The Kiss that Saved Her - Page 22/27

She left Samuel on the terrace, and returned to the dance. The anger that she felt was a good thing, as it pushed out the sorrow. She sat down next to Maria. “You are back. The older Royals retired for the evening so you didn’t miss much.” The ball was lively and more couples were dancing. Samuel came back inside and walked past Joanna without stopping. “He looks good tonight, don’t you think, Queen Joanna?” “Yes, I suppose he does, but he is such an impossible man!” “Did you have a fight? Please be kind to the Prince of Ott. He regards you so highly. He loves you, my lady. And you love him!” “No, you are mistaken, I do not love him. Not in that way. We did argue and I hate him!” “What did you argue about?” “He told me I was a selfish Royal.” Maria laughed and said, “We are all selfish sometimes. My lady, you are the least selfish Queen that I know.” “Is that a compliment?” Joanna asked her. She added, “I don’t know what I would do without you, Maria.” “You would be bored with no news.” She paused. “Please consider forgiving the Prince of Ott; he is a good man.” Prince Samuel took to the dance floor with Lady Laura. He seemed in good spirits after their argument, which annoyed Joanna a great deal. She was still angry at him, but now she was plainly jealous that he had asked Lady Laura to dance and after all this time he had never asked her. One song ended and they both noticed Prince Samuel asked Princess Ella of Segal to dance. He smiled at her and their faces were animated. The Princess laughed as they danced. Joanna thought Samuel too happy. She wondered why the Princess would dance with a man who would not marry her; perhaps she still hoped for the marriage. Maria said, “Prince Samuel dances very well. I am surprised that he does not ask you to dance; although you did quarrel. My Queen, you know the Prince very well. Do you believe he will rekindle an old passion with the Princess of Segal?” “He can do whatever he pleases.” Maria smiled. She knew she did not mean it. “Maria, he insulted my past. How do I forgive him?” “That is hard to forgive, but are you sure? Did you ask him to explain himself?” “No.” “I see.” “You believe that I am overreacting?” “I could not know because I was not there. Are you overreacting?” “I am not sure.” “My Queen, maybe you are right about him. He is dancing with Princess Ella, the woman that he was engaged to once, and he looks very happy.” Maria tried to catch her glance but she would not yield to Maria. “Prince Samuel may dance with whomever he chooses.” Joanna crossed her arms. Samuel pulled Ella very close and he whispered in her ear. Joanna hardly knew what was happening as she watched them begin another dance. “I am ashamed of him! He will not ask you for a dance. I see the capricious nature of men when ladies such as Princess Ella arrive.” Then Maria turned her head almost sideways to study them, and said, “I didn’t think you could hold someone that close and still call it dancing.” John Phillip of Kane approached them and bowed. “May I introduce Lady Maria Laroque,” Joanna said. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance. May I ask you for a dance, Lady Maria?” “Yes, of course,” Maria said. She rose and followed him to the dance floor. Joanna smiled as her friend danced with John Phillip and she thought them a handsome pair. Maria returned, out of breath from the dance. She noticed Joanna looking over at the bench where Samuel and Ella sat. “Do you see Princess Ella’s new styled dress? It is very popular,” Maria remarked. “I think that Prince Samuel is an admirer of the fashion. I too have a dress in that style, and you could wear it if you like. It is dark blue silk and it would look good against your white skin. And you could let your hair down instead of wearing it up. The ball is just getting started really.” Joanna looked down at her own dress. It was an old, royal, respectable sort of dress and suddenly Joanna felt ugly. “I am a queen now and must be proper.” “As you wish, my Queen, but you are the same age as she is, and more beautiful.” “Maria, you are too kind.” Maria said, “You are wise to be a stately woman! Why not let all the other girls have the dances with the Dukes and Princes? It is much better to be here with me than on the dance floor.” Joanna watched the couples on the dance floor for a moment. “I suppose I will try on your dress. We are the same size I believe.” “And may I fix your hair?” “As you wish, my clever Maria.” The two slipped away. Maria worked quickly on her cousin’s hair. Then she helped her into the dress. Joanna was suddenly self-conscious. Maria told her to look in the mirror. Joanna did think the dress was very youthful and pretty, but she thought it too short. “I cannot wear this dress!” “As you say, however, every