“More than that.” Mina smiled. “She is a friend.”
His aunt beamed beneath the new young Queen’s words and Zayn frowned.
“You are truly the gem my Helene claimed you to be.” His aunt’s voice sparkled.
Surely his aunt—the sister of a queen herself, and the nation’s only remaining duchess—could see how unsuitable Mina was for her new role. Yet here she was, extending a warm familial welcome to the cuckoo in the nest.
He’d always thought of his aunt among the least sentimental of the bunch. Of course, Minahadjust complimented her child. Every mother had a weak spot when it came to flattery of her children.
Roz led Seraphina away after a few more pleasantries, only to return with someone new. The woman was obviously determined they circulate, even if she had to bring people to them. The observation brought with it a mischievous spark he hadn’t felt since he and his cousin’s days of scheming to evade Roz “the dragon lady” and her plans.
As it had then, Zayn’s mind bent itself to the creative task as Roz led away her latest guest to exchange him for another.
Turning to Mina, he smiled, drawing her into the game that had only ever belonged to him and his cousin. “We’re going to dance,” he said.
Unexpectedly, Mina shook her head in a fast and firm negative.
“You can’t tell me you are enjoying this introduction train?” he asked imperiously.
Mina swallowed, but she held her ground with another slight shake of the head.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Roz making her way through the crowd with the Dowager Countess of Redcliff. Their progress was slow, as the one-hundred-and-four-year-old Countess moved rather...deliberately.
“You must,” he commanded, holding out his hand to assist her.
If she did not take his hand it would be in the news tomorrow. He wondered if she’d realized that yet.
Fortunately, she did not put it to the test, taking his hand with a sigh.
“We’re not going to dance,” she insisted.
And then he understood. And, like the spark that had had him leading her to the floor, a boyish thrill shot through his veins.
“You can’t dance.”
It wasn’t a question.
She blushed, but gave a sharp nod.
He laughed. “Of course you can’t.”
Mina winced, but his grin only grew.
“Don’t worry, Mina mine. I am an excellent lead.”
“You’re something, all right,” she muttered.
He led her on, riding high on the strange cocktail of youthful excitement and lust stirring in his blood. They passed Roz and the Dowager Countess as they made their way to the floor. Roz’s eyes narrowed at the King, and their glances were exchanged in the knowledge that she knew exactly what he was up to.
His grin stretched wider, and even the indomitable Roz was affected, the firm lines of her glare softening.
But softening was not the same as disappearing altogether.
Catching Zayn’s arm in her bony talon as they passed, Roz hissed, “The unmasking will happen at the end of your dance! You’ll have to take the mask off for her—there’s a clasp in the back.”
Then she let them go.
Zayn led Mina to the dance floor, a pathway clearing before them. Other dancers left the floor as they approached the center, a warm spotlight finding them as they came to a stop, facing each other.