Page 45 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

I drift off to the side, watching the dancers and half-wishing I was on the floor. After a couple of weeks of lessons, I'm better than when Marcus asked me to dance when I first arrived here, and it would be good to put that into practice.

I search the crowd for any sign of my cousin. If I have to dance with anyone, then he's the least objectionable option. Instead of the dark-haired prince, my gaze lands on Linc.

It turns out that Marcus might be the second last objectionable option after all.

Linc's face lights up as he sees me and he heads in my direction. His suit fits him well and even from this distance I can see the fabrics are fine. There are hints of blue, and gold throughout his outfit, and I try to work out which House that means he belongs to, but fail. There are several with those colours, including the Royal House.

I don't suppose it matters, he's my friend even if he belongs to a bitter enemy of House Rothorne.

"Beatrice," he says, dipping into a bow.

"Linc," I respond.

"You look beautiful," he tells me.

"Thank you."

"Though you seem to be without your charming companion," he says.

"Pip's back in my room being pampered by one of the servants."

"Ah, so noble life suits her."

I laugh. "It certainly does."

"So, would you do me the honour of escaping to the library with me?" he asks, holding out his hand.

"You're not even going to ask me to dance first?" I ask without meaning to.

A surprised expression crosses his face. "Do you want to dance with me?"

I bite my lip, his gaze lowering at the gesture as if he's unable to help it.

"I don't know," I admit. "I was just thinking about dancing. I've been taking lessons and probably won't fall over."

He laughs. "How can I say no to a proposal like that?"

"I'm sorry, forget I said anything, we should go to the library..."

"No." He holds out his hand. "Dance with me?"

"Now I just feel like I've made you do it," I murmur.

"You're not. I was going to ask you, but then I convinced myself you wouldn't want to. So, will you do me the honour of this dance?"

"What will anyone think?" I ask, realising that we're going to be in public.

"That we're dancing. They won't think anything of it. Have you danced at a ball with anyone else?"

"Once, at the Golden Moon. But my dance partner turned out to be my cousin."

Linc chuckles. "I can't say I've had that one happen before. But no one will think anything of this," he assures me. "I come to these events so rarely that they probably don't recognise me anyway."

"Reassuring." I slide my hand into his, kind of wishing that neither of us was wearing gloves. He draws me onto the dance floor and butterflies spring to life within me.

The music starts to play and he lets go of my hand so he can bow. I dip into a curtsy, suddenly aware that there might be eyes on me. I scan the crowd on the other side, surprised to find Lord Fallmartin watching. He nods his head once in what I think is approval. Whichever House Linc belongs to, it doesn't seem to be one that Lord Fallmartin disapproves of.

All thoughts of anyone else vanish when Linc pulls me into hold. We're so close together that I can feel the heat radiating from him, and I'm dazzled by the intensity in his eyes.