“You wanted me to introduce you to my friends. We may encounter some on our stroll. That should make you happier than dancing.”
With that insistence, there was nothing to do but take his arm and let him lead me outside.
Clouds had shuffled across the sky during the day and were congregated over the courtyard, blotting out the moon and stars. The night was cool, but I felt a flush of heat warming my cheeks. Did Ronan expect me to kiss him again? He might. I’d made my interest in him clear enough last night.
I should’ve found the idea distasteful, and yet my heart was traitorously beating in anticipation. I couldn’t look at his handsome face. The feel of his arm linked with mine was distracting enough.
We wandered toward a fountain in the center of a garden walk. Wizards’ orbs of all different colors hung from posts, gathered together like glowing flowers. Their shadows weretinted with color so that the water rippled yellow, orange, and pink, as though something from a fairy realm.
Ronan tilted his head, contemplating me. “Do you have any apologies to offer me tonight, my lady?”
“Alas. I haven’t been rude to you today.”
“Most likely because we’ve spent no time together, but I’m sure you have some commentary on my dealings of late.”
“None at all.” I paused. “That isn’t to say I don’t have commentary on your other choices.”
He laughed, a sound deep and rich. “What choices of mine do you know of?”
“You became a wizard. Isn’t that enough?”
His eyebrows rose. “Is it?” His question seemed sincere. As though he was unsure why I would disapprove of that action.
I didn’t respond beyond a shrug. To say more might make him think I had renegade tendencies. We padded up to the fountain.
“Speaking of wizards we’ve both known,” he said, “have you heard about Mage Wolfson?”
Best to play ignorant. I wasn’t sure what was common knowledge in the court regarding Wolfson. “Do you mean Mage Saxeus? I heard about him and Mage Redboot at breakfast.”
“No, Mage Wolfson. The king believes he was involved in the doings of last night and ordered his mark removed.” Ronan paused, studying my reaction. “You don’t look surprised.”
“Should his treachery surprise me?” I dipped my hand into the fountain’s water, distorting the colors. “The magic you hold in such high esteem brings quite a lot of people to ruin, doesn’t it? Is it too late for you to consider a career in something else…a cobbler, perhaps? You make lovely shoes. Or at least quiet ones.” I was jesting, but a note of desperation leaked into my voice. At that moment, I’d have given anything to convince Ronan to take up a different profession.
“I prefer to make spells rather than slippers. I’ll try to avoid ruin.”
We left the fountain and ambled further down the lane where it was more private. When we reached a bench, he took his wand from his pocket, arced it into a circle surrounding us, and said an incantation I wasn’t familiar with. The air shimmered and thickened.
I sat on the bench, taking care not to wrinkle my gown. “What did you just do?”
“I issued a silencing spell.” He joined me on the bench, his wand on his lap. “While we stay within two feet of each other, our words will be muffled and incomprehensible to any who pass by.”
That would be a useful spell to have. “I thought we went on this stroll so you could introduce me to your friends. Is this an admittance that wizards have no friends?”
“Not ones I trust with secrets.”
I leaned toward him. “Will we be discussing your secrets or mine? I do hope it’s yours. I already know all of mine.”
He stretched his free hand along the back of the bench, a casual gesture. “I was simply wondering how your magic has served you. You speak so ill of sorcery that you’ve made me wonder if anything has gone amiss.”
Mysecrets, then. I shrugged nonchalantly. “Nothing has gone amiss. I’ve had little need for most of what you taught me.”
In the evening light, his blue eyes looked black. Dark and penetrating. “You used the invisibility spell the other day.”
“Yes,” I said, as though remembering. “I only meant that on my estate, I’ve little need for the protections you gave me. Invisibility did come in handy to avoid Lord Percy.”
“I thought you were avoiding Bernard Godfrey.”
“I avoid many people. Sometimes I confuse them.”