In The Name Of Love

Chapter 31

"Taking a risk aren't you?" I asked.

He smiled and dipped his head down so that he could whisper in my ear. "You're worth it every time."

We danced the next two together and then Mircea was made to dance with the officials and royals he was penned in to dance with. He kissed me before his mother dragged him off.

"May I?" a voice asked from my side. It as Toma, Mircea's friend from the war. He looked pretty sharp in his suit.

I smiled. "Of course."

We danced for a few silent beats.

"I'm sorry I missed you guys singing at the service this morning," I said.

He smiled. "Don't worry, Princess. We've been invited to sing every year."

"Wyn, you can call me Wyn."

"Excuse me," a clipped voice said in English and a hand was placed on Toma's arm. It was the guy who Mircea had snapped at, at the table.

"Of course, Wyn," Toma said and bowed before walking off.

The man began dancing with me before even asking if I wanted to dance with him. His hand held mine too tightly and his fingers dug into my side. I figured he was in his late twenties and his sable hair was in a careful side parting. He was sporting flashes of red in his suit.

"Allow me to introduce myself, Princess," he said in English with hardly an accent. "I am Radu. My cousin has talked about me?"

He had. Radu was from the other side of the family and desperately wanted the throne for himself. "Yes," I replied politely. "He's mentioned your drive and ambition."

He smiled a little too nicely. "Mircea has a talent for mentioning a person's best qualities. I don't suppose he's mentioned my date for this evening?"

"Your girlfriend?" I asked even though I knew he didn't have girlfriends, he had 'dates'. I felt a bit ill stood with him.

"Her name is Lady Maria. She went to Oxford, studied botanical sciences and graduated last year with a first honours."

"I will be sure to congratulate her."

"She will be pleased to have it. She's the daughter of one of your English earls. The earl of Kent. Schooled privately, accomplished in the arts and horse riding, she is quite... in place here. Tell me, how does a farmer's daughter come to catch the eye of the most eligible man in all of Romania? It seems rather miraculous, don't you think?"

"No miracle," I said feeling defences pop up. I'd known this wasn't going to be good as soon as he made Toma leave, but I really wanted his clammy hands off me now.

"You were raised on the farm, yes?" he asked.

"Yes," I said genially enough.

"And with an adopted brother who is autistic?"

"Yes," I said frostily, a clear sign to back off and be careful.

"How... interesting. It is fortunate you've been able to elevate yourself –"

"Elevate?" I asked incredulously, loudly and stopped dancing.

Everyone stopped dancing and looked at us. I was beyond caring already and I was shaking all over.

He smiled with fake apology. "Forgive me, perhaps I should have said 'freed'."

I slapped him. Hard. There were a few gasps and someone ran forward to help him, his date, but he shook her off and slowly turned to face me. His cheek was bruised already and bleeding. His eyes were sparkling with mirth and he seemed completely unconcerned with the situation. He looked at me for a moment and then began to laugh.