Borrowed Magic
Page 24
* * *
Adare would have loved the coronation ball under different circumstances. It was all flowers and lights and sparkling things. Maren suspected it was mostly Kira’s doing, but she hadn’t bothered to ask.
Philip stood across the room, surrounded by too many people to count. She hadn’t had a single chance to talk with him so she had to be content just to watch. It had been like this since the ball began over an hour ago. The Council, the nobles all trying to win favors, the ladies all trying to win something else. At first, Philip had endured with grace. It was part of the job and he knew it. Now, he was getting impatient. She would have known even if she couldn’t sense his feelings. His smile was forced. His posture stiff.
He looked up, as if reading her thoughts, and briefly met her eyes, smiling an apology. “He looks as if he could use a good excuse to make them all leave him alone,” Kira said, threading her arm through Maren’s.
“He does, doesn’t he?” Maren laughed. “I don’t know that he’ll get one tonight.”
“I don’t know.” Kira winked. “I told the musicians to get ready to begin.”
Like Philip would get the chance to dance tonight. “Thank you,” she said to Kira. “I know you did all this. It’s beautiful.”
She shrugged. “It’s no less than he deserves. Or you deserve.”
A slight smile touched the corners of Maren’s mouth. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Right,” Kira smiled and placed a hand on Maren's arm. “I am truly happy for both of you. I hope you know that.”
“I do.” Maren hugged her. “And I’m grateful for your friendship.”
The musicians began to take their places as couples made their way onto the floor. She saw an empty chair against the wall and headed towards it.
“Lady Maren?”
Her heart skipped a beat and her breath caught. Then she turned.
Philip gave her a deep bow and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”
The entire room watched and she didn’t care. She just wanted to be near him, to feel his arms around her.
She took a step forward and reached for his outstretched hand. “I would be honored.”
He led her onto the floor and waited as the musicians finished their tuning, but he didn’t let go of her hand.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you sooner.”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter. I refuse to let this take me away from you. I won’t.”
“I know exactly how you feel,” she said, knowing it was time to tell him. “I feel exactly what you feel.”
His brows wrinkled in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Something happened that day you made me whole. I know when you’re impatient, or restless, or happy, or sad, or frustrated. I feel your emotions. Not as strongly as my own, but I feel them.”
His eyes went wide. “I thought it was just me, that I was imagining it. But tonight, just as I was wishing everyone would disappear, I felt you smile. As if you understood completely.”
It went both directions, this new closeness they felt. Somehow, that made it even better.
The music began, and the beautiful notes of a haunting melody hung in the air. Philip took her into his arms, and everything else faded into the background, unimportant, because she was happy.
As the music came to a close, she expected Philip to move on to another partner. Instead, he led her to the front of the room. Then he turned to the crowd and signaled for silence.
“I never asked to be your king. I never wanted or sought it. But circumstances brought me here and things took place that I couldn’t change.” He paused. “Perhaps one day I’ll be able to tell you in detail what happened just over two weeks ago. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to share what happened the months before that to bring us to such a conclusion.” He took a deep breath. “But there is one thing I would like you to know. One thing you need to know.” She could feel him fighting to control his emotions. “Were it not for one person, the kingdom would have fallen and Kern would still be alive. That person is Lady Maren.”
All eyes fixed on her, and she wanted nothing more than to step back into the crowd and disappear. Instead, she took Philip’s outstretched hand and joined him at his side.
“Even if we hadn’t been friends since we were children, even if I hadn’t loved her almost my entire life, I would tell you she’s the bravest woman I know. She’s known for a long time who Teige really was. She tried to tell me. When that didn’t work, she did everything in her power to stop him. I don’t deserve her love or her trust, and yet somehow she’s given me both.” He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. Then he slid a delicate ring onto her finger. “Today, I am more humbled than I can express to announce that Lady Maren has agreed to be my wife, and your queen.”
Philip stepped closer and put his arms around her. Applause thundered through the room as he leaned in to kiss her. When he finally pulled away, he was laughing. It was the first true smile she’d seen on his face that night.
She stayed by his side as long as she could, but eventually they were pulled apart, each receiving congratulations from their various acquaintances. She was able to escape much sooner than him, and she stood back and watched, soaking in his feelings and trying to put them into words.
It wasn’t happiness, although he was happy. It wasn’t even joy. It went deeper than that, more lasting.
Contentment.
That was the best way to describe it. But it wasn’t that alone. There was something more, some other emotion woven right alongside. Just as satisfying as the first, but stronger. Something that could survive on its own, that would endure beyond contentment, or happiness, or joy, but that made each of those emotions more meaningful.
She caught his eye from across the room, and he smiled in a way that reached into her soul and made her breath catch. For she knew what she’d been missing, the emotion that held everything else in place.
It was love.
The End
Want to Read More?
Did you miss Siege, the prequel novella to Borrowed Magic? It’s FREE and available for download from your favorite online retailer.
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About the Author
Shari has always loved to read. “Bookworm” may even be an understatement. But when she discovered Georgette Heyer in high school, her love of reading exploded. Ms. Heyer’s books were not only entertaining, witty, and smart, but they saved Shari from the awkward, unromantic teenage years. To this day, Shari’s favorite books all have romance in them.
Although Shari spent a good deal of her time at Brigham Young University on the ballroom dance team, she did manage to get a BA in History and English before going on to get a Juris Doctorate. After graduation, she decided her first priority was to be a mom -- a career she’s stuck with and loved.
In between cleaning, laundry, and homework, Shari writes. Just like with reading, she wants to get lost in a world, whether imaginary or historical.
She lives just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and four children.
Other Books by Shari Lambert
This is Shari’s entire book library at the time of publication but you can find out about all her new and upcoming releases by visiting
sharilambertbooks.com
and signing up for her free newsletter.
Siege: A Borrowed Magic Novella
Borrowed Magic
Connect with Shari
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facebook.com/shariwrites
Twitter: @shari_lambert
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