![The Princes Bound [The Princes Book 1]](/res/cobbf/book3.jpg)
femininity. Now she was glad she'd chosen to keep it.
It looked quite lovely.
Turning away from the mirror, she held out trembling hands. “How do I look?"
"Oh, miss!” The maid clasped her hands to her bosom. “You look beautiful!"
Nadia nodded but still chewed her bottom lip.
Soon it was time to go.
The maid escorted her most of the way to the palace. Hugh and her father had gone ahead, so after she thanked the maid for her help, she made the remainder of the trip on her own.
She reached the great hall precisely four minutes before eight. The heels of her borrowed shoes clicked on the marble tiles as she clutched the skirts to keep them above her ankles and hurried to the designated meeting spot.
Mathis’ broad back was to her when she arrived, but he turned at the sound of her approach. Her steps faltered when she saw his face.
He gaped, his expression clearly astonished. Mathis was dressed in formal attire, a sash of purple signifying his rank across his chest.
He was so handsome, and for some reason he desired her company.
A prince. She mustn't forget he was a prince and out of reach. Nadia made a mental note to keep reminding herself of that before she fell completely head over heels.
She coughed to clear her suddenly dry throat. “Has everyone else already gone in?"
He stepped forward and took her hand. “You look ravishing."
With tenderness, he lifted a curl that lay over her shoulder. “I'd wondered what your hair looked like unbound, and my fantasies were nothing compared to the real thing."
He'd fantasized about her?
Nadia tried not to be flattered but failed miserably. “Shall we go in?"
"Of course.” Mathis took her arm and turned her away from the formal dining hall. “We shall sup in private."
Had he not taken hold of her elbow, she would have stumbled. “Pardon?"
"As enchanting as you look tonight, I knew you would be uncomfortable being the center of attention. We shall take supper in the private dining room and then join the others for tonight's festivities. I hear there are to be fireworks."
"So you and I will eat alone ?” A shiver tickled down her spine.
His mocking gaze was anything but innocent. “Unless you prefer to join the others?"
Nadia shook her head quickly. “No, it is fine."
She was grateful for the small reprieve. She may look her best, but some at court would wonder at her sudden transformation and correctly ascertain the visiting prince was the cause for it.
She did not want speculation to begin.
The prince to lead her down a side hall. Her steps were hesitant as she forced herself not to bite her lower lip again. The richly appointed hall was unfamiliar. She had not been in this area before, despite her numerous visits to the castle.
"Here we are.” The prince gestured that she should precede him into the room.
She stepped inside and gazed about with wonder. They were in one of Prince Talin's private dining rooms.
The room was small but expensively furnished. Rich, dark wood and velvet curtains muted the light and made the room cozy. The soft light of dozens of candles painted the space with a golden glow.
It was a scene for a seduction.
Nadia narrowed her eyes and then glared over her shoulder at the prince.
He acted as if he didn't notice as he moved forward to draw out a chair from an undersized table. “Please sit."
Her skirts swished as she stomped forward and plopped into the chair. “Thank you, Your Highness,” she said through gritted teeth.
He took a seat across from her. She shifted as she became more and more uncomfortable. Merely a glowing candelabrum and their place settings separated them.
The prince lifted a crystal wine glass and eyed her over the rim. “Don't be nervous."
"I'm not.” She picked up her own glass and took a large gulp.
His eyes crinkled at the corners as he continued to watch her. “I've prearranged several dishes I think you might like. The cook is quite exasperated with me."
Why did he go to all of
It looked quite lovely.
Turning away from the mirror, she held out trembling hands. “How do I look?"
"Oh, miss!” The maid clasped her hands to her bosom. “You look beautiful!"
Nadia nodded but still chewed her bottom lip.
Soon it was time to go.
The maid escorted her most of the way to the palace. Hugh and her father had gone ahead, so after she thanked the maid for her help, she made the remainder of the trip on her own.
She reached the great hall precisely four minutes before eight. The heels of her borrowed shoes clicked on the marble tiles as she clutched the skirts to keep them above her ankles and hurried to the designated meeting spot.
Mathis’ broad back was to her when she arrived, but he turned at the sound of her approach. Her steps faltered when she saw his face.
He gaped, his expression clearly astonished. Mathis was dressed in formal attire, a sash of purple signifying his rank across his chest.
He was so handsome, and for some reason he desired her company.
A prince. She mustn't forget he was a prince and out of reach. Nadia made a mental note to keep reminding herself of that before she fell completely head over heels.
She coughed to clear her suddenly dry throat. “Has everyone else already gone in?"
He stepped forward and took her hand. “You look ravishing."
With tenderness, he lifted a curl that lay over her shoulder. “I'd wondered what your hair looked like unbound, and my fantasies were nothing compared to the real thing."
He'd fantasized about her?
Nadia tried not to be flattered but failed miserably. “Shall we go in?"
"Of course.” Mathis took her arm and turned her away from the formal dining hall. “We shall sup in private."
Had he not taken hold of her elbow, she would have stumbled. “Pardon?"
"As enchanting as you look tonight, I knew you would be uncomfortable being the center of attention. We shall take supper in the private dining room and then join the others for tonight's festivities. I hear there are to be fireworks."
"So you and I will eat alone ?” A shiver tickled down her spine.
His mocking gaze was anything but innocent. “Unless you prefer to join the others?"
Nadia shook her head quickly. “No, it is fine."
She was grateful for the small reprieve. She may look her best, but some at court would wonder at her sudden transformation and correctly ascertain the visiting prince was the cause for it.
She did not want speculation to begin.
The prince to lead her down a side hall. Her steps were hesitant as she forced herself not to bite her lower lip again. The richly appointed hall was unfamiliar. She had not been in this area before, despite her numerous visits to the castle.
"Here we are.” The prince gestured that she should precede him into the room.
She stepped inside and gazed about with wonder. They were in one of Prince Talin's private dining rooms.
The room was small but expensively furnished. Rich, dark wood and velvet curtains muted the light and made the room cozy. The soft light of dozens of candles painted the space with a golden glow.
It was a scene for a seduction.
Nadia narrowed her eyes and then glared over her shoulder at the prince.
He acted as if he didn't notice as he moved forward to draw out a chair from an undersized table. “Please sit."
Her skirts swished as she stomped forward and plopped into the chair. “Thank you, Your Highness,” she said through gritted teeth.
He took a seat across from her. She shifted as she became more and more uncomfortable. Merely a glowing candelabrum and their place settings separated them.
The prince lifted a crystal wine glass and eyed her over the rim. “Don't be nervous."
"I'm not.” She picked up her own glass and took a large gulp.
His eyes crinkled at the corners as he continued to watch her. “I've prearranged several dishes I think you might like. The cook is quite exasperated with me."
Why did he go to all of
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