Page 34 of The Reluctant Queen
Fine.Maybe it was less about meeting Saka and more about having met Berim.
But Berim wasn’t around, from what she could tell. The poor sod must’ve been left back in Rohilavol to shovel shit for the rest of his days.
King Hethtar,hewasaround. And Hevva watched lady after miss after lady fall all over him with soft caresses to his arm, a twirled curl here, a high-pitched titter hidden behind a hand there...It was vomitous.
It appears Kas was right. A wife-finding party. Ridiculous. Disgusting. This is why I want a nice common boy.
You found a nice common boy,Saka’s common accent ricocheted through her brain.
She snagged a fizzing flute of champagne from a passing server and held her hand up in a silent request for them to stop. The staff member waited while Hevva downed her drink and grabbed a second.
“Thank you.” She offered a closed-lip smile to the server, who returned the gesture and scurried away.
Meandering to the back of the enormous ballroom, Hevva located a spot by one of the opened balcony doors where she could enjoy her drink in peace. A salty sea breeze had been offered entry and weaved across the room to exit on the opposite side. Air slipped over her face, coaxed by windshifters working the ball. But that was nothing compared to having unimpeded access to the outdoors. She stood with her back to the night, willing the natural breeze to cool her skin and ease her misplaced ire.
The dancing began, and several couples walked onto the floor. The king, who she was definitely not looking at, still stood before a line of guests who wished to greet him and the dowager queen. How the prince, whosebirthday they were ostensibly celebrating, managed to avoid the receiving line for a full hour was beyond her.
This was the absolute worst kind of event, all platitudes and lies. Hevva sipped her drink and watched as finely dressed lords and ladies skipped about in a lively dance of denial. There, the Baron and Baroness of Napivol, the Duke and Duchess of Rohapavol, and Baron Turkhane and his poor wife all danced together with another couple she couldn’t name. Hands clasped and smiles pasted on as they trotted in a circle.Fools.
She couldn’t help but wonder if the Lords of Napivol and Rohapavol were, mayhaps, as close as the two ladies had been at the symposium. It wasn’t frowned upon to marry and raise children with someone of the same gender in Selwas at large. Within the aristocracy, however, it was a different sort of game.
And then there was the wife of the Baron of Turkhane. Oh, how Hevva felt for the woman wed to that poor excuse of a man.
Is this it?Lady Hevva wondered morosely. If she were to marry a member of the upper crust, title or not, was this what life would have in store?Double lives and deceit.She sighed.
“Do you have a plan?” A soft hand brushed the back of Hevva’s shoulder as a woman whispered into her ear.
“A plan for what?” Hevva inquired as she turned to face the speaker.
“Oh! My apologies, Countess. I thought you were my daughter,” Lady Nathari, the Countess of Appven issued a breathy apology.
Hevva smiled pleasantly at the woman. “It is no bother.”
Lady Nathari returned the smile. “Your hair, build, even your dresses are so similar, but— Oh! Your gown is simply astonishing. You must refer me to your seamstress.” With that quick change of subject, the lady ran her fingers over the sleeve of Hevva’s dress before her eye caught on something new, and the Countess of Appven flounced away.
Lady Hevva hadn’t even had a chance to share her seamstress’s name.A plan for what...to secure a king?Bile bubbled up her throat and she washed it away with a deep drink of champagne. It wasfine!She didn’t have any interest in being the queen anyway! Searching for a nice common boy, that’s all she was up to.
She had half a second to relax before heat skittered down her back, from the point between her shoulder blades to the dimples above her bottom. Startled, Hevva spun to find Prince Nekash smirking at her from beyond the open doorway. A lick of flame shimmered on the tip of his finger, and then it was gone.
“Countess,” he greeted in his nasally voice. “I didn’t think you would be here.”
“And why is that?”
He spoke to Hevva from the patio, trying to entice her out there in his own way. She wasn’t taking the bait. In fact, she took a few steps back and dipped her head in the direction of the wide-open space before her.
He came inside.
“You weren’t here for the luncheon this afternoon. All of theotherladies were in attendance.”
“I was delayed in my arrival.”
“An earthshaper, as strong as you, delayed on the road?” He lifted a champagne flute from a passing tray, but did not take a sip.
“Happy Birthday.”
His brows jumped slightly at her rapid shift in topic. “Bit early, but thank you kindly. Now, as it seems my brother is presently occupied...” His eyes floated to a distant spot over her shoulder, but she refused to look. “Let me be the first to welcome you to Kirce. We have a fantastic week of activities planned, and theamusementsare sure to delight.” The prince lifted his champagne for a toast, while sending an obnoxious flutter of flames to dance around both of their glasses.
Hevva clinked her drink against his, though she was rolling her eyes internally the entire time. She had, if it wasn’t obvious, been late on purpose. Her reasons were her own, but had something to do with an ongoing battle between Hevva and Saka, one of whom was desperate to see the palace, while the other longed to be home, among her people, searching for acommon boy.
