Dinner was removed so the table was clear for gaming. Then the King looked at her. “Do you know how to play any Court games?”
Taryn shook her head. She wasn’t ready to play any kind of game with the King. She could almost feel the water getting deeper and the currents stronger, ready to drag her under.
“Sit with me and learn. Verden.” The King beckoned him closer.
Verden stood and walked over, cup in hand, then sat in the vacated seat. “What do we play?”
“Omission, to teach the Lady.”
“Ah.” Verden directly acknowledged her as if he’d been granted permission for the first time that night. “I’m so glad you were able to join us for dinner.” His smile lost its impersonal edge for a moment, but it was back so fast she couldn’t be sure if it was imagined or real.
“A pleasure.” Her cheeks heated like she’d never had a man look at her and smile. Her gaze slid over Verden’s shoulders to his hands. Elegant but unadorned by rings. He didn’t need jewels to draw attention.
The King was talking, something about the rules of the game. His hand touched hers for a second, but it was a second too long while Verden was watching. He hadn’t missed the gesture. She nodded along as if understanding, then watched as the cards were dealt and the game began. It was too quick for her to follow and Verden lost.
“Will you give me a chance to regain my honor in front of the Lady?” Verden smiled, but it wasn’t the one she’d seen in the garden. This one was purely for show. How much of how he behaved was for the benefit of others? Had his conversation with her been an act to lure her in? Or had that been the truth, and this was the lie? She glanced across the floor to where people were either dancing or dining in organized chaos. Who would she be able to trust if everyone was playing along and seeking only to increase their standing?
“Best of three.”
Again the King dealt, and he and Verden played the hand. This time she watched more closely, trying to work out how they were playing and what the animal and season cards meant. It wasn’t just new games, it was a different set of cards. Yet she’d have to learn some of the games just to get by and look the part. She glanced at the King. She needed to learn to be able to play with him.
Laughter from the dance floor distracted her. The Queen was the center of attention, Ladies and Lords spinning around her in a dance that seemed to trap her every time she pretended to get free.
“She’s beautiful isn’t she?” The King’s breath brushed her ear and the hair on her arms prickled to attention.
“She is.” She looked like Snow White with her dark hair and dark eyes; it was no wonder Gwyn had married her.
“Don’t let her looks deceive you. She is cruel and bitter and you would do well to avoid the web she weaves.” He slapped the table, returning attention to the game.
Right, less Snow White more evil Queen. Taryn considered that would be her one and only warning. If she fell into the Queen’s circle, that would be the end of her privilege.
The dance ended and the Queen glided over, her cheeks pink from dancing, her eyes bright, and yet there was no joy in her features. “Come, husband, dance with me.” The Queen held out her hand.
The King paused a moment before getting up. There was still another hand of the card game to go. Would he ignore his wife when so many watched? Everyone seemed to pause to see what would happen. Then he took his wife’s hand, leaving Taryn and Verden at the table alone. They glanced at each other, and Taryn was aware of how many people surrounded them, pretending not to look to see what would happen next. She wasn’t used to living so publicly. Reality TV had nothing on this.
She needed to say something to him. She wanted him to speak to her. “So…is it like this every evening?”
Verden took a sip of his drink and gathered up the deck of cards. “This is the first time in about ten days that both the King and Queen have attended dinner.” He handed her the cards. “There are five suits. Four seasons plus animals. Then there are the majors, which include the eight festivals, like midsummer.”
She fanned the cards over the table and looked at them; each one was a beautiful picture more like tarot than playing cards, but she wasn’t interested in the cards right now. She glanced up at him, but he was looking at the cards.
“Why are you talking to me now when you ignored me before?” She kept her voice soft, not sure if she really wanted to know the answer but figuring it was safer to know.
“Dinner is not the time or place for private discussions. It’s for watching and building alliances. You needed to build one with the King. If you had been speaking with me, what do you think would have happened?” The whole time he spoke, he was pointing to different cards. To anyone watching, it was as if he were explaining the important aspects of each suit.
She nodded. “Okay. I thought it was because…” Because you weren’t interested is what she wanted to say, but she went with a safer option. “I have no status.”
“I have enough of my own not to worry about that.” He looked across the floor. “We have sat for long enough. Let me have the first dance, as I’m sure it will be the only one I get with you tonight.” He picked up the cards and placed them in his waistcoat; then he stood and offered her his hand.
“You don’t leave me any choice.” Yet dancing with Verden would be no hardship, except they would be watched. Were they watching her or him? She was sure he was only doing what was expected. Was she a chore or a pleasure? It was hard to tell when his expression rarely slipped.
She took his hand and let herself be led to the area used for dancing. Fortunately he didn’t drag her into the middle where the King and Queen were doing something that was stiffly formal, and even though they were both smiling, neither seemed to be enjoying it. Even from here, she could feel the tension between them. They hated each other and any goodwill was for show. How had everything gone so wrong?
“Just follow. The steps aren’t that hard,” Verden said as he lifted her hand and placed his other one behind his back. He waited for her to copy.
She looked at the other dancers and realized they were doing the same steps as the King and Queen, but not at the same time. People were at different stages of the same sequence, making it appear like madness at first, but it was really just a repeating pattern. She began to see and feel it in her body. Her palm heated in Verden’s hand.
“You feel it?” He stepped closer.
“Yes.” She did; the magic of the music was in her blood. When she looked at him, he was gazing down at her, heat flickering in his eyes. Right now she didn’t care if she got singed.
As he’d said, the steps weren’t hard. She copied his movements and followed, letting the music flow through her. Different to the mortal music she was used to, this was ancient and powerful. It wasn’t just her pulse she felt increasing; it was Verden’s, as if for the duration of the dance the magic was bringing them closer. They stopped with the music, toe to toe, her body only millimeters from his. One deep breath and her breasts would brush his chest. Her skin tingled. For a moment neither of them moved. He was looking at her with a look in his eyes that could only be called wild and untamed.
She risked that breath; their bodies touched for a moment, long enough to send desire spiraling through her blood. It was closely followed by the hard edge of reason and the sharper blade of danger. She knew why Verden kept his distance when people were watching. It was information that could be used against her…and him.
Verden closed his eyes for a second and stepped back. When he opened his eyes, the cool indifference was back. She knew she couldn’t raise a mask that quickly and wasn’t sure that was a skill she wanted, even though it was one she’d need.