young royal woman is wearing this new fashion. Even the Prince of Ott has admired the change of style as he holds the Princess of Segal very close while they dance.” Joanna didn’t like the fact that Samuel hadn’t asked her to dance once to the three times he had danced with Ella. Joanna took out her lip balm and put it on her lips. “Oh you look beautiful; you have such red and full lips, my Queen!” “Thank you, Maria.” “For what?” “For reminding me that I am still a young woman.” “Believe me, they all know, especially Prince Samuel.” “Are we ready to return?” “You are ready. I am not going. I will retire.” “Oh no! I cannot do this without you! Where will I get my courage?” “You will find it.” Joanna held her head high as she walked back to the Ball. She tried to pretend that she was happy. When she entered the room for the second time in the blue dress she could feel that most eyes were on her. She worried that her dress was too informal for the formal ball, but Maria was correct; she was the same age as all the other girls on the dance floor. Samuel was dancing with Laura, his cousin from The Kingdom of Ott. She wore a yellow gown that captured her golden hair’s beauty. He saw Joanna come in, but he didn’t look over for more than a few seconds. He was quite engaged in his dance, and he was enjoying the ball. He asked every eligible girl to dance, but he would not ask Joanna to dance. She knew that perhaps their friendship was over. She sensed he was looking for something. Maybe he was a marrying kind of man after all. Why had Joanna bothered to change dresses? She changed dresses on a silly little girl’s whim. Maybe she had been silly all along. After all, she wanted all of Samuel’s attention. Joanna understood she was not prepared to love anyone after David’s death, and yet she would deny Samuel the opportunity to look for a suitable wife? She was ashamed of her spoiled, selfish behavior. The Duke of Seine was a perfect host and had diplomatically danced with every eligible Royal once. He began a dance with the Queen of Kane, who looked rather well, Joanna thought. It was an honor for him to ask her to dance later rather than earlier in the evening. William finished his dance with the Queen of Kane, who he might still marry for she was very rich and very well connected. Joanna thought the Queen of Kane was a better choice for William because she was his equal in power and influence. But she felt that William wanted something else in his wife. Joanna had to laugh at her thoughts. As if she could decide who anyone would marry based on cold facts. She had fallen in love with David. Why would she pick out a bride for anyone? If she did, she would exclude the Princess of Segal from ever marrying because she did not like her. Duke William was Princess Ella’s partner during the next dance. Joanna thought that the girl must be tired. She appeared so proud on the dance floor. Joanna knew that she had some pride too. She had thought that yesterday’s fencing match was about her, but she saw that the Duke of Seine and the Prince of Ott both knew Princess Ella very well. The Princess was a worthy bride and she could see that both Samuel and now William held her close while dancing. The Duke of Seine bowed to Princess Ella after the dance was over. Joanna stood with her back against the wall, and her arms were drawn behind her back. She was in an unguarded moment. Duke William saw Joanna as he left the dance floor. He saw that she was alone and he noted Prince Samuel danced with the Princess of Segal again. It occurred to William that he might marry Princess Ella, and he should not allow the Prince of Ott such liberties with his future bride, but he was more interested in Joanna. He had not danced with her yet that evening and it was very late. William made his way over to claim his dance with the beautiful Joanna. He bowed to Joanna and she curtseyed slightly. She wasn’t expecting to dance with anyone else that night. “Queen Joanna, will you do me the honor of dancing with me at my ball?” “Duke William, I would be honored to dance with you.” The music was slow in tempo. He pulled her close to him, but not as close as he had pulled Princess Ella. “You look fetching. Is this a new dress? I hadn’t seen you wear it earlier,” he began. “It is a good look for you, especially if your goal is to drive a man to fight over you.” She blushed. “My dear Joanna, you are even more becoming when you blush. Is it for me or Prince Samuel that you changed your dress?” “I cannot imagine where you get these ideas, dearest William.” “Don’t become diplomatic with me, Joanna, we have come too far to stop now.” “I think that you are flattering my vanity. It is possible that both you and the Prince of Ott are indeed fighting over a woman, but a woman from Segal.” “It is a good