Chapter 6
SIX
I follow Lord Fallmartin into the ballroom along with Bastian and my cousins. Knowing there isn't going to be a Feast when I head inside makes attending a ball a little bit more exciting, even if there's a part of me that wants to sneak off to the library with Linc despite it not being necessary.
I suppose it's because when I dance with any of the other men, I'm going to be wondering if they're the person Lord Fallmartin has in mind to be my husband.
Eliza is immediately asked to dance, and from the expression on her face, I suspect it's by her future husband. I hate how much it already seems to be part of what's expected of me.
I drift off to the side, watching the dancers and half-wishing I was on the floor. After a couple of weeks of lessons, I'm better than when Marcus asked me to dance when I first arrived here, and it would be good to put that into practice.
I search the crowd for any sign of my cousin. If I have to dance with anyone, then he's the least objectionable option. Instead of the dark-haired prince, my gaze lands on Linc.
It turns out that Marcus might be the second last objectionable option after all.
Linc's face lights up as he sees me and he heads in my direction.
His suit fits him well and even from this distance I can see the fabrics are fine.
There are hints of blue, and gold throughout his outfit, and I try to work out which House that means he belongs to, but fail.
There are several with those colours, including the Royal House.
I don't suppose it matters, he's my friend even if he belongs to a bitter enemy of House Rothorne.
"Beatrice," he says, dipping into a bow.
"Linc," I respond.
"You look beautiful," he tells me.
"Thank you."
"Though you seem to be without your charming companion," he says.
"Pip's back in my room being pampered by one of the servants."
"Ah, so noble life suits her."
I laugh. "It certainly does."
"So, would you do me the honour of escaping to the library with me?" he asks, holding out his hand.
"You're not even going to ask me to dance first?" I ask without meaning to.
A surprised expression crosses his face. "Do you want to dance with me?"
I bite my lip, his gaze lowering at the gesture as if he's unable to help it.
"I don't know," I admit. "I was just thinking about dancing. I've been taking lessons and probably won't fall over."
He laughs. "How can I say no to a proposal like that?"
"I'm sorry, forget I said anything, we should go to the library..."
"No." He holds out his hand. "Dance with me?"
"Now I just feel like I've made you do it," I murmur.
"You're not. I was going to ask you, but then I convinced myself you wouldn't want to. So, will you do me the honour of this dance?"
"What will anyone think?" I ask, realising that we're going to be in public.
"That we're dancing. They won't think anything of it. Have you danced at a ball with anyone else?"
"Once, at the Golden Moon. But my dance partner turned out to be my cousin."
Linc chuckles. "I can't say I've had that one happen before. But no one will think anything of this," he assures me. "I come to these events so rarely that they probably don't recognise me anyway."
"Reassuring." I slide my hand into his, kind of wishing that neither of us was wearing gloves. He draws me onto the dance floor and butterflies spring to life within me.
The music starts to play and he lets go of my hand so he can bow.
I dip into a curtsy, suddenly aware that there might be eyes on me.
I scan the crowd on the other side, surprised to find Lord Fallmartin watching.
He nods his head once in what I think is approval.
Whichever House Linc belongs to, it doesn't seem to be one that Lord Fallmartin disapproves of.
All thoughts of anyone else vanish when Linc pulls me into hold. We're so close together that I can feel the heat radiating from him, and I'm dazzled by the intensity in his eyes.
I barely notice that we're moving, I'm caught up in the way it feels to be so close to him.
"You're good at this," I say.
"Five extra years of practice," he says. "Though I think this is only the third time I've actually danced at a ball."
A flame of jealousy builds within me.
Something must show on my face, because Linc laughs. "I danced with my sister the previous two."
"Oh." I look down. "You must think I'm an idiot."
"For being jealous?" He takes my hand to let me know that he's going to spin me.
My dress moves with me, until I end up with my back to Linc for the next part of the dance.
He's even closer than before, and with one of his hands on my waist, while the other is entwined with mine, it feels more intimate than it should considering we're on the dance floor and surrounded by hundreds of people.
"I don't think you're an idiot for being jealous," he murmurs, spinning me back around to face him. "I kind of like it."
"I'm not jealous jealous," I respond. "It doesn't bother me if you've danced with people in the past."
"So long as I'm dancing with you now?" An impish smile comes to his lips.
"I..." What am I supposed to say to that? I like spending time with Linc, and every time he touches me, I feel a thrill. It's even more intense now that we're in such close proximity for a prolonged amount of time.
"For what it's worth, I'll be jealous when you dance with someone after me," Linc admits.
"How can I do that when we'll be in the library?" I ask.
He laughs. "Fair enough. But are you suggesting that so I don't have to watch you dance with someone else, or so that you don't have to watch me with someone else?"
"Maybe I'm suggesting it so I don't have to wonder which of my dance partners my father is going to try and make me marry."
He grimaces. "Fair enough. My sister felt the same."
"Is she at court?"
"No. She lives in the country with her husband," Linc responds, moving us around the dance floor with the ease of someone who has natural grace.
"Did he force her to do that?"
"Definitely not. My sister is somewhat of a rebel."
Understanding dawns on me. "She's the person you knew who ran off with a lover."
"When did I tell you that?"
"The night we first met."
"Ah, sadly I don't remember much of that conversation," he says.
"That's a common side-effect of drinking too much wine," I point out.
"Mmm. You'll be glad to know I'm not guilty of that tonight. I haven't had a drop."
I raise an eyebrow. "Why the sudden change?"
His chance to answer is cut off by the music ending. Linc lets go of my hand and bows deeply.
I curtsy in response, trying to come up with a reason to get him to stay, or to dance with me again if that's allowed. I'm not sure if there are any strict rules about that kind of thing.
"Meet me in the library in ten minutes," he says.
I nod, watching as he leaves the dance floor. I should do that myself in case someone else decides they want to ask me to dance and I miss my window to slip away.
I search the crowd as I make my way towards the refreshment stand, but don't see Lord Fallmartin or my brother anywhere, which is reassuring.
I don't want either of them asking where I'm going, either tonight, or in the morning.
And the best way to achieve that is to make sure they know nothing about my plans to meet Linc in the library.
It's hard to make my way through the crowd around the dance floor, but I eventually manage to leave them all behind.
It's only as I'm about to leave the room that I spot Bella watching me.
She lifts her goblet and gives me a smile that I think means she knows what I'm doing, but my secret is safe with her.
Either that, or I'm going to get another lecture from her about whether or not I should let my emotions get involved.
But I think the reality of that is it's already too late, and there's nothing I can do to hide from the way I'm feeling any more, even if I want to.