First Outing

The dress I've selected for tonight is perhaps my most exquisite. For my first outing away from the palace, I want to draw attention. I want everyone to know I'm the one courting the king over six kingdoms.

Even if he's not in attendance with me.

The gown is silver, the skirt showcasing loose ribbons made to look like waterfalls spilling down the sides. Tiny gems, sapphires and emeralds, are shaped to look like fish jumping from the bundled fabric all along the hemline.

My only accessory is a gray fan, perfect for hiding features should the play turn out to be dull.

And of course to hide my distaste over Lowell.

He has his curls pulled back out of his eyes and secured at the back of his head with a band. His jacket is ebony-colored with gold stitching along the hems, across his shoulders, and down the front. Tight-fitted black dress pants with gold buttons adorn his long legs.

"Your arm, Loralie," Lowell says as we exit the carriage.

I refrain from clenching my teeth as I place my arm in his. Risana and Hanisa accompany us. And though I've introduced Lowell to both of them as a childhood friend, they keep shooting questioning looks over at him.

"I can't believe you wouldn't tell me what color you were wearing tonight," Hanisa moans from beside me. "I should have guessed silver!"

"Your pink gown is lovely," I tell her. "You look like a spring fairy."

"I need to be wearing what the future queen is wearing." I'm too flattered by the assumption to say anything right away.

"At some point," Risana offers, "you really must become your own woman, Hanisa. Find your own style. And own it." Hanisa ignores her.

"I believe that's enough chatter, ladies," Lowell says.

"Come along."

"We can talk as we walk," I bite out. He is not allowed to treat my friends this way. Still, Hanisa and Risana say nothing as we climb up the drive.

The Viscount and Viscountess of Christakos have a lovely estate. Neatly trimmed hedges line the drive. Steps made of marble lead to the front door, and the viscount and his wife are dressed in only the finest silks and satins.

The lady of the estate takes my hand in hers when it is our turn to be greeted. "Lady Kensington! What an honor it is to greet you in my home, but where is His Majesty?" She stares at Lowell, as though by squinting she might be able to transform him into Kassian.

"Detained by work, I'm afraid."

"A pity. Do make yourself comfortable, and I hope you will tell him how you enjoyed our hospitality."

Lowell tightens his grip on my arm.

"Instead, I'm accompanied by my friend Lowell Calligaris," I say awkwardly, "second son of the late viscount."

"Oh. How do you do?" the viscountess asks politely.

"Quite well considering, my lady. I hope you won't be too wroth with Loralie for allowing me to escort her in the king's absence. She thought the distraction might do me some good."

The viscountess smiles, but she looks pointedly at the guests behind us, very clearly suggesting that we've taken too much of her time.

"Lady Christakos has many more guests to greet. We should be on our way to enjoy the festivities," I say. Then I start walking, pulling Lowell along with me before he can say anything else stupid.

The ballroom has been cleared of everything save cushioned chairs, which are fashioned in a circle around the middle of the floor, which I assume is reserved for the stage. Our seats are in the front row, because they were selected for royalty.

"Oh, look! It's the Duke of Demetrio. His daughter is coming out into society early next week. Loralie, you must introduce me."

I know about the ball held in the duke's daughter's honor. I've already accepted an invitation to the event, but I can hardly go over there right now and let Lowell make a fool of me yet again.

"The play will start soon," I argue. "There's no time."

Lowell answers me with a look. A look that very clearly states what will happen if I don't do as he bids. But I try again. "There's one seat open beside him. You could snag it before anyone else does. Then you'd have the whole play to talk with him."

Lowell thinks it over for only a second before leaving us.

Thank the devils. And I really hope he doesn't do too much damage on his own.

We finally take our seats. Risana sits in the middle between me and Hanisa, the chair to my left unoccupied.

"Remind me why we brought him with us?" Risana asks.

"I had no choice. My father demanded I introduce him to some new people," I lie.

"Quick thinking on getting rid of him, though," Hanisa says.

