Page 40 of A Rose Among Snakes

King Leoro was seated on the largest one, his dark hair and sharp features arranged into a pleasant smile, a far cry from the harrowing depiction in the hallway. Walking to the seat next to him was Leoran, followed by a radiant blonde woman. Behind her trailed another woman who looked like an older version of her, and a portly man with a head of gray curls behind the other woman. Leoran took his seat and out of the side of his eye glanced at the young woman next to him. He scanned the crowd as if he were looking for someone, and the woman seated beside him gazed around as well.

Forgoing taking it slow, Kezara threw back the rest of her wine and announced, “I’m ready to dance!” Several men crowded around her offering their hands. She smiled flirtatiously at one dressed in a dark green jacket and took his hand, placing the empty wine glass in the outstretched hand of another. Her partner escorted her to the dance floor, and I took a seat along the back wall keeping Kezara in my sight.

Several dances passed and Kezara moved through them all, switching between waiting men. There was almost a line forming and she appeared to be having the time of her life. All eyes were on her, including Leoran’s. His stare was intense, his countenance growing darker with every man who danced with her. I sat backin my chair, politely declining invitations to dance, preferring instead to watch the crowd and savor all the lavish food. I observed the dancing couples, scanning the twirling pairs for Velian’s figure. I didn’t see him on the dance floor with someone and was ashamed to admit how much it pleased me. I located him speaking with another man near the back wall opposite me. Surrounding them, women were pointing and whispering to each other, tittering and batting their eyelashes at him when he glanced their way. Velian, however, seemed oblivious to their desires, much to the women’s disappointment.

I jumped when someone sat on the chair beside me, and I turned to see who it was. A man I didn’t know was smiling at me. His face was rather plain, but not unpleasant. His eyes were blue, and the only sign of his age was the graying blond hair at his temples.

“Hello, my name is Gerwin, what’s yours?” His eyes crinkled with his smile as he held his hand out to me.

I took it and said, “Mihrra.”

He raised my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “A lovely name for a lovely woman.”

I smiled politely and removed my hand from his, the unwanted touch of a stranger making my stomach turn.

“Who are you here with, Mihrra?”

I had no interest in continuing the conversation, but I didn’t want to be rude. “The Blaise family.”

“Are you a relative?”

“I’m not, I’m a Lady’s Maid, and Kez- Ms. Blaise requested I accompany her.”

“I would have sworn you were of noble status.” He paused to wave a hand in the air in dismissal. “I don’t mind though.” He winked at me, and my stomach clenched. I moved my gaze back to the dance floor hoping he would grasp I was not interested in the conversation, but it apparently gave him the opposite idea.

“Care to dance?” He didn’t give me a chance to answer before grabbing my hand and hauling me to my feet. I flinched and tried to pull away without making a scene, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer. Terror clutched at my throat, and my heart hammered as his unfamiliar touch triggered the memory of being yanked from the carriage. We stepped onto the dance floor and Gerwin faced me, the same stupid grin plastered to his face. My mouth went dry and I tried to swallow down my panic, telling myself it was just a dance and I wasn’t in danger. I felt a looming presence behind me and watched as Gerwin’s smile turned to a scowl.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“May I cut in?” A familiar, warm voice asked.

Behind me stood Velian, arms crossed over his puffed chest, his steady gaze locked on Gerwin, who opened his mouth to object, but I cut him off with a hurried, “Yes.”

Wrenching my hand free, I turned to Velian, my racing pulse easing in his presence. I heard Gerwin grousing under his breath as he walked away, and Velian’s stance softened as he lowered his gaze to mine.

“You looked like you needed saving,” he said with a smug smile.

My eyes dropped to my feet and I bit my lip. “Once again, it seems.”

“Shall we?”

I looked back up as he held his hand out, inclining his head toward the dance floor.

“Oh, I didn’t think you actually wanted to dance with me.”

He lifted a brow and dropped his hand. “And why shouldn’t I?”

“You’re my employer.”

He laughed, and the sound caressed my ears, sending a shiver through me. He held his hand out again. “Not tonight.”

I couldn’t have denied him even if I wanted to.

He led me onto the dance floor and held me at a respectable distance, one hand on my waist, the other intertwined with my hand.Kezara was right, I thought as my palms began to sweat; I wasveryglad she’d bought me the gloves. I marveled at his grace as he led me through the dance. I had never received formal dance lessons, but Velian didn’t appear put out by my occasional stumbling. My mother had taught me and Ambrelle how to dance when we were younger, and we used all our free time to practice, taking turns leading. It was a special treat when Father would come in from the fields and take over as lead, twirling us around the small kitchen, and filling our home with squeals of joy.

As Velian swept me around the room, I was grateful for those few lessons, but I was aware of the judgmental glances from others when a misstep brought me too close to another couple. Despite that, a lightness filled me that could only be described as giddiness.

Velian noticed, and with a boyish grin asked, “Are you enjoying yourself?”

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