The Pyramid Waltz by Barbara Ann Wright Read Free Book Online Page A

on the parapet beside her and looked toward the lights of the city and the blackness of the countryside beyond. “You’re not going to forgive me for not admitting who I am right away, are you?”
    “I thought I’d found a friend.” The words were out before she could stop them, and she had to face Katya’s stare.
    “What makes you think you haven’t?”
    Starbride’s irritation vanished. “Thank you,” she waited a heartbeat, “Highness.”
    The moment stretched, the music from the ball echoing behind them. Starbride’s neck itched under the gaze of who knew how many watching eyeballs. With Katya on the balcony, there had to be quite a crowd.
    “What’s keeping your hair up?” Katya asked.
    “A million pins and my maid’s willpower.”
    “Not those little butterfly clips?”
    “Those are just decorations.”
    “The sugar for your tea? I must meet your mother someday.”
    “She’d dress you like a blueberry pie.”
    Katya sputtered a laugh and turned it into a loud cough.
    So, they were being watched. “How many guards will attack me if I thump you on the back?”
    “About a half dozen.” Her eyes widened as she glanced at Starbride again. “Oh, look there.”
    “What? Where?”
    Katya reached toward Starbride’s face with all the speed of a tortoise, and she had a sudden thought about Katya’s reputation, but she couldn’t move away. The slowness of the movement, as if Katya sought to creep up on a hare, caught her. It said, “I’m giving you a million chances to flee.” At last, Katya’s fingers brushed Starbride’s jaw and slipped past to tug lightly at her hair.
    “You have an escapee.” A butterfly clip lay in Katya’s palm.
    “My hair doesn’t like being restrained.” Starbride felt her cheeks warm as she stared at the clip. She closed Katya’s fingers over it, noticing for the first time the signet ring on Katya’s left forefinger, a hawk clutching a rose. “Keep it. A few butterflies would look wonderful in your hair.”
    “I almost never wear anything in it, except when forced by my mother.”
    “We have something in common.”
    “Probably more than you think.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’m supposed to be boring you with stories about hunting.”
    “Is that what everyone expects?”
    “Yes.”
    “Don’t you enjoy hunting?”
    “I must.” It was almost a whisper. “Shall we dance?”
    “Oh, um.” Starbride thought of Katya’s arms around her and was glad of the shadows that could hide a blush. “We could, but it’s so crowded in there.”
    “We could dance out here.”
    “I can barely hear the music.”
    “Don’t know how to dance?”
    Starbride nearly stomped her foot. “Of course I do! I’m pretty good at it.”
    “I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise. I’m excellent at it, if it’s your toes you’re worried about.”
    “I suppose you had to learn from an early age.”
    “It’s the law.”
    Starbride tsked. “It’s not.”
    “You’re right. I don’t want to go back into that crowd, either.” Katya stared into the night but didn’t appear to see it, seeming lost all of a sudden. Or trapped.
    “Are you all right?”
    “I’m just a little worried. I have a, um, sick friend.”
    “Oh.” Starbride curled her fingers under to keep from patting Katya’s arm. “I’m sorry. Can’t you leave early and go see him? Her?”
    “No, no, he doesn’t want people to know he’s sick. Someone might try to take…advantage of the situation. Politically.”
    “Ah. And if someone saw you leaving before the ball is over…?”
    “They’d talk about it, or worse yet, follow me.”
    Starbride’s heart went out to Katya even as the suspicious part of her nature warned her to be careful of tricks. Katya radiated sincerity, but Starbride could tell from the slight pauses that she was leaving something out. Still, if the sick friend was a secret, Katya would have to be careful what she told anyone, Starbride included. “I’m very sorry.