“Lady Marissa” nodded. “My brother is the ambassador, perhaps you remember him?”
What game was he playing? His lies kept piling up and up and up. It was only a matter of time before they came crashing down.
“Oh, Edward. Yes. I met him.” A V formed between Keelynn’s brows. “It’s so strange I haven’t met you though. He never mentioned a sister.”
“That’s because he’s wretched,” Rían said with a playful swat.
The first true thing he’d said.
“Thinks women should stay cooped up in the house, spending their time pushing needles and thread through bits of fabric and banging keys on the dreadful pianoforte.”
Keelynn giggled. “If he believes that, then perhaps he is wretched. Are you staying for dinner, Lady Marissa?”
Rían said “yes” at the same time I said “no.”
I glared at him. He wasnotcoming to dinner.
“I’ll, um, leave the two of you to sort that out. You should stay for dinner though. Aveen never has friends over. I was beginning to think I was her only friend.” Keelynn’s hesitant smile was as false as my own as she closed the door behind her.
Rían, still posing as a lady, waltzed over to look at himself in the mirror.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?LadyMarissa?”
“Have you seen the layer of dust at the back of your closet? You should fire your maid.” He cupped his chest, lifting his breasts higher and turning from side to side as he admired his own figure.
“So, you have enough magic to turn yourself into a woman, and yet you cannot vanish?” How was that possible?
“It’s a good thing too. Otherwise, that would’ve been dreadfully awkward.” He twirled to check out his backside. “Does this dress make me look fat?”
“Rían!”
“All right. You don’t need to yell. I’m standing right here.” Rolling his eyes, he sauntered to my side. “I do not know why my magic is acting up. It has never done this. It’s quite embarrassing. But you have to admit, I do make quite a stunning woman.” He pulled out the front of his dress, smiling as he peered down.
I smacked his hand away. “Don’t do that.”
“Why not? They’re mine, aren’t they? Not as nice as yours, though,” he mused, tapping his dainty chin. “Should I make them larger?”
Instead of swatting his hand, I caught it. “You can do whatever you want after you take one of my cloaks and leave out the front door.”
“Leave?” Blue eyes widened. “My dear, why on earth would I leave when I’ve been invited to my fiancée’s house for dinner?”
15
Rían,posing as Lady Marissa, wore my favorite navy-blue evening gown to dinner. Although I’d never admit it, the dress looked far better on him than it did on me. I had warned him within an inch of his life that if he was not on his best behavior, there’d be consequences. As to what those consequences would be, I hadn’t the foggiest. After all, what could I do to him that would have any impact?
Keelynn must’ve informed our father that we’d be having a guest, because when we arrived there were four place settings at the mammoth dining table instead of three. My father had his usual spot at the head, with Keelynn to his right, and Rían and me to his left.
When our father met “Lady Marissa,” he pressed a kiss to the back of her hand and welcomed her to our home. Instead of taking the farthest seat, Rían had the gall to sit in the one right next to him.
“So, Lady Marissa, how are you finding life in Graystones?” my father asked after the wine had been poured and our first dish, braised pork belly, had been served.He couldn’t keep his eyes off the prince. And who could blame him? Symmetrical features, lashes like fans, rosy, red lips. I would’ve killed for “Lady Marissa’s” cheekbones.
I had to keep reminding myself who he was.
That he wasn’t real.
“It is quite dreadful, isn’t it?” Rían sipped his wine daintily. “Life here is so tedious and backwards. Can you imagine, the menfolk are so archaic that they believe a woman’s only worth is her ability to marry a wealthy man? Poppycock.”
Keelynn choked on her wine. Muttering an apology, she attempted to hide her smile behind a gloved hand.