Page 59 of Dark Angel

“I know, but I didn’t want you to think this didn’t mean anything,” Daisy defends herself. “It means everything to me. That’s why I held off telling you. I wanted to make sure this was right before you knew.”

Kora nods up at her best friend. “Is it right then?”

Daisy’s garnet irises shimmer with joy as she says, “It is.”

“What’s going on?” Clarence asks, confused.

Kora touches her brother’s arm, “You should dance with Daisy.” Giving him a smile of approval.

Clarence frowns down at her. “Are you sure? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“I’m not a little girl anymore, Clarence. If you and Daisy want to be together, then go. Be together. I’m fine with it.”

He beams a grin, taking Daisy’s hand in his rough one. “Are you sure?” His brows rising in question.

Kora rolls her eyes and pushes him towards the centre of the ballroom where the other couples are dancing together, “Go, before I change my mind.”

He snorts before guiding Daisy away with him.

22

Ballgowns and Dances

Jordan releases his hand from her iron grip. The girl, Grace Bennett, grabbed a hold of his hand the moment she saw him enter the ballroom with Valarie. Her palms are sticky with something, which makes Jordan push down a lump forming in his throat. He doesn’t want to question what she was touching or eating before she came over to introduce herself and latched onto him despite his effort to escape her. He’s never liked anyone touching him, unless it’s his family-especially smothering, flaunting girls like Grace.

“Thank you,” he says as politely as he can grit out, “excuse me though, there are others I need to greet before I can stand and converse with people.”

Her hand goes to hold on to him again, clearly not understanding him, and Jordan retaliates quickly, stepping away from her.

“Please come find me again later!” She calls out to him as he makes his way through the crowded ballroom.

Not likely.

Jordan greets a few more guests, one of them being Thomas and Lily Edevane, Daisy’s parents. He speaks with them for a moment before bumping into Clarence. His face rears back as he sees Jordan’s flushed with irritation. “You all right?”

“Yes, just overwhelmed.” Jordan admits, running his hands on his trousers, trying to get the sticky feeling off of them.

Clarence chuckles lightly, nodding in agreement. “These events can definitely feel like that, especially when you’re new in town and having to meet new people.” His gentle smile doesn’t waver.

Clarence takes two flutes from a lady walking around with a half-filled drink tray and hands one to Jordan.

“It is. But it’s also a lot more exciting than the balls in Oxford. Let me tell you that much.”

Clarence gives a small chuckle, “That I can imagine. Not that I’ve travelled there myself, but nothing seems to beat London. I’m sure Kora has already told you that we were meant to travel to Oxford with our friends, but I was attacked right before and too injured to travel. She stayed in London to look after me.”

“That does sound like her.” Jordan agrees, grinning wide enough that his dimples deepen at the thought of Kora.

“She wouldn’t even let me get out of bed for two days unless it was to relieve myself.” Clarence laughs, shaking his head. “She’s always been so concerned for me ever since she was little, especially after our parents died. I think it scared her so much that now, if I even sneeze around her, she becomes overly worried and forces me to rest.”

Jordan’s face falters a little.

Clarence notices, frowning slightly. “You do know about our parents, don’t you?”

“I do. It’s just different being talked about out loud. My parents have spoken a few times about Stefan and Tessa, but they never mention much. I think it still pains them to think about.”

Clarence nods. “It pains me too. But it’s also been fourteen years now. Kora and I manage ourselves well enough.”

Jordan smiles, patting him on the shoulder. His eyes drift off to Matthew, who stops at the refreshment table after dancing with Alice. “Would you excuse me? I have to speak with Matthew for a moment.”

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