Page 77 of The Chaosweaver's Daughter
Luckily, or perhaps because he was more astute than she gave him credit for, Lord Kahoth moved ahead of the kids. He blocked their view of the ballroom through the glass doors while offering Nesrina a moment to catch up and join him.
She flashed him a grateful smile, then they opened the double doors together, unveiling the magical space beyond.
The duke had done a great deal to bring the austere ballroom up to the children’s standards. Large vases and pots bearing flowering plants and palms had been peppered about the space, softening its previously empty angular corners. Swaths of vines and other greenery hung above the doors and windows. And an elaborate-looking pianoforte, brought in for the night, sat upon a temporary stage at one end of the room. Several members of the staff were already there—had been there when she’d rushed in a moment ago—awaiting their arrival.
“Remember, walk in, pause, and wait to be announced. Then, stand to the side of the doors. As your guests come through the receiving line, thank them for attending,” Lord Kahoth reminded the twins.
The Duke of Stormhill turned and offered his escort, and Miss Nesrina Kiappa, tutor, accepted with grace. She’d expected that. What she didn’t expect was for him to take her by the hand, rather than offer an arm, giving her fingers a squeeze. Glancing up, she found him surveying the ballroom,agog like a little boy at the wondershehad created.
Thera announced the two of them, and Kas led Nes across the wide-open dance floor, flicking his free hand almost imperceptibly at the large pianoforte as they went. The unmanned instrument began to play a delightful sonata.
Her mind wandered back to the inn in Rohilavol. “If only I had a harpsichord...”Was he going to make good on that promise to dance?
“The Prince and Princess of Selwas,” Thera boomed, her voice enhanced by someone’s air magic as the adorable duo entered the room. A smattering of applause from the staff-turned-guests greeted the young royals. Nesrina attempted to join, but when she tried to withdraw her hand from Lord Kahoth’s, he held tight and declined to let her go.
Her heart flipped. It was sopublic!Sure, they were in hishome, but servants gossiped. Fates, everyone gossiped. What was she to do, though, yank her hand away and make a scene? That wouldn’t do.
Nes exhaled quickly through her nose before holding her head a little higher.You are not and willnotbe a mistress! This is purely for the children.
Palm to palm, Kas gave her hand another squeeze.
He may have meant to reassure her, but his action had quite the opposite effect, drawing forth a billion butterflies from low in her stomach.Mistress?
No!
Della and Ataht took up their posts, and like Kas, they were dazzled by Nes’s additions to the already exquisite decor. Floating crystalline creations glittered amongst the foliage and hovered above their heads, catching light from the enormous candelabra and scattering it around the room. Dainty butterflies that matched those on their dresses flitted about, and waves of tiny flower petals drifted from nowhere, down to the floor, where they disappeared into nothingness rather than litter the pristine parquet.
“Thank you for coming to our Summer Ball,” Princess Della greeted Kas and Nesrina as if they hadn’t all been standing together in the hall moments ago.
A queen in the making,she mused.
“Yes, thank you duke, my lady,” Prince Ataht added, elevating Nesrinafrom miss to an elusive lady for the evening ahead.
She chuckled as she curtsied, and when she was done, Kas, still holding her hand, helped her stand as the tiny royals greeted the next couple in line, bestowing them with elaborate and fanciful titles. Aylin, who’d turned up in very fine men’s attire, was named the Earl of Dragon’s Tail. Thera was Baroness of Fae River.
When they had finished their round, the twins took their place in the center of the dance floor, as was tradition for the hosts of any formal event in their land. The staff, nannies, and tutors began to pair off and step onto the central floor.
“Lady Kiappa of Kahovirib,” Kas addressed her with a false title, one that incorporated the Old Tongue name for Stormhill. It sent an earthquake shivering through her as he spun her to face him. “May I have this dance?”
“Certainly, my lord.” She graced him with the tiniest of very sincere but very confused smiles, and they stepped onto the floor.
With no warning whatsoever the sonata shifted into a decidedly romantic waltz, and Nesrina squinted up at the ceiling, trying to decide if the candles actually dimmed as the music changed time.
The Lord of Stormhill took the Lady of Kahovirib in his arms, his left hand never having left hers in the first place. Her palm found a spot on his firm bicep. She couldn’t comfortably reach his shoulder, not with his height. He, however, with his outrageously long arms, slid his hand down further and further until it came to rest above the small of her back.
Nesrina shivered when Kas pulled her in closer, curling over her and twirling her along to the music of his own making. Leaning down, with his breath hot against her skin, he whispered, “I told you I would.”
She almost told him that wasn’t a harpsichord, but it felt like an inappropriate time. The evening was perfect, aside from her internal anxieties. Nes noticed Aylin, the earl, twirling Baroness Thera around the dance floor, and made a mental note to ask Kas about that later. The twins wanted to dance long past their bedtime, and so, after having kept the lords and ladies for several hours already, Lord Kahoth dismissed them all, except for Nes.
She could’ve questioned that, but she was responsible for half the decorations, and she’d stay as long as the children needed.
“One more dance, please?” Della pleaded with Kas as she stood atop his previously shiny black dress shoes.
“One more dance.” He nodded, and a charming smile widened his mouth, softening his angular face.
He’ll make a wonderful father someday.Nesrina stumbled, quite literally, over the image that cropped up in her mind, nearly knocking over the prince who was leading her in dance.
Stop thinking about that.She found her footing again as the duke’s magic coaxed a new tune from the pianoforte.
