Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
The ballroom is laid out much the same way as it was on my Golden Moon, with a long banquet table full of food on one side, and people dancing on the other. I hope it isn't an omen of what's to come.
Lord Fallmartin notices my arrival and nods his approval, but makes no indication that he wants to see me. I take it as proof that what Bella said is true. He just wants to make sure I'm here.
I look around the rest of the room, unsurprised to discover it's easier to work out who is who now we're inside. Perhaps it's because everyone has started to socialise with the people they're normally seen with, so the connections are easier to make sense of.
Or maybe it's just because I'm not distracted because of how close Linc is.
My gaze lands on him and he immediately makes his way over when he spots me in return, making me feel somewhat more shy than normal.
"Lady Beatrice," he says, doing an elaborate bow.
I stifle a laugh. "Your Highness."
"Would you like to dance?" he asks.
I nod, putting my hand on his so he can draw me onto the dance floor. There are others around us, but we ignore them.
"How are you feeling?" he asks, his voice low and full of genuine concern.
"A little embarrassed that my cousin caught us," I admit, my cheeks turning red in response.
He bows to me, and I curtsy back, moving into hold once we're done. His hand on my waist feels different now, but that's probably just my imagination. "Other than that?" he asks, searching my face with concern in his eyes.
"I'm good." I smile at him. "Are you?"
"Yes." He turns me with the dance so my back is against his chest. I don't think we're supposed to touch according to the rules of the dance floor, but I still lean back into him.
"I'd rather be back there than here," I murmur. "Though maybe without any interruptions."
He chuckles, the sound vibrating through me. "Next time we'll make sure we're properly alone. Preferably somewhere that has a lock on the door."
I pull away from him so I can do the next part of the dance, trailing my hand over his chest until I'm standing beside him, each of us facing a different way.
I'm glad Lord Fallmartin has paid for extra dance lessons for me and Bastian, because otherwise, I'd never be able to keep up with these steps.
Though I suspect it also helps that Linc is a good dancer himself.
He catches hold of my hand and spins me under his arm, until we're in the final position of the dance.
I step back and dip into a curtsy, smiling the whole time.
Dancing with Linc is entirely different now it doesn't matter who sees us together.
Or, more accurately, now that I know it's encouraged for people to see us.
And now our betrothal has been announced, it seems like a lot of the other men at court have been discouraged from asking me to dance, meaning that I get to spend more time with him.
Linc offers me his arm and we make our way over to one of the banquet tables for something to drink.
For a moment, I worry about Linc and the wine, but he immediately goes for one of the glasses of water.
My heart fills with hope for him. I know it isn't always going to be as easy as this for him to manage his dependence, but I'm proud of how he's doing.
I reach up and put a hand on his arm, but don't say anything. He knows how I feel about what he's trying to do, and how important it is for me to support him.
His demeanour changes as he looks behind me, though it's not entirely uncomfortable, suggesting that whoever it is he's seen isn't a foe.
I turn to find Marcus beside us. "Marcus," I say brightly.
"Beatrice," he responds. "Brother." His lips curl up into a smile as he says the word.
"You could have saved us a lot of time by addressing him like that, you know," I say.
Marcus chuckles. "So I've heard. It certainly explains a few things."
"At least everyone knows now," I say.
Marcus nods and looks around the room at the assembled guests, a thoughtful expression on his face. "My cousin certainly knows how to throw a wedding."
I frown. "Your cousin? Bastian didn't have anything to do with this. Other than get married."
"Lord Fallmartin is Marcus' cousin," Linc reminds me. "The Queen is your father's aunt."
"Oh." I frown as I try to think through my own family tree, but fail miserably. This is probably why they need the blood charts in the library to make sure people aren't accidentally related before they get married.
"How old are you?" I ask Marcus. "No, that's a rude question."
He laughs. "It's fine. I'm forty-two," he responds. "Much closer to the two of you in age than to Lord Fallmartin."
"I don't even know how old he is," I say, looking over at my father.
"I'm not sure," Marcus admits. "Do you know?" He looks at Linc.
"I've read it in one of the genealogy books, but I can't remember exactly," Linc responds. "Between three and four hundred, I think."
"That's a long time," I murmur. "So the Queen is even older?"
"No, she's a hundred and fifty," Marcus responds.
"That makes no sense," I mutter.
"It does," Linc promises. "So imagine that Bastian has a boy with Lady Ermentrude. Then in twenty years, Lord Fallmartin has another daughter. She would be the aunt of the baby despite being twenty years younger."
"Right. I think vampire math is going to give me a headache," I admit. "It's easier than reading, but I still only know the basics."
"We can work on that," Linc promises.
"You might want to get a head start on it," Marcus says. "They're preparing for a feast in twenty minutes or so."
My heart sinks. "A feast?" I look at Linc. "Didn't you say that the groom is supposed to be the one who does it?"
He goes a little pale, but manages to nod.
I look past him to where Bastian is sitting with Lady Ermentrude. She seems to have charmed him a little bit, only making me more confused about her. Maybe she's just likeable. Or she knows exactly what she's doing when it comes to my brother.
"I don't want to watch that," I say to Linc.
