He positioned himself near the wall and watched the gathering. Music rolled through the disguised loudspeakers on the walls. The rhythm was brisk and familiar. The dancers were making a hash of it on the floor: some tried to dance according to the Weird’s customs; others were attempting a Broken waltz. George was whisked away almost instantly by a young girl with too much mascara and a prom gown that put her square into Broken territory rather than that of the Weird. As soon as the dance ended, another candidate, this one at least three years older, stepped up to claim his attention.
Morell wanted a court. He wanted a taste of the upper-crust life—blueblood or those who reached their status by merit, he didn’t particularly care. He had a beautiful castle, but the means by which he’d obtained it would get him barred from most polite gatherings across realms. So he made his own court. He invited his neighbors, robbers, added a few attractive young people with ambitions and an eye toward climbing the social ladder, and lured the lords and ladies of the Weird and movers and shakers of the Broken with promises of fine art that couldn’t be bought anywhere else. Now they sized each other up, and Morell watched the culture clash with great amusement.
There was an odd mix of extravagance and ironic self-awareness in the entire affair. For a man who liked to watch other people, the ballroom was paradise. Kaldar couldn’t recall the last time he was so entertained.
Morell watched his guests as well, moving from one group to the next until he finally reached him. Kaldar bowed. The baron inclined his head. A moment later, George was released by his latest dance partner and approached them.
“You don’t dance, Master Brossard?” Morell asked.
“I’m afraid it’s not one of my better skills.”
“Nonsense,” George said. “You’re an excellent dancer, Olivier.”
What the hell is the kid up to? “Most of the gathering is above my station,” Kaldar said.
“What about that lady in green?” George made a barely perceptible nod toward Audrey. “Didn’t we escort her on our way in? She was looking for her mistress . . .”
“She was barely on her feet. I doubt she is capable of dancing.”
“Oh, come on, Brossard.” Morell grinned at him. “You should dance. In fact, I insist that you enjoy yourself. And the lady in green seems like a perfect candidate. She is a companion to a lady from the South. They are born to dance. I know for a fact that dance classes are a mandatory part of their education.”
Kaldar sighed. It kept him from grinding his teeth. Morell wasn’t testing him. He was testing Audrey. “Very well.”
He circled the floor, stopped before Audrey, and bowed. “A dance, my lady?”
She would never accept. His brain feverishly tried to find some sort of explanation to deflect Morell’s suspicions.
A hand touched his. He glanced up and saw Audrey smiling. “Master Brossard, is it? I would be delighted.”
He straightened and led her to the floor. “You were supposed to shoot me down.”
“You think I can’t dance?”
He stepped into position, waiting for the music to start. “We have to dance a Weird dance with Morell watching, because dancing is supposed to be part of your education.”
“Lucky for you, it was. I took lessons from an Edger who taught me Weird dances. I can tango, too.”
“Lucky for me?”
“You put me into this mess. I would’ve been perfectly happy just sneaking into the castle.”
“And being shot. Try to keep up.”
“I told you, I took lessons. As long as you don’t start doing the cajun stomp, we’ll be fine.”
“Cajun stomp?”
“You heard me, swamper. And keep your hands to yourself.”
He would have to have a talk with Cerise about how much she was telling Audrey about the Mire and him.
The music shot from the speakers, a solo by a melodious male voice followed by an aggressive rhythm and a fast melody, spiced with splashes of exotic sound. Morell, you bastard. It was a hell of a dance.
Kaldar shifted his position, pulling her to him, her back to his chest, his hands on her arms. Other dancers had started, and he was giving her a moment to watch them. “This is the aliya. We go fast, then we go slow, circling each other. Watch the other couples and follow my lead, and we’ll be fine. Ready?”
“Bring it.”
He launched them across the floor. She followed him, obeying the cues of his body, light on her feet and graceful. They parted, they came together, aggressive, passionate, and he realized that she knew the dance and was brilliant at it.
They flew across the floor again, fast, then stopped for another pass.
He paused as she circled him, one hand up, the other bent.
“Marry me,” he said.
“No.”
He spun her, pulling her to him, and they circled each other again. “I’ll buy you a house.”
“Not interested.”
The music sped up, and they glided across the floor. “I love you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do. Dip coming in three, two . . .”
She leaned back, parallel to the floor. He barely had to hold her. Kaldar ran his hand two inches above her body and lifted her into position. The temptation to touch her almost made him lose all sense. “I’ll be a good husband.”
“Lies.”
“I’ll be monogamous.”
“Ha! Maybe I won’t.”
“Being with anyone else would be slumming.”
“For you or me?”
“Both.”
She gripped his shoulder, mimicking the other couples. He pulled her closer by her waist. In his head, they were naked.
“I made fun of you. You decided that you should marry to keep up with your family.”
He spun her about, and they were off again.
“If you have to marry, I’m cute and I have nice boobs, so I would do.”
“Audrey,” he growled.
“No thanks.”
The final notes tore out. Kaldar dropped to his knees before her. “You, me, and cute kids down the road.”
She smiled and said, her lips still stretched in a smile, “Forget it.”
He had to get her alone. He was so aroused, he could barely stand it. If he could only talk to her, he would convince her to say yes.
“Meet me in the north hallway in ten.”
“Maybe I will, and maybe I won’t.”
He got up and bowed. She curtsied.
Around them, people applauded.
“Thank you, Master Brossard.” Audrey gave him a charming smile.
“The pleasure is mine.”
She turned and went toward Cerise, fanning herself.