Page 83 of Songs and Spun Gold
Casting her gaze sideways, the brunette examined the prince’s companions. “Hello, Prince Michael. It is a pleasure to see you.” He nodded politely. “And Lord Tobias, of course. Such a faithful friend, always at our prince’s side.”
Tobias swirled his glass and returned her gaze through his half-open eyes but said nothing.
Lady Ilse turned her focus to Katy. “And who is this? Surely not the village girl rumored to be your intended,” she giggled insincerely. “Why, in that dress, she almostlookslike a lady!”
Axel’s arm flexed under her hand, but Katy cut in before he could reply, shaking her fan down from where it hung around her elbow. As she wasn’t accustomed to carrying one, it felt awkward in her hand, but she didn’t need it to be smooth.
Flapping the closed fan toward Lady Ilse, Katy said, “You are so quick! And I’ve heard so much about you, I almost feellike I know you.” The other woman’s eyes brightened, flitting to Axel as if she thought he was the source of Katy’s information. “It’s so satisfying to know that you are just as I imagined you.”
“Why, thank—”
“I must admit, I never believed someone could be as insincere and self-absorbed as you are,” Katy continued glibly. The corner of Axel’s mouth lifted slightly. “But it’s true, the right dresscanmake someone look like a lady. My compliments to your dressmaker.”
Lady Ilse’s fan arm dropped along with her jaw. Tobias hid a small smile in a sip of his drink, while Michael turned away, one fist pressed to his mouth.
“Don’t be discouraged,” Katy added, waving her closed fan clumsily in the other woman’s direction. “You’re still young, and I hear there are plenty of men who are more interested in rank and appearance than they are in personality. There’s every chance you’ll find someone. Eventually.”
Blunt words were apparently beyond Lady Ilse’s experience, because she flapped her mouth soundlessly for a few moments while her face reddened. When she recovered, she turned to Axel with a stiff smile. “I am so sorry, Your Highness. It must be difficult to marry a mannerless guttersnipe. Even worse when it is without love.”
The twinkle was back in his eyes. “On the contrary, Lady Ilse, I—”
Exhilarated by speaking her mind, Katy rushed along to the next idea that popped into her head. Dropping Axel’s arm, she said brightly, “Oh! I forgot to give you your birthday present, dearest.”
She grabbed his chin with her right hand, pulling his head down. When his face was a few inches from hers, she stopped and flipped her fan open between their faces and Lady Ilse. Axelhad to dodge to avoid being whacked in the face, but Katy kept her hold on his chin and tugged him back down.
His eyes were wide as she stretched up and pecked him on the nose. Lady Ilse’s shocked gasp was priceless; Katy only wished she could see the lady’s face.
“What are—”
“Pretend to kiss me,” Katy whispered, cutting him off. She leaned sideways a little to brush her lips across his upper cheek, moving her hand to the side of his face at the same time. “Passionately. We’re giving her a show.”
His eyes sparkled as he wrapped his hands around her waist. “Anything for you, Katy,” he whispered in her ear before placing a light kiss in front of it. The action sent an unexpected thrill through her, stealing her breath as the protection of her impulsiveness vanished. He brought his face around to the other side, sliding his lips across her nose on the way. “But why not make it for everyone?”
This might have been a mistake.
She was supposed to be convincing his parents, if not him, that they didn’t want her to join their family. She was supposed to be shielding herself from him so she would be able to leave if – when – the time came.
Yearning for what he just suggested didn’t fit into the plan.
Sliding her right hand down to his chest, she turned her nose into his cheek before gently pushing him back. It was a struggle to keep her breathing even, but it would help convince their audience. She let the fan drop, locking eyes with Axel as he pulled back.
“Happy birthday,” she said softly. He gave her a goofy grin, reached his right hand up, and wrapped one of her loose curls around his index finger.
After a moment, they turned back to Lady Ilse. Axel slid his left hand around Katy’s back, tucking her into his sideinstead of returning her to his arm. It was a perfect continuation of their little show, but Katy almost ruined it by stiffening. It felttoonice.
“Well, I—I wish you well,” Lady Ilse forced out between clenched teeth. If looks could kill, she would be guilty of ending King Steffan’s family line. “Good evening.”
The bell for dinner rang, and she swept away at the front of her flock with her nose in the air.
“Masterfully done,” Tobias murmured from behind his glass. “You might be free of her the rest of the evening after that performance.”
“Yes, indeed. You have my gratitude, fair Katrin.” Axel squeezed her side. “Although we should apologize to Tobias and Michael; the less time she spends chasing me, the more she has to harass them.”
CHAPTER 23
Axel
Katy continued being her colorful self throughout dinner. Axel knew he should be horrified by the things she said to their nobles, just as his mother was, but her blunt honesty was a breath of fresh air compared to the stuffy double-talk in which he was usually mired. If proper behavior hadn’t been drilled into him since childhood, he would have gladly said many of the same things that Katy did.
