Page 131 of Enchanted Kingdom
“First this plan, then that. Remind me to never get on your bad side.”
His lips barely twitched. “I’m just pissed off. That’s all.”
I sighed. “I feel similarly, but let’s go. Before someone catches us scheming at the door.”
At the top of the stairs, I could feel people turn toward us, but I tried to pay it no attention. “I plan to smile so hard my teeth hurt,” I told Keir as I did just that.
Keir snorted and whispered, “At least half of the Savaryn people wondering what the hell I’m doing with you are about to get educated.”
“Educated in what?”
“Desire.” He paused as he looked me in the eyes. “I know you are not comfortable in that dress, but you do look stunning.”
“Thank you,” I managed somehow without tripping on the stairs. I could see a person sitting in the royal balcony to the ballroom. It had to be the king. But I also knew I was not going to let my eyes stray his direction even once this evening. I was going to pretend as if he didn’t exist. As if he wasn’t the grand orchestrator of this entire debacle of a night.
“I know you are more than this dress, Jorah. And I know you hate being objectified,” he added.
I sighed before remembering to plaster my fake smile back on. “I’m just wondering at which part in the night I should throw myself at you and make a scene.”
“All parts of it, obviously,” Keir joked.
I tipped my head back to laugh as we hit the bottom stair and I spun in toward him. “Do have a great evening, Your Grace.”
He smiled at me freely. “You too, sweetheart. Hang in there, okay? I already see the jealous stares.”
“Every time I get frustrated tonight, I am going to think about Krew calling you a thunderhead last night,” I offered quietly.
Keir laughed. “Hey, if it helps, you go right on ahead. I’ll be your cloud man.”
“You did not just say that.” I bit down on my laughter and bowed. “See you in a bit.”
Before I left, he reached out and squeezed my hand. “I’ll see you in a bit,” he repeated.
I weaved through the people to find either Renna or Rinaldi, my safe havens in a room full of piranhas.
“At least we know why she’s still here now,” someone whispered to someone else as I went past. It wasn’t even one of the consorts, just an observer.
Feeling way too keyed up for the evening, I spun and smiled at them both.
Their eyes went wide with the knowledge that I heard them.
I gave them a mocking little wave.
The two ladies, who I had never met, went scurrying away from me.
“Hello, dear.”
I turned to find Mr. Ellsworth standing there. I smiled. “Why, Mr. Ellsworth.”
He was standing there scowling at me. Probably disproving of my dress, probably assuming I was making a move for a crown.
Wanting at least one person in the room to not hate me, I blurted out, “Do take those judgmental eyes elsewhere. What is given as a giftmustbe worn.”
He cocked his head, his demeanor changing entirely. “I see. So this is not of your own design?”
I squinted at him before hitting him with another smile. “No, but I am going to wear it as if it is.”
He pressed his lips together. “Good for you, Jorah. Good for you.”
