We all turned, and my brother appeared with four other gentlemen. Branaric called jovially, "Found you, Mel, Nee." And he bowed to the other ladies, who in turn greeted the arrivals: Geral, Savona, Lord Deric of Orbanith, and Shevraeth.
"What's toward?" the Duke asked.
Tamara's gaze was still on me. I saw her open her mouth, and before she could say anything that might sting me with embarrassment, I stuck out my hand and said, "Look at my ring!"
Surprise, and a few titters of laughter, met my sudden and uncourtier-like gesture.
Trishe took my hand, turned it over so the ring caught the light. She made admiring noises, then looked up and said, "Where? Who?"
"Yesterday." I sneaked a look at Savona. He was grinning.
"Which finger?" Tamara asked, glancing down.
"The one it fits best," I said quickly, which raised a laugh. I cast a desperate look at Nee, who was biting her lip. I hadn't even thought to ask about meaning in ring fingers, though I ought to have, I realized belatedly. Rings would be a symbol just like flowers and fan language.
"I've seen it before," Trishe said, frowning in perplexity. "I know I have. It's very old, and they don't cut stones like this anymore."
"Who is it from?" Savona asked.
I looked up at him, trying to divine whether the secret knowledge lay behind his expression of interest.
"Of course she cannot tell," Tamara said, her tone mock chiding--a masterpiece of innuendo, I realized. "But…perhaps a hint, Countess?"
"I can't, because it's a secret to me, too." I looked around. Nothing but interest in all the faces, from Savona's friendly skepticism to Shevraeth's polite indifference. Shevraeth looked more tired than ever. "The best kind, because I get the ring and don't have to do anything about it!"
Everyone laughed.
"Now that," Savona said, taking my arm, "is a direct challenge, is it not? Geral? Danric? I take you to witness." We started strolling along the pathway. "But first, to rid myself of this mysterious rival. Have you kissed anyone since yesterday? Winked? Sent a posy-of-promise?" He went on with so many ridiculous questions I couldn't stop laughing.
"What's toward?" the Duke asked.
Tamara's gaze was still on me. I saw her open her mouth, and before she could say anything that might sting me with embarrassment, I stuck out my hand and said, "Look at my ring!"
Surprise, and a few titters of laughter, met my sudden and uncourtier-like gesture.
Trishe took my hand, turned it over so the ring caught the light. She made admiring noises, then looked up and said, "Where? Who?"
"Yesterday." I sneaked a look at Savona. He was grinning.
"Which finger?" Tamara asked, glancing down.
"The one it fits best," I said quickly, which raised a laugh. I cast a desperate look at Nee, who was biting her lip. I hadn't even thought to ask about meaning in ring fingers, though I ought to have, I realized belatedly. Rings would be a symbol just like flowers and fan language.
"I've seen it before," Trishe said, frowning in perplexity. "I know I have. It's very old, and they don't cut stones like this anymore."
"Who is it from?" Savona asked.
I looked up at him, trying to divine whether the secret knowledge lay behind his expression of interest.
"Of course she cannot tell," Tamara said, her tone mock chiding--a masterpiece of innuendo, I realized. "But…perhaps a hint, Countess?"
"I can't, because it's a secret to me, too." I looked around. Nothing but interest in all the faces, from Savona's friendly skepticism to Shevraeth's polite indifference. Shevraeth looked more tired than ever. "The best kind, because I get the ring and don't have to do anything about it!"
Everyone laughed.
"Now that," Savona said, taking my arm, "is a direct challenge, is it not? Geral? Danric? I take you to witness." We started strolling along the pathway. "But first, to rid myself of this mysterious rival. Have you kissed anyone since yesterday? Winked? Sent a posy-of-promise?" He went on with so many ridiculous questions I couldn't stop laughing.
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Court Duel ]
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