observation. I am impressed, Joanna. It is high time you listened to gossip. It is a good way to discover the truth, especially about yourself.” “The gossip I have heard this evening is about you finding a bride.” “It is true that I am looking for a wife, but she needs to have certain attributes. There are the things that I look for in a wife, and the things that my parents look for in my wife. We don’t always agree on which is more important.” The dance ended and Joanna was about to leave the floor, but William said, “Will you not indulge me in another dance so that we may finish our conversation?” Joanna held up her arms as if to comply with his request and then he whisked her into his arms and danced quickly matching the tempo of the music. He did not speak, but rather he danced her toward the terrace. He stopped the dance when he reached the door of the terrace. “I am rather warm; will you not dance with me on the terrace?” “My lord, I decline.” She did not trust William. “Queen Joanna, I promise you that I only intend on a dance. If you find me in any way to give offense, you may leave. I promise to be a gentleman. I have some words of business for you and I’d rather say them in private.” She slipped out onto the terrace with Duke William. He held up his hand to resume the dance, and she took it. He held her very close. She was so close to him and she never realized how attractive he was until now. His eyes were dark like the forest at nightfall. She admired them, thinking they were the most attractive eyes she had ever seen. “I am afraid we cannot continue. I cannot hear the music anymore,” she said. “Listen to my heart and you will hear the music.” Joanna was confused. Could this really be the Duke of Seine? He was so gentle and spoke softly to her. “You spoke of business that needed to be addressed.” “Let us dance.” He pulled her closer. He leaned down and his cheek touched hers. The harmony of the dance made her think he was her ideal partner. She wanted to forget everything she knew and stay in the dance. William was elated that he had the lovely Joanna alone. She had occupied his thoughts for months. He felt the tug of her beauty. He could marry any of the pretty royal princesses he knew, but Joanna made them all seem boring. They were raised never to question or give an opinion. After he met Joanna, William knew he could not spend his time with a simple-minded princess without a thought in her head. He felt the heat like a flame between them, and he knew she felt it too. He held her tighter and she offered no resistance. The emotion of desire swirled as a dance between them. The Duke kissed her; his lips broke any remaining resolve she possessed. She would not turn him away and he aggressively kissed her all the more. His kiss unleashed a current. The Duke’s kiss covered her doubts and her lips moved with his in the dance. The wonder of the attraction made her continue the embrace. How she missed being in love. How the power of his kiss drove her to forget. Discovery made him familiar. She forgot her troubles and remembered the expectations of a kiss. His kiss had regard only for the moment. The pressure on her lips sealed him into her like a goldsmith sealed metal into a crown. Slowly she remembered David’s kiss. How could she live a lie? How close she was to the Duke. If she thought she loved William, would it become true? His embrace captured her in the moment, yet the moment would stop as a flame burns bright until the wood is no more. Joanna pulled back slightly. “Why are you stopping?” he asked. His arms kept her near to him. He whispered, “Don’t you want to feel this alive every single day? I could marry you and you would see how well we would get along. I can’t think of the other girls when you are around. You are in my blood and I think that you feel it too.” “I don’t love you. I may be attracted to you and you may be a desirable man, but in the end, I don’t love you.” She broke his embrace. “I am sorry.” “Who said anything about love?” He held her close again. “You were made for a man like me. You are passion, and so am I,” William said in earnest. “I need to love the man I marry, and you need to love the woman you marry. How else will you get through the good times and the bad?” “My dear Joanna, I am the Duke of Seine; I will someday be king. I will be perhaps the wealthiest man in all the kingdoms. Why would there be any bad times?” “For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and honor each other until death would we part. These are the vows we would take. Would we live them?” William fell silent as if he could not understand. She walked away from the Duke of Seine and went back inside the castle. The Duke had lost, he knew. He felt a pang of remorse, and then he remembered that he was only playing a game.