Roma was busy sifting through the crowd—despite their vote against the match, every noble held a glass of wine and spoke to each other with shameless laughter, as if they wouldn't do all within their damned power to stop this if they were allowed to.
She dodged a maid carrying a tray, though her dodge seemed to put the poor woman in an even worse position. The lady stumbled, silverware rattling, and Roma winced. That near-collision was entirely her fault.
She glanced around and finally caught him at the balcony.
'The man of the day, stealing his time away.'
Roma hurried toward the window, her dark blue gown trailing behind her like something alive. She entered the balcony section gently, like a composed lady—if only she knew Northern had been tracking her since the moment she started looking for him.
She crept up behind him, cupped her hands around her mouth, and made a sound that was supposed to be frightening.
Northern let out an exasperated sigh.
