Page 40 of Hollow Court
“Princess Rowan,” I corrected, keeping my tone light.
Galina looked away, then, focusing back on the stars above us.
“Are things really so casual in Lochlann?” Her tone was light, but it felt forced.
“Not always,” I admitted, trying to stick closely to the truth. “But I know the princess well.”
“I’m sure you do,” she muttered. “Probably nearly as well as you know half the ladies in the estate by now.”
I laughed out loud, prompting an irritable blink from her.
“No, Lina. Not like that,” I clarified. “I would never…” I trailed off because I couldn’t very well tell her Rowan was my cousin, and more like my sister, at that.
“Complicate our relationship when it’s my job to keep her safe,” I finished.
I could practically hear Rowan suppressing a laugh at the idea that I would keep her any safer than she would keep me. I was decent with a sword, but she was probably better.
“Ah, so she isn’t one of those ladies who comes to your rooms at night so you can teach them important things like how much ice to put in Lochlannian drinks?”
The corners of my mouth twisted up, and I bit back another laugh.
“Hold on now, that’s not plural. Onlyonelady did that.” I nudged her with my shoulder. “And who am I to fault her for wanting to learn about her neighbors?”
She arched a judgmental eyebrow, and I shook my head.
“She really is only a friend,” I answered. “Rowan, I mean.”
There was a charged pause before Lina spoke again.
“So more like me, then,” she offered, still looking decidedly elsewhere.
No. Not at all like you. Because I definitely never resist the urge to run my hands through Rowan’s hair or wonder what her favorite white wine tastes like on her lips.
“Exactly,” I said with a smirk.
Something indiscernible flitted behind her eyes. Then she blinked, and it was gone before I could read it.
Behind us, the music swelled to a crescendo, pulling me from thoughts that would send the nearest stuffy lord into a panic and make the ladies clutch their pearls.
“What made you leave earlier than usual?” I finally asked. “Not a fan of dancing?”
She let out an uncharacteristically wistful sigh. “Actually, I love dancing. That might have been my only incentive to stay.”
For the first time since I met her, she looked almost…sad. Which was my only excuse for what I did next.
“As it happens, so do I.” I pushed away from the stone railing, stretching out a hand for hers.
Galina’s countenance turned skeptical. “You dance?”
“Obviously.” I drawled the word. “There are dances in the villages.”
That wasn’t a lie. There were, and I had even been to them. As their laird.
She hesitated only a moment before placing her hand in mine.
It was warm despite the late-night chill, and for a little while I let myself pretend that everything was different.
FIFTEEN