She lifted her own wineglass in greeting. “This hiding spot is taken.”
“I’m not hiding,” I replied—perhaps a little too quickly.
Her lips twitched. “You’re like a rabbit cowering from a pack of hounds.”
I wasn’t sure who should be more offended: me or my female admirers.
“A brave, handsome rabbit who’s merely taking a quick rest before leading the hounds on a merry chase again,” I said.
She laughed. Well, it was more of a snort, really. Entirely unladylike and incredibly intriguing. I gave her a closer look. She was older than I, her brown hair pulled back modestly into a beaded netting. People always said she was more timid than a mouse, but perhaps she had them fooled just like I did.
“And who areyouhiding from?“ I asked.
She gestured to the entire party. “Everyone. If I have to hear one more person brag about their enormous estates or priceless family heirlooms, I…” She shook her head. “I might just snap and beat someone to death with an appetizer tray.”
“Really? You don’t want to hear a rich lord boast about swindling an old widow out of her lands?”
“Ugh.” She gulped her drink. “At least the wine is good.”
“It is, isn’t it?” I gazed appreciatively at the glass. “A nicely complex palate. Not too dry. The notes of tropical fruit and honey aren’t overpowering. It’s surprisingly refreshing.”
“Very eloquent. I was just going to say it tastes good and is giving me a smooth buzz.”
I smirked. “That’s true, too.”
She took another slow sip from her glass, closing her eyes and savoring it. I didn’t mean to stare, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“Huh.” She opened her eyes and gazed at the glass. “I thought your little speech was bullshit, but you actually described it perfectly.”
I raised my glass in acknowledgement. Women had been flattering me all night, but Lady Celestine’s “not full of bullshit” was my favorite compliment.
“You’re not a wine connoisseur, I take it,” I said.
“I like wine. Good wine, anyway. It goes well with cheese.”
“Cheese?”
“Nothing’s better than cheese,” she said with a glowing smile. “It’s mankind’s greatest invention.”
I suddenly wanted to enjoy a bottle of wine and charcuterie board with her—but not here at this awful party. Someplace quiet. Private. Like the balcony of my chateau.
“Well, if you think this is good, just wait for the dessert wine.”
“Oh?” she asked.
“It’s decadent. Tullus is a filthy lecher, but he has an amazing wine cellar.”
I froze. Apparently, the wine had loosened my tongue.
“My apologies,” I said stiffly. “I shouldn’t have insulted our host.”
Lady Celestine just grinned. “The drunken, mud-sucking pig currently creeping on a woman less than half his age? A lecher? How shocking.”
I followed her gaze and found that Tullus had cornered none other than Florina. She leaned away from him, eyes desperately scanning the crowd for someone to come to her aid. Her sister was nowhere in sight.
I’d be a poor knight if I didn’t rescue the maiden.
“Excuse me,” I said to Lady Celestine.
