by R. Cooper
“Why not?” Flor wondered immediately, then sighed. “That was too forceful, wasn’t it? At times, I push people without meaning to. I’m sorry.”
Clematis did not think Flor was capable of changing his nature. But clearly this aspect caused him some pain, and that Clematis could not stand. “Maybe some people need a push.”
Flor’s lips parted, then shaped a word he did not voice. “But not everything is my business, or so they tell me.” He seemed to mean it and be disgruntled about it at the same time.
Clematis smiled at the familiar attitude. “Like the Prince?” he asked delicately. “Have you been giving him a push?”
“I gave him a push,” Flor grumbled. “It got him into this mess. But I just don’t see why Tu would run away like…” He made a face, wrinkling his nose and shifting the domino slightly. “I should get back out there. David probably needs help. I can leave you with Tabatha’s novels.” But he tipped his head to the side and didn’t move. The longer he studied Clematis, the warmer Clematis felt. “Do you really not know anyone here?” Flor finally asked. “Are you… please, don’t be upset… but are you scared of being out there?”
Clematis dropped his head to stare at his shiny buckled shoes. “What kind of person would be scared of that?”
“David does that. Gives a question for a question.” Flor was gentle. “Avoiding answering me is a type of an answer. Did someone behave badly?”
That question, no matter how kindly asked, promised retribution against anyone who dared, simply because the question came from Flor de Maga.
Clematis wet his lips, then shook his head. “No. No more than usual.” He couldn’t tell what Flor’s silence meant, but it made him risk a look up. Flor’s mouth was turned down. Clematis did his best to explain. “I don’t normally dress like this. Well, not in costume, but also not like this.” He gestured over his short, tight coat. “It draws attention.”
“Which you don’t like?” Flor guessed, a bit of fire in his tone. “Because of whoever ‘usually’ behaves badly?” Clematis raised his head again and Flor exhaled, losing some of his visible temper. He quirked a small smile. “But then, if you thought to hide your beauty, you should not have chosen a spot in the moonlight.” He lightened his grin, made it teasing. “Perhaps a dark room? With not a single light?”
Clematis made a noise, involuntary and weak. He thought he should be frightened, but Flor was all the way across the room, and smiling just so, as if he could not believe Clematis would be surprised but that was also perfectly fine with him.
“Even with a mask, you must know you are remarkable.”
“Yes.” Clematis considered him, tense as he waited for the next, harsh words that often followed when someone’s attempted seduction did not go to plan. But he also knew Flor, and was not all that surprised when Flor did not seem even a little bit angry when his compliment was not answered with gushing delight.
“You probably hear that a lot,” Flor said thoughtfully, then smiled again, warm and easy. He was capable of such gentleness, something that would startle the many people who did not see him in private spaces. In public, he was often fierce. But this was close to how he spoke to Prince David when the Prince was troubled. “Do you want to stay hidden in here? Because, if you would like to go out there and check off more items on your list, I could go with you. If you needed an escort, or someone to watch over you. I can be trusted. The Prince himself will vouch for me.” Flor hesitated. “It’s true that I have a temper. But I don’t hurt anyone with it except the cruel. And we shall be in plain view of practically the entire kingdom, so you can feel safe in that respect.”
Clematis gaped for several moments, while his face went hot and his heart seemed to beat wildly out of rhythm. “You have other things to do. Prince David to look out for. And that is not a gathering for someone like me.”
Flor snorted. “It’s not a gathering for anyone in their right mind, unless you are just here for food and drink. Or to dance. Which you might not care for, but there are some people who are fond of dancing,” he finished that loftily, with a sort of hopeful air that made Clematis flustered all over again.
“Oh.” Clematis was being flirted with. He was being lightly flirted with by Flor de Maga, and he had not asked Lord Hyacinth what to do in this situation, because he had not thought it would ever happen.
“Like me,” Flor added helpfully. “If you wanted to try it with someone who won’t judge you if you miss a step.”