"You should leave now if you're going to," Marcus says. "Pretend that you just don't want to keep your hands off each other or something."
I choke on air. "I don't know what you're talking about," I manage to get out.
He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. "After what I witnessed in the library, I'd say you're lying to me."
"Nothing happened in the library," I murmur.
"Yes, because I walked in on you. If I'd been a minute later..."
"It's a weird thing for you to be thinking about," Linc says.
"I'm just being practical. You're my brother, and even if Beatrice wasn't my cousin, she hasn't got anything I'm interested in," Marcus responds.
"I don't know how to respond to that," I mutter.
"You don't have to," Marcus assures me. "But just giggle and make your way over to the exit or something. Everyone will believe you've just one off for a late-night tryst or something."
Linc clears his throat, his mind probably also straying back to us getting carried away while in the House Rothorne apartments earlier. "I'm not saying that's what we're going to do, but we are going to leave now. Maybe we can take Pip for a walk."
"Oh, yes, that would be nice."
Marcus rolls his eyes at us and says his goodbyes, disappearing back into the crowd.
"He's right, we should go," I say. "I really don't want to see Bastian kill again." And I don't want to see Linc do that when it's our turn either, but I don't know how we're going to get out of that one. It's a problem for in a few weeks' time.
"We don't have to stay," he assures me as he offers me his arm. "There are several places I'd much rather be than here."
"Same." I hook my arm through his, leaning into him and enjoying the proximity.
We make our way towards the double doors that join the ballroom to the entrance hall, and I feel like our escape is just within reach.
"Beatrice."
I freeze in place, not wanting to run into my father at this particular point in time. He's the one who sent me outside during the feast at the Golden Moon. He can't be surprised that I don't want to witness this one either.
"I can't ignore him," I murmur to Linc. As much as I wish I could ignore Lord Fallmartin, I don't think it's wise to, especially if I want to get out of the ballroom without attending the feast.
"Then don't. I'm right here," Linc assures me.
I nod and turn around slowly to find Lord Fallmartin approaching. I resist the urge to reach for Linc's hand and stand my ground.
Lord Fallmartin checks around to make sure it's only the three of us within earshot.
"I know you might have some distaste for the feasts, but if you want to play the game of politics, then I would highly suggest turning yourself around and getting back in there," he says. "That goes for you too, Your Highness."
"It's not my pleasure, Lord Fallmartin," Linc says.
My father sighs. "I understand that. But you've been here for five years, you should know by now that succeeding at court is all about appearances. I'm not saying that you have to partake, but you should at least be seen to witness the feast."
"And when it's our turn?" I ask. "If we go back in there now, you'll expect us to do this ourselves."
Linc shoots me a worried glance, probably thinking that it isn't wise for me to say something like that to my father. I suppose that's fair. I probably wouldn't have a week ago. But after our latest conversations, I feel like it's safer to say what I'm thinking than to avoid it.
"I'm sure something can be arranged so you can avoid it. Perhaps the excuse that Prince Lincoln isn't his father's heir will do the trick. I'll see what I can do if you get back in there now."
"Why?" Linc asks, stepping forward. "Why help us?"
Lord Fallmartin almost looks as if he's about to sigh.
"Because the more power you have at court, the more power I have at court," he responds bluntly.
"And I can only wield that power if you trust me.
So, yes, Your Highness. I will help you, and I will help my daughter, because it is in the best interest of my House to do so. "
"And if we don't go back in there? Will you make us do the feast as punishment?" I ask.
"No."
The answer surprises me, and it must show on my face.
"If the two of you have to engage in a feast, the entire court will end up knowing how you feel about them, and that would be bad for the appearances of both of our Houses.
So no, I won't make you do it. But I do still advise you to go back in there and watch your brother's.
You have about five minutes to make up your minds.
" He doesn't wait for either of us to say anything and walks off, presumably to get something else ready.
"What do we do?" I ask, my voice cracking.
"I don't know," Linc responds. "I suppose it depends on whether you believe him when he says he'll try and make sure we don't have to do it."
"I think so." I glance back into the ballroom. "He's right, it wouldn't look good if we were made to do it. So I think he's telling the truth."
"Then what do we gain by going back in there now?"
"Power, I guess." I take a deep breath. "I don't want to be a piece other people are moving for their own gains."
"I know. That's why you came to the library that first day."
"I want to play the game. And maybe if we play it right, no one will have to do a feast." I bite my bottom lip, hardly believing that I'm on the verge of passing up another private moment with Linc to watch something I hate.
"You sound like you've made up your mind."
I nod. "I think it's time for us to start learning how to play the game."
"And you think Lord Fallmartin is the best person to learn from?"
"No. I think we need to learn from everyone," I respond.
For a moment, I think he's going to say no. And if he does, I'm not going to push it. At this point, we're in this together.
"I'm in," he says slowly, reaching out to take my hand in his.
I meet his gaze, feeling an overwhelming sense of the possibilities lying ahead of us. Perhaps this is going to be a mistake, but I don't think so.
It's time for us to step outside the history books and learn exactly how things work at court, so that when we have the chance, we can change the things we want to, and let the rest crash and burn.
* * *
Thank you for reading Rite of Blood and Masks, I hope you enjoyed it!