The Daring Debutantes by Jerrica Knight-Catania

Author:Jerrica Knight-Catania
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Published: 2013-09-02T16:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Bianca couldn’t ever remember feeling quite this happy. The tribe had rejoiced in their announcement and everyone had immediately begun preparations for that evening’s celebration. Now, Bianca sat beside her soon-to-be husband, eating a glorious feast while several of the tribe’s musicians serenaded them with their exotic-sounding songs.

As Bianca shoved the last bite of bread into her mouth, Emil turned to her with a wide smile on his face.

“I have a gift for you,” he said.

“Oh,” she said, at a loss. “But I have nothing for you in return.”

“Silly gadje, it isn’t always necessary to give something in return. Sometimes it is best to simply say thank you.”

Bianca flashed him a wry smile. “I know that,” she said cheekily.

Emil turned around and procured a gold necklace with dangling coins. “Normally, my father would be the one to present this to you, to welcome you to our family, but…well, I suppose I don’t need to explain why I’m presenting it instead.”

Bianca shook her head. “It means more to me coming from you, anyway.”

“May I?”

She moved forward so he could clasp it around her neck. The gold coins felt smooth and cool against her skin, and she reached up to touch them with her fingers.

“I love it,” she said, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.

“I’m glad.” Emil smiled and held out his hand to her. “Now, may I have this dance?”

Bianca gladly took his hand. He led her to the small patch of land that had been deemed the dance floor and allowed him to lead her in a dance. It was nothing like what she’d learned from her private dance tutor. It was raucous and fun—Bianca had never felt so free in all her life.

That was, until she saw him. Tom.

Dear God, what was he doing here?

She stopped dancing to watch him approach. Slowly, the others stopped too and eventually the music died away as well.

Bianca’s heart raced as he approached. Not because she was again stricken by his dashing good looks, but because of the expression he wore. Not angry, but close to it. Determined, worried. Either way, it was easy to guess that his purpose was not to congratulate them on their impending nuptials.

She wouldn’t force him to come to her in the middle of the makeshift dance floor. That would just be cruel with everyone looking on. So she scurried across the space and met him at the edge of the field. Emil was at her back, she could feel him there, but she didn’t dare turn around to look at him. She already knew he wore a murderous expression.

“Tom, what are you doing here?” she asked as she approached, still slightly out of breath from the rigorous dancing.

Tom eyed Emil and looked about at the other onlookers before focusing on Bianca again. “He’s coming.”

The blood drained from her face, leaving her cold, her heart fluttering and her hands tingling.

“How do you know?”

Tom looked at her, his eyes wide. “Does it really matter?”

Bianca felt slightly stupid. No, it didn’t matter.

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