But talking to him occasionally felt like walking a tightrope as he asked questions about my village. I knew enough about Mistrun to get the basics right, but I was terrified I would stir his curiosity—and that curiosity would mean he would look closer at who I was pretending to be.
“Will you dance with me?” If he felt the tension at our table, he politely ignored it.
I blushed. “I’m not a very skilled dancer, I’m afraid.”
Across the table, Madinia snorted her agreement. I turned my head, and she raised one eyebrow at me.
I scowled back at her. “Yes, I’ll dance with you,” I said, and Peiter held out his hand.
Sliding my hand into his, I followed him into the smaller ballroom attached to the dining hall. The musicians were playing a lively tune.
“Will you teach me the steps?”
Delight danced across Peiter’s face. “Of course.”
He raised our joined hands, sliding his other hand to my waist.
He led me through the steps, never wincing when I turned the wrong way or stepped on his toes. When he twirled me, I laughed.
The sound shocked me. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed.
My stomach twisted. Asinia was huddled in a freezing cell, and I was dancing just floors above her.
“You’re beautiful,” Peiter said.
I attempted a smile, and he slowed our steps. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I said.
Couples whirled behind us, and I froze. Was that…Marth?
Peiter followed my gaze. “Are you sure nothing is wrong?”
I beamed at him with everything I had. “I’m sure.”
I glanced over Peiter’s shoulder. My gaze met Lorian’s. He wore a dark scowl as he watched me, and I raised one eyebrow.
He couldn’t possibly be…jealous?
After the next dance, I thanked Peiter and laughingly begged for relief, insisting my feet were aching. He gave a mock sigh but let me go, leading me to the side of the room and gesturing to a servant for a cup of wine.
“Promise me one more dance after you’ve rested, and I’ll leave you to recover.” I nodded, and Peiter grinned at me, turning to stride away.
More and more village representatives had begun arriving today. The queen was sitting at the royal table, speaking to one of the courtiers as she watched some of the villagers make fools of themselves with her husband’s wine. She’d declared all the dancing a waste of time, and today, she had finally decreed that her ladies didn’t need to suffer just because she was and we could go to bed when we were tired. I could count on one hand the number of decent things she had done since I had met her, but that was one of them.
“Enjoying yourself?”
I whirled. “Marth.” I had seen him.
He sidled up next to me, a cup of wine in his own hand as he watched the dancing. His hair had been darkened as well, and he looked tired.
“What are you doing here?” I’d missed him ridiculously. In fact, I was struggling not to beam at him.
He grinned at me, but his eyes turned to ice when Sabium walked past. It was strange seeing malevolence on Marth’s face. He was the lewd one. The one who never took anything seriously. Except bedding women.
“Serving my prince. What else?”
“Mm-hmm. Well, I—” My heart stopped.
Marth followed my gaze. “Who is that?”
I stared at the handsome man with the wide shoulders and the grin that invited you to grin right back. My mouth had gone so dry, I could barely get the words out.
“Prisca?”
“His name is Thol. I’d thought maybe I’d see his father here, but not…”
My heart cracked as I watched Thol dance. Watched him laugh. Watched him lift another woman’s hand—just as he’d once done to me.
“What’s wrong?” Marth asked.
“Nothing.”
He followed my gaze to where Thol was now dancing, the light from the chandeliers flitting across his handsome face.
“Ah,” he said. “So that’s the way of things. He’s from your village.”
“Yes.”
Homesickness struck me like a backhanded slap as I watched Thol. Visiting the city would be the highlight of his life. When he told people back home that he’d danced in the same room as the king?
My stomach swam.
Lorian sauntered past, looking exactly like the spoiled prince he was playing. His gaze met mine, and he changed course, slipping through the crowd to stand next to Marth.
“What are you doing?” I hissed. “We shouldn’t be seen together.”