Chapter 3 #2
His father sighed and shook his head. “I thought you may enjoy a break during these things, but you seem to handle them better than me.”
A pang hit Gabriel’s chest, and his voice was soft when he spoke. “I simply haven’t been doing them as long as you, Father. I suppose I do tire of them, though I’m sure I’ll be just as weary of them as you when I get to your age.”
“Perhaps.” His father stamped out the cigarette then heaved himself up from the chair. “Let’s go back.”
“Of course.” For the first time, Gabriel had a sense of his father’s age. He looked exhausted, and tired of everything political on top of that. “Do you need me to talk to any of the Ministers? I’m happy to do it.”
His father clapped him a few times on the back. “No, my son, but thank you for the offer. We only need to stay an hour or so longer, I can handle them.”
Gabriel nodded, but kept an eye on his father after they reentered the ballroom. His father had reapplied his ‘public’ face and seemed fine, but Gabriel knew he wasn’t.
Those thoughts had Gabriel’s eyes drifting across the ballroom, searching for Genevieve. He nearly missed her on the dance floor, but a flash of silver caught the light and he found her dancing in the arms of another man.
They’d only barely met yet he didn’t like the thought of someone else knowing the feel of her in a dance. Was that archaic? Perhaps. But it was also honest.
He walked around the ballroom, nodding to people as he passed, an easy smile on his face, while he tracked her from the side of his eyes.
He spotted his sister Agnes, the youngest of them all, up ahead, watching the dancers.
Fortune was favoring him tonight it seemed, as now he could ask his sister to dance and watch Genevieve even more closely from the dance floor.
“Sister dear.”
She smiled up at him, her dark hair looking a bit windswept from a night of dancing. “Eldest brother dear.”
He smirked at her nickname for him. “I see you’re finally without a partner. Would you care for a dance? I’ve been waiting all night for a turn about the floor with you.”
She laughed, her voice smooth and rich, just like their mother’s. “No, thank you. You’ll have to tell Father you failed.”
Only little sisters could annoy a man like this. “While it is true that Father asked me to dance with you, I asked because I want to, not because he does.”
She nodded. “Very well said. I approve.”
He sighed and bumped his arm with hers, then nodded at the dance floor. “Come on then.”
“I actually want to take a break from dancing, thank you all the same.”
“Are you tired? You could probably leave early. I’ll make your excuses.”
She shook her head, but didn’t elaborate.
He followed her gaze to the dance floor, towards one couple dancing. Then his eyes flitted to Genevieve again, before going back to his sister. “Watching someone in particular?”
She blushed. “No, of course not.”
“It’s okay if you are.”
“I’m not.”
“As you say.”
“I’m not!”
He merely quirked an eyebrow at her and she blushed harder.
“You know there’s nothing wrong with liking someone.”
“I know.”
“Even loving someone.” He thought of Genevieve again but resisted looking.
“I know,” Agnes said softly.
“Perhaps…they don’t like you back?”
She pursed her lips but didn’t say anything.
He nodded, understanding. “Men are often fools, as you well know with four older brothers and a father.”
She was silent for a moment, then shifted her stance slightly as she sighed. “The heart is the biggest fool of all.”
“You can choose to focus on someone else, someone who deserves you.” Though he wasn’t sure that he believed his own words. Had he been able to focus on anyone besides Genevieve tonight?
“My mind might, but my heart isn’t ready for that yet.”
As the dance ended, everyone clapped. He watched Genevieve being led off the dance floor.
Yes, the heart was indeed a fool.
As couples took to the floor for the next dance, Ferdinand approached them, his face smiling and his gait carefree. As the second son, he had reason for it. Their father rarely called on him for royal duties, though he was still technically in the Army so had a reason for avoiding them.
Gabriel nodded towards the floor. “You looked happy with your dance partner.”
Ferdie merely smirked. “Jealous?”
“Hardly. I’ve danced plenty tonight myself, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“I think you like her,” Agnes teased. “Leticia, wasn’t it?”
Ferdie scoffed and crossed his arms, taking position beside Gabriel to watch the dancers as the next song started. “I don’t like her. I mean, she was a perfectly lovely dancer. But that’s all. There’s nothing between us.”
“Second eldest brother,” Agnes said with a mischievous smile, then paraphrased Shakespeare, “you protest too much.”
Gabriel chuckled.
Ferdie scowled at him. “What are you laughing at?”
“Careful,” Gabriel warned. “We don’t want anyone to think you’re actually upset with me or even Agnes.”
