CHAPTER 25 #2
Liesl giggled. “Fine, Tobias and I danced twice while you were away, and he is an amazing dancer. Almost as good as you,” she said flippantly, flashing a grin at Axel. “We’ve been having a lovely time watching the others since we finished our dances.”
Two dances? Axel couldn’t remember the last time Tobias had suffered through one. He raised an eyebrow at his friend, but Tobias ignored him.
Liesl opened her mouth to continue, but an unwelcome voice joined their conversation.
“Two dances? Oh, Tobias, if you were looking for a dance partner, you should have asked me. You didn’t have to settle for a peasant.
” Lady Ilse smiled sweetly and snapped her fan open.
“I happen to be free. It would please me to provide a fitting foil to your amazing dancing. And what do you know? The last song just ended.”
Tobias swirled the liquid in his glass. “Two was enough.”
“You couldn’t spare one more?” Lady Ilse batted her eyes over her fan while Liesl wrinkled her nose and leaned toward Katy. “Not even for me?”
The hint of a curl pulled at Tobias’s mouth. “No.”
A smile and a sneer in the same evening? He must be absolutely overset by his emotions.
From the corner of his eye, Axel saw his sister’s too-bright smile approaching through the crowd. Luther trailed behind her, looking mildly disgruntled at being dragged by his arm.
“Lady Ilse!” Helena exclaimed with false cheer. “What excellent timing. You want to dance, dear Luther wants to dance, and I want a break.” She practically threw him in Lady Ilse’s direction. “Have fun.”
“But Princess Helena—” Luther protested.
“I promised Tobias that I would spend some time with him.” She spread her lips in that wide, fake smile again and latched onto Tobias’s arm. “So you should run along now.”
Luther cast a poisonous glare in his direction, but Tobias gazed back with a bland expression. “The lady has spoken.”
Lady Ilse narrowed her eyes at their group before dropping her fan and turning to Luther. “I would be delighted, naturally.” Her eyes darted to Helena. “But a lady doesn’t force herself on a man.”
Right. Lady Ilse never did that.
As soon as they were gone, Tobias dropped his eyes to Helena’s hands. Taking another sip of his drink, he asked, “Are you quite finished?”
“Ugh, yes.” She dropped his arm and took a large sideways step. “I’d rather be stuck with you than with Luther. But I’d prefer not to be stuck with you, either.”
Axel let his eyes scan the crowd while they bickered. Carolus was a fool if he thought supporting Lord Ulrich’s plans would result in a match between his son and Helena.
Short people, tall ones, colorful dresses and waving fans… Axel’s smile froze, but he forced a natural expression onto his face. He was the crown prince, and he was in perfect control.
Even if the man he’d stabbed in self-defense was no longer in the ballroom.
Casually stepping back from their companions, Axel put on a doting expression and leaned over. “Our shaggy friend is on the move,” he whispered in Katy’s ear. “If you will be fine here, I wish to check in with Bertram.”
She smiled and reached up to kiss his cheek so she could whisper back, “Be careful. Don’t do anything foolish.” As she said it, she laid his right hand on her stomach.
“Acting rashly has ever been your department, my love.” His left cheek pulled up in a small wince when her eyes tightened; he hadn’t meant to sound like he was making a jab at her deal with Fabian.
“Fear not; I’ll take care. Swords are discouraged in the ballroom, but I have two daggers cleverly concealed on my person.
I have every intention of being whole and present when this little one arrives. ”
Katy’s belly wriggled under his hand. His eyes widened as they shot to hers. “Was that—”
“The baby kicking?” Katy’s smile spread from ear to ear. “Yes.”
Axel felt his own smile broadening as she beamed up at him.
Not caring that they were on the edge of a crowded ballroom and two steps from their younger sisters, he swept her up in his arms and kissed her.
“There is not a chance in the heavens that our friends shall harm me; I do not intend to miss the delights ahead.”
~
King Steffan scowled at the door of the receiving room.
“No, I received King Fidel’s response this morning.
He has agreed to send us magic-canceling cuffs, but it will be two or three months before they arrive.
The prison does not have extras, and it will take time to prepare two sets strong enough to contain Fabian. ”
Axel couldn’t accuse the Castellian king of making excuses to put them off; Oliver had warned him it wouldn’t be quick. The magic wouldn’t last forever, even if it wasn’t being used, and Axel still had to catch the people he wanted to cuff.
“Where does that leave us tonight?” Pressing his emotions down, he raised questioning eyebrows at his father.
The king folded his left arm behind his back and began to pace, his right hand bobbing at waist-height. “If we find proof, we can arrest Ulrich at our leisure. Tonight, if he shows no sign of magic.”