33. Nicholas
33
Nicholas
I watched Nora’s obvious scramble to flee my presence after Marco had too boldly inferred our interaction meant something greater. My fists curled at my sides, and I’d be lying if I said my pride didn’t take a slap across the face at her immediate dismissal of receiving my attention.
“On edge, that one,” Marco commented, still watching her scurry out of the gardens and through the open alcove.
Anger in the form of a cornered wild animal clawed its way to the surface, readying to snap the chains that bound it and pounce on Marco. I went to speak, but years of careful calculation had me second guessing every spiteful retort that wanted to spew his way.
He turned to face me again, reading the unmistakable irritation dancing across my eyes. “Why, Nicholas, I’ll be.” He dropped his hands to his hips in a lazy bounce.
“What?” I ground out.
“You like her,” he stated.
“Don’t be absurd,” I said abruptly, nudging his arm with unrestricted force as I barged past him.
His laughter reminded me how uneasily deterred he was when he found something of interest as he chased after me, taking the steps two at a time to come before me again. “Hey, I’m sorry.”
I halted, not just because he now blocked my path, but because that sort of genuine expression didn’t come from him often. Acknowledging that I accepted his apology would admit his actions had indeed sparked a reaction from me, one which I’d yet to find a way to explain. Best to dismiss it entirely, revealing nothing.
“Was this your first time meeting her?” Dropping his voice so any surrounding guards couldn’t overhear was uncharacteristically thoughtful. He crossed his arms, probing me with his eyes for an answer.
I took a deep breath, averting my gaze. Taking in my bottom lip between my teeth, I considered how to respond. Any discussion we had would prolong my return, which would make Ricks possibly combust, but it would also give me a few more minutes of peace before taking to the dance floor.
“No, it wasn’t. We had our introduction at the first luncheon where she attended as a chaperone.”
“Oh, so off limits, then.”
“Actually, no. She’s an attendee tonight.”
“Well, that’s…an unusual approach?” He crooked his eyebrow. “So she’s in the running? And you’re interested?”
“No. I mean yes, but I…” Was she in the running? Did she want to be? Judging from her reactions, it certainly didn’t seem like it. That thought made something like longing root low in my gut.
“I didn’t realize it was such a complicated question.” Marco smirked.
“I don’t know. I don’t think she wants to be.” My gaze followed the path she’d essentially left in smoke from her blazing escape.
“Do you want her to be?”
My attention snapped back to him. Staring into his cerulean blue eyes, a trait shared by our lineage, I saw the weight behind his question. He asked it not only to hear the answer himself, but for me to have an answer to give.
I wanted to say yes. Wanted to admit how refreshing our conversations had been, how it felt like she was the only honest person in that whole gods damned castle. No facade, only raw reactions…Like the one when she’d found quick reason to excuse herself. “It doesn’t matter what I want.”
I pushed past him again, this time with less brute force. He didn’t try to stop me this time.
The doors to the ballroom were the tallest in the castle, rounding to a dome top that sat nearly twenty feet high. Still, it felt like I had to squeeze myself through them, the pressure of each of these events growing stronger. Dancers still paraded on the dance floor with beautiful grace and symmetry, and guilt summoned its own presence. I should have been here, watching. All these ladies craved for a second of my attention, and I’d missed dozens of their dances.
Ricks’s fiery gaze speared me from across the room, and even the reinforced formal uniform couldn’t stop it from razing my skin. I’d definitely be hearing about my absence later.
When the orchestra’s song quieted to its finish, I strode through the center of the room, across the polished floor, to the red-faced man doing his best to keep himself together. “I’m here for my first dance, Counselor. I’m sure you’ve had time to decide which lovely lady will give me the honor.” With a dip of my head, I spun on my heel, bringing myself to the center of the dance floor.
In a blur of his stocky frame in a dark blue suit similar to mine, Ricks rushed into the crowd, retrieving his selection.
“Thank you all for your presence this afternoon. I hope the entertainment has been to your liking. I will now be honored to share a few dances.” Placing one arm in my front and my back, I bent at the waist, bowing to my guests.
A quick succession of ungraceful clacks on the tiled floor brought my attention to the lady who’d stepped forward. There was no stopping the smile that spread as I looked up to see Nora parted from the crowd. I extended my hand to her, trying to ignore how badly I wanted to feel the touch of her palm on mine.