
