Page 56 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1
"Just until we're betrothed," I say. "Nothing can happen after that."
He nods. "Agreed."
"All right, then let's be fools."
He laughs and leans in, cupping my cheek in his hand and kissing me deeply. I melt into him, letting go of all my apprehensions and enjoying his touch for what it is.
TEN
The ballroom is buzzing with people when I arrive, and I look around in the vain hope that I'm going to find Linc here. I know that's not possible when this dance class is for newly turned vampires from the last Golden Moon, but I'm just looking for any reason to see him again.
Though it's probably better he isn't here, or I'd be thinking of the way it felt to kiss him. I'm such a fool for letting it happen again. I know I shouldn't, and that I should put all thoughts of him out of my mind, but I can't help it.
Bella's right, I'm going to end up with my heart broken, and it's going to be all my fault when it happens.
I head over to where Emilia is hiding at the back of the group of young women. At least talking with my friend should be a good distraction from the thoughts I'm having.
She gives me a weak smile and straightens out her honey-yellow gown lined with black. A broach with a bee on it sits at her lapel. Which makes sense to me now Linc has shown me House Hexamble's crest of yellow hexagons with three bees. I'm not sure why they picked that as their sigil, but then again, I don't know why House Rothorne has a rose on black and red quarters, and yet here I am in a dress reflecting that.
"Are you all right?" I ask my friend.
She sighs. "I hate dancing. I always stand on my partner's toes."
"I'm sure that's not true," I respond.
"Oh, it is. I'm terrible at it."
"So am I," I say in an attempt to make her feel better, though I don't think I've stood on anyone's toes.
She snorts. "I've seen you dancing, you're a natural at it."
"Only because I've had practice. Lord Fallmartin has tutors who have come three times in the past week to make sure Bastian and I know what we're doing. I think he's scared we're going to embarrass the House if we're not capable of doing all of the dances right." He's probably thinking about the ball after Eliza's wedding where we're probably all going to be on display.
She gives me a weak smile. "All right, I feel a little better. Lord Hexamble hasn't done anything like that for me."
"Hopefully, he will soon," I respond.
"I doubt it." She sighs. "He mostly just tells me I should call him father and ignores me the rest of the time."
"Do you? Call him father?"
"Only when I have to."
"Same. Well, with Lord Fallmartin. I suppose sometimes I do think about him as my father now, but Bastian looks so like him that it's hard for me to ignore it."
"It must be nice having someone with you who came at the Golden Moon," Emilia says.
"Mmm." I don't want to lie, but considering everything I've seen of Bastian since we arrived here, I'm not as glad as I perhaps should be that he's around and that we came together. If anything, seeing my brother here has broken my heart.
As if summoned by my thoughts, Bastian strides into the room and heads straight over to a man who I think is the son of Lord Drewforth based on the crest on his suit. I should make sure to thank Linc for his lessons on the various heraldry because I'm definitely getting better at recognising them. However, that does raise the question of why they don't teach anything like that in our etiquette lessons. It strikes me as useful to know who we're talking to and what their status within the court is, especially when it's becoming clear that we're already playing the game of politics if there are betrothals occurring.
Someone clears their throat, and I turn to see Lady Violetta Vermatchi approach. She's meticulously put together with her wavy blonde hair and the deep green dress trimmed with gold. "That's your brother, isn't it?" she asks, looking over at Bastian.
"Yes," I respond, not entirely sure how to take her interest. She always seems so stiff, as if she's forcing herself to have any conversation she's in.
"Introduce me?"
"I'm sorry?" I ask.
