Prince Cassius obviously saw it, too, because he jumped in. “I hope no one will be offended if we withdraw after the meal, given our exhaustion from our journey.”
“No, of course, we all understand,” Elowen assured them.
She felt regretful, however, when the couple retired soon after. Patrick approached Theo, and she saw his manner return steadily to its usual, more aloof state. Finished with her food, she rose from her seat and wandered toward Sophia, who stood alone by a table laden with enormous punch bowls.
“Enjoying the meal so far?” Sophia asked her.
“Sure,” said Elowen, pouring herself some punch. “It’s…lavish.”
Sophia said nothing, looking as distracted as Elowen felt.
Elowen’s eyes found Theo across the room, being introduced by Patrick to someone whose name she couldn’t remember but who was no doubt important. She ran back over every detail she’d ever heard about Prince Cassius and Flora’s story. Some parts she didn’t envy them, such as the danger Flora had mentioned. But it certainly made an arranged marriage to a husband who was sure of you before you’d even met feel flat by comparison.
“I’m not foolish to want romance,” she declared suddenly.
“What?” Sophia jumped a little, startled by the miniature outburst.
Elowen moderated her tone. “Is it really so ridiculous to want to be pursued by a man? A good man, I mean. A man whom you actually reallywantto…” She trailed off with a sigh. “What am I talking about? Of course it’s ridiculous.”
“It’s not,” Sophia said softly. “What daydream is more appealing than a good man being willing to overcome all obstacles to make you his?”
Elowen looked at her friend, no longer sure which man they were speaking of. But she didn’t pursue the topic, because the musicians were starting up, and Theo was making his way across the room to claim her for the first dance.
Chapter
Fourteen
Feeling illogically as though Theo had heard her complaint, Elowen took his hand without meeting his eyes.
“Do you enjoy dancing?” Theo asked her, as they took up their positions.
“Often,” she told him. She looked carefully up into his face. “It depends on the partner, of course.”
He held her gaze for so long, her heart started to speed up. When he spoke, his words caught her by surprise.
“You look beautiful tonight, Elowen.” Theo’s voice was a deep rumble. “I don’t believe I told you that when I greeted you this evening.”
Or ever. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she held them in.
“Thank you,” she managed.
She should be elated by his compliment, but her emotions were too tangled. Was he saying it because Flora had basically prompted him? Did he really admire her as the other princess claimed? Or were his own words about sacrifice, however humorously spoken, closer to the truth?
Elowen moved smoothly through the dance, her eyes focused determinedly away from her partner. She recognized the troupeof musicians. They were one of her family’s favorites for castle events. They boasted a musician-craftsman among their number, a fiddle player who used the motion of his bow to embellish the performance with sparkling flashes that danced throughout the ballroom periodically, like miniature indoor fireworks.
One burst over the head of a nearby couple, causing the woman to give a cry of delight.
“That’s a pretty trick,” Theo commented.
“Yes.” Elowen watched as a sparkling shower zoomed over their heads and dissipated.
“Is everything all right?” Theo asked her after a prolonged silence.
“Yes, I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I…was lost in thought.”
Theo pulled her close as the dance required, and her thoughts became even harder to gather as she found herself a mere couple of inches from the firmness of his chest, and felt an unyielding arm circle its way around her waist. What was wrong with her? How could she both delight secretly in his strength and confidence, and also be irked that he wastooconfident of her?
“What’s troubling you?” Theo tried again, as he spun her out away from him. Extremely familiar with the dance, Elowen performed the step with graceful ease. She drew in a relieved breath as the distance loosened her mind a little, allowing her to cast around for an acceptable answer other than her convoluted thoughts about him.
