Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Lady Georgina sighed. “Well, that’s more polite than he’s ever been to me. I suppose as far as things go, he’s not the worst option in the world, and being your sister wouldn’t be too bad, either.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“You’re garnering quite the attention tonight, aren’t you? First Lord Leon, then my brother, and both me and Lady Sasha had to fend off a couple of gentlemen asking after you when you went outside. Not to mention I could swear the Grand Duke was looking at you after he entered!”
My cheeks flushed. “It’s been a while since I’ve been out in society, so people are just interested after my accident. I’m sure everyone is aware that my father is quietly putting out feelers about a match for me, even if he isn’t in a rush to secure one just yet.”
“No doubt.” She looped her arm through mine and pointed across the ballroom. “Do you see that man over there? Next to Count Varshil’s son?”
“Isn’t that Lady Sasha’s brother?”
“Yes. He’s the one man you cannot entice with your looks tonight, Lady Alicia.”
Oh.
I peered at her, noting the blush that was spreading across her face. “Why don’t you go and speak to him if you like him so much?”
“Oh, I—I can’t.” Her fingers twitched against my arm. “I’m much too shy.”
“Does Lady Sasha know?”
“No! I don’t know how to tell her.”
“Tell me what?” Lady Sasha’s head appeared between ours like she was a meerkat.
“That you have a crush on her brother, Lady Georgina?” Vivi appeared at my side with Lady Blair.
“We all know,” the latter added.
Hee hee.
Lady Georgina gasped, jerking away from us. “How—how do you—”
“You’re not very discreet about it,” Lady Sasha said, tapping her fan against her lips. “Shall I put you out of your misery and go and suggest he ask you to dance?”
“You ca—can’t!”
“Excellent idea,” I chimed in. “As his sister, you can remind him this is a perfect place to make connections with eligible young ladies, and Lady Georgina is perhaps the most eligible of us all.”
Vivi nodded. “We have such limited time as noblewomen to make a love match that we must grab it wholeheartedly, Georgina!”
“With panache,” Lady Blair added. “Use me, if you must. Lord Varshil is quite handsome and talented with the sword. If I must wear this ridiculous dress and dance, I’d rather dance with a handsome man who can swing a blade correctly.”
My sentiments exactly.
Although I was beginning to see the charm in a pretty ballgown.
I’d been a very big princess fan when I was a child in my past life.
Now I could sort of act like one.
“Although,” Lady Blair said, peering over at the elevated area where the Imperial Royals were sitting. “I do like a bad boy.”
“I hope you’re not looking at the Crown Prince when you say that.” Vivi giggled. “Gosh, isn’t it strange when you look at them? The Grand Duke barely looks like a part of the family at all.”
“There you are.” My father’s voice interrupted me right as I was about to look over there. “Where have you been, Alicia? You must greet His Majesty.”
“Oh, sorry, Father. I needed some fresh air.” I took the hand he offered me and glanced at the ladies. “I’ll be back soon.”
Father swept me across the ballroom without looking back. “It’s good that you’ve made friends with those ladies. Did I see you speaking with Lord Ezra earlier?”
“I was on the terrace when he stepped out for some air,” I replied as we joined the line waiting to greet the Imperial Family.
“What do you think of him?”
Ah-ha. I was right—Father did consider him an option for me.
“He made quite the impression,” I said vaguely. “He said he will visit me later this week at the house.”
Father nodded slowly. “It would be an advantageous match to connect the Vermillion and Alansia families together by marriage. Your mother’s family would also approve such a match.”
I peered up at him. There were very few memories left behind from the original owner of this body of times where he’d spoken about his first wife and her… er, my… mother. All I knew about her was that she was the first daughter of the late Duke Lovett, a house once famed for its ability to wield great divine power, something that had linked them closely to the temple for generations.
“Do you think so?” I asked. “Lord Leon Trelawney also asked me for a dance earlier.”
“Another good option. Very well. If you’re agreeable to it, I could seek an audience with both dukes and see if they would be amenable to discussing a possible engagement for you.”
I glanced forwards and once again found my gaze trapped in a vibrant purple sea of coolness that, when next to the rest of his family, seemed different.
Gold.
It was almost as if there was a ring of gold around Kalon’s irises, one that flecked dreamily into the purple.