Page 62 of A Dance of Shadows

The king dips his head to me, a little lower than his initial gesture of respect. “Perhaps we allowed ourselves to be too hasty in judging your character as well. We will have to get to know both of you better.”

I hide the wave of relief that rolls through me, keeping my imperial composure—but not without a little warmth. “I hope you find we can work together more in the future.”

“I think that might be to our benefit.” King Stanislas motions to his wife. “But now we should catch up with the court before any questions arise. Thank you for what you offered us, Your Imperial Highness—all of it.”

As they stride out of the room ahead of us, I turn carefully toward Bastien. The Cotean prince peers after his family with a slightly stunned expression.

I can’t say much when my guards will be expecting me to head straight out too. A soft, “Are you all right?” seems safe enough.

Bastien gives himself a little shake and aims an awkward smile at me as if he’s embarrassed. “I’ve been well aware that I don’t quite fit the Cotean ideal. The rest of the family embodies that enough for all of us, but I contribute with my own strengths. You didn’t need to make a point about it.”

At his side, the furtive twist of his hand says,Thank you.

For the sake of our small audience, I pretend there was nothing personal about my remarks. “Calling them out served my own purposes well enough. I apologize if you found the conversation distressing.”

To offset the feigned disdain in my voice, I flick my fingers in answer.Love you. Always.

Bastien sighs and walks out of the room ahead of me, but his posture has loosened since we first entered.

As much as I’d like to drag him off to some private corner and remind him just how thoroughly he can inspireme, doing that would certainly be recklessness. It was Linus presiding over our dinner banquet today—nothing good will come from leaving my husband wondering where his wife has gone even longer.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Aurelia

It isn’t hard to locate Linus in the gardens. He’s standing in the glow of a lantern by an elaborate hedge sculpture, swinging his arm as he makes the several courtiers who’ve gathered around him guffaw in apparent amusement.

His other arm is tucked around Bianca’s back where he’s drawn her over beside him. She gazes up at him through her eyelashes, but I recognize the subtle stiffness to her smile. The pinch in my gut is more sympathy for her than anything like jealousy.

Does Linus think he’s punishing me for my tardiness by showing off his affections for another woman? Or did he simply feel he couldn’t hold court without one lady or another hanging off his arm?

I stroll over to him as if I’ve simply been taking my time enjoying the palace’s sights. One of the courtiers makes a remark with a cajoling grin, and Linus’s eyes flash with an unnerving fierceness before he claps the man on the shoulder.

He’s definitely in one of his more frenetic states tonight. I’m not looking forward to having his attention fall on me again.

My gaze catches on another face among his fawners—the noblewoman Raul pointed out to me the other day as a critic of mine.

How convenient. I’ve been waiting for an ideal moment to diffuse any threat she poses. Perhaps I can deal with her and distract Linus from any sour feelings about my brief absence all in one go.

I veer to the side so I can approach their cluster of conversation near the hostile courtier. A couple of the nobles farther around the ring glance over at me, one’s gaze ticking nervously between me and the vicerine my husband is embracing, but I don’t think Lady Eugenie realizes I’m there.

Linus catches my eye with a sharper glint in his that convinces me he wants to rub Bianca’s presence in my face. He raises his voice with emphatic exuberance. “And here all you Coteans are, busy stocking your toy rooms instead of your armories!”

It’s obviously an insulting jab more than a joke, but the courtiers all break into laughter regardless. I track Lady Eugenie’s shift in posture an instant before she moves and take a swift step toward her.

The hand she was flinging out in an energetic gesture smacks into me just above my belly. The impact barely stings, but I jerk to a halt with a soft cry as if in pain.

The noblewoman flinches to the side, her dark face going rigid. “Oh, Your Imperial Highness—I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

I rest my hand on the bump of my belly and feign a wince. “I’m sure… I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Linus might be irritated with me and not all that concerned about his heir, but my wounded behavior and the break in myvoice spur him to action. I suspect that in his mind, he’s the only one allowed to torment me.

Or else he sees any sign of disrespect toward his wife as extending to him as well.

He steps forward, his eyes narrowing as he frowns at Lady Eugenie. His voice stays flippant, but it takes on a cool edge. “It’s careless to pay so little attention to those around you. Do you have no concern for my wife and heir?”

I lift my hand with a purposeful quiver, taking on a humble pose. “I’m sure it was only an accident. Lady Eugenie couldn’t possibly have been looking for ways to injure me.”

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