Page 59 of The Exile's Curse

And lock away her heart and her treacherous body once more.

For the second waltz, some of the Andalyssians, including Katiya and Mikvel, joined them, and then for the third, the floor became crowded, which allowed her to regain some control of her senses.

At the end of the dance, Chloe made her excuses to Lucien and escaped into the crowd, wondering when the room had become so hot. She eyed the servants’ trays, wanting something to clear her head, not cloud it faster. One man carried silver tumblers rather than wineglasses, and she worked her way toward him.

"What's in those?" she asked. When he smiled and told her it was snow-chilled mint tea, she grabbed one thankfully as the music began again.

When she turned back to watch the dancers, Irina had found her.

"That looks like fun," she said, watching her sister laughing as Mikvel waltzed her expertly around the room. Well enough, in fact, that it looked as though he'd been practicing.

"It can be," Chloe said. "You should try it."

"I avoid dancing. I'm clumsy."

Chloe narrowed her eyes. She hadn't seen Irina move anything less than gracefully. But she understood not wanting to draw attention.

"Are you sure you don't want to marry Lord Castaigne?" Irina asked.

Chloe almost choked on the tea. "Quite sure," she sputtered after regaining her breath.

Irina lifted a brow. "He was looking at you the way Misha looks at Katya."

The young king looked at his fiancée as though she was made of sunshine and everything that delighted him in the world. Smitten.

Lucien wasn't smitten. There'd been something in his eyes when they'd danced, but it wasn't adoration. No. It was more primitive than that, dark and heated. Something she wasn't ready to admit to herself, let alone discuss with a well-born Andalyssian virgin.

"It's the waltz," she said lightly. "You’re supposed to gaze at each other while you dance it. He was merely being polite."

"Very polite," Irina said with a grin. "I'm in no hurry to get married, but when I do, I hope my husband has such good manners."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Marriage takes more than good manners. So take your time and choose wisely."

"How old were you when you wed?" Irina asked.

"A little older than you are now." Too young, for all she'd felt certain of her choice and her wisdom back then. "If I had my time over, I'd wait a little longer."

"Did you make the wrong choice?"

That was a question she'd wrestled with for ten years. "I don't know. I loved my husband. I loved the life he represented. But in the end, it turned out I didn't know him. Or not all of him. I'm not sure you can ever fully know another person, of course. But Charl, well, he hid more than most, it seemed. And I didn't see it." None of them had. Until it was too late.

Irina wrinkled her nose. "Lord Castaigne is a Truth Seeker. They are supposed to be honorable men."

"They are. And he is. But I don't wish to be married again, and even if I did, he wouldn't be the man I would choose." She wished she knew exactly what Irina knew about her marriage. "But this is far too serious a topic. And I need more tea."

"They'll bring kafiet later," Irina said.

Chloe laughed. "I'll save the kafiet. The schedule for the next few days seems exhausting. How is your sister holding up? Weddings are stressful enough without all this." She waved a hand at the mass of people.

"She says she is well. She seems happy. But I think she will be happier after the ceremony. She likes other people to be the center of attention more than taking it for herself. She was quite shy when we were younger. Something she made herself overcome when she realized she might be queen someday, but she'd be perfectly happy to just marry Misha quietly and get on with things, I think."

"Well, only a few more days. Then they will get some time alone, yes?"

Irina nodded. "Two days after the wedding. On the third day, there will be a hunt and a picnic in the Senjo valley. Then more parties and ceremonies until the month is up, but not as many as this week." She blew out a breath. "Which is good. I’m behind in my studies."

"Will you stay at court?"

"Katya has asked me to, for the winter. Some of the houses return to their estates for the worst of the weather. But some stay here. The Ashmeisters remain. Winter is the time for planning and rest. I hope they’ll let her and Misha be newlyweds awhile and not bother them. But I will keep Katya company if Misha gets too busy kinging."

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