Leo grinned. “They’re being led. Don’t worry. It’s almost nine. I checked the hourglass on my way into the tent. Why?”
“Just wondering how much longer I have to force this smile on my face.”
“I hate to break it to you, but the force is obvious,” Leo said dryly. “You look like Mama when she’s been at a tea too long.”
“I swear I try not to but it’s a terribly dull party.”
“Why not talk to Kate?” Leo nodded at Stella’s best friend, who stood across the tent by a table covered in rainbow-colored cakes, stacks of biscuits, and a huge mask sculpture made entirely of various fruits.
Kate chatted animatedly with a group of ladies, their colorful dresses catching the golden candlelight as they leaned toward each other to whisper. Stella normally spent most of these events at Kate’s side, but she didn’t want to be scolded for sneaking off.
Stella twisted her hands in her dress. “I’m just not feeling especially social. All anyone wants to talk about are suitors and it’s so hard to lie.”
“Then why not tell the truth?” Leo asked.
“You, Rosie, and Kate are the only ones who know and I intend to keep it that way until we’re ready to tell everyone. I’m trying to be discreet.”
Arden was supposed to marry a politically advantageous wife and, though Stella was a perfectly appropriate match, rising political tensions meant that Arden’s choice of spouse would be under extra scrutiny. They had decided together that it was best to keep their relationship private for now.
“You’re not even supposed to know anything yet,” Stella said.
Leo cocked his head to the side. “Then you should have been more discreet. I’m honestly shocked no one else has noticed. Arden is better at hiding it, but it’s written all over your face.”
Stella smacked his arm. “Mind your business. Go chase skirts.”
Leo grinned. “No chasing required. I let them come to me.”
Stella didn’t know why he had this sudden insistence on acting like a rake when he was so sensitive deep down, but she wasn’t about to confront him about it. Leo had always needed time to come to things on his own.
Several ladies at the corner of the dance floor giggled and whispered to each other, their gazes darting to Leo. He winked at them.
“You’re gross,” Stella huffed. “Someday you’re going to have to rely on something other than your handsome face and you’re not going to have anything to say.”
“That’s future Leo’s problem.” He glanced across the room at the king and queen of Jeset and their daughter. “You think I could land a princess?”
Stella laughed. “Not on your best day.”
Leo faked a wince. “Your lack of confidence wounds me.” His eyebrows shot up. “Don’t look now but your boyfriend is going to beat me to it.”
Stella whipped her head around just in time to see Arden bowand kiss the hand of the foreign princess and gesture toward the dance floor. She gracefully followed him. The crowd parted and hushed, staring at the beautiful royal duo walking to the center of the room.
Just seeing Arden with a princess in his arms was like watching a glimmer of her worst nightmare unfolding in real life.
Of course, Princess Eleria Zim of Jeset couldn’t be ugly or clumsy. She was beautiful and moved gracefully with Arden. She wore a fiery red dress woven with orange and red feathers that made her look like a phoenix.
“Who’s she supposed to be anyway?” Stella grumbled.
“Some foreign goddess? Who cares? She looks beautiful,” Leo said.
“You’re not helping,” she muttered.
Leo shrugged. “Fine, you’re on your own. I have people to see anyway.”
With that, he bumped Stella’s shoulder and sauntered over to a group of ladies who had been eyeing him for the past five minutes.
Stella turned back to the horrors of the dance floor.
Arden gave her an uneasy glance before smoothing his face into his usual charming smile as he spun the princess around the floor.
