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He cocked his head. “Yes?”

She stared at him.He really doesn’t know.

Nan and her friends owned nothing made by the Sharpe Duet, but not for lack of trying. Until now, Rune had never even seen one of their garments up close.

“A collector would pay tens of thousands of dollars for that jacket alone,” she told him. “Because it’s so rare.”

“Because my parents are dead, you mean.”

Rune winced. Technically, yes. That they were no longer alive to make more garments increased the value of those currently in existence. But the Sharpes’ designs had been rarebeforethey died. Once the Sister Queens employed them, Sun and Levi Sharpe tailored for the Rosebloods alone, ensuring few originals were ever made.

Surely he knew this?

“What I’m trying to say is, if my guests are staring at you, it’s because you’re Gideon Sharpe, a living legend. A hero who risked his life leading revolutionaries into the palace and single-handedly killing two witch queens.”

She didn’t fake the awe in her voice. Rune might despise him for what he’d done, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t impressed by the courage it had required.

“They’re staring at you because you’re at the same party they are. You’re not exactly known for accepting invitations.”

“I lack basic manners, you mean.” He nodded, as if understanding. “I don’t see how that’s different from lacking in pedigree, though.”

She growled a little. He seemed to be intentionally misunderstanding her.

To her surprise, Gideon smiled. If you could call the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth a smile.

Is he …teasing me?

A furious heat rushed up her neck.Has he been teasing me this whole time?

Seeing her blush, the corner of Gideon’s mouthdidcurve upward, staying that way for several seconds.

Rune looked away, trying to focus.Remember the plan. Lure him in.

“If you attended more of my parties,” she said, continuing forward to rejoin him, “I could ensure you knew how to dance to any song when a girl asks you.”

“Are you offering to give me lessons?”

The question caught her off guard.

Am I?

Rune had taught his brother. Alex was an eager pupil, happy to let her lead. She doubted Gideon would subject himself to such a thing.

“I …”

“A girl like you has better things to do with her time, surely.”

She didn’t. Not during the day, which was full of dreary social calls: picnics and luncheons and carriage rides, all so she could wring gossip from her friends like drops of water from a wet towel, desperately hoping it might help her save one more witch.

But he didn’t really seem interested.

“You don’t have to deflect,” she said. “You can simply say you don’t want to dance with me.”

He glanced sharply toward her. “That’s not …”

This time,hestopped walking. When Rune turned to face him, she found his jaw clenched. He rubbed a hand over it.

“I have a counteroffer: you could accompany me to anactualparty.” He glanced back in the ballroom’s direction. “There will be no ball gowns. No hired musicians. No songs with ridiculous steps …”