Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“Indeed. It’s popular but also expensive, but their connections mean they have an extremely wide-ranging influence. Many nobles follow their lead, and Elena in particular is one of the most popular ladies in the top social circles. If she hosts a ball for you, it’s the same as her saying she publicly approves of you as the Grand Duchess.”
“And if someone with that much social power does such a thing, my entry into high society here in Stein will be much smoother, even amongst those who think you should marry a native noble,” I continued, staring at the letter. “Is one aid policy really enough for her to approve of me so much?”
“Perhaps. Like she says here, the attack on their estate three years ago was terrible in more ways than one. The late Viscount Evsea had been unwell for a while, and the stress of the aftermath was too much for him. Elena became the viscountess when she was only twenty-four, and she was almost ready to give birth to her son at the time.”
Oh, no. “That must have been difficult for her.”
“But it is up to you, Alicia.”
“You have no thoughts on it?” I asked, pushing my hair from my face as I looked up at him.
“Of course, I do. It would be nice if your first ball here could be at the castle, but as I said, the social implications of having the Evseas host it would help you greatly.”
“But wouldn’t people talk if my welcome ball isn’t at the castle?”
“I don’t care for things as frivolous as gossip.”
I supposed there were too many rumours for him to give it a second thought.
“Hmm.” I folded the letter and slipped it back into the envelope. “Do you think she would be offended if I suggested she hosted the ball here instead of her estate?”
Kalon peered down at me with his intense gaze. “You mean we co-host it of sorts?”
“Yes. I think I would rather make my first appearance where I’m most comfortable, but I also feel as though I can’t turn her down,” I explained. “Besides, how many nobles are ever granted the opportunity to host a ball at Stein Castle?”
“Aside from the duke or Grand Duke’s family, nobody. Ha.” He got to his feet and offered me his hand. “I see. You would have the home field advantage, Elena’s social influence, and you’d be giving her the rare honour of hosting an event at the castle, gaining her favour even more. Socially, it’s a declaration of friendship from both sides.”
I put my hand in his and got to my feet. “You’ve got me.”
Kalon tugged me towards his body, almost making me stumble, and pressed his hand onto my lower back. He lowered his head, and his warm breath tickled against my ear as his mouth drew closer to it. “You are quite the cunning woman, Alicia Vermillion.”
His low tone was unexpectedly seductive, and it set off a wild round of butterflies in my stomach. My fingers tingled where our hands were clasped, and the warmth that spread from his touch on my back was doing silly things to me.
Silly, inappropriate things.
Like making me want to rip off his clothes and see what other weapons he was hiding.
I swallowed, doing my best to maintain my composure against this sudden flirting of his. “Speak for yourself. You figured out exactly what I was thinking, Kalon.”
He chuckled, and it was as though I was being bathed in sunlight for the first time in months. “Careful. You so rarely say my name that when you do it and you’re this close to me, it gives me ideas.”
“Ideas?”
“Mm. Ideas.” He released my hand and cupped my chin, touching the tip of his thumb to my lower lip.
Our eyes met and just like at the ball, I was trapped in his consuming gaze, completely powerless to look away from the purple sea of intensity.
“You should respond to the viscountess,” he said in a low voice. “But tell her that your fiancé is an extremely jealous man, so she may host it here instead.”
“I can’t tell her that,” I replied in an equally soft voice. “People might talk.”
“What? About how the Grand Duke is so obsessed with his future wife that he had to be involved in her welcome ball at all costs?” His lips pulled into the dirtiest of smirks. “I don’t see how that’s a bad thing.”
“It’s hardly true.”
He brought his face so close to mine that my heart almost jumped right out of my chest. “Isn’t it?”
I blinked at him.
What?
Kalon dropped his hand and stepped back, putting some much-needed distance between our bodies. “We’ll return from the hunting competition on the twenty-fifth. You should have Elena arrange it for one week or so after that. I’ll work through dinner, so make time for me tomorrow so we can discuss appointing your aide and knight.”