Page 105 of The Shadows Between Us
“I’ve never taken you for the kind of woman who would care for class distinctions, especially when you’ve said yourself you don’t need to marry for money or a title. Besides, your ranking system went for looks, manners, and personality. Title wasn’t included. And Galen is a fifteen for you, Rhoda. By your own designs, you really should have snatched him up already.”
“I…” Her voice drifts off as she stares at Galen against the wall in a new light, a carefully considering look upon her face.
“Just invite him to my ball. Get him something to wear. Tell him it’s an honor for being so devoted to you all these years. You can have a night of no expectations, yet a moment to see him in a new light. You don’t have to marry him to have some fun with him.”
She looks unconvinced.
“If you don’t invite him,” I say. “I will.”
She shoots me a glare before turning her focus to her food. But I can see I’ve planted a strong seed in her mind. She only needs time for it to grow.
IDON’T SAY ANOTHERword about Galen during our time in the sitting room that afternoon. Having already completed my last outfit, I work on my dress for my upcoming ball in silence. Hestia regales the whole room with how romantic and delightful her Lord Paulos is.
“We play quite a lot of cards,” she says. “I love how he challenges me during our games. And do you know? He used to smoke a cigar during every game, but I finally admitted how much I detest the smell. He hasn’t smoked anything since. He said”—she pauses to lower her voice dramatically—“that when he kisses me the first time, he doesn’t want to taste like ash, now knowing how I loathe it. Can you think of anything more romantic?”
“How long do you think it will be before he kisses you?” Rhoda asks.
“I don’t know! I can only guess he must intend to do it soon if he quit those awful things.”
Afterward, I return my work in progress up to my rooms and try to decide what to do with myself until dinnertime. Perhaps I should see what Rhouben and Petros and Leandros are up to. It has been a while since I’ve spent time with them. I haven’t even seen Rhouben since I got him out of his marriage with Melita.
I close the door to my rooms without properly looking down the hallway first. That must be why Leandros is so easily able to surprise me.
I place a hand over my heart. “Don’t scare me like that.”
“Sorry! I thought you saw me.”
I wave away his apology as I deposit the key to my room into a pocket of my dress. “I was actually going in search of you and your friends. Thought I’d see what the lot of you were up to this afternoon. My schedule is quite free.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I was hoping to speak with you.” He points his face toward the ground, as though suddenly shy. It’s a rather odd look for Leandros, who is usually so full of himself, I fear his large head might explode.
I duck down to find his eyes and bring his head back up. “Concerning?”
“Could we perhaps talk in your rooms?”
I don’t know why, but I have the distinct feeling I should not invite him into my rooms. It’s not that I fear being alone with him or fear him in any way, but I think this might be a better conversation to have out in the open.
“We’re alone here,” I say lamely. “Go on.”
If he’s put out by my indirect refusal, he doesn’t show it. “I received your invitation to your ball. I’m quite eager to attend. I thought to ask what you’re wearing, so we might match.”
“We can’t match,” I say, allowing my voice to raise in volume playfully. “However would that look?”
“Like I’m besotted with you,” he says, his voice a tad too serious for comfort.
“No, it would look as though I’m a woman whose attentions stray far too easily.”
“It isn’t straying, if you agreed to be mine.”
“Leandros—”
“No, let me finish, Alessandra. I know I joke quite a bit, but let me assure you I’m very serious right now. Iambesotted with you. And I don’t want to be an afterthought. I don’t want to be who you turn to when Kallias casts you aside.
“I want to be your first choice. And maybe I’ve never made it clear that Iama choice for you. I like you, and if you let me, I know I could love you. My title might not be as fancy as Kallias’s, nor my pocketbook quite as deep, nor my estate quite so large.
“But my heart is bigger, Alessandra. And I would love you completely, wholly, as a woman ought to be loved. I won’t hide behind shadows. I won’t love you from afar. I won’t only take parts of you. I want all of you. Mind, body, soul. I want to be with you. Always.
“I tend to hide myself behind humor, but not this time. Not with you. I am interested. You are the only woman at court who interests me, and I would make you mine if you also wanted me.” He takes a breath. “I don’t expect you to answer now. I’ve had weeks to think this all through. And you haven’t had even a minute, but I do hope you will think on it.”
