With that, he releases her and moves to the musicians. I can’t hear what he asks, but the music changes almost immediately. It’s even softer than the intimate tune that preceded it. Lachlan weaves his way back through the doting crowd and slaps a hand on our backs. “Are you two familiar with The Desiderium? It’s the perfect dance for this peculiar situation.”

Without waiting for an answer, he begins swatting people away from our position, ordering them to give us space, so we don’t accidentally bump into each other. People retreat but then form a giant circle around us. Lachlan waves his hand in an affable gesture, signaling us to begin.

I swallow. Of course, we know the dance; we learned it when we were young so we could celebrate holidays with our cousins and noble children. It’s more of a mockery than a dance, made for drunk parents to coo over their precious children.

Idalia’s neck is tight, but she clears her throat and stiffly lifts her hand. I roll my neck and glance again at Lachlan, who’s still motioning for us to start. Reluctantly, I raise my hand to mirror hers and turn in step. For a while, the audience gawks, ogling Idalia’s beauty, then falls into the dance themselves. Theodore is partnered with Stig, which he’ll undoubtedly talk about for the rest of eternity.

“Well, this is fun,” Idalia says dryly, her eyes anywhere but on mine.

“I’m having the time of my life.”

“I’m sure you are. After all, this is your greatest pleasure, isn’t it? To make sure I’m miserable.” Her tone is sharp.

“You think you’re the miserable one here? Trust me; I don’t want to be doing this any more than you do.”

“Really? Then why did you interrupt our dance?” Her stare captures me like a gust of wind takes up leaves.

“I…I didn’t…” We swoop to the left, and a rogue curl sweeps against her cheek. “I didn’t come to interrupt you; I came to tell the King goodnight.” Inwardly, I groan. Surely I could’ve come up with something better. Too late. I’ve said it and, therefore, must commit to it.

“To tell him goodnight?” she says, her eyebrows high. “Who are you, his grandmother? Do you also want to wish him sweet dreams?”

“Actually, I’m a gentleman, Idalia. That’s what gentlemen do. We bid each other goodnight.”

“Please,” she snorts. “You are anything but gentle. Everyone knows that.”

“So, it seems my bedroom tales have caught up to you then?”

“You’re disgusting.”

“And you’re an ass.”

When she’s silent for long enough, I wink. “Stalemate,” I whisper.

She groans. “Can we please just finish the rest of this dance in silence?”

“That might be the smartest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”