Page 28 of Obsidian Throne
If Mila didn’t shift uncomfortably when she followed my gaze.
I darted a glance back at Katerina, and something twisted in my gut.
Because I had finally identified the expression hiding behind her eyes. It wasn’t the usual fear of my cursed Lochlann hair, or even the derision that came from my being the enemy.
It was jealousy.
“Mila,” I said in a low tone.
My friend’s brown eyes met mine, an uncomfortable sort of guilt stirring there, confirming everything I was already suspecting. The several scones I had consumed for lunch were threatening to make a reappearance right about now.
“Mila,” I repeated her name more firmly. “Tell me that Lady Katerina is looking at me like that because she hates me for being me…and not because she has someattachmentto my husband.”
She winced. “Wish that I could, Scarlet Princess.”
I groaned, hiding my face behind my cup of tea.
Of course, Evander hadn’t been…chaste, before me. I knew that. I had a past and, logically, I knew he did, too. But it would have been nice to be prepared.
“From what I’ve heard, it wasn’t serious,” she whispered consolingly, smiling over at Lady Sidorov. “She’s actually one of the less uptight ladies of court. She’ll warm up to you.”
“Great,” I hissed back. “Perhaps we can start swapping stories and compare notes on the heir of Bear Lord.”
Mila laughed loudly before trying to cover it over with a cough. The attention in the room shifted to us as I patted her on the back, helping her work through the amusement that had lodged itself in her lungs.
She held up a hand, thanking me and assuring the room she was fine. When she looked back at me, though, her eyes still held the same level of diversion as before.
“If it makes you feel any better, Lady Sidorov has a history with Taras,” she nodded subtly toward one of the women knitting in the corner, the one she had smiled at a moment ago. “Only theirs was an actual courtship.”
“Twisted though it may be, that does make me feel a little better.” Whether it was the commiseration or the reminder that we all had our own histories, something inside me eased a bit. “Thank you, Mila.”
She raised her cup of tea in salute before taking another sip. “I am happy to oblige.”
After that, she went on to catch me up on all of the gossip she’d been hearing, filling me in on the politics at court, the newer fashions, the noble families of Bear that were clashing, and anything else she could think of.
By the time we left to prepare ourselves for dinner, I had a more insightful look into so much more of Bear than I expected. Along with a few etiquette and dinner tips that would hopefully push me over the edge of being the lowly Lochlannian royal to a proper Lady of Socair.
Well, as proper as I would ever be.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ROWAN
Ipromised myself I would not bring up Lady Katerina.
But in fairness to me, I knew it was a lie, even before Evander walked in and asked how my luncheon went.
“It was interesting,” I said, unable to keep the bite from my tone.
He raised his eyebrows, turning slightly to uncork a bottle of whiskey from the bar.
“I especially enjoyed meeting Lady Katerina.” Sarcasm laced my tone.
Evander froze with the bottle halfway tilted.
“A warning would have been nice,” I added in a more serious tone.
His gaze slowly met mine, a cautiously neutral expression on the stupidly perfect features that I was currently picturing Katerina running her elegant fingers along.