"Thank you. I wish I'd never been—friends—with him." I hurriedly interject the word I'd almost left out. "He's only using me due to my favor with the king." I glance to the girls to my right. "Is that the only reason we're friends?"

Hanisa looks affronted. "Of course not! It was your dres that made me want to be your friend! And now that I know you, I couldn't care less about what you wear! Well, for the most part," she amends.

"I admired your ability to snag a man so quickly," Risana adds. "It had nothing to do with the king specifically. Aren't we all drawn to our friends in the beginning by trifling things? True bonds develop afterward, when character is revealed."

Satisfied with their answers, I look out toward the empty stage. A gentleman with tan locks eyes the empty spot beside me and gives me a grin..

Kastien

"Loralie," he says after walking over. "I'm so delighted to see you've joined us outside the stuffy palace for a night. However did you manage to separate yourself from the king long enough? You wouldn't be giving me false hopes, now, would you?"

Oh, he's such a flirt. I love it.

"It's all in your head, I'm afraid, Lord Vasco," I say.

He throws his hands over his heart dramatically. "You wound me with your formal address."

"Where are your cohorts this evening?" I ask, looking behind him for signs of Tristan and Damien.

"I'm surprised you can't sense Tristan's distaste from here. You'll find him to the right. Third row from the front." The brightness of his attire stands out like a beacon. I would have seen him if I had but looked. His clothing shimmers with golds and reds. On any other man, it would look ridiculous, but he pulls it off with confidence. To his right, I can see the very reason for his distaste.

Melita Freson. She has his arm in a death grip, looking quite pleased with herself. As though Tristan were a fish she'd just caught. As if sensing my stare, she looks in my direction. Once she sees the empty seat beside me, where the king should be sitting (or perhaps she's thinking of Harris?), she grins to herself and looks away.

What a little bi—

"And Damien is off giggling in the corner with Lord Osias."

"Isn't that the man who was flirting with his beau at the ball?"

"Yes, well, Damien has decided that two can play at that game."

"How very conniving of him," I say with a smile.

"Oh no!" Hanisa suddenly says. "A footman is bringing Lady Zervas this way. , sit down!" Kastien attempts to eye me for permission, but Hanisa rises and shoves him into the empty seat beside me before regaining her own. The footman doesn't miss a beat, slightly altering his course to deliver Lady Zervas to a new location.

"Why don't we want her sitting with us?" I ask, leaning into Risana.

Hanisa does the same, bending over Risana's lap so I can hear her whisper. "She's a terrible bore. So melancholy all the time. We wouldn't have any fun with her around."

"I don't recognize her from the queen's sitting room," I say.

"That's because she doesn't join the other ladies," Risana says. "She keeps to herself most of the time."

"I wonder why she sticks around the palace at all if she doesn't enjoy the company."

"She has to!" Risana explains. "Her presence was ordered at the palace just like the rest of us."

Ah, she was there the night the king died. Now the palace is her prison until the culprit is found. I watch Lady Zervas take her seat. As soon as she does, she looks right at me, her expression practically lethal. chuckles from next to me.

"Why is she looking at me like that?" I ask.

"All ladies will look at you like that when you're sitting next to me. It's jealousy."

I give him a doubtful look.

He grins. "All right, it might not be because of me. But it is the jealousy."

"Because I'm courting the king? He's less than half her age!"

"No, not Kassian. It was the late king whom Lady Zervas fancied. They had a brief courtship before the king's heart was stolen by the late queen. Zervas never got over him. She sees you in a position where she once was, and she envies you for that, I imagine."

Now I look at the lady in a new light. Her voluminous hair is streaked with gray, but it doesn't make her look old so much as dignified. She carries herself with an air of importance but doesn't deign to look at anyone around her now that she's done with me. Yes, she carries herself as if she fancies herself a queen.

"Tonight, she's my favorite person," Kastien continues. "I don't know how else I could have persuaded you to let me sit beside you."

I roll my eyes at him, just as some of the lights in the room turn off, dimming the makeshift stage.

The actors take their places, racing up the gaps between the rows of chairs to reach the center. And the performance begins.