"Of course."I put my hand in hers, and already find myself dreading the rest of the evening.
Chapter19
I excuse myself from my dance partner and step away so that I can have a moment to myself.I'm not used to dancing this much at these events.Usually, I can shrink into the corner and not have to deal with any of it.
"You should come with me."
I jump at the sound of Veronica's voice."You scared me."
"Sorry," she responds."But come with me."She gestures for me to follow her.
"Why?"
"Because I know you need a break from Mama's approved dance partners," she says."Just trust me?"
"All right, but if you get me into trouble with Mama..."
"I will get you out of it if I do," she promises."But you're not going to get into trouble."She takes my arm and draws me over to where a man is standing at the edge of the ballroom with a mask that covers most of his face.There's something familiar about the way he's standing and how he's presenting himself, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is.
"I don't believe you need an introduction," Veronica says.
"Erm..."
The man chuckles, and I realise that there's a reason he's familiar to me.
"Nate?"
"May I have this dance, Your Highness?"
"I still don't like it when you call me that."
"I know, but there are other people around, and youarewearing a tiara.It makes it a little obvious who you are."
"She lost that fight with Mama," Veronica says.
I shoot my sister an unimpressed look.She just shrugs and flounces off.
"She's right, I did lose that fight with Mama.She said that the whole point is that people know who I am.I thought a masquerade would give me more anonymity, that's what Veronica said when she suggested I ask for one."
"I think your sister may have had other ideas," he responds.
"Such as?"
"May I have this dance?"he asks again as he holds out his hand to me.
I stare at it, not entirely sure what to do with the request."Can you dance?"
"Princess Veronica arranged some lessons for me a few weeks ago.I think she's been planning this since the moment you agreed to a masquerade."
Warmth spreads through me directed at my sister."That was sweet of her."
"It was," he agrees."I wasn't sure about it at first, especially because I've never learned to dance, but then I thought about how it would feel to dance with you, and I knew it was the right thing to do.So, will you dance with me, Evie?"
I raise my hand and slip it into his, feeling the surety that comes with being around Nate, even if I'm a little nervous about the dancing part.I'm sure Veronica arranged for a good teacher, but a few lessons is nothing compared to the years of lessons most people in this room have had.
"I'll warn you that I've only had a couple of weeks' worth of lessons," he says as he leads me out onto the floor."And I believe Veronica has purposefully timed it so that we're dancing the one dance I know how to do."
I laugh even as we take our place on the floor, something I don't believe I've ever done before."That sounds like something she'd do."
