Page 154 of Bride of the Midnight Prince

I blink. Then I search through the box once more—and find what I missed the first time. It’s a small bracelet of thin silver with light pink and green roses the size of my fingernail arranged along its length. My lips part as I trace my finger across one of the small roses. “Oh, my. I usually don’t care much about jewelry, butthisis lovely.”

He smiles, pleased, as I slip it onto my wrist.

“This is too many gifts!” I cry. “You’re making me feel terrible that I didn’t think to get you anything.”

He takes my hand and tucks it into the crook of his elbow. “If you would like to return the favor, then play a game of Fool’s Circle with me later.”

I laugh. “Only if you’re ready to be beaten.”

“I’m ready and waiting,” he replies with a wink as we set off for the ball.

“LordandLadyRahkVaradirth,” cries the announcer as we step into the ballroom.

I’ve been dreading this moment. The moment when all the eyes in the ballroom swivel to me. To us—the curiosity of the year. I set my face with my best smile as we enter the glow of thousands of candles in chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Beside me, Rahk is a tall, imposing mountain. He has resumed his own mask—one of utterly unreadable blankness.

I greet everyone I know as we walk into the ballroom. My gaze is drawn almost immediately to Agatha, who regards me with all the warmth of a viper’s sting.She really does hate me.Bridget is beside her, beautiful in pink and lace. She offers a timid smile and a tiny wave, but she cannot hold my eyes before she looks away. Edith peers over the top of Bridget’s head, and seems more interested in Rahk than me. Perhaps she realizes he has a normal nose—and that it is quite handsome.

We pass them, and the rest of the onlookers, and go straight to where Queen Vivienne is seated on her dais. Rahk sketches a bow while I curtsy. The queen looks especially regal tonight in a gown of deep red, her head tipped back and decorated with a silver crown. Her hand strokes the light brown curls of young Prince Lionel beside her. She gives me that same look she gave me when we last visited her—an eyebrow lifted in query. I give her a subtle nod, as I did then, to try to convince her I amfineand amnotRahk’s captive.

As we leave her and I mentally prepare to mingle with those around us, I happen to glance down at my bracelet. The chandelier light has turned the pink roses a purple-ish blue. It’s even more beautiful than before. I try to hide my smile before Rahk sees it and demands to know what pleases me.

A servant brings us each a flute of champagne. We make our way to the wall where we can sip and quietly survey the colorful ballroom. No one approaches us, but everywhere I look, I find more pairs of watching eyeballs.

“Is this where I make your marriage to me worth it?” I whisper to Rahk. “Where I introduce you to all the important people of Harbright and convince them you’re not a bloodthirsty warrior who will murder them in their sleep?”

He glances sidelong at me. “I think they’re more concerned about me murderingyouin your sleep.”

I purse my lips. “In that case, I’d better get to work. Come along, dearie.”

I take him to Lord Oliver’s elderly mother. “Baroness! It’s so good to see you. You must meet my new husband, Lord Rahk. Lord Rahk, Baroness Cranswick.”

She surveys him up and down. “Now I can look at you up close! You were much too far away at the wedding and my spectacles are broken. I have such bad eyes that I just couldn’t see a thing. But I see that it’s true that the fae are very beautiful. I don’t blame you much, Katherine.”

“Blame me?” I say lightly, laughing to hide my uneasiness.

“Oh, don’t look so innocent.” She taps me on the shoulder with her fan. Her smile suggests we share a dirty little secret. “You must not be far along in the pregnancy if your waist is still so trim.”

Rahk flinches beside me, and it’s a miracle I keep my smile pasted on my face. Before he can reply or react, I wrap one arm around his elbow, leaning into him, and give a bright laugh. “Baroness! You must have information about myself that I am not privy to! Am I with child? That would be exciting news!”

A stroke of confusion crosses the baroness’s wrinkled face as she sputters, “That was what I heard! Is it not true? Everyone assumed with the wedding being so sudden that a child was the reason. I wouldn’t fault you if it was—he’s very handsome, Katherine, and I am not so old fashioned as many here—and with your fortune, you can make mistakes that others wouldn’t dare—”

The temperature emanating from Rahk reaches near boiling. He remains so placid, so immovable, but I am suddenly very certain that he might explode if one more indecent thing is said about me.

It’s Lord Oliver who rescues us. “Lady Vandermore—er, Lady Varadirth, forgive me—I am glad to see you! You’ve been long gone from court and we have missed you. And Lord Rahk, it has been far too long since we last spoke!”

Lady Varadirth.

It sounds so vicious. So . . . dark and seething. In this particular moment, I love it.

“Lord Oliver,” I say, “I see you have met my husband, Lord Rahk.” I decide not to mention that I did observe them together at the queen’s luncheon while I was still disguised as a servant boy.

“Indeed, I have! We have become best friends.”

“Have you?” I grin up at Rahk, who looks very slightly uncomfortable at that proclamation.

“Lord Oliver has taken great pains to ensure I am comfortable at court,” says Rahk. “I am grateful.”

Oliver turns to me, giving me a friendly wink. “What did I tell you? You thought I was crazy for suggesting that the fae coming to town would want to marry you.”

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