Fates for Apate Read Online Free Page B

Realizing his gaze had slid over to that woman again, he brought it back and purposefully flirted with his dance partner to make her giggle and preen.
    It would probably be best if he continued to avoid Mrs. Appleton. She inspired some combination of lust and protectiveness that couldn't turn out well. He was always careful not to take a flirtation beyond the most innocent of encounters, lest he have a husband ready to kill him. And he was careful to always spread his attentions evenly among many of the ladies so that none of them thought they had a claim on him over the others. Mrs. Appleton had spoken all of three words to him and she was already a distraction. Yes, avoidance was the best course.
     
     

C HAPTER F IVE
     
    "May I have this dance?"
    George turned to see that Mr. Rokiczana was looking at her keenly, waiting for her reply. She had, she thought, finally mastered the pronunciation of his name. The ‘rock’ at the beginning and ‘ah’ at the end had been easy enough; it was the middle that had been difficult, as though made of sounds halfway between English pronunciations. Not quite ‘ee’ or ‘ye’, not quite ‘sha’ or ‘cha’. Something between. But she'd heard it enough this last week and a half that it had settled in, it’s own unique sound.
    He was, apparently, universally liked. The ladies found him attractive and attentive. The gentlemen found him a good sport. She hadn't even been trying to find out more, but it seemed she couldn't escape hearing about him. No one was that well liked. It made her suspicious.
    She looked around. "Are you speaking to me?"
    He grinned at her. "Yes, Mrs. Appleton, may I have this dance?"
    "Surely you can understand my confusion, as I'm the only lady that you haven't danced with at all. Ever."
    He bit his bottom lip as though suppressing a laugh. "Are you saying I've been negligent?"
    "Oh, I have been assured by everyone here that you are unfailingly attentive. It seems that the Lord Himself has seen fit to set down one of His angels here in Vienna to oversee the proceedings, you are so well regarded."
    He rolled his eyes at the ceiling and chuckled. "How is it that you can make something that should be a compliment seem an insult instead?"
    She arched a brow at him but he looked unrepentant. 
    The first notes of the waltz started and he swept her into his arms and onto the dance floor so quickly that she gasped. Her first thought was she was pleased they were only dancing and not fighting, since he had taken her completely by surprise. His speed rivaled that of her friend Sabre.
    He was a shade too close, much as he had been the last time they spoke. On a turn he pulled her closer still, asking, "Is there anything I can do to make you regard me well?"
    George accidentally gave a graceless snort.
    Mr. Rokiczana laughed, the sound as warm and rich as his eyes. "I see. You think me irredeemable. Obviously ignoring you has left you cold and indifferent to me. Would you care for compliments, Mrs. Appleton? Your skin is as light and smooth as priceless porcelain. Your eyes hold the secrets of the deepest forests, such a lovely mix of brown and green. Am I gaining any ground?" 
    “Your words are full of flowers and good smelling," George said tartly. "I wonder if, like most flowers, they will wilt away in short time leaving nothing but a lonely brown stem?”
    “Perhaps. But there are many kinds of flowers. The thistle offers just enough beauty to draw you near, but once you have taken the time to reap them, you find yourself bloodied. The scars may last a very long time.”
    “And I suppose the rose too attractive to not risk a few thorns for the joy of counting your romantic success?”
    His smile brightened. Odd man, to enjoy her provoking him but not flirting with him. “Verily so. But ultimately I prefer the raspberry blooms. There is a promise of sweet providence. While the thorns may shred and the attendant bees may sting, the reward makes the