The Cogsmith's Daughter (Desertera #1)(43)

King Archon held up a hand. “That is quite all right. Miss Wellman, I did not mean to sound rude. It is merely customary to ask the gentleman to yield his partner. Might I have a dance?”

“You may.” Aya smirked and took his outstretched hand.

Like Willem, King Archon led Aya to a dance of his own design.

“Are you sure Queen Zedara will not mind you taking another woman to the dance floor when she has sat in that stiff chair all evening?”

King Archon looked up at his wife. Queen Zedara perched on her throne with her arms crossed, her eyes purposefully examining every aspect of the room except where Aya and the king danced.

“My wife does not like to dance.” King Archon grinned. “I am sure she would thank you for taking the tedious task off her hands.”

Aya wrinkled her nose, not blaming Queen Zedara one bit. “I hope she does not find all of her queenly duties so odious.”

Aya could not be sure, given the muffling effect of the king’s mask, but she swore she heard a purr escape through the lion’s fangs.

“And how are you finding palace life, Miss Wellman?”

“Please, Your Majesty.” Aya gulped. “Call me Aya.”

“All right then. How do you like palace life, Miss Aya?”

Aya glanced up, batting her eyelashes. “I must agree with your wife that some of it is tedious. Most days, I simply sit around in Lord Varick’s estate with the maid and his sparse library as my only companions.”

“What a shame,” King Archon cooed, pulling Aya a little closer. “A lovely young girl like yourself should not be hidden away in some lord’s dwelling. You should get out and tour the palace, make some female friends with whom you can socialize.”

“Oh, I am sure I will.” Aya gave her best childlike smile. “I believe Lord Varick just wants me to adjust slowly. After all, the palace ways are so very strange compared to what I am used to.”

“I hope they are better.”

Aya squeezed King Archon’s large arm, as if to reassure him of her sincerity. “Certain aspects are exceptionally better.”

The king took her forwardness as permission to slide his hand down to her lower back, just above her bum. Aya felt his hand burning through her dress. If there were not so many layers of fabric to protect her from the offense of his touch, she surely would have screamed. She did her best to keep her gaze calm. After a few moments of careful breathing, she believed she managed to appear pleasant.

“Did dancing with Lord Varick bore you?”

Aya furrowed her brow, uncertain of the king’s intentions. “A little.”

King Archon made a show of spinning Aya and pulling her back in smoothly. He kept her locked in his arms for an uncomfortable moment before dipping her down so that she was forced to stare up at him over her breasts. After a few seconds, he straightened her and put his arms back around her. A few onlookers clapped. Queen Zedara glared.

“Better?” The king stared down at Aya expectantly.

Aya’s mouth hovered open for a moment. She feared she might vomit. “Exceptionally better.”

The king laughed, tapping his fingers against the top of her bum. As they continued their dance, King Archon strategically led them away from Queen Zedara’s line of vision. Once they were safely out of her sight, the king allowed his hand more liberty, tracing it up Aya’s spine then down the curve of her back and over her hips. He repeated this process several times, and Aya thought her skeleton might lurch out of her skin and run away. It took all of her strength to keep smiling up at him with a semblance of warmth in her eyes. She wished Abrim had crafted her a more concealing mask.

“Would you like to see more of the palace, Aya?” The king’s gravelly voice jarred her from her thoughts. While they grated on Aya’s ears, at least his words offered a distraction from the activities of his hand.

“I would love to.” Aya beamed.

“What would you say to a tour? Tomorrow, perhaps?”

Aya’s brow furrowed again. Was King Archon asking to spend the day with her?

“A tour would be lovely.” Aya squinted. “But I doubt Lord Varick has the time.”

King Archon scoffed. “Nonsense. I would give you the tour myself. And before you protest, I assure you, you would not be inconveniencing me in any way. It would be my pleasure.”

“Your Majesty, please do not think me rude, but, I must ask.” Aya spoke slowly, letting her eyes widen with every word. “Is it really appropriate for a married nobleman to be giving an unmarried peasant girl a private tour of the palace?”

King Archon puffed out his chest. “Please do not think me rude, Aya, but you forget—I am the king.” He paused, his blue eyes boring into Aya, as if making sure she understood. “I hardly have to stand upon propriety, especially in a circumstance that is truly innocent.”

“Are you certain, Your Majesty?” Aya thought of Willem’s touch to make herself blush. “I would hate if my actions were to damage your reputation in any way.”

“Aya, it will be fine.” King Archon rubbed her back. “If anything, my kindness to a ward of the palace will make me look like a gracious leader, don’t you think?”

Aya smiled. A genuine smile. She had him now. It was only a matter of time.

“I know I certainly find you to be the kindest and most gracious king I have ever known.” Aya neglected to mention the fact that she had been born more than five years after King Archon succeeded his father on the throne.