Crewel

bitterly.
    I take this as my cue to finally slip back to my apartment. I’m sure they’ll turn their venom on me next. Scanning the room, I don’t see anyone who will stop me from leaving, unless one of the officials tries to get his hands on me. That’s something I’d like to avoid, as the men who are here alone are as undesirable as they come – dumpy, hairy, and smelly. The only girl who would go after one of them would be a girl after power.
    I guess that’s why Pryana’s draping herself over the dumpiest, hairiest, and smelliest of the undesirables – the minister of Ambrica, a large region that contains most of the Eastern Sector. It’s situated along the seaboard, and his bulging waistline is evidence that he enjoys the benefits of a rich seafood diet as well as far too many of the wines that are produced in the region. Unfortunately, he seizes my arm as I try to steal past them.
    ‘You must be the other new hire.’ He winks at me, and Pryana glares, her body still pressed against him.
    ‘I suppose so,’ I say, as bored as possible.
    ‘You are a fine-looking pair. These days it’s rare we get two ideal new Spinsters at the Western Coventry in one year,’ he says, moving so close to me that the stench of garlic and whisky stings my nose. ‘But you two are exquisite.’
    I try to think of something clever to say without insulting him or encouraging his perverted commentary. I can’t come up with a thing.
    Thankfully, Pryana, who appears to be trying to permanently adhere herself to him, steps in and bats her overlong lashes. Her body language tells me to back off, and I want to scream at her that this is the last place I want to be.
    The minister grasps Pryana firmly at the waist. ‘You, my dear, are like midnight.’
    She smiles and leans in to whisper in the minister’s ear, but he pulls away and clutches at my wrist. My skin crawls where his doughy hand rests, and I’m grateful my arm is the only thing he can reach. ‘But you,’ he continues in a husky tone, ‘are like a pearl.’
    ‘Funny, Cormac says the same thing.’ It works. He immediately drops his hold on me.
    ‘Pity he had to leave,’ the minister slurs. ‘Called to Northumbria, I hear.’
    Why he left is news to me, but I nod as though I’m in on everything. ‘He said something about it during dinner.’
    The minister, a little too drunk, tries to straighten up as though we’re talking official business, which results in Pryana falling off him – literally. Her lips tighten against her teeth and her nostrils flare, but she coolly tugs him away from me. ‘Dance with me.’
    ‘Oh yes,’ the minister slobbers as she pulls him toward the vibrantly lit dance floor in the centre of the banquet room. ‘It was lovely to meet you, Alice.’
    Alice. Wonder what he thinks her name is.
    ‘Was he talking to you?’ a smooth, strong voice asks from behind. I turn, expecting to see Jost, whom I’ve seen wandering about the hall, but find Erik.
    ‘You look disappointed,’ he notes.
    I am disappointed, but I shake my head. ‘No, you sounded like someone else.’
    A frown passes over his pale face, but it’s gone as quickly as it comes. ‘If you’re expecting someone else . . .’
    ‘Oh, well, any moment I’m expecting to be mobbed and eaten alive by fat old men,’ I say matter-of-factly.
    ‘I suppose I should leave you to it then.’ He pretends to turn away, and I punch him lightly on the shoulder.
    ‘Ouch, you could have mentioned you didn’t want to be mobbed by fat, old men,’ he says.
    ‘Why would you ever think I would?’
    He points to Pryana hanging on the minister. ‘She doesn’t seem to mind.’
    ‘Well, I’m not Pryana.’
    ‘So does that mean you are available for this dance?’ He grins at me. No amount of Crewel work or weaving could achieve such a perfectly crooked smile.
    I nod, and he leads me over to the floor. Pryana flashes a scathing look in our direction, but immediately turns her attention back to her prey.
    ‘You know, dancing naked is easier than I imagined it would be,’ I say without thinking as the music slows and Erik draws me into his arms to dance.
    ‘Naked?’ he asks quietly against my ear.
    ‘Oh, nothing.’ I can’t believe I said it out loud. ‘I feel naked in this dress.’ Twice.
    ‘You look it,’ he admits. ‘I have to be honest, I really like this dress.’
    For some reason this is hysterically funny to me, and I actually begin to giggle. ‘I should have known