Clematis still could not believe it. “You want to dance with me?”
His astonishment was obvious. Flor’s lips pulled down a little, unhappy and uncertain as he almost never was, before he shrugged. “Well, if you want to dance with me.”
Clematis extended his arm to offer his hand without thinking, and Flor left his place by the door to take it. Flor’s hand was warm and dry.
Flor stared at him as Clematis came to a stop, then blinked. A smile came and went on his face before he nodded once, decisively. “A dance for your list,” he said, sweetly coaxing, and led a stunned, silent Clematis out the door.
“And perhaps because we want to,” Clematis added as they neared the ballroom, but as the music and conversation grew louder, couldn’t help the small frisson of fear that made him tighten his hand.
“You belong where you decide to belong,” Flor offered fiercely, and squeezed Clematis’s hand in return. “If something or someone makes you too nervous, then do that again, hold my hand just that tightly, and I will help you. All right?”
The comfortable, the royal and the rich and the noble, the educated youths who spent afternoons reading philosophers and arguing over poverty without knowing it for themselves, they spoke that way. With fire and convictions that had never been tested. But Flor had earned his reputation as a troublemaker, and Lord Hyacinth was very fond of him, and Clematis wanted to believe him, so much.
“All right,” he agreed, almost drowned out by the noise of the ballroom. The brighter lights had him ducking back again, but Flor tugged him to the edge of the dancing and leaned in to whisper at his ear.
“You could make anyone do anything. They should be more scared of you than you of them.”
“You tease me.” Clematis clucked his tongue as he would have for Lord Hyacinth, then shot Flor a startled, embarrassed look that only made Flor laugh. “You haven’t changed,” Clematis told him, blushing at his rudeness.
Flor’s laugh became a huff. “I don’t care what they call me. It’s because I’m right and they know it, and they’re mad that David listens to me. If they don’t have the decency, or at least the sense, to manage their own interests and tenants fairly, then someone should do it for them. Do they want their tenants setting fire to their manor houses? People are asking for decent homes and bread. That is barely anything! But the barons and the other lords think one of them will ‘win’ David this way, and control the throne, and save themselves from our wrath, but they are mistaken. They don’t know David, for one thing.”
Flor ranted without raising his voice, only darting glares at various figures around them, making it clear he was displeased. It was hardly the sort of “honey versus vinegar” politicking that Lord Walter might speak of that could occasionally get things done. But it also did not make Clematis anxious about anything other than what an annoyed noble might someday do to Flor in retaliation if given the chance.
“For another thing…” Flor went on, so Clematis leaned toward Flor and found it a bit harder to breathe when Flor fell silent and glanced from Clematis’s eyes to his lips.
“We don’t have to dance if you’re upset,” Clematis offered, something new and hot in his chest when Flor was slow to drag his gaze up to his eyes again.
“What?” Flor asked, the sharp edges vanishing from his tone. “I can dance and be upset at the same time. But, uh, you know, that’s not good for you.” He frowned lightly at this realization. “It should be good for you. If this evening is meant to be special. If your… if the
other person who gave you the list wants it to be. If you want it to be.”
“It already is,” Clematis replied without thinking, and would have bitten his tongue for it if Flor hadn’t looked so pleased.
The current dance ended. In the background, someone was attempting to pull Prince David among the dancers. The Prince was politely refusing. Flor glanced to him and huffed, but said nothing until he turned back to Clematis. “Shall I lead?”
“Please.” Clematis was already breathless, ribs tight around his heart as he recognized the music.
Flor’s hand was steady. His stare was dark and serious until he smiled.
Then he pushed away and Clematis stepped around him to follow. Clematis was a beat behind for a moment, startled at losing the contact, but then their hands touched again, Flor’s fingers at his wrist, before Clematis turned around and Flor’s palm was against his lower back. After another step, they were apart once more.
