Barren Vows (Fates of the Bound 3)

“He’s a great father, too. You’ve picked well. My cousin would do anything for his children and their mothers.”

“Introduce us, then.”

Dubois flashed his dimples at the chance to play matchmaker. Lila almost felt sorry for him. He would be so disappointed by the outcome.

“I must warn you. Dorian can be quite direct in conversation. I feel he might be even more direct if you approach him abruptly.”

“I am not interested in prolonging things. Directness is not always a bad thing. It can be refreshing, especially when we highborn are often too busy to dance.”

“There’s always time for dancing.”

He escorted Lila toward La Roux, who was engaged in conversation with Ms. Charlotte Weberly, Johanna’s younger sister and the fourth heir to Web Corp.

The young woman briefly flashed an annoyed look when Lila approached. Perhaps it was Ms. Weberly’s fear that Lila would steal away her senator’s attention.

Perhaps Ms. Weberly was in love.

The senator’s smile did not reach his eyes while he chatted with Ms. Weberly, and his laughter seemed a forced obligation of his office. No senator would bed a woman if he felt nothing for her. It would be immoral, no matter how desperate his political career might be. And Charlotte Weberly, as the fourth heir, would not help his career as much as others in the room. Not as much as Lila.

She almost felt sorry for her.

“Ms. Weberly, Senator Dorian Masson-La Roux,” Dubois said, “may I present Chief Elizabeth Victoria Lemaire-Randolph.” He acknowledged Ms. Weberly with a slight bow.

Senator La Roux’s eyes widened at the sight of Lila. She knew that it was not every day that an heir to one of the richest families in all of Saxony sought him out and addressed him. He bowed low in deference, and his hair fell into his face. When he straightened, he pushed it back with a quick shake of his head.

Lila tried not to stare. His eyes were the most beautiful shade of light green, almost glowing like the lights Tristan had used during her Liberté hack.

He grinned at his cousin, more of a thank you than a hello.

Interesting. He had asked for the introduction; he just didn’t think he would get it.

Perhaps Dubois knew nothing after all.

“Senator La Roux, your cousin told me that you need to discuss a matter of great urgency. I do apologize for taking you away from such pretty company in order to attend to the drudgery of business, but I suppose that it cannot be helped.”

“I’m sure that it can,” Ms. Weberly said with narrowed eyes. “After all, it is a ball.”

“Chief Randolph,” La Roux said, nodding slowly and playing along, “Louis has kept you well informed. I must talk to you about an important matter. It concerns your family’s oil interests in Beaulac. If you’ll excuse me, Ms. Weberly, business must come before pleasure.” He bowed and kissed her hand, causing the young woman to blush scarlet.

“Well, how long can a bit of business really take? Find me later, senator, for I have a bit of business to discuss, too. Don’t make any plans for the winter without me.”

Ms. Weberly paused to give Lila another scathing look, then turned on her heel and left.

La Roux eyed Lila’s coat. “Louis, I find myself at a loss for remembering any conversations where I begged you to speak with Chief Randolph on my behalf.”

“Something tells me that you do not beg Senator Dubois for anything, or anyone else for that matter,” Lila interjected, her flirting skills a bit rusty.

It didn’t seem to bother La Roux. He stood up a little higher at the compliment. “Begging has nasty connotations. Highborn do not beg. We ally. Are you seeking an alliance this winter, Chief Randolph?”

A trace of a smirk lined the edges of Senator Dubois’s lips, and his gaze passed to Lila. “You certainly do not waste time with pretty language,” she replied.

“I have no idea what you mean. Dallying about with pleasantries is tiring, is it not?”

“Do you just strike to the heart of the matter in all things? Sometimes, dallying about with pleasantries is the mark of a skilled, experienced man, so long as he’s knowledgeable about dallying and pleasantries.”

“I’d say I’m knowledgeable about both, but I always believe there’s more to learn. What some women find pleasant in dallying, others find—”

Senator Dubois held up his black-gloved hands. “I think that’s the cue for me to find Jewel for some dallying of my own.” He bowed and left their presence, raising a questioning eyebrow to Lila, who merely shrugged.