Revolting.
“I suppose that is why King Maximus chose you instead of any old witch girl,” he continued, giving me a sweeping look that was far too bold for my comfort.
My silence did not deter him.
“Take for example, that seamstress. Pretty, but rude.”
I flicked my eyes to him. “How do you know Giselle?”
Dominic shrugged and smiled. The combination would have disarmed anyone else. “Bumped into her this morning. She gave me a tongue-lashing, that one. I’m sure you would have treated me better.”
I ignored his wink. “What are you saying, Mr. Turner?”
He raised his brows at my curt tone, perhaps realizing that I would not melt into a puddle at his feet like Isabelle. He leaned forward so his breath tickled my ear. “That you aren’t a witch. Not at all.”
I laughed.
Dominic drew away. “You laugh because I’m right. They say you have a way with animals, but you do not.”
“How could you possibly know that?” I asked, curious at how he could make that ridiculous claim with such confidence.
“You screamed this morning. At the snake.” A self-satisfied smirk spread over his face as I processed the information.
The scream was Flannery’s, but it was certainly high enough to have been mistaken for mine. Isabelle hadn’t sent the snake. Dominic had. But why?
“You mean to say you drew your conclusion at an unidentified scream?” I said coldly.
He merely dipped his head.
I narrowed my eyes. His stupidity and boldness combined was appalling. “You overstep your boundaries, sir. Are you not afraid by confessing to me, I will tell the crown prince? And thereby King Maximus?”
Dominic chuckled. “Surely they don’t expect the whole kingdom to believe they want the future queen to be a witch,” he said, spitting out the last word. “This tour is but a show, is it not, Lady Narcissa? To silence those who have a right to complain?”
“Your words are starting to sound treasonous,” I said as he let me go for a spin.
He reeled me back in with more force than necessary. “You are but a pawn in their game, Narcissa,” Dominic said softly. His expression was hungry. “It’s not too late to leave all this. Don’t you see how the crown prince treats you? He didn’t even want you for the first dance. Perhaps he doesn’t want you at all. You’re untrustworthy after what happened last summer—no one will have you except me. I can take you away and make it seem like an accident.”
I tightened my grip on his hand. His knuckles cracked under the pressure. “Is that a threat, Mr. Turner?” I had the satisfaction of seeing him wince.
“No. Merely an offer,” Dominic said with a pained smile.
The song ended. On the last step, I dug my heel hard into the toe of his boot. He yelped.
“Apologies,” I said, brandishing a low curtsy. My velvet skirts flared out onto the marble. “Perhaps I’m not asrefinedandelegantas you think.”
I swept off and adjusted my gloves, shuddering. Dominic was as insolent as ever. The way he looked at me made my skin crawl. I thought back to this morning with newfound unease. Had he been there in the hallway, hiding and waiting for a reaction?
I didn’t have time to dwell on it further as several guests approached me with greetings. I pasted on a smile and engaged in the pleasantries, though I wanted nothing more than to retreat to my room after being leered at and jostled around the dance floor. The night passed making mindless conversation with different families. Some looked wary, but most others seemed charmed enough.
The grandfather clock chimed ten when Ulysses found me sipping a glass of champagne near the refreshments table.
“Heavens, Lady Narcissa! Where have you been all this time?”
I squinted up at the steward. A sheen of sweat peppered his brow despite the cold. “Talking with the guests. Did you not want me to make a good impression?”
“I meant with His Highness, not alone!” Ulysses polished his spectacles on his waistcoat and put them on, perhaps so he could glare at me better. “Have you at least danced with him?”
I shook my head. “Couldn’t find him,” I mumbled, looking down at my champagne. Was it my second or third?