Clematis sought him out, sliding around the nearest dancer but not smiling at her, all of his attention on Flor until they were dancing together again. Flor grinned as he took Clematis’s hand. People spun around them, distracting and close, but lost in their own dances, eyes on their own partners.
Clematis exhaled, relieved and excited both to once again feel Flor’s hand at his back, and focused on his steps this time when they separated. Flor bumped into his wings and laughed for it, apologizing in a shout as they pulled apart, as if he didn’t care about their audience or his misstep. Clematis had a smile for him that would not go away. He couldn’t banish it when that dance ended and a less formal but more energetic dance began. Nor when Flor’s hands landed on his hips to lift him briefly into the air, and the contact was hot even through Clematis’s clothing.
If Clematis made mistakes, he no longer noticed them. He was too eager to return to Flor, to be lifted again, to hear Flor breathing harder and see the warmth in his gaze from much closer up.
Clematis’s cheeks were stinging when the music ended. He had perspired into Lord Hyacinth’s coat, but when Flor stood at his shoulder, staring expectantly at him with a crooked smile on his lips, Clematis shivered to his toes.
“You liked it?” Flor demanded. Despite how he asked, he seemed satisfied with whatever he saw in Clematis’s expression.
Clematis had a feeling there were stars in his eyes. “Yes.” He wondered if he should admit that he did not think he would enjoy it as much with a different partner. He had not felt that way dancing with Lord Walter. “Yes, very much,” he added, as honest as he dared.
“Good.” Flor hummed along to the strains of the next song. “Would you like something to drink? Perhaps another sweet? We could also rest between dances. Some are venturing out on the balconies, but I wouldn’t presume.”
Clematis started to answer, but then someone stopped in front of him.
The woman, a fox in scarlet, stared at him despite addressing Flor. “Flor, are you going to monopolize this lovely for every dance?”
Clematis tangled his fingers with Flor’s as he would not have done even with Lord Hyacinth. He felt overly warm, his mouth still dry. Flor looked to him and gave his hand a small squeeze, then held still until Clematis squeezed back.
Flor turned to the fox. “Yes, I am. Terribly sorry.” He smiled at her with obvious pleasure before facing Clematis. “Another dance, sweetheart?”
The dance had already begun, but Flor slid an arm around Clematis and whirled him into the thick of it. He pulled Clematis close in a way that felt scandalous, but was no worse than what the other couples were doing. This dance was fast, almost dizzying.
Clematis put his hand on Flor’s waist and found he could not meet Flor’s eyes without blushing.
“You did not sound sorry,” he chided. They did not separate for this dance. Clematis was not sure of the steps, but Flor was, and that was enough to keep Clematis on his feet.
“Saying it was all that mattered.” Flor seemed as if he wanted to shrug. “I can be polite, if pressed.”
Many people would disagree. But not Prince David, and not Clematis.
“But if you want to dance with anyone else…” Flor started to offer, only to trail off as Clematis edged in closer. Flor was overheated from all the dancing, warm to the touch through his costume. The fabric was fine and soft.
“I don’t want to dance with anyone else,” Clematis said quietly but clearly. “Only you.”
Flor’s eyes were wide behind his mask. “Yes? Well. Good. I mean… me, too.” A sound burst out of him, high, startled laughter, and Clematis was surprised to hear himself echo it.
“I told you what I wanted,” Clematis realized aloud, stunned at himself, and released a long, shaky breath before dropping his head to Flor’s shoulder.
Flor stopped moving altogether. He splayed his hand over Clematis’s back, beneath his wings. Dancers whirled around them.
Flor bent his head and whispered above Clematis’s ear. “And you can tell me what more of what you don’t want, and I will listen. Please don’t be surprised. There shouldn’t be anything remarkable in being decent.”
Clematis had met decent people. This wasn’t about that, or not only about it. “This is exactly how I expected you to be,” he revealed on a sigh. “But it feels so different than how I imagined.”
“You imagined it?” Flor inched back. “You’ve thought about this before?”
Clematis raised his head, lips parted although he didn’t have an explanation ready that Flor would want to hear. He darted a look to the bright black of Flor’s eyes and then away, only to accidentally meet those of more than one stranger.
People were watching them. Naturally, they were. Clematis had all but embraced Flor in the middle of a dance, and Flor had halted right there as though the two of them were alone.
As though there were no one else in the entire world but the two of them.
“Oh,” Flor murmured, glancing around, and took his hand from Clematis’s waist. “Rather surprised David hasn’t appeared to gently remind me I’m in public.” Flor seemed to mock himself, and offered Clematis a fleeting smile before reaching up to brush Clematis’s warm cheek. “Nothing to blush over. It was my mistake. If anything, they are envious of me.”
Clematis shook his head to deny that. “You have your admirers.”
Flor picked up Clematis’s hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow as he led the way through the watchful crowd. “I can’t claim that I haven’t broken, or at least, bruised, some hearts,” he said seriously. “But tonight, I have you, the mysterious beauty that stood alone for most of the evening, in my arms. You are where they are looking. I must be honest and say there are some I could introduce you to. Some who are respectful, and likely smitten already.” Flor hesitated near the edge of the vast ballroom. “I would stay to watch over you. You would still be safe.”
“I said I only wanted to dance with you.” Saying it again sent a thrill down his spine. Clematis studied Flor’s determined, unhappy face. “I don’t mean to attract their attention.”
Flor stumbled as he began to walk again, gesturing until Clematis indicated a preference in direction. Clematis chose one without looking, then realized they were on their way to a balcony.
Flor spoke when they were both outside, the night air shockingly cold after the heat of the ballroom. The balcony was spacious, and lined with potted trees and flowers. “There are people who have thought to get close to me in order to get close to David.”
Clematis stiffened.
Flor continued to lead him away from the crowd. “I don’t think those people would have been waiting for me in a room they could not have expected me to enter. But, if they were, I am not even sure that I would mind.”
Clematis started to tug his hand away but then Flor turned. There wasn’t enough light to see his expression and guess what he was thinking.
“You know who I am, but I don’t know you.” Flor was soft. “You are… too lovely to be called handsome. I can tell tha
t even with half of your face hidden. The line of your jaw, your glowing skin, your mouth… The sparkles on your throat are a temptation, and I am envious of whoever painted them on you. You do not speak like a noble, but you do not speak like anyone else, either. Your coat fits you well but your shoes do not. You would dance better without them, I think.”
Clematis was spellbound at the idea of being painted with sparkles and dancing barefoot for Flor. He could not speak above a whisper. “My lord dressed me.”
“Your lord?” Flor echoed grumpily, then pushed out a breath. “’Lord’ in what manner?”
“Friend, I suppose.” Clematis frowned to think of Lord Hyacinth’s reaction to that. “He would say friend.”
Flor huffed again. “But you wouldn’t?”
“I… I believe I would,” Clematis said with real surprise. “He is trustworthy and very generous. I suppose it is unusual. I am not of his class and he is much older than me.”
“Not that unusual.” Flor crossed his arms.
Clematis missed the warmth of his hand but didn’t protest. “I was not sent to influence you.” He was tentative, although, if Flor was angry, it did not show. He was more peevish than anything else. “You’re upset again. You should go dance more, since you like it.”
The offer did not make Flor smile. “What about you?”
Clematis gestured around them. “I can stay here.”
“Or run off to a book and the moonlight again?” Flor’s tone was pointed, but not sharp. “I’m not upset,” he insisted.
“I will miss you,” Clematis replied, and all the tension dropped from Flor’s shoulders. Utterly confused by that, Clematis went on. “But you must have other things to do. Attend to Prince David. Or… doesn’t etiquette demand you dance with others? Although, you are Flor, who does not bother with etiquette… so, I do not know what you will do.” Clematis had not prepared for this sort of conversation.
