Chapter 10
“You do realizethat if you want anyone to believe this ruse, you’ll have to pretend you can stand being in my presence,” Reyn said through her smile. Her fingers were talons digging into Velario’s forearm as they walked through the park.
“And you’ll have to pretend to have a little sense so that people will believe I can stand being in your presence.”
“Nonsense.” She looked at him through long, golden lashes. “I’m beautiful. Everyone knows that if a woman has beauty, she doesn’t need sense to attract suitors.”
Velario wished he could laugh at this bit of conceit, but he knew it wasn’t conceit on her part. Beauty could be as much of a hindrance as plainness, forcing a person down a path they wouldn’t have chosen given their druthers. Reyn did not sound pleased by the thought of only being valued for her looks. She sounded resigned.
He supposed he had made the mistake of judging her for her looks himself, but she had reinforced the impression every time he saw her. She positioned herself to the best advantage, posed, flirted, and all around acted like she lived by her appearance alone.
Maybe he had misjudged her. Maybe.
“You might attract suitors the way you’ve been going on, but you aren’t likely to keep them that way. You realize in this ploy we will not be standing around in ballrooms flirting.”
“I am aware. We aren’t flirting; we are courting. So smile for once.”
Velario had to admit that, except for the way she dug her nails into his arm, Reyn was doing a far better job of maintaining the ruse than he was. He smiled. “And what are we supposed to talk about while I am courting you?”
Reyn batted her eyelashes. “Who says we have to speak? I’ll stare adoringly at you, you won’t be able to tear your eyes off me, and everyone will believe what we want them to see.”
“Is this your version of adoring? It looks like you have something caught in your eye.”
She tilted her head back and laughed, a fake little titter, while her non-clawed hand patted his arm. “Velario, you say the strangest things.”
Her eyes darted to the side, and he followed her gaze to notice the trio approaching them. Right. Time to put on a convincing show. He patted her hand—and tried to ease her nails out of his arm—and checked that his smile was still in place. “Reyn, you should know by now that I only speak the truth.”
Fideo Dachsi and Giorden and Alenna Somera greeted them warmly. Fideo and Giorden had eyes only for Reyn, but Alenna regarded Velario long enough to make sure he saw her smug look. He’d have been more annoyed by her now thinking that she had judged his interest in Reyn correctly at the Sablon’s soiree, if he didn’t still feel guilty over the conversation he’d had with her while dancing.
“What a surprise seeing you two out here,” Fideo said.
Giorden nodded. “I swear, Lord Velario, you never have the time to take a walk around the park.”
“Neither does our sister,” Alenna added, “but even the heirs of Families occasionally need a day off.”
“We probably need a day off more than anyone,” Velario agreed. “We just aren’t likely to take it.”
Reyn made a chiding noise. “Velario wouldn’t even be out here now if I hadn’t begged him. He doesn’t remember to take care of himself. Luckily for him, I can be very convincing.”
Velario bit back a retort and focused on maintaining his smile. People had to believe he was smitten enough that he would drag Reyn along with him as he completed bank business, but he didn’t want to ruin his reputation either. It irked him that people who knew him well might believe he would fall for her superficial charms.
“I don’t doubt it, Lady Reyn,” Fideo said. “Be sure to convince him to attend the Dachsi musicale. My cousin will be thrilled to boast of his presence—and when she is thrilled, everyone in the Family is happier.”
Velario rolled his eyes. “I regularly attend Lady Dachsi’s musicales. Aunt Biatra makes me.”
“You missed the last one.”
“Which means my aunt won’t let me miss another.”
“Why don’t we save Princess Biatra the effort?” Reyn said, her voice bright and entrancing. “Promise you’ll attend the next one now, and Master Fideo can inform Lady Dachsi.”
Velario would attend the next musicale, he knew that, but he didn’t want to let Reyn have the last word. “I’ll go if you sing at Lady Dachsi’s musicale.”
His gambit failed miserably. Reyn brightened, a remarkable feat considering how cheery she had been acting, but he could tell this was genuine excitement. “She doesn’t hire performers? Fideo, you must ask her to let me play and sing at the next one.”
“She’ll be delighted to put you on the program, I’m sure.”
She would, Velario realized. Reyn was popular, and if her speaking voice was anything to go by, she’d enchant the entire audience when she sang. The spiteful part of him hoped she overestimated her own ability and would embarrass herself, but she was too aware of how any act might impact her popularity to make such a mistake. And too vain to perform in front of the cream of Lhanaperan society without the certainty she would amaze them.
