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“Whom are you looking for?”
“No one,” I lied and faced him. “I was looking at all the gowns.”
His eyebrow rose. “They all look so similar.”
“Such is the eye of a man.” Silva giggled and took his arm. “One would wonder why we ladies try so hard.”
I believed it was for the eyes of the other women who judged us. For the ton, the faster all of us married, the better. It displeased me that beauty and family status were how a woman was ranked. But simply because I detested it did not mean I was ignorant of the fact that Abena was right. Hathor was far more beautiful than nearly every other lady here. There seemed to be a force, an air around our whole family as we entered the court. Some looks were curious, others awestricken, and a few jealous, but all made way for us. Oh, to be a Du Bell.
As I walked I was noticed more now than I had been on my own day.
It made me wish I possessed Plato’s Ring of Gyges as he described in Republic. The ring would afford me the power to become invisible at will. What talk would I truly hear then? What secrets would I uncover? Although Plato would argue that I was not honorable by choosing to use the ring and, therefore, nearly as bad as any evildoer I might discover.
Stop thinking of books, Aphrodite, I thought, reprimanding myself.
“Look, that is the Duke of Everely,” a lady whispered. They had taken their fill of us and now sought a new target.
I did my best not to turn, but I could not help myself. In a deep blue jacket, Evander’s skin was an ever sun-kissed and warm brown, a trimmed beard upon his perfectly squared jaw, his shoulders broad, giving every viewer an account of his good height, his brown eyes focused on his younger sister…Oh no. Oh dear. My breath caught. He was even more handsome than I remembered.
He had changed, but for the better. The longer I looked upon him, the harder my heart began to beat. Then, without notice, as if he could hear the drum in my chest, he glanced up, and our eyes met. All the world seemed to have stopped, even my own heart. I felt…I felt something whenever I looked at him and I was unable to bear it. I spun away as quickly as I could without falling over, but nearly knocked into my father.
“Odite?”
“Yes?”
He looked me over and then offered his arm, as my mother and Hathor had gone to the waiting room.
“We must go to our places.”
“Of course,” I replied and held tightly to his arm.
Whatever was left of the duke in my heart, I would rid myself of it as he had rid himself of me. I would show him that I had no desire for his attentions, nor was I some pitiable creature. Just as I would surely hear of his wedding this season, he would hear of mine. He would see me content without him.
“Papa,” I said softly as we stood in the receiving hall.
“Yes, my dear?” he whispered, eyeing the door.
“Would you be pleased if I married this season?”
He looked at me, pausing for a moment before squeezing my hand. “It is not what pleases me, my dear, but what pleases you. Fear not. Even if you wish never to marry, I shall support you.”
“Mama would have your head for telling me that.”
“Let it then be between just us, though, should you not marry, you would forever have to face your mother.”
“Are you supporting me or threatening me?”
He chuckled, and a broad smile appeared on his lips, which made me smile as well.
The queen’s arrival was announced. Immediately, I released my father’s arm, bowed my head, and curtsied before slowly rising back up. When I lifted my head, the queen was looking right at me, her figure domineering under heavy silks and jewels, her wig high. Everyone else followed her gaze—thus, everyone’s eyes were upon me. Not a word was said, and she looked away just as she looked at me…at her leisure.
“Begin,” she declared.
And so it began.
The scrutiny.
“Lady Clementina Rowley, presented by her mother, Her Grace, the Duchess of Imbert.” The doors opened to reveal a rather tall young lady, perhaps taller than any man there, with a particularly long neck. Her very short mother was behind her. She was not unseemly, though her walk…wobbled. I glanced at the queen, who had a disagreeable expression upon her face. I immediately felt for the girl. The queen could and would be vicious.
