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She kissed his cheek, making his expression soften. There. Now he was ready.

ESSIE STOOD AT THETOP of the stairs leading into the ballroom, waiting while each of her family members were announced by a footman with a particularly booming voice.

“Princess Elspeth of Escarland and her husband, Prince Farrendel of Tarenhiel.”

Essie gave her regal wave, grateful when Farrendel copied her a moment later. After a single wave, Essie gave Farrendel a subtle nudge, and they descended the stairs together.

In the ballroom, people were mingling and chatting, sipping from glasses of the punch and champagne and nibbling on the selection of appetizers to tide them over until the formal banquet.

This would be one of the hardest parts of the night. Small talk wasn’t Farrendel’s favorite thing to do, and they desperately needed him to make a good impression tonight.

“Princess Elspeth!” One of the young ladies around Essie’s age hurried toward Essie with a gaggle of other young ladies trailing behind her.

Essie stifled her groan behind her perfect princess smile. Lady Fristly. She was nice enough, when on her own. But at court functions, she tended to cling to Essie and pretend she was Essie’s best friend.

Next to her, Farrendel had dropped his attempt at friendliness and had gone fully hard and stoic.

“We missed you so terribly when you left. You were so brave, marrying an elf you’d never met. I would never be able to do something so brave.” Lady Fristly’s brow puckered. “I feel so sorry for you, Princess Elspeth. It must be so terrible to have to be in a loveless marriage to someone who can’t understand you, for a political alliance. I am here for you if you ever need to talk.”

Essie wasn’t sure what to correct first. There was so much wrong with that statement. “It isn’t like that, Lady Fristly. Farrendel...” Essie trailed off. What should she say?

Farrendel caught her gaze, and his expression softened with the hint of a smile. “I do not think you should bother explaining.” He spoke in elvish, and his smile took on a mischievous tilt. “I think this will work better.”

He tugged her closer and pressed a kiss to Essie’s temple, causing a peal of giggles from Lady Fristly and her gaggle of ladies.

Lady Fristly glanced at Farrendel and batted her eyes. Full on batted her eyes and gave a small giggle. “Oh, I see. The rumors are wrong. He’s so handsome.” She dragged out the last two words, adding a few more eyelash bats.

Essie wrapped both hands around Farrendel’s arm, tilting her left hand so that her ring was clearly visible. Just to make sure Lady Fristly got the hint that Farrendel was taken. Very, very taken. “Thank you for your best wishes on my marriage. Please excuse us. I need to introduce Farrendel to a few more members of the court.”

“Oh, of course.” Lady Fristly dissolved into more giggling and batting her eyes. It was so overdone that it was just to get attention.

It made Essie almost feel sorry for Lady Fristly. It must be a hard life to feel like a person needed to pretend to be empty-headed to be noticed.

As Essie tugged Farrendel away, she would’ve bumped into someone if Farrendel hadn’t halted her in time.

The offended harrumph told her the person’s identity before she looked up. Charles Hadley stood with his arms crossed.