The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1)(20)
A lie. I knew very well how pain could last, and fester, and shape a person in unnameable ways.
But James squeezed my arm. “Tobiah’s miniature was sent to many families a couple of years ago, including some in Liadia. Perhaps your family received one.”
“I wasn’t yet out, so probably not, but I must have had an older cousin or friend who received one.” I shivered. “Details like that are hazy now, like they’re filled with wraith.”
“It’s all right.” James’s voice was soft and comforting, and if I’d been the real Lady Julianna, I might have fallen for him right there.
“So.” I made my voice a little husky. “You were concerned that I might be interested in Prince Tobiah. Even though he’s engaged, apparently.”
Color rose up James’s throat and cheeks. “I wasn’t concerned, but I was thinking that the fastest way to get your mind off him and on to me would be to tell you something truly appalling about him.”
“By all means, tell me something truly appalling about him.”
James glanced across the room, and for a heartbeat his smile fell away, revealing a young man too used to checking on his prince to make sure nothing was wrong. “Well.” He gave an exaggerated sigh and spun me. My gown flared, a desert of silk at my feet. “I bear a great burden. As Tobiah’s bodyguard and best friend, I know all his worst faults.”
Best friend? That made me doubly glad I’d concealed my real feelings. “You do know how to keep a lady in suspense.”
He grinned. “Prepare to be scandalized. The prince is a terrible swordsman. He sleeps through breakfast almost every day. And once I saw him chew with his mouth open.”
“Just the once, though?”
“He was ten.”
I nodded solemnly. “I see. These are unforgivable offenses and I’m deeply scandalized.”
A smile lit his eyes. “At last, I’m not the only one to see his true nature.”
“And now he has a fiancée. What will she do when she discovers these dark truths? Didn’t you warn her?”
“The fair duchess would not be swayed from her decision to accept his proposal. No matter how often I complimented her beauty, she still chose him. Ah, to be a prince.” He pressed his hand to his heart.
“Lieutenant Rayner, do I perceive that you are something of a flirt?”
“My heart is simply more open than most people’s.” As the first dance ended, James offered a deep bow. “You’re not as terrible a dancer as you claimed, Lady Julianna.” He offered his arm.
Face ducked as though to hide a blush, I let him lead me off the dance floor. “You’re so kind.”
“So kind I’d like to get you a drink while we wait for the next dance, if you’ll honor me again. Wine?”
“Please.”
He left me by a gilt-framed mirror, which showed couples pulling closer and others seeking conversation partners. I caught glimpses of Melanie smiling shyly at a man, Lady Chey parading around in her exquisite lavender gown, and Tobiah listening to someone speak, a thin mask of politeness across his features. He looked ready to drop from boredom, in spite of Meredith’s presence beside him. She looked lovely, her hair all in tight coils, save a few pale tendrils that brushed her golden gown.
No doubt she was engaging in the long-celebrated tradition of marrying up, but what did he get from this? A lovely wife? Her family’s wealth?
“Her name is Julianna,” a woman nearby said. “She’s a duchess from Liadia.”
I continued my admiration of the room as the woman repeated my manufactured history, occasionally shooting pitying looks my way. As long as they believed my story, it didn’t matter that I was in a palace filled with enemies, biding my time until I could go back to my ruined kingdom and scrape it off the ground.
James returned and handed me a glass of wine. “My lady.”
I thanked him and took a tiny sip, just enough to wet my mouth. The room was warm, and being Julianna, pretending that I didn’t hate everyone here, was exhausting. But I couldn’t risk getting drunk and revealing something I shouldn’t, either. I needed to stay sharp. Focused.
“You’ve said you don’t do much dancing,” James said. “What do you enjoy doing?”
Forgery? “Writing letters. Drawing.” Picking locks? “Puzzles.” Fighting? “Sewing.” I kept my tone pleasant—as pleasant as Julianna might, given her recent trials.
“I’d love to see some of your artwork.” James sipped his wine. “I’ve never had much opportunity to learn, but we have many fine artists in Skyvale. Many pieces are in Skyvale Palace, but I don’t have the knowledge to tell you anything about them. I simply enjoy looking.”
I dulled my tone a little. Just enough. “Unfortunately, all of my drawings are still in Liadia.”
James pressed his mouth into a line and nodded. “Of course. If you want to take up drawing again, though, I’m sure supplies would be provided.”
“I don’t want to be an inconvenience.” But really, what did I care about inconveniencing anyone here? Some other time, I’d reference this conversation when I asked for large sheets of paper and a selection of colored inks. The prince’s best friend and cousin said I should ask, after all.