Page 64 of Pretense

“Yes, that would be lovely. With three mugs, it would be nice to have three different kinds of candy to offer patients.” Melantha grinned in return. “While I like the respect I have gained from my magic, I am not above bribing my patients if that is what it takes.”

Essie couldn’t help it. She laughed. If this kept up, she might even get to like Melantha before their visit was over.

Chapter Twenty-One

“My brothers returned home safely. The raids have been quelled, for now.” Jalissa could not help her smile, the lightness to her steps, the joy in her voice.

Elidyr paused to look at her, stiffening. “Then I suppose I will not see you here in the library.”

Jalissa shook her head, and she met his gaze, her heart more vulnerable and open than it had ever been. “No, I will still come. I do not come here every night because of worry for my brothers. Not anymore.”

When he held her gaze with his shadowed green eyes, her breath caught. And, when he smiled that shy, soft smile of his, her heart sped up.

But it was his words that made her knees go weak. “Good. I would miss you.”

Jalissa waited in the entry of Buckmore Cottage. With Farrendel and Essie gone, the cottage felt empty, just her and her guard staying there.

Sarya stood in the corner, arms crossed. She wore her typical guard uniform of leather vest, leather bracers, and leather skirt over her trousers and tall boots. She wore a sword at her hip and a bow across her back, even though the bow was not a practical weapon for the ball. Still, it looked impressive, and that was probably the point.

A knock came from the door a moment before Edmund stepped inside. He wore a black Escarlish coat and trousers with a white shirt. With the slight curl to his brown hair, he cut a fine figure that had her thoughts fizzling to nothing.

Edmund, apparently, did not have that problem. His gaze softened, his smile wide. “You look beautiful, Jalissa.”

Her face warmed, and she ducked her head, glancing down at herself. She wore a soft green dress that swirled around her in wispy layers. Silver embroidery decorated the bodice. “It is an improvement over the grime.”

“Yes.” Edmund’s smile turned into a grin. “We both smell a lot better, too.”

“Very true.” Jalissa found her own smile widening. She preferred joking to sincere compliments. Sincere compliments made her heart think about love and forever, which was something she could never have with Edmund.

He held out his arm. “Ready to go?”

She drew in a deep breath, then wrapped her arm around his elbow in the human way.

Edmund reached over and adjusted her hand so that it rested on his arm instead. “I think we should enter like this tonight since so many of your people are here.”

Jalissa nodded, her stomach clenching. She had been trying not to think about that too much. It was going to take all her skills as a serene elven princess to hide her jitters. It would be a busy night, pretending a relationship with Edmund, keeping an eye on the Sentinel’s head editor and reporters who were at Winstead Palace, and evaluating the elven lords who had come as potential marriage partners.

Honestly, it was that last one which churned Jalissa’s stomach the most.

With her hand on Edmund’s arm, Jalissa strolled next to him from Buckmore Cottage, down the path, and through the more extensive gardens outside of Winstead Palace. Sarya trailed after them, keeping watch.

At Winstead Palace, they wound through the hallways until they reached the main doors of the ballroom.

When they reached the doors, Edmund halted them, rested his hand over hers on his arm, and met her gaze. “Are you ready for this?”

Jalissa drew in a deep breath and checked that her expression was smooth. “Yes.”

Edmund nodded to the footmen at the doors, and they swung them open.

Jalissa was blasted with the noise of the orchestra, dancing footsteps, and conversations. In front of them, dancing couples whirled in a blur of colors and glittering fabrics. Among the Escarlish nobles, elven nobility gracefully weaved through the other dancing couples. It was the most the two peoples had mingled since the war, and Jalissa paused for a moment, just taking in the sight.

This had been Elspetha’s dream from the moment she had married Farrendel. She should be the one here to see this.

Next to her, Edmund stiffened, and Jalissa followed his gaze.

At the far side of the ballroom, editors and reporters clustered in a tight group, held back by green, velvet ropes. Occasionally, one of the reporters would lean over the ropes, shouting questions at the dancing couple passing by. When one of the elves passed close, a whole pack of reporters nearly fell over the ropes trying to get the elf to respond. Only the presence of the Escarlish guards kept the reporters from taking more drastic measures.

“Which ones are from the Sentinel?” Jalissa kept her voice low as she and Edmund moved away from the doors.

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