Royal Ruse - Emma Lea Page 0,44

find intimidating. Athena, on the other hand, looked like the dewy-eyed innocent that would have all the men swooning. Ugh. I’d yet to have a positive experience with someone like her. In my experience, they were not all that innocent and knew exactly what affect they had on men. Spoiled was the word to come to mind. But I shouldn’t be judging her, not so quickly and not so harshly. I didn’t even know the woman. And it didn’t matter, anyway. I would be gone soon enough and I wouldn’t need to think about her or the men she might try to ensnare.

“And I’m Sophie Dellis, Archontissa of Kalon,” the final woman in our little congregation said. “Duchess. And when you marry the markissios, you will be a markissia, or marchioness.”

“Right,” I replied with a nod, except I wouldn’t be marrying Lucas and I wouldn’t be part of this circle of women. I felt bad for deceiving the queen in such a way, especially when she’d shared about her and the king’s baby.

Sophie smiled warmly at me and I knew we would be friends…if I was staying. She seemed younger than Elena and Meredith, but not as young as Athena. She was also gorgeous, and I was fast getting a complex about my own appearance. I’d never been insecure about the way I looked, but being surrounded by such perfection was a bit of a blow to my ego. Sophie was also dark-haired, although she had subtle highlights that gave it some interest. Her hair was not the flat-iron straight of Elena’s, rather the ends of her long hair were curled. Her eyes were dark and her skin was tanned and her lips and cheeks were full.

“May we see the ring?” Athena asked.

“Oh, sure,” I said, holding out my hand for the others to see.

I still couldn’t get used to the size of it. I felt like my hand was weighed down by an anchor. And even if it sparkled brilliantly, I would have preferred something a little less…obvious. But this ring had been bought for Clarissa, and no doubt it was exactly what she would have wanted if she hadn’t broken up with Lucas.

“It’s beautiful,” Athena breathed dramatically, clutching her hands to her breast, her eyes going soft. I barely restrained myself from rolling my eyes in response.

“It is beautiful, but it gets caught on everything,” I said. Which was true, but maybe I said it just to burst her bubble. I was a horrible person.

“If I had a ring like that I wouldn’t care,” Athena proclaimed. “I would make everyone around me do everything so I couldn’t get it caught.”

I snorted a laugh and saw Meredith’s lips twitch. Was this girl for real? Elena’s mouth flattened into a thin line and I didn’t know if it was because I laughed at her sister or because Athena was as spoiled as that remark made her sound.

“It’s easier not to wear it,” I said. “Especially at work.”

“You work?” Athena asked, appalled.

“I did, yes,” I replied.

“But surely you’ve resigned now that you’re getting married?”

“Um.” I looked at the others to gauge their reactions but they were all watching me carefully. I swallowed. “I won’t be going back to the bar, no,” I said. It was not a lie, not really. I probably would get another job in a bar when this was all over, but I probably wouldn’t be going back to Drinks. “When I finish my Ph.D. I hope to find a job in my field of study, though.”

“And what field of study is that?” Meredith asked.

“Sociology,” I replied. “With a bit of psychology and anthropology thrown in. I was hoping to write my thesis on Kalopsia and what is happening as it rebuilds.”

Meredith smiled and the tension I’d felt in the room lightened. “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” she said. “The people of Kalopsia are wonderful and I think you’ll find lots of them eager to help you with your research.”

I exhaled and grinned. “Perfect,” I replied.

Jet lag was kicking my butt, and I held out as long as I could, but the siren song of my bed called to me relentlessly. I tried to stifle my fifth yawn in a row when the queen finally took pity on me.

“Do you need a nap?” she asked with a wink.

“I apologize,” I said, giving myself a shake. “It was a long flight and I haven’t quite adjusted to the time difference.”

“We’re about seven hours ahead of Boston, right?” Meredith