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“I don’t need you to guide me. I can walk on my own.”
“Are you so sure of that?” Ophelia’s shoulders squared as she saw Ephram still standing so close. “You are dismissed.”
Ephram looked down at Ambrose waiting for her confirmation before he drifted back into the party giving Ophelia as much space as the entrance would offer. It was a dangerous move. One that reddened Ophelia’s cheeks and chest.
“Do you know each other? Do notlieto me,” Ophelia demanded with a juvenile stomp of her foot.
Lying was an art. The only way to ensure that the lie would endure was to keep your story straight and never, ever, waver.
Ambrose shook her head. “Today was our first meeting. I apologize for my shock.” She made a show of fixing her hair and making sure she was put together once more. “I merely find him attractive and he was…very charming.”
“Do not fawn over a man. It isn’t a good look, sister.” Then it was Ophelia’s turn to fuss over her looks as she adjusted the bodice of her dress and re-twisted some loosening curls. “I suppose this is as good as you could look.” She ushered Ambrose in front of her. “The party waits.”
Parties were supposed to be fun. If it wasn’t fun shouldn’t it be called something else? Like a meeting. Ambrose always thought the meetings in the Tower of Divinity were practically sleep inducing.
Whatever this was, it was not enjoyable in the least. Not when every conversation she had Ephram was standing somewhere in the room listening in. Not when she was constantly comparing every man to him. Ambrose judged every dance she was swept into more harshly. Nobody else fit against her the way Ephram did.
Music slowed as the band eased into another song. The man, whose name she’d already forgotten, bowed and kissed her hand gently. Just as the last three songs, when he moved someone else took his place. Her feet were beginning to ache within her heels, her toes feeling squished and no doubt blistering.
Both staffs had been placed upon a wooden rack guarded at every side to allow the queens to dance and have both hands available. She eyed it knowing that once she could get it magic would ease the pain.
Lifting her gaze, she crinkled her nose as Burke poised his arms for a dance. His touch sparked memories she’d have rather suppressed as she took his hands and allowed him to pull her close. It was harder to think of Ephram when Burke reminded her of simpler days.
“Don’t look so pleased to see me,” he said stiffly.
She masked a wince as her shoe rubbed annoyingly at her ankle. Or maybe she didn’t hide the look as well as she’d hoped because he was watching her with more scrutiny than before. He led them across the dance floor, weaving between the few couples that had formed. Ophelia’s court had arrived nearly an hour after the party began. There was no way they’d offend either queen by arriving so late so it must have been purposeful on Ophelia’s end. The group had only looked relatively surprised to see the party already in full swing and happily partnered up and took to dancing immediately.
“Are you uncomfortable?” he asked again as they spun together in a learned dance.
“I’m only sick of dancing.”
“We can stop then.” Burke halted on the dance floor but Ambrose quickly pulled him back into movement.
“No. Ophelia will have my head and it is either dancing or making conversation with that incredibly boring man over there.” She tipped her head toward the gentleman who’d talked to her endlessly about the ingenuity it required to build a home. A topic the queen had little use for knowing.
“We will dance all night then.” He smiled and she couldn’t help but smile back.
“Can you keep a secret?” she whispered playfully.
“I’ve been known to keep a secret a time or two.”
She stood on her tiptoes. “I’d kill to get out of these shoes.” And if she’d been at home in Csumitta she would have arrived at her party barefoot.
“Take your shoes off,” he whispered back, turning his face in toward hers.
Ambrose froze, her chest tight from the close contact. “Not with Ophelia, I can’t. She’d have my head for looking indecent and she already thinks I look terrible as it is.”
Burke pulled her behind a column. “It shall be another secret I must keep.” He lowered to kneel before her. Lifting the hem of her dress just enough to reach the buckle of her heel. “For whatever it’s worth, I think you look stunning. Can you keep a secret for me?” He made quick work of her shoes slipping them off her feet and setting them carefully behind where they’d stay out of sight.
“Seems only fair to trade secrets.”
He stood up, placing a hand on the pole behind her and leaning forward till her back pressed against the cold stone. His mouth moved against the curve of her jaw sending a buzzing sensation shooting through her.
“You look far more beautiful than Ophelia ever could. When I saw you tonight it nearly took my breath away.”
“You lie.”
“Why would I lie to a queen?” He pulled away, his expression somber.