Ferdie schooled his features; he hated the ‘public’ persona as much as they all did. “Wasn’t Father pestering you to get married just before the ball?”
“He’s always ‘pestering’ me, as you put it, about something or other. What of it?”
“So you’ll probably make it down the aisle before me.”
“Even if I were to get engaged,” and damn if his thoughts didn’t go to Genevieve again, “I’d need to wait a year after the engagement to marry due to a law. You or one of our other siblings could get engaged and even married in that time.”
“It’s true. I could get married first, before all of you,” Agnes quipped.
“No, you will not,” Gabriel and Ferdie said together. They glanced at each other, nodded, then returned to watching the dance.
Agnes sighed. “You’re both just as bad as Father.”
“Worse,” they both replied together again, then chuckled.
“You know what, I’m going to go casually bump into Leticia, and let her know how favorably you’ve been speaking of her.”
As Agnes walked away, Ferdie spluttered to come up with a response to stop her.
Gabriel put a hand on Ferdie’s arm to keep him from following her. “Leave her be. You know she won’t do much damage.”
“But what if the lady expects things from me?”
“Is that such a terrible thing?” He again thought of Genevieve, and sought her out on the dance floor but didn’t find her.
“It could be.”
“Didn’t you like her? Leticia and her family are known to be the decent sort, and supportive of the monarchy.”
“I did like her. That’s the problem.”
Gabriel chuckled again. “Sorry, but I can’t help it. It seems my little brother is all grown up and falling in love.”
“Who said anything about love?” Ferdie said immediately. “I like her. That’s all. It was only a few dances.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Nothing will come of it. She’s seeing someone else, I believe.”
“Not if she danced with you three times. You know the gossip columns will be talking about it tomorrow.”
“Fucking vultures.”
Gabriel glanced around but no one seemed to be nearby or have heard him. “They are. But you should consider something else, too.”
“What’s that?”
He caught sight of Corrado and signaled to him. “You should consider the fact that the lady likely knows what accepting three dances meant, which means she probably likes you too.”
“Like me or my title?”
He reached over to squeeze Ferdie’s shoulder. “That’s something you’ll need to figure out for yourself. There are still a few more dances tonight, you know. Perhaps you should make use of them.”
“Didn’t you just tell me I’d already danced with her too much?”
“Exactly. So one more dance will hardly make a difference, will it?” With a final shoulder squeeze, he walked away, meeting Corrado halfway.
“Sir.”
“Do you know if Miss Ruffin has left?”
“I’ll discreetly check with the security staff, Sir.”
“She may have left with her friend, Miss Kaur. Also, Miss Kaur’s family are hosting a dinner. I believe we may have initially declined, but I think I’ll attend. Make the arrangements.”
“Yes, Sir. I’ll take care of it. I believe Princess Agnes also received an invitation, though I don’t know if she’s attending. I’ll confirm with her office tomorrow. Let me check on Miss Ruffin for you.”
While Gabriel waited for Corrado’s return, he caught sight of his father speaking with a Council member in a corner of the ballroom. The Council were always up to something, and he had a feeling he’d find out what soon.
When Corrado returned and confirmed she and Miss Kaur had left, he merely nodded and thanked him.
For the rest of the night, his mind kept going back to Genevieve, and the feeling of her in his arms, and the sadness and resolve in her eyes.
Would she welcome the sight of him at the Kaur’s banquet? Or would she glare at him with disdain? He couldn’t wait to find out.
GENEVIEVE
Gen had barely opened the front door when her mother’s heels came clicking down the hallway at a furious speed.
“Where have you been?”
Gen was exhausted, her feet hurt, and all she wanted was a bath and a long sleep. Still, she managed to keep her features neutral under her mother’s critical glare. “I was at the ball, mother.”
“Balls do not last this long. Now where were you? And who took you? I didn’t give you leave to use my vehicle. Nor did I approve what you wore.” She gave Gen a sneering look over. “That dress is not at all appropriate for such an event. What must people have said?”
To keep from yelling, Gen counted to three before responding.
“To answer your questions, the dress was actually well received and there were several ladies there in similar styles, as I’m sure you’ll see when they report on the event in the news tomorrow.
Regarding the length of the ball, it was still going when I left.
Even the king was still in attendance, as were some of his children. ”
Her mother grabbed her arm with such force that Gen was sure it would leave a bruise on her pale skin. “Did you dance with him?”
“The king did not dance with anyone but his wife and daughter.”