If he was distressed, he gave no indication of it. Luka’s face was serene, and he looked indifferent to the chatter around him. The musicians struck up a tune, and it was time for the first dance of the night, which was usually opened by the royal family. The crowd thinned, moving to the sides of the room, and Maya joined them.
The Crown Princess said something to Luka, and he nodded. Would Princess Ludmilla dance tonight? Her fiancé was still in Sunvaara, so maybe Luka—
Maya’s thoughts ground to a halt when she saw Luka stride forward to Lady Demidova, who she now saw was at the front of the crowd. He bowed, and offered her his hand, and then the two of them swept away in a graceful movement as they started to dance.
“They make a lovely couple.”
Maya jumped at the voice, turning to see two ladies talking to each other behind their raised fans. She hadn’t been noticed, and the ladies didn’t seem to realize how loud she was being, so she was able to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“Is there an engagement in store? Have you heard anything?”
As the two ladies continued to speculate, Maya’s attention drifted to the dance floor again, where Luka was smoothly leading Lady Karina Demidova in their dance. His steps were firm and sure, it looked like the prosthetic she gave him was helping him.
She was glad.
Shewas.
Luka seemed happy, and Lady Demidova was the epitome of gentle beauty. Even the Tsar was watching them with a smile on his face. It felt like the whole ballroom was watching the return of the dashing Second Prince, Luka Kamenev, who had always effortlessly charmed the court.
As Luka spun Lady Demidova around, Maya noticed how their tall, lithe forms moved in perfect harmony, their bodies fitting together as if they had been dancing together for years.
Maya felt a surge of envy at the ease with which they moved, the effortless grace of their steps. She knew she had no right to feel this way, especially after everything that had happened between them. But she couldn't help it.
The music drew to a close, and the dancers broke apart, clapping for the musicians. Luka bowed to Lady Demidova, and as he straightened up, his gaze collided with hers, as if he’d felt her gaze on him. A tiny smile lifted one corner of his mouth, and Maya hurriedly turned away, her cheeks flaming.
What wasthat?
Was he taunting her? It wouldn’t be the first time, she thought bitterly, recalling their rivalry at the Academy, before they’d become friends, and how they’d needled at one another, with words and deeds.
It seemed that was what things had again descended to, she thought with a shake of her head. Well, Luka would find she was still a formidable opponent. She wouldn’t admit defeat. She opened out her fan and fanned herself to give herself something to do as she looked away.
“Would you do me the honor of dancing with me, Lady von Rakhmonov?”
Maya turned, looking up at Lord Ivan Menshikov, surprised that he’d found her at the corner of the ballroom. She’d always known he held a tendresse for her; all he would need would be a word of encouragement from her for him to court her in earnest.
You have to let go of the fear of the past,her mother had said.You are stronger than me, my daughter. And you need a companion. Life can be very long, and very lonely, without one.
A companion. Not a husband, or a partner. Just a companion.
Would it really be so bad if she took a husband as a companion, she wondered, as she looked up at Lord Menshikov’s hopeful smile. Ivan was a cheerful, gentle sort of man. He would never inspire the kind of passion Luka could stir in her, but then again, he would never push her to such despair, either.
There was no danger of losing herself in a union with him.
She would never love him so much that she would be tempted to make concessions for him, to give away pieces of herself until there was nothing left of her, just like there had been nothing left of her mother, for a long time.
“Thank you, Lord Menshikov,” she said with a smile, placing her hand in his.
Maya felt Luka’s eyes on her back as the band struck up the tune and Lord Menshikov drew her close. Maya glided gracefully across the ballroom floor, her satin gown flowing around her as she twirled in the arms of her dance partner, determined not to miss a single step.
“I have always admired you, Lady von Rakhmonov,” Lord Menshikov said, smiling gently at her. She could feel the heat of his hand on her waist, and the firmness of his grip as he guided her through the steps of the waltz.
“Thank you, my lord.”
They fell silent again, and she turned, following the steps of the dance, and stumbled as her gaze collided with Luka’s intense stare over Lord Menshikov’s shoulder.
“Lady Rakhmonova, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Maya lied, as a flush crept up her neck, and she caught Luka smirking at her out of the corner of her eye. She wouldn’t let Luka get to her, she told herself. her gaze drifted to Luka before she could stop herself. She quickly looked at her dance partner again. “Apologies for my clumsiness.”
