At the very serious suggestion, I straightened. Dance withHarthon? Wait, Harthon danced?
“Hello, Ladymagvis—”
“Dance with you?” I repeated to Harthon, ignoring the man in front of me.
“That is what I said,” he confirmed dryly.
Hold on. “You wear jewelry,andyou dance?”
Humor flickered across his face. “Try not to faint.”
I tried to picture Harthon fluttering around on his toes and giggled. To think the battle-hardened warrior actuallydanced. Wait—since when did I giggle?
“I also dance,” the man chirped, reminding me that another bachelor was here to pester me.
“How is dancing a solution?” I asked Harthon.
He shifted closer, and I got caught up in the gold swirling amidst his dark irises. “Not just dancing, but dancing with me. It’s a solution because it’ll come across as a claim. No one would challenge me for what is mine.”
A wave of feverish heat rolled over me as the deep, assured words wrapped around my mind.No one would challenge me for what is mine.
Did I want to be Harthon’s? Hmm. I stared at the solid muscles pressing against the sleeve of his ebony jacket.
Maybe.
I probably wasn’t going to like that answer tomorrow.
“But I don’t know how to dance.” I’d never done it before. I’d stomp all over his feet like a newborn bird.
“Just follow my lead and you’ll be fine,” he reassured.
I believed him. Harthon was good at taking care of me.
“I am also a fine leader, Ladymagvis,” the party guest offered oh-so-helpfully.
Well, there was no choice, was there?
I sprung to my feet, wobbling as the room spun just so. Fingers brushed against my upper back, and I realized it was Harthon steadying me. “I don’t think my coordination will be very good,” I stated, focusing hard on walking as he led me down the platform’s steps and to the floor.
“How is that different from any other time?”
Step. Step. Step. Only three more until the floor.
I finally registered his teasing comment. “Everyone’s uncoordinated compared to you.”
Cheers sounded at our arrival, and the guests formed a wide berth around us as my limbs struggled to do what my mind said.
Three goblets of wine were probably too much.
Just like that, clarity filtered in. If I couldn’t dance sober, how would I be able to do it now? Nerves broke through the alcohol-filled haze as the musicians began another upbeat tune. My eyes ghosted around the room and landed on Edmund, who watched us with open intrigue. I looked at my dinner chair, wishing I could transport myself right back into it. If I actually were themagvis, I probably could.
Two fingers found my chin and firmly guided my attention to the sculpted face that was very close to mine. So close that if I leaned forward just a touch, our lips would meet.
“Etarla? Relax. Just move with me,” he said, guiding my hand to his shoulder and grasping my other.
Not just grasping, though, because his thumb swept across the skin there.
Then a big hand slid to my back, and even though there was a sliver of space between us, I realized that this was essentially a hug.
