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He fell silent, and she wondered if he was growing suspicious But she blinked, tucking her arh that her chest squeezed a bit more out of her neckline It was a trick she’d used often enough to knoorked "I would certainly like to have tea," he said at last, "but I’ll also be at the theater after ht smile "Would you like to join us in our box? My uncle has two of his contacts fro us, but I just know he’d be honored to have you with us as well"
He cocked his head, and she could practically see the cold, calculating thoughts churning behind his eyes Coht, take the bait … Contacts with a wealthy businessh
"I’d be delighted," he said, giving her a smile that reeked of trained chare to escort you to the theater, but we’d be doubly honored if you’d use ours We could pick you up after your dinner, perhaps?"
"I’m afraid my dinner is rather late--I’d hate to make you or your uncle tardy for the theater"
"Oh, it wouldn’t be a problein--or end, I suppose is the better question!" A giggle A twinkle in her eye that suggested the sort of curiosity in what a irl He leaned farther forward She wanted to claw at the skin his gaze raked over with such sensual consideration
"The meal should be over within an hour," he drawled, "if not sooner; just a quick meal with an old friend of ht thirty?"
Her senuine this time Seven thirty, then That’s when the deal would occur How could he be that foolish, that arrogant? He deserved to die just for being so irresponsible--so easily lured by a girl as far too young for him
"Oh, yes!" she said "Of course" She rattled off details about her uncle’s business and hoell they’d get along, and soon she was curtsying again, giving hie before she walked away The courtesans were still glaring at her, and she could feel Doneval’s hungry gaze on her disappearing for over to the food, keeping up the demure maiden façade, and when Doneval finally stopped watching her, she let out a sigh That had certainly gone well She loaded a plate with food that made her mouth water--roast boar, berries and cream, warm chocolate cake …
Fro her, the woret for what she had hired Celaena to do? Bardingale approached, brushing against Celaena’s skirts on her way to the buffet table, but Celaena chose not to acknowledge her Whatever Arobynn had told the woh she would have liked to knohat perfu; it smelled like jasmine and vanilla
Sa in that silent-as-death way of his "Did you get what you needed?" He followed Celaena as she added hfer took a few scoops of berries and a dollop of crearinned, glancing to the alcove where Doneval had now returned to his hired company She deposited her plate on the table "I certainly did It appears he’s unavailable at seven thirty in the evening that day"
"So we have ourtime," Sam said
"Indeed we do" She turned to hi Doneval, his frown growing as the irls around hi livelier, the twins’ voices rising in a wraithlike harot what I came here for, I want to dance," Celaena said "So drink up, Saht"
She danced and danced The beautiful youths of Melisande had gathered near the platforravitated toward the wine passed froed froed, going froant dances to a frenzied, sensual sound that had her clapping her hands and stoer to writhe and fling themselves about If there were music and movements that embodied the wildness and recklessness and immortality of youth, they were here, on this dance floor
Doneval re bottle after bottle He never once glanced in her direction; whoever he had thought Dianna Brackyn was, she was now forgotten Good
Sweat ran along every part of her body, but she flung her head back, arms upraised, content to bask in the s flew by so low that their fingers brushed The touch sent sparks shooting through her This was y, and a call to worship at the altar of excess Celaena was a willing sacrifice
Thedrums and the staccato notes of the twins Sa alone, occasionally detangling hiirl who saw his beautiful face and tried to seize him for her own Celaena tried not to sirl to find so since left, ceding the dance floor to the young and beautiful Celaena focused long enough to check on Doneval--and to see Arobynn sitting with Bardingale in another one of the nearby alcoves A few others sat with thelasses of wine littered their table, they all had lowered brows and tight-lipped expressions While Doneval had come here to feast off his forhts on how to enjoy her party What sort of strength had it taken to accept that assassinating her former husband was the only option left? Or was it weakness?
The clock struck three--three! How had so ht her eye by the towering doors atop the stairs Four youngthe crowd It took all of two heartbeats for her to see that the dark-haired youth was their ringleader, and that the fine clothes and the masks they woreto escape a stuffy function and savor the delights of Rifthold
Theclose to the dark-haired youth That one had a sword, she noticed, and from his tensed shoulders, she could tell he wasn’t entirely pleased to be here But the lips of the ringleader parted in a grin as he stalked into the crowd Gods above, even with thehalf of his features, he was handsome