Curse of the Wolf King - Tessonja Odette Page 0,82

ball will be held in the dining room. It’s spacious enough, but certainly won’t suit a large crowd. Besides, do we really want everyone there?”

“Certainly not,” I say dryly.

“I cannot wait. I’ll draw up the invite list this afternoon and send it back in the evening. Then we only have to wait for Friday.”

“Friday,” I echo. That’s five days from now. Five days to plan a ball. I glance at Elliot, seeing the resignation in his face. That’s when I remember the rapidly falling petals. Perhaps a ball is exactly what we need to secure Imogen’s attachment. There’s nothing more romantic than dancing. Which is, of course, why I’ve sworn never to attend a ball again. Good thing I’ll be working this one and not dancing at it.

“If it’s too soon to hire proper musicians,” Imogen says, “we can just have Ember play the pianoforte. She’s tolerable enough.”

I frown. “Won’t Ember want to dance?”

Imogen turns her nose to the air. “Of course she doesn’t.”

I meet Ember’s gaze with a raised brow. She in turn gives me a crooked grin and a quick roll of her eyes that Imogen is too busy staring at Elliot to notice. “I’ll be happy to play, should you want me,” Ember says.

“See, it’s settled,” Imogen says. “Now, there is much planning to do. I’ll need a new dress and shoes. Oh, and the guest list, of course. We should be going so I can get started.”

“It was so good of you to call on me today,” I say.

Imogen’s brows knit together, as if she can’t comprehend my words. Then, as if seeming to recall the false pretenses she visited under, she smiles. “Yes, so wonderful it was to see you today. And you as well, Mr. Rochester.” She faces him with a curtsy, then stands before him, the hem of her skirts and coat swishing as she sways expectantly side to side.

Elliot looks to me for help, so I tap the back of my hand, then pucker my lips slightly. His gaze rests on my mouth for a beat too long. Then, with a shake of his head, he returns his attention to Imogen. Gently taking her hand in his, he lifts it slowly, then bends down to plant a soft kiss on the back of it.

A flash of anger strikes my core at the sight of his lips brushing her flesh. I breathe it away.

“I shall see you Friday,” he says, then releases her hand.

“I’ll dream of it every waking moment,” Imogen says wistfully. It seems to take some effort to pull her gaze away from him, but she eventually does and then stands before me with a nod. “Gemma, you can expect my lists tonight.”

I return the nod, and Imogen takes Ember by the arm. Their footman helps them into the coach and closes the door behind them.

I exhale a heavy breath and watch as the carriage drives away. “That went well.”

Elliot comes up beside me. “That went terribly.”

I turn to face him. “How so? This ball is exactly what we need. By the end of it, she’ll be so smitten, she’ll never want to let you go.”

His jaw shifts from side to side. With one hand on his hip, he runs the other over his jaw. Finally, he says, “I don’t know how to dance.”

I’m taken aback for a moment. Such a fact never occurred to me, but I suppose a fae wolf would have very little need to learn human dances. “That is a problem,” I confess. I turn my gaze back to the departing carriage, an idea forming in my mind. “I think I have a solution for that.”

27

Two days pass, and another five petals fall each day. This makes the math easy, and if the pattern continues without further increase, then we have approximately sixty petals and twelve days left to break the curse. Feeling the strain of our ticking clock, I’ve poured all my efforts into preparing for the upcoming ball. If I have my way, it will mark the night Imogen falls firmly in love. And if things go even better than I hope, it will be the day I move onto phase four—telling Imogen about the curse and what she must do to save her beloved.

The thought sends my mind reeling. Will the ball truly be enough to make Imogen willing to sacrifice her greatest treasure? I know the exhilarating effects dancing can have. I also know Imogen’s desperation for matrimony will amplify her romantic feelings,