Page 56 of Ties of Dust

His chuckle suggested he was undaunted, although her actions earned Flora a scolding from the assistant who was trying to put pins in the gown.

“Yes, the coloring is excellent,” agreed the tailor blithely. “Let me see these sleeves. They’re not quite right.”

He seized her shoulders and positioned her in front of a tall looking glass, giving her a clear view of the gown. Its neck formed a V, the edge surrounded by a thick band of embroidery. The bodice was very fitted, with sleeves that puffed out over the top half of her upper arms, then sat close against her skin the rest of the way down. The skirt, however, was fuller than anything she’d worn in years. It spread out around her like…well, like a tent, but that was because the hemming wasn’t done.

“Beautiful.”

The declaration brought her eyes flying to Cassius’s. He held her gaze for a moment before clearing his throat and transferring his attention to the tailor.

“Beautiful workmanship. It will do perfectly.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” The tailor beamed at the praise. “We will have it ready, never fear.”

The assistant hustled Flora back into the adjoining room and allowed her to change back into her normal clothes. Flora felt only marginally less exposed when she and the prince finally left.

“No good will come of this,” she predicted as they made their way down the corridor.

“Of what?” Cassius asked.

“Of dressing me up like a guest of the royal family and setting me loose to mingle with the real courtiers.”

Cassius didn’t seem daunted. “Setting you loose? You make it sound like you’re a pantherine we’ve managed to cage, that might eat all the guests if you get free.”

“Only if they provoke me,” Flora said solemnly.

Cassius laughed. “I might actually enjoy the ball if you were to let yourself loose in response to being provoked.”

“You don’t expect to enjoy it?” Flora asked curiously.

His eyes were unreadable as he considered her for an unusually long moment before responding.

“I don’t usually.” Something in his deep voice made her heart sputter strangely. “But I have a feeling tomorrow night might be the first time I do.”

Chapter

Thirteen

Cassius straightened the cloak-like robe that sat over his lavish tunic, following the movement in his looking glass. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken such care with his appearance prior to a ball. He didn’t ask himself why this time was different.

He wasn’t in the mood for merriment. It had been a frustrating day, with the expected report into the investigation never coming. Even worse, every single time he’d tried to speak to his father, Sir Keavling had somehow been at hand.

Cassius had been watching the nobleman carefully, and there was no doubt he was manipulating the king. But Cassius still couldn’t figure out his motivation. From the inquiries Cassius had made into the nobleman’s new holdings, which were in the north west of Carrack and not particularly close to the border with the continent, he couldn’t see how Sir Keavling would benefit from Carrack reopening trade and diplomatic relations with the kingdoms of the continent. But that didn’t reassure him, because he didn’t accept the nobleman’s claim that hesought to increase the wealth and standing of Carrack more generally. Being ignorant of the nobleman’s true motivation made Cassius uneasy.

Equally unsettling was the interest Sir Keavling took in Flora. The man’s eyes passed often between Cassius and his so-called bodyguard with a gaze far too shrewd for Cassius’s liking. He also suspected that Sir Keavling had been speaking casually with his guards.

It would be inconvenient if the nobleman discovered the tether. Cool logic told Cassius that it would only be disastrous to his pride, but he didn’t quite believe it. Every time he saw the other man’s eyes resting calculatingly on Flora, he felt his stomach tighten in apprehension. The man was dangerous, he just didn’t yet understand the nature of the danger. He did understand, however, that he didn’t want Flora in its path.

“Your Highness.” His valet appeared behind him in the looking glass, faintly disapproving as always. “You wished me to inform you when it was time.”

“Yes,” said Cassius, settling the folds of the cloak one more time and checking that his dress sword—a mainly decorative item—was secure at his side. “Thank you.”

He strode into his receiving room, the valet at his heels.

“It’s not necessary for you to be so punctual, Your Highness,” the man told him. “You ought to arrive once all the guests are assembled.”

“This is when I wish to arrive,” Cassius told him.

He stepped out into the corridor, casting a glance toward Flora’s room before moving down the hall in a leisurely manner. For once, she wasn’t one of the two guards following in his wake.

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