Rogue’s Kiss

Autumn - 34WF 34th Year of William Farview. I’m not hiding, I’m not hiding…I’m not hiding. I am Lady Liliana Lanai, Knight of the realm, tamer of horrible cats and I’m definitely not, not, not hiding from a ballroom behind a curtain. Except that she was. If Lili, would admit it, for even half a second, she would admit that she was hiding from over a hundred of her peers, even more servants, Royalty, Military and most terrifying of all, Family, behind a luxurious blue velvet curtain. Well between the curtain and a tall stone carving of a dragon. It was bad enough that she was here. It was bad enough that she had been made to wear a ridiculous dress. She had tried to pick out something dark, modest, a dress that she could hide in. The Baroness of Cotte had stepped into the room just as she’d been pulling on a dress of deep brown with long sleeves and a simple empire line. ‘Lady Liliana Lanai!’ The Baroness hadn’t shouted, she never even raised her voice but there was a sharpness that had made Lili quiver as a little girl, and still raised the hairs on her arms even now. ‘You will not be lurking for the first ball of Autumn.’ The Baroness, Lili’s mother was as unyielding as steel, wrapped and disguised in cotton. The brown dress had been stripped away, maybe it had even been thrown into the fire. Who knew? The Baroness had encouraged her to wear a strapless dress of vibrant red, to bring out the colour of her hair. Lilia had stared at her. No one needed anymore encouragement to notice her red hair. Or her freckles, or her pale green eyes. It wasn’t as if she could hide any of these features, but why by the Myst would she ever choose to draw attention to them? So here she was. They had compromised and agreed on a deep red dress, so dark that it looked almost black unless under direct light. Lilia suspected that the Baroness had only agreed because the corseted top had a lower neckline than Lilia usually permitted, a curved sweetheart sweep across her chest. If anything, it was an even better dress for lurking in the shadows. It was the opening dance of the Autumn season. Most of the ladies wore dresses the colour of falling leaves, greens, golds and oranges. The air was spiced with the scent of woodsmoke, cinnamon and the rich red wine that was being served. Now, more than ever she felt her stomach twist in knots. Beyond her curtain she could see the walls of the wide room, decorated in hunting scenes and gilded paper. Lining the nearest wall was a long table, laden with a feast of sliced meats, cheeses, and sweet breads. Along with more cakes, chocolates and indulgences than she could name. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes and she looked up at the ceiling, willing them to fade. Now, more than ever she missed Grace. Grace, her oldest and greatest friend. Grace who had been murdered and left for dead in an alleyway, here in the Capital. Liliana made herself to take a deep breath and pull the curtain back a little. The dance floor was busy with polite couples, moving back and forth in time with slow music. Surrounding the dancefloor were chairs and small tables and opposite the feast on the furthest wall were large glass doors that opened into a balcony. Only one of the doors was opened, letting cool Autumn air into the otherwise warm room. Lilia smoothed trembling hands down her skirts and forced her shoulders back. This was for Grace. She would never find out what her friend had been involved in, not if she never made it beyond the curtain. The musicians picked up the tempo and the dancers started a parade, top couples of sets moving up and down. There was laughter, the sound of thudding feet and the gentler padding of ladies’ slippers. Servants moved around the room with trays of drinks and candles dripped melted wax into sconces. The evening was moving on without her, and so far all she had done was hide. I can do this. She lied to herself. Lilia slipped around the curtain, she swallowed her nerves and edged around the outskirts of the room, towards the food. It was ridiculous, for a grown woman to be so uncomfortable in society. She was a Knight, a Lady…but she had no intention of dancing, or finding a husband. Lady Knights weren’t common, and Lilia was aware that a number of the nobility waited eagerly for her to make a mistake. Something truly scandalous that would strip her of her hard- won shield. Something like accepting a lover outside of marriage. Not that she’d ever had time to fall in love, there was too much to do. Beside, relationships were a risk and something she wasn’t willing to break her heart over. She had almost made it to the refreshments table, when her heart nearly stopped. There he was, someone who shouldn’t be here. He was as tall as she remembered and far more handsome. Long dark hair curled around his ears. This couldn’t be happening. Maybe it wasn’t him. She could only see his back, broad shoulders in a black jerkin, but she knew. Every single fibre of her being knew exactly who that man was. If he saw her, would he recognise her? She stopped in her tracks, forced herself to inhale and spun around. It wasn’t worth the risk. If it was him, if he recognised her…she’d be arrested. How could she bring Graces’ killer to justice if she was imprisoned? Yet, a small voice hoped that he did recognise her. Being close to him last time had awoken desire that she had never known existed. Heat pooled in the pit of her stomach. He was a dangerous distraction. ‘Excuse me, miss’ Damnit, he’d already spotted her. Lilia froze, closed her eyes and exhaled. Run? Just run away!