“I’d love to see that,” Julian told me. “Zafir never takes care of anyone but himself.”
I couldn’t help pressing my advantage and turned tosnap my fingers at Zafir. “Oh, servant?” He looked as though he might erupt into flames. “Would you get me a drink?”
Without shifting his eyes off me, he reached out and picked up a thin glass from a servant passing with a tray. But before I could even touch it, the glass slipped from Zafir’s hand. It hit the ground in a crisp, musical shatter, scattering shards all over our sandals.
I jumped back with a slight shriek of surprise. “Watch it!”
Zafir’s voice was more snake-like than ever. “My apologies,Duchess.I must have forgotten how to use my hands properly. Servants are so clumsy, aren’t they?”
Julian roared with laughter again. “I think your attendant needs more training.”
“He does. It’s a shame this chain is still on. Otherwise I’d ask for a tour of your city. If you take me while I still have this on, Zafir would be forced to come along,” I told Julian. Was I supposed to flutter my eyelashes or speak in a sultry tone? I was no good at the art of seduction. “But it might be good for him to see how a man should treat a woman so he can get that training you were talking about.”
He laughed aloud. “That sounds like an excellent idea. Doesn’t it, Zafir?”
“No,” Zafir intoned dully. “And I still need to dust and alphabetize my books tonight. You must excuse us, Julian.” His hand closed firmly around my wrist.
“Depriving her of a party so she can watch you dust books?” Julian took hold of my other hand. “You really need to lighten up; you just got here. Pretty duchesses like Alia deserve to be treated well.”
“You’ll have to come talk to me soon,” I told Julian. “Zafir isn’t much of a conversationalist. He has so much he could learn from you.”
A cheer went up from the surrounding crowd watching the dancers as Zafir pulled on my arm so hard that Julian was forced to release me. “We’re leaving,” Zafir said gruffly.
“Please excuse us,” I told Julian sweetly, aware that he was watching us closely. “My servant seems to be forgetting his place.”
Zafir gave a thin, cold smile. “On the contrary, Your Grace, I’m fulfilling it. I’m escorting you safely home. Surely you wouldn’t deny methatduty?”
Julian opened his mouth to protest, but Zafir’s look silenced him. “Don’t worry,” Zafir said. “I’ll make sure Her Grace is cared for exactly as she deserves.”
I barely managed to wave at Julian before Zafir all but hauled me away from the firelit square. I made sure to stumble against several people along the way. I wasn’t going to leave my fate entirely up to Zafir.
“What wasthat?” I hissed the moment we were out of sight. “What’s with all the duchess nonsense?”
“I had to do something to make you seem more appealing.”
“But I don’t know anything about court protocol and he and I were getting along just fine. Now he will expect… you know… duchess things.”
“I told you I’d handle the talking. I handled it.”
“You handled it poorly. Now he’s going to expect me to act like nobility.”
“Then lie. I expect you’re good at that.”
“That’s a big lie to tell. No one will believe it. How do you expect me to pull that off?”
Zafir stopped short and his black eyes stared right through me. “Turn out your pockets,” he said coldly.
I flinched away. “Why?”
“You know why.”
Slowly, I withdrew a few of the coins I’d lifted from people when I’d stumbled into them leaving the square, but then tucked them away again before Zafir could confiscate any.
“Alia,” he growled, running his hand down his face. “Why?”
“Because seducing a rich man is far from a foolproof plan,” I spat. “This is my insurance.”
Zafir stomped down the alleyway. “It would take you years to steal enough to get back to Brisden. My plan is better. There’s no need to steal a few coins when you can be handed a fortune.”
