AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sounds like a horrible job.”
“The poor can’t be choosy,” was Ben’s matter-of-fact reply.
“But let’s focus on our mission, hmm?” he attempted to redirect her wayward thoughts.
“How do you like the Ball so far? See anyone interesting that might fit the bill of the Pale Prince?”
“It’s actually quite boring,” she said, fanning herself with likely too much vigor.
Annie’s lack of proper etiquette didn’t seem to dim her attractions, however. This was the first time all night she’d been able to stay off the dance floor. Within five minutes of their arrival, Annie was swarmed with gentlemen young and old seeking an introduction.
“I haven’t encountered one single interesting gentleman.” She didn’t so much complain as sigh with disappointment.
“Half of them dance well. Half of them have no sense of music and rhythm at all. Most of them can carry a basic conversation, limited to the weather and frivolous things. But a few bordered on muteness. It’s as if they’ve never seen a woman before up close.”
Her only reason for not dancing the next two sets was because she complained of sore feet and dehydration. Ben had to elbow and shoulder his way through quite a few bucks to have the honor of bringing her refreshments.
His height, stature, and fake title helped to cut a swathe across the crowded ballroom.
“I don’t envy the Rathbourne sisters and Brigid one bit,” Annie went on. “This is a tough crowd. If it were me, I wouldn’t go out on even a coffee date with this lot. No wonder so many couples in this era come to an understanding over letters. None of these men would pass an in-person sniff test.”
She scrunched her nose at that, as if the body odor masked by overly strong cologne and perfume that soaked the room could no longer be ignored.
“Quite literally,” she noted.
“Aren’t you being too picky?” Ben chided. “Surely there are a few handsome ones.”
“Looks don’t sway my objective assessment,” she countered. “I’m all about the personality.”
“Mmhmm,” Ben indulged.
“Well, maybe except for one little thing,” Annie revealed with a slight hesitation.
“Not that I’m a height-ist—”
“Huh?”
“You know, a person who’s snobbish about height.”
“Okay.”
“—but the men in this era, at least the men in this ballroom, seem unnaturally short.”
“Since when do you care about that?” Ben slanted a curious look at her.
“Since I’m suddenly considered tall at five-seven-and-a-half,” she replied. “I’ve never been eye to eye with so many men in my life. I think being around all the Immortal Kinds back home has spoiled me for normal people. The shortest male amongst them, that I know of, is six-two.”
She eyed him discretely up and down.
“And you’re what? Six and a half feet?”
“I’m still growing,” he said, sipping his own drink.
“You’re a veritable monolith in this place,” she huffed.
“But at least you can see everyone clearly from your superior vantage point. Have you spotted anyone who would fit the Pale Prince’s description?”
Ben considered briefly before he responded.
