Beauty In Darkness: Royal Hearts Book One by Briggs Elizabeth

Author:Briggs, Elizabeth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elizabeth Briggs Books
Published: 2019-05-15T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty

Rose

I smoothed my gloved hands down the front of my emerald green dress before checking my crown one last time, along with the former Queen’s jewels, which hung around my neck. Everything was in place and I’d always enjoyed balls, so why was I so nervous?

A man with a deep, bellowing voice announced, “Her Majesty, Queen Rose.”

The double doors flew open in front of me. I sucked in a breath and stepped through them into the ballroom while my long gown flowed behind me. The entire room seemed to pause and turn toward me, and my heart raced knowing hundreds of eyes were appraising me and taking stock of their former enemy and new queen.

I searched the crowd, but I didn’t recognize anyone in front of me until my eyes landed on Raith across the room. His tall, dark profile immediately drew me toward him, as did his commanding presence. Even in the middle of a crowd he was the only one I saw. It had been two days since I’d helped him to his room, and I was certain he’d been avoiding me all that time, though he did attend our nightly meals, at least for a few minutes.

A man moved in front of me, blocking my view of my husband. A very handsome man, and from the arrogant smile on his face, he knew it. His dark brown hair was perfectly tousled with one curl hanging over his blue eyes. His broad shoulders filled out his maroon coat and tapered down to a narrow waist. Everything about him was confident and screamed of wealth and privilege.

“Your majesty, you’re even more beautiful than I’d heard.” He swept into a deep, graceful bow. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Malren, Raith’s cousin.”

Malren. I stood a little straighter at the name. Raith had warned me about him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” He flashed me a dazzling smile. “Might I have this dance?”

I glanced around us, but Raith was caught up in conversation with another nobleman and no one else was coming to my rescue. I didn’t trust Malren, but I couldn’t refuse him a dance. We were family now, after all. Not to mention he was next in line for the throne and a powerful nobleman in his own right. I doubted Raith would dance with me anyway.

“That would be lovely,” I said, as I offered Malren my gloved hand.

He took it and swept me forward onto the dance floor, while people parted for us. His firm fingers clasped mine, while his other hand rested on my waist. The next song began, and we moved together in time to the music, our movements fluid and graceful.

“You’re a fine dancer,” Malren said. “Was dancing a pastime of yours in Talador?”

“We have our fair share of balls, yes.”

“I’m sure you were the belle of all of them.”

I laughed. “Hardly. I have five beautiful sisters, after all.”

“So I’ve heard, though I doubt any can compare to the woman in front of me now.

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