“Why do you say that?” Ember asked.
He shook his head and went back to spooning the now-freezing-cold stew. “Nobody loves anybody that much.”
“And here you were going on and on about true love last night,” I said, surprised by the bitter edge of my own words.
“Was I?” He lifted his head, resting his eye on me, and I quickly turned back toward my own stew. “I remember saying something about settling down, but nothing about true love.”
“Same thing,” I mumbled.
“I don’t know. Some people love each other that much,” Ember insisted. “I think the Trylle King and Queen are super into each other.”
“I’m not saying that people don’t fall in love. People fall madly in love with each other all the time. But that right there”—Ridley gestured behind him, toward where King Evert and Queen Mina were seated—“that was all an act.”
“I think you’re right,” Tilda agreed, talking about the royalty in a way that was unusual for her. When I looked at her in surprise, she shrugged one shoulder simply and took a sip of her water. “Well, he is right. She was a small-town girl with big dreams, and marrying into money and royalty was her way to get what she wanted.”
“That’s all I’m saying.” Ridley leaned back in his seat, a self-satisfied grin on his face. Since Tilda so rarely chimed in on matters like this, having her on his side seemed like a boon.
“Good for her, then,” I replied glibly.
“Good for her?” Ember laughed. “You think it’s good that she tricked the King?”
“She didn’t trick him,” I corrected her. “He needed a beautiful wife to bear him children, and that’s what he got. Well, no kids yet, but she’s still young. She wanted to make a better life for herself, and she found a way. Maybe not the way that you or I would’ve chosen, but it was one way to do it.”
“Would you do that?” Ridley asked. “Would you marry someone you didn’t love to advance your life or your career?”
“No, of course I wouldn’t,” I said.
“Would you even marry someone if you did love them?” he asked. I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to look at him, preferring to finish my wine in big gulps.
Before I could answer, Evert announced that it was time for the dance, and waiters came out to start clearing the tables and moving them out of the way so there would be more room for people to dance.
Then I didn’t have time to worry about Ridley’s questions or the way his eyes seemed to look straight through me. I had to hurry and help the waiters take our plates away, and then I was on my feet with the other trackers, helping to stack chairs and push tables to the side of the room.
But that was just as well, because I had no idea how I would answer.
THIRTEEN
impropriety
At the end of the ballroom, a small orchestra played a mix of contemporary human music along with Kanin folk songs. A singer accompanied them, and she had a pristine voice with an operatic range. The songs would segue seamlessly from the Beatles to a Kanin love ballad, sung entirely in its original low Swedish, and then would switch to a beautiful rendition of Adele.
It was still early in the evening, so the dance floor was relatively full. Most couples swayed to the music, but some glided across the floor with the elegant, practiced steps that came from years of training. The royalty, especially those from Doldastam, lived pampered, sheltered lives with much free time on their hands, so many of them took up ballroom dancing to fill the time.
As the newest returning changeling and one of the highest-ranking Markis, Linus attracted a lot of attention, and his dance card was full. While he could be clumsy, and did trip over his own feet a few times, his dance partners didn’t seem to mind.
I watched him from the sidelines, ready to swoop in if he needed me, but he seemed to be doing okay on his own. His dance moves might have been lacking, but he made up for it by being nice and rather charming, in an unassuming kind of way.
Tilda and Ember didn’t have any charges to watch out for, so they were free to hang out with me, standing along the wall at the edge of the dance floor. Tilda wore a short flapper-esque dress that showed off her long legs, and as she swayed, the silver tassels would swing and bounce along with her. Even though we were supposed to be standing at attention at the side of the ballroom, Tilda couldn’t help herself. She loved to dance far too much. With her eyes closed, her head tilted back slightly, letting her long brown hair flow behind her, she moved gracefully in time with the music.
“I wish I could dance,” Ember lamented.
Tilda opened her eyes and glanced down at Ember. “Just dance. It’s fun even if you’re alone.”
Ember stared forlornly out at the crowded dance floor. “When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was go to the palace and attend one of these balls. And now that I am, I’m stuck at the side, unable to join in or have fun.”
“You’ve joined in. You got to have a nice meal, you got all dolled up, and you’re listening to the music,” I pointed out, trying cheer her up. “You’re a part of it.”
“Maybe,” Ember said doubtfully, but then she shook her head. “No, you’re right. I guess I just spent too much time daydreaming about dancing with Prince Charming. Or Princess Charming, as it were.”
As the song ended, Linus politely extracted himself from the arms of a lovely but clingy Marksinna in her early teens, and he came over to where I was standing with Ember and Tilda. His cheeks were flushed, but he had a goofy, lopsided grin plastered on his face.
“How are you doing?” I asked Linus as he reached us.
“Good. I mean, I think I am.” He ran a hand through his dark hair and his smile turned sheepish. “Did I seem to be making any mistakes?”
“No, you look like you’re doing really good,” I assured him. “Are you having a nice time?”
“Yeah. It’s a little weird dancing with so many strangers, especially when I’ve never been that into dancing, but most of the people are nice.” He glanced back toward where his parents were seated at a table. “And my parents seem really proud.”
“They are,” I said.
Linus turned back to me, his eyes twinkling. “Are you having fun? You look kinda left out here on the sidelines.”
“I’m having fun.” I smiled to prove it to him.
“Why don’t you come dance with me?” Linus suggested. “Cut loose for a minute.”
“Thank you for asking, but I don’t think I should.” I demurred as graciously as I could. “It wouldn’t be proper.”
“Not even for one song?” His eyebrows lifted as he stared down hopefully at me, making him appear more like an excited puppy than a teenage boy.
I shook my head ruefully. “I’m afraid not.”
“I’ll dance with you,” Ember piped in and stepped closer to him.
“Ember,” I admonished her, but Linus had already extended his arm to her.
She waved me off as she looped her arm through his. “It’s one song. It’ll be fine.”
“That’s the spirit.” Linus grinned and led her out to the dance floor.
I looked to Tilda for support, hoping she would back me up even though Ember had already disappeared into the crowd and it’d be too late to stop her. But Tilda just shrugged, still swaying her hips along to the music.
“Let them have their fun,” she said, smiling as she watched them twirl clumsily away from us.
“Ember is such a rebel sometimes.” I stood on my tiptoes, craning my neck in an attempt to keep my eyes on Linus and Ember as they weaved in between other couples.
“They’re fine,” Ridley said. I’d been so busy watching Linus and Ember that I hadn’t noticed Ridley come up beside me. “I doubt anyone will even notice her dancing. Everyone’s having fun, and most of the royals are getting drunk on wine.”