he would speak at all. I recoiled from his intensity. “No more secrets, Lou,” he said finally. “No more lies.”
I cursed myself for not being able to give him the answer he wanted. The answer I wanted. Because there it was—leering at me.
I didn’t want to lie to him anymore.
“I . . . I’ll try,” I whispered.
It was the best I could give him.
He nodded, slow and understanding. “Let’s go back inside. You’re shivering.”
“Wait.” I grabbed his hand before he could turn, my heart lodged firmly in my throat. “I—I want to—”
Make a complete and total fool of myself. I shook my head, cursing silently. I was no good at this. Honesty, sincerity—both were too troublesome to bother with usually. But now . . . with Reid . . . I owed him both.
“I want to thank you—for everything.” I squeezed his fingers, my own stiff and aching from the cold. “Célie was right. I don’t deserve you. I made a real mess of your life when I came into it.”
His other hand came down on top of mine. Warm and steady. To my surprise, he smiled. “I’m glad you did.”
Blood crept into my frozen cheeks, and I suddenly found it difficult to look at him. “Right, well, then . . . let’s go back inside. I’m freezing my ass off out here.”
The celebration still raged when we returned to the ballroom. I grabbed a flute of champagne from a passing servant and downed it in one swallow.
Reid eyed me incredulously. “You drink like a man.”
“Maybe men can learn a thing or two from women.” I waved the servant back and grabbed two more flutes, passing one to Reid. He didn’t take it. “Relax, Chass. Indulge. This is the best champagne money can buy. It’s an insult to His Majesty not to drink it.” I scanned the crowd with feigned boredom. “Where is King Auguste, anyway? He’s supposed to be here, isn’t he?”
“He is. He introduced me earlier.”
“What was he like?”
“About as you’d expect.”
“So a smarmy bastard like his son?” I waved the flute of champagne under his nose, but he merely shook his head. I shrugged, downing his glass too and chuckling at his expression.
After a few moments, delicious warmth spread through my body. The music—previously a slow, insipid waltz—sounded much better now. Livelier. I downed the third glass. “Dance with me,” I said abruptly.
Reid looked at me in bewilderment. “What?”
“Dance with me!” I stood on my tiptoes and threw my arms around his neck. He tensed, glancing around, but I tugged him down determinedly. He complied, stooping slightly, and wrapped his arms around my waist. I laughed.
We looked ridiculous, all bent and straining to fit together, but I refused to let him go.
“This—this isn’t the proper way to dance.”
I lifted my chin and looked him directly in the eyes. “Of course it is. You’re the guest of honor. You can dance any way you want.”
“I—I don’t usually do this—”
“Reid, if you don’t dance with me, I’ll go and find someone who will.”
His grip tightened on my hips. “No, you won’t.”
“Then the way forward is clear. We dance.”
He blew out a breath and closed his eyes. “Fine.”
As nervous as he’d been to dance, he proved himself capable within moments, moving with unnatural grace for someone so tall. I myself stumbled more than once. I would’ve blamed the train of my stupid dress, but really, it was just me. I couldn’t concentrate. His hands were strong on my waist, and I couldn’t help but imagine them . . . elsewhere. My blood heated at the thought.
The song ended far too soon.
“We should go,” he said, voice rough. “It’s getting late.”
I nodded and stepped away from him, not trusting myself to speak.
It didn’t take much time to find Coco. She leaned against the wall near the antechamber, chatting with none other than Beauregard Lyon. He had an arm braced against the wall above her head. Even from a distance, I could see they were flirting shamelessly.
Both their gazes flicked to me as Reid and I approached.
“Well, well, well . . . if it isn’t Madame Diggory.” The prince’s eyes glittered with amusement. “I see your husband made the right choice.”
I ignored him, though Reid bristled at his words. “Brie, we’re ready to go. Are you coming?”
Coco looked to the prince, who smirked. “This lovely creature will not be leaving my side for the remainder of the evening. Sorry, darling,” he whispered to me conspiratorially. “I’ll need to postpone